On our way with our year 9 to go camping at Matauri Bay for 3 days.
It is raining non-stop: CHALLENGE: Put up your tents and stay dry!
Watch this space!!
Monday, 3 December 2018
I am camping in the RAIN...just camping in the RAIN...what a glorious feeling...
On our way with our year 9 to go camping at Matauri Bay for 3 days.
It is raining non-stop: CHALLENGE: Put up your tents and stay dry!
Watch this space!!
Saturday, 1 December 2018
Pygmalion Effect....and the POPE
POPE = the Power of Positive Expectations
This is just a proof that students live up to the expectations that teachers set for them.
Some Food for thought!!
I am "getting ready" to set my inquiry goals for 2019, and thinking to do this around the achieving of the numeracy credits for year 11 high priority learners. I hate it when someone hangs a lable around another person's neck saying: You can't do this. And we are our own worst enemies, by putting this lable around our necks ourselves. Whether you are doing it, because you believed someone else when they told you so, or whatever the reason...I want to use 2019 to seek ways in which I will remove that lable.
On my first day in the year 11 class, next year, we will do the following:
1. Assign a number (starting at 1 ) to each letter of the alphabet. A=1, B= 2, C= 3.....Z=26. Each letter has a % score, for example a = 1%, B= 2%...
2. Now write down your name and determine your score.
example: Mina = 13 + 9 + 14 + 1 = 37 %
3. Determine the score for:
LUCK
MONEY
KNOWLEDGE
CLEVER
HARD WORK
ATTITUDE
4. Attitude spells 100%...in this class it is all about your ATTITUDE. Let's get that right before we start the year.
Thursday, 29 November 2018
Friday Faculty Self review day
Today we are going to sit down and do our self review. We will be discussing a few things.
One of the things on my to do list is:
What is learning to learn and how will we incorporate it into our Mathematics Faculty.
I am going to share the following video with the teachers, and then illustrate a typical learning to learn environment by asking them to make me a slideshow/infographic of what "learning to learn" is.
I've already made mine, and then we will sit together and make a slideshow of :
What learning to learn will look like in the Bay of Islands College Mathematics Classes.
Guy Claxton: Learning to learn from Ministry of Education on Vimeo.
Give me an A....for ALGEBRA
Ooooh the Joys of teaching ALGEBRA to the year 9's. They always ask me: WHAT is Algebra and WHY do we need to learn it?
So yesterday instead of the normal way of doing it, I decided to start with that question and to give them a challenge:
- Google: What is Algebra
- Watch a few videos (find the BEST one, don't just watch one)
- Then challenge:
Make either a video OR blog about it OR write about it OR infographic, telling me: in your own words WHAT ALGEBRA IS.
the best one: will win a pizza just for yourself, you can tell me which pizza you like.
whaea Mina "
And they enjoyed it. Some of them made videos, some made slideshows and some made posters. I am sharing a few of their "answers". The best thing about it: They were so excited, and actually enjoyed their first experience of Algebra this year. What I also loved about this method, is that all the boys were done first, they used humour in their presentations, and they had the option to leave 15 minutes earlier to go to a music talent show of the other class, and they opted out, to stay and finish their work...
Rian's work Xavier's work Esicca's work
Rian's work Xavier's work Esicca's work
Wednesday, 21 November 2018
integers ROCK
 |
Here is a link to me and my year 9 's doing integer rules.
This is how we learn integers and remember our rules for:
adding (row row row the boat)
multiply/divide ( I love rock and roll)
They also shared their learning with me. Some made wall posters and some made slide shows. Some of them sang the songs, and some made info-graphics.
I just love rock and roll...and my job!! I've shared a link to some of the students' learning ...enjoy!!
Waimarie's learning.
Alisi's learning.
Maia's learning.
Paytyn's learning.
Brooke's learning.
Te Rere and Tanisha's learning.
Essica's learning.
Tahnellah's learning.
Some hand-drawn posters, for the guys who did not have chrome books.
photo 1
photo 2
This is why I love every second of my rewarding job!! Mathematics is indeed a performing art, and some days, just some days, I can be the rock star...playing my air-guitar and making my moves...
Tuesday, 20 November 2018
Tuesday PD with Kerry
This is the slideshow that our learning was based on today.
Reflective Questions:
How are you going on your visible teaching and learning journey?
I love this, and I am extremely excited about this. At this stage I am still in LEARN CREATE SHARE, and in a linear model, and would love to use this as a cycle. Students need to get over the "I don't want to share" attitude, into that it is a safe place to share.
What's working well?
The students need to know "how it works" and the processes in our class...what does sharing look like in our class?
What gaps do you have?
I still have gaps in the sharing part of the work; for example: some students are still sharing their learning with emails in stead of in the folder. We need to work together as a staff, maybe a good idea to spend a week as a whole school in making our students "cyber-smart".
What help would you like?
For me it is important to know that the whole staff speak "with the same mouth", in other words. Have that first week, where we show students how to use chromebooks, how to save work, how to share work, etc. We can sit down as a staff, and see where the gaps are, that we can "fill" at this first week of digital training. Maybe, the staff can also be part of this initial training, so we all work in the same way/ and "speak the same lingo".
My next steps:
To make sure that I know how/where the students share/save their work. How to get them all to do it the same way. How to get students to blog every lesson to reflect on their learning. To encourage students to use the different ways to creatively share their learning.Every day's lesson on the daily planner will be in the 3 parts: L, C and S.
As I've said before: We (all the staff) need to speak the L, C and S language, in order to get all our students working in this way.....UNITED WE SHALL STAND.
L
LISTEN TO THIS VIDEO
Reflective Questions:
How are you going on your visible teaching and learning journey?
I love this, and I am extremely excited about this. At this stage I am still in LEARN CREATE SHARE, and in a linear model, and would love to use this as a cycle. Students need to get over the "I don't want to share" attitude, into that it is a safe place to share.
What's working well?
The students need to know "how it works" and the processes in our class...what does sharing look like in our class?
What gaps do you have?
I still have gaps in the sharing part of the work; for example: some students are still sharing their learning with emails in stead of in the folder. We need to work together as a staff, maybe a good idea to spend a week as a whole school in making our students "cyber-smart".
What help would you like?
For me it is important to know that the whole staff speak "with the same mouth", in other words. Have that first week, where we show students how to use chromebooks, how to save work, how to share work, etc. We can sit down as a staff, and see where the gaps are, that we can "fill" at this first week of digital training. Maybe, the staff can also be part of this initial training, so we all work in the same way/ and "speak the same lingo".
My next steps:
To make sure that I know how/where the students share/save their work. How to get them all to do it the same way. How to get students to blog every lesson to reflect on their learning. To encourage students to use the different ways to creatively share their learning.Every day's lesson on the daily planner will be in the 3 parts: L, C and S.
As I've said before: We (all the staff) need to speak the L, C and S language, in order to get all our students working in this way.....UNITED WE SHALL STAND.
L
LISTEN TO THIS VIDEOMonday, 19 November 2018
TOD Monday 19 November 2018
To have TOD (teacher only day ) with loads of PLD at the end of the year ....
First thought: Really??
Second thought: Okay, just one more thing on the growing list of things to do before the last day of this term.
I truly feel like this lady in the yellow dress.
The optimist in me: Yay, another opportunity to learn something new
New challenge: Practice this before I forget.
Today :
1. I've helped others how to learn, using a blog
2. I've helped others to make a new site
3. I've created my own professional site
4. I've learnt more about: learn to learn
I've copied Zorina's slideshow and made Zorina a screencastify (without sound) on how to embed the slideshow into her blog.
This slideshow shows my learning for the Learning how to Learn theory part of the day.
Monday, 12 November 2018
Monday....early morning blessings
I open my email to this:
Kia ora Mina
Just to say Thank you for all the work you do to support me, Chase and the students in our Junior and Senior math classes that we take. The websites you have created for them are fantastic. They use them so easily. In fact, if I need to know anything about the site, I find it easier to watch them navigate. Your screen castify’s are clear and to the point. I love your music choices, the supporting videos and the work you create for them. I watched Liam stop, think, replay and then mahi. The girls (Tahurimai and Haylen) often have 2 screens up (1 work and 1 usually not related). I monitor this using Veyonmaster. In this senior class they’re not likely to interface with us so I initiate engagement, as opposed to the juniors. It is quite the opposite and engagement levels with us is moderate (diff level of understanding I reckon).
Anyways, well done. You’ve invested much time into this. Knowing your subject and the progressions of learning in the different areas of maths is huge and you do this so well. They do miss out on the vibrant, passionate presentations you deliver so well, but u can’t have everything. Thanks for all you do for our students in maths. Fantastic
Mama T to Mamafrika!
Tiere Maoate
Staff
BOIC
and then whilst busy preparing my classroom for the year 9 "attack", in walks one of my colleagues with a grapefruit (she overheard me saying on Friday that it is my FAVORITE favorite fruit)..with "there were only 3 left on my sister's tree, and I brought you ONE..."....when she walked away, I had tears streaming down my face...what a kind gesture...
and then, walk into the staff workroom, and at my work station: a whole bag of grapefruit!! from another caring colleague!!
WOW, indeed "early Monday blessings!!"
Thanks to all my friends, who are my BAY of ISLANDS COLLEGE whanau!!
quote for the day:
Live every moment
Laugh every day
Love beyond words
and
Leave a legacy.
Kia ora Mina
Just to say Thank you for all the work you do to support me, Chase and the students in our Junior and Senior math classes that we take. The websites you have created for them are fantastic. They use them so easily. In fact, if I need to know anything about the site, I find it easier to watch them navigate. Your screen castify’s are clear and to the point. I love your music choices, the supporting videos and the work you create for them. I watched Liam stop, think, replay and then mahi. The girls (Tahurimai and Haylen) often have 2 screens up (1 work and 1 usually not related). I monitor this using Veyonmaster. In this senior class they’re not likely to interface with us so I initiate engagement, as opposed to the juniors. It is quite the opposite and engagement levels with us is moderate (diff level of understanding I reckon).
Anyways, well done. You’ve invested much time into this. Knowing your subject and the progressions of learning in the different areas of maths is huge and you do this so well. They do miss out on the vibrant, passionate presentations you deliver so well, but u can’t have everything. Thanks for all you do for our students in maths. Fantastic
Mama T to Mamafrika!
Tiere Maoate
Staff
BOIC
and then whilst busy preparing my classroom for the year 9 "attack", in walks one of my colleagues with a grapefruit (she overheard me saying on Friday that it is my FAVORITE favorite fruit)..with "there were only 3 left on my sister's tree, and I brought you ONE..."....when she walked away, I had tears streaming down my face...what a kind gesture...
and then, walk into the staff workroom, and at my work station: a whole bag of grapefruit!! from another caring colleague!!
WOW, indeed "early Monday blessings!!"
Thanks to all my friends, who are my BAY of ISLANDS COLLEGE whanau!!
quote for the day:
Live every moment
Laugh every day
Love beyond words
and
Leave a legacy.
Monday, 29 October 2018
Appraisal workshop: Monday 29 October in Whangarei
Monday 29 October
Whangarei:
Being an appraiser in an appraised driven world
Good way to start the week. Appraisal workshop in Whangarei led by Richard Watkinson of Evaluation Associates.
Notes:
Appraisal conceptual framework:
Learners are at the centre. Must be a teacher led appraisal. Every teacher should be in control of leading their own appraisal., with strong enquiry focus.
All 6 standards must be met annually.
Evidence of observations are needed. Gather student voice as well. Ask them during the lesson. Observer can observe the engagement.
Observations are really good. See how students are going/ engaging. Good plan for the teacher to video themselves, and the students.
The teacher can also then reflect about/on this video.
Evaluative Capability:
Appraisal is an evaluative process.
Appraisal conceptual framework:
Learners are at the centre. Must be a teacher led appraisal. Every teacher should be in control of leading their own appraisal., with strong enquiry focus.
All 6 standards must be met annually.
Evidence of observations are needed. Gather student voice as well. Ask them during the lesson. Observer can observe the engagement.
Observations are really good. See how students are going/ engaging. Good plan for the teacher to video themselves, and the students.
The teacher can also then reflect about/on this video.
Evaluative Capability:
Appraisal is an evaluative process.
Do all appraisers have a clear understanding of what GOOD teaching/good practise is….what does good practise look like in our school?
Assessment of learning:
1. Describe what good looks like
2. Develop indicators (work with colleagues) to shape full understanding of "good"
3. Ask Q: "how does my practise enact each of the Standards for the Teaching Profession?"
4. Determine the perspectives/source of evidence to answer this Q.
5.Use suitable processes to gather this question.
6. Evaluate the evidence and what it tell about my practise.
7. Use the evidence to examine whether there is a significant gap between my practise and "good"
8. Answer the evaluative Q by reaching a reasoned conclusion and decide on the next STEPS.
What do effective appraisers do?
1. Focus on student learning
2. Focus on teaching and learning as enquiry
3. Ensure collection of evidence endures over time
4. Provide ongoing quality conversations over time
5. Recognise that the process is led by the person being appraised.
This ensures that the teacher meets the STANDARD.
Watch these videos:
conversations about practise video:
awkward appraisal video:
The importance of Open to learning (OTL) Conversations:
difficult conversations = awkward and can be confronting.
Assessment of learning:
1. Describe what good looks like
2. Develop indicators (work with colleagues) to shape full understanding of "good"
3. Ask Q: "how does my practise enact each of the Standards for the Teaching Profession?"
4. Determine the perspectives/source of evidence to answer this Q.
5.Use suitable processes to gather this question.
6. Evaluate the evidence and what it tell about my practise.
7. Use the evidence to examine whether there is a significant gap between my practise and "good"
8. Answer the evaluative Q by reaching a reasoned conclusion and decide on the next STEPS.
What do effective appraisers do?
1. Focus on student learning
2. Focus on teaching and learning as enquiry
3. Ensure collection of evidence endures over time
4. Provide ongoing quality conversations over time
5. Recognise that the process is led by the person being appraised.
This ensures that the teacher meets the STANDARD.
Watch these videos:
conversations about practise video:
awkward appraisal video:
The importance of Open to learning (OTL) Conversations:
difficult conversations = awkward and can be confronting.
What strategies do u use?
1. Model good practice
2. Give lots of hints
3. Be direct
- tell how it should be
-:tell them the expectations
4.Ask lots of Q's
5. Tell lots of positives and sneak in area 2 improve.
6. Put it in writing...have opportunity to go away and think about it
7. Totally avoid the issue - have a nice chat instead
4 key OTL CONCEPTS
1. Everyone has theories...to effect real change..engage with beliefs
2. We have espoused theories (how we think we act) and theories in use..how we actually act.
3.there is often a tension between progressing the issue and maintaining the relationship.
4. Everyone has a ladder of inference..it makes sense to them
Talking about the ladder of inference
Be open, honest and respectful. Share what u think, the reasoning, see what the other person thinks...check in.
Effective discussions:
Establish clear purpose
Share your thinking
Share your reasoning
Check in..enquire into others view
Evaluate views
Co-construct POA
What is open learning
Suggestion:
Put this template up on staff room wall.
Column 3: WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN OUR SCHOOL?
Column 4: WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE OF THIS IN OUR SCHOOL?
Staff/whole school complete. This will lead to teachers asking the question:
"do I engage in this practise?, What evidence support this practise?" And if the answer to this question is NO, then it can be the "work-on's" for goal setting if it is not happening.
What does appraisal without the arinui tool look like?
1. Must have evidence of improving
2. Goal settings
3. Evidence of goal(s) = achieving
4. Evidence of students' achievements.
5. Evidence of at least 2 observations.
6. Evidence of more than 1 source.
7. Thinking/looking at time (not only before the end of appraisal, but throughout the year/cycle)
The evidence is the tool to connect the STANDARDS with the teachers' PRACTISE.
If you are interested in using arinui head to: www.arinui.com for a free trial
Friday, 26 October 2018
Lots of AROHA for my babies...
Don't you just love working with the youngest students...they are so FULL of energy and not reserved or shy to let you know exactly how they feel.
Had a highlight moment today in class:
We are busy with INTEGERS and I sang the song on my video and in class yesterday :
(ROW ROW ROW THE BOAT )
Same sign: keep and add
different signs: subtract
Keep the sign of the biggest number
then you'll be on track
(and I added)
and never smoke crack..
So today, I gave them a worksheet and started singing, and a few sang with me, to remind them about the rules for addition of integers.
How cool!!! Love my job (especially on a Friday).
Lotsa blessings!!
ps. one did tell me: please just don't sing...hahah
Had a highlight moment today in class:
We are busy with INTEGERS and I sang the song on my video and in class yesterday :
(ROW ROW ROW THE BOAT )
Same sign: keep and add
different signs: subtract
Keep the sign of the biggest number
then you'll be on track
(and I added)
and never smoke crack..
So today, I gave them a worksheet and started singing, and a few sang with me, to remind them about the rules for addition of integers.
How cool!!! Love my job (especially on a Friday).
Lotsa blessings!!
ps. one did tell me: please just don't sing...hahah
Counting my blessings on the second Friday of term 4
All teachers of seniors, would probably understand the emotions surrounding the "final weeks" of teaching our senior students. Some of them won't be returning to school. Some of them are focused and working hard, others have already passed their year level, and are just wasting their time away, others are totally stressed out and nervous about the upcoming externals...I call it my QUALITY STREET moments...the whole MIX, and in South Africa on the smarties box, it says one word: wotalotigot...How blessed am I to guide my students through these last moments of their school year. While I'm sitting here a tear is crawling over my cheek. I am so blessed to still care about my job as much as I do, and yes, I must admit, the special students that I have, make it so much easier to have this LOVE for my job.
It is also the FIRST year of my 35 years of teaching, that I feel my students have all the tools that they can have for preparing for their externals. I have the JOY of putting these "tools" , worksheets, exemplars, teaching videos of myself and other teachers, on their class site. Now, it is the fine line, of revising with them, keeping in mind: Am I doing too much, and they too little, am I leaving them to do it totally on their own, do I spoon feed them if they spend too much time with me?? Do I try and control their learning for the next few weeks up to the external??? In the words of one of my year 13's: I actually feel good about the upcoming maths exams, as I know that I am doing my best, and : "miss this is really helping that we are doing it mostly on our own, and just ask questions, as we go along"....yay yay...hopefully it is working for ALL of them.
Well, at least I know that I've done my BEST, to encourage them to go FULL OUT ! I've put the tools in their shed (class site) and it is now up to them to take the tools and "build" something. I am at peace, happy and content...I've done my part. Good luck to all seniors doing externals.
It is also the FIRST year of my 35 years of teaching, that I feel my students have all the tools that they can have for preparing for their externals. I have the JOY of putting these "tools" , worksheets, exemplars, teaching videos of myself and other teachers, on their class site. Now, it is the fine line, of revising with them, keeping in mind: Am I doing too much, and they too little, am I leaving them to do it totally on their own, do I spoon feed them if they spend too much time with me?? Do I try and control their learning for the next few weeks up to the external??? In the words of one of my year 13's: I actually feel good about the upcoming maths exams, as I know that I am doing my best, and : "miss this is really helping that we are doing it mostly on our own, and just ask questions, as we go along"....yay yay...hopefully it is working for ALL of them.
Well, at least I know that I've done my BEST, to encourage them to go FULL OUT ! I've put the tools in their shed (class site) and it is now up to them to take the tools and "build" something. I am at peace, happy and content...I've done my part. Good luck to all seniors doing externals.
Friday, 19 October 2018
OOO the JOY of teaching SENIORS
For everyone of you guys who are teaching....the Juniors tend to "suck up" all my energy in the period that I spend with them...in a NICE way (I am sure you understand!!!) They truly keep me on my toes, and make me give my 5 cents -worth back to the school every minute. They each assume I am only there for them, and want their questions answered immediately...even if I am already busy assisting someone else. They are super excited, to have my individual attention most of the time, and the coolest thing is, waiting for them after morning tea or lunch, and they come running up to class with all of that exuberence....READY 2 LEARN..
Unlike the seniors, no running to class...a senior will first listen to the video of me teaching the day's topic, and then only ask for support, if they can't figure it out on their own, and after having a korero with their classmates.These moment I treasure like gold nuggets, to see how they support each other, I find myself "eavesdropping" just to make sure that the "correct" information is shared, and that the person who asked the question, understands the solution/or the help.
They (the seniors) support you (the teacher) in whatever you want to try, new teaching ideas, new ways of learning, and they will give you valued feedback. As I often tell my seniors: "see this is why I teach, I learn something new from you guys, every day".
As a teacher it is so important for me, to find a few minutes a day, where I talk to each of my seniors, making eye contact to see how they are and how they are with the new learning for the day. So, to have my year 13's being excited about sharing their learning through making videos, were absolutely "mind-blowing-ly" COOL. What they did, each of them chose a different part of the topic for the external, then they made videos of them talking through all the different examples. They then shared it with each other and me, sharing their learning with all of us. They were so excited to plan, make the videos and then to share it with each other, and to compliment each other on it.
I am so blessed to be a teacher, and to have the opportunity to learn, create and share with my students.
Unlike the seniors, no running to class...a senior will first listen to the video of me teaching the day's topic, and then only ask for support, if they can't figure it out on their own, and after having a korero with their classmates.These moment I treasure like gold nuggets, to see how they support each other, I find myself "eavesdropping" just to make sure that the "correct" information is shared, and that the person who asked the question, understands the solution/or the help.
They (the seniors) support you (the teacher) in whatever you want to try, new teaching ideas, new ways of learning, and they will give you valued feedback. As I often tell my seniors: "see this is why I teach, I learn something new from you guys, every day".
As a teacher it is so important for me, to find a few minutes a day, where I talk to each of my seniors, making eye contact to see how they are and how they are with the new learning for the day. So, to have my year 13's being excited about sharing their learning through making videos, were absolutely "mind-blowing-ly" COOL. What they did, each of them chose a different part of the topic for the external, then they made videos of them talking through all the different examples. They then shared it with each other and me, sharing their learning with all of us. They were so excited to plan, make the videos and then to share it with each other, and to compliment each other on it.
I am so blessed to be a teacher, and to have the opportunity to learn, create and share with my students.
Thursday, 2 August 2018
The video that started it ALL
I have always been a bit of a rebel. So when people challenge me, I usually "fall" for it, as I constantly like a challenge to push me that bit further towards EXCELLENCE. That is why I signed up for the Digitally Fluency course last term, after watching this video, thinking I need something more than just google classroom for my teaching practice. Something that will make my life easier and also make my students' life easier....
So what is EXCELLENCE in teaching then?
"You can not change the hand you are dealt , but you can change how you play the hand." As teachers, our hand, are the students and we need to change the way that we "play our hand". I am sure that all of us teachers, have walked away, after a lesson with the feeling: "aaaaw this did not work, this did not turn out the way I anticipated"...that is when we need to change the way that we play our hand. Working with a new hand daily or sometimes per period, as different students have different learning needs, we need to UP or game, and be on TOP of the changing needs in front of us.
So to answer the question: What is excellence in teaching then? According to me: It is the adaptability of the teacher and to change your teaching style, to suit the "hand" in front of you...I hope this makes SENSE?? (off course ALL the other important stuff, like knowing your topic, and all the other things need to be in place...I am just talking IN CLASS, the "how" )
An example of this is:
I have given my seniors a choice about their mathematical learning pathway forward, from the start of this term. I've put up on my website: 4 different topics. They had to watch a few videos at the start, had to work through the slideshow, and had to look at the assessment, and then had to make an informed decision about their path forward. I've put all of this up on our class site, and they go on at their own pace. This has freed me up, to support them individually, some great learning conversations are happening not only with me, but also with each other. Some of them, still need me to be their on the white board, every now and then, and then we move out of the computer room to the class, but mostly the "machine" is humming away smoothly, with them driving their own learning, and me putting up the work at night. If they miss a day or two, they just continue where they were before they missed school. I've made videos of myself talking through the slide shows, doing the homework, and they love being responsible for their own learning. They can rewind their learning, and at their own pace. They can listen to me doing the same lesson over and over, if they want to. At this stage, it means I am working much harder , as I have 8 topics (4 year 12 and 4 year 13 topics) to do each night, but I know once everything is in place I can just make minor tweaks next year. I've also added teaching videos of other teaching explaining the same work, and different methods explaining the same work.
It is so cool to see them working so hard, and taking responsibility for their own learning in stead of me doing it all on the white board, or by their desks and them copying. Today in class, I had the year 12's in the last period, I took them to class and tested them with a few algebra questions on the white board that we worked through together as a group. It was the BEST feeling ever when one of the boys started RAPPING...'top stays top, outside goes bottom"...the rap that I use for explaining the rule in algebra when there is a surd (he watched a video of me doing the rap on our class site)...that showed me that this method works for them...I've changed the way that I played the hand, and for today: I can go home, exhausted BUT happy!
yay!! I love my job (even after 33 years)
Tuesday, 31 July 2018
Tuesday PD in Kawakawa end of July 2018
What a JOY to start our day with:
the video
Lots of learning has happened today with some sharing perhaps?
the video
Lots of learning has happened today with some sharing perhaps?
This term our focus is: SHARING
SO, we will use sharing to finish our learning.
Our focus is therefore to do most of the sharing of their learning through their
Blogs. Whaea Kerry will be available to support all teachers and students to
WHY EDUCATORS USE BLOGS
The main reasons why educators use blogs include:
- To share information and class news with parents, family, and caregivers.
- To provide students with a way to access assignments, homework, resources, and information about their class online.
- For global collaboration and authentic audiences.
- To inspire and motivate students.
The benefits of class blogging include:
- Having an authentic audience
- Covering new and traditional literacies
- Forming home-school connections
- Covering digital citizenship authentically
- Providing an online home for digital and analog creations
- Developing thinking and reflection
- Building a classroom community
- Developing essential ICT skills
Monday, 30 July 2018
Who, who , who is this person?
Who am I...
I am Whaea Mina,Mrs Voigt or as a lot of students in New Zealand call me: Mama Afrika.
The students who are not in my class sometimes ask me: Whaea, why do they call you Mama Africa?...this is why:
In my country, Africa (and I am from the southern part: South Africa) , this is a "respect - thing". If you have respect for an older lady (one who is not so young any more😜) you will greet her with: Good day Mama... and because I am from Africa...students call me : Mama Afrika. I have a heart the size of Africa, and I love my job and every student in my class, I see as my child. At a previous school my nickname was DAISY, but my real name is HERMIEN, my family calls me MIEN (pronounced mean) or MINA.
I was born during a cold, rainy winter storm, in a clinic just outside Cape Town in 1963. I was the youngest of the family, and my sister believes the most spoiled one. My mom says I was born with a smile on my face, and have always been a happy person. I decided to study to become a Math teacher after I realized that I have the ability to teach my fellow students (at school) Math when our teacher resigned in year 12 and we had to get through the struggle with a relief teacher, who could not help us with our maths.
I lived with my husband and our 4 children in South Africa until 2011. We , my husband and myself, then immigrated to New Zealand. This was the hardest decision EVER, as I had to leave EVERYTHING that I know, my roots, my children, my pets, my friends, my country, my house, behind and START something new, with the faith and dream that it will all work out, and that they will be able to join us in New Zealand at some time.
I love life and believe that Math is a performing art. I live my life with the 4 L's: live, laugh, love and leave a legacy. I am probably the most positive person that you will ever meet.
My favourite mathematical quote is:
click here for the video
Cape Town video
I am Whaea Mina,Mrs Voigt or as a lot of students in New Zealand call me: Mama Afrika.
The students who are not in my class sometimes ask me: Whaea, why do they call you Mama Africa?...this is why:
In my country, Africa (and I am from the southern part: South Africa) , this is a "respect - thing". If you have respect for an older lady (one who is not so young any more😜) you will greet her with: Good day Mama... and because I am from Africa...students call me : Mama Afrika. I have a heart the size of Africa, and I love my job and every student in my class, I see as my child. At a previous school my nickname was DAISY, but my real name is HERMIEN, my family calls me MIEN (pronounced mean) or MINA.
I was born during a cold, rainy winter storm, in a clinic just outside Cape Town in 1963. I was the youngest of the family, and my sister believes the most spoiled one. My mom says I was born with a smile on my face, and have always been a happy person. I decided to study to become a Math teacher after I realized that I have the ability to teach my fellow students (at school) Math when our teacher resigned in year 12 and we had to get through the struggle with a relief teacher, who could not help us with our maths.
I lived with my husband and our 4 children in South Africa until 2011. We , my husband and myself, then immigrated to New Zealand. This was the hardest decision EVER, as I had to leave EVERYTHING that I know, my roots, my children, my pets, my friends, my country, my house, behind and START something new, with the faith and dream that it will all work out, and that they will be able to join us in New Zealand at some time.
I love life and believe that Math is a performing art. I live my life with the 4 L's: live, laugh, love and leave a legacy. I am probably the most positive person that you will ever meet.
My favourite mathematical quote is:
Cape Town video
Wednesday, 27 June 2018
The end of the course, but the start of more great learning
So this is the END...but what a brilliant start to my learning journey. It was a HUGE disappointment as I did not get to finish the exam. There were two parts of the exam, and I did not plan my time wisely, as I did not know what to expect. There were 11 scenarios and I only got to do 4 of them. If I attempt the exam again, I would first finish the things I am confident in doing, try to do the scenarios first and the the last 40 minutes on the multiple choice part. So this day in itself was a huge learning curve for me: The feeling of extreme stress and feeling of time is running out during the exam, made me realize that every time students are being assessed in my class there will be some of them that have a similar experience, like I've had today. Also I had this feeling of I am not ready for this exam, and I hope that students don't feel like that when they enter my room for an assessment.
It was absolutely brilliant to work with this amazing room of such positive people who were all learning with me. It was good to learn about Manaiakalani and the hook of learning, and why we are doing what we are doing, and making this digital journey a "united journey" and that we are not alone on an island, but all together on this island.
Need more:
focus on google exam, as I opted out of using some things which did not apply to my everyday life when we were learning, not realizing that I would be asked to do this during the google exam.
Today I've learnt: how to embed my own screencastify video on my blog:
Need to know more about:
1. spread sheets
2. calendar sharing a doc
3. email notifications
4. subscribe to a youtube channel
My learning as shared with our staff at staff meeting on Tuesday 26 June:
It was absolutely brilliant to work with this amazing room of such positive people who were all learning with me. It was good to learn about Manaiakalani and the hook of learning, and why we are doing what we are doing, and making this digital journey a "united journey" and that we are not alone on an island, but all together on this island.
Need more:
focus on google exam, as I opted out of using some things which did not apply to my everyday life when we were learning, not realizing that I would be asked to do this during the google exam.
Today I've learnt: how to embed my own screencastify video on my blog:
Need to know more about:
1. spread sheets
2. calendar sharing a doc
3. email notifications
4. subscribe to a youtube channel
My learning as shared with our staff at staff meeting on Tuesday 26 June:
Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Rainy days in Kaikohe
Wednesday 20 June:
Gerhard Vermeulen from Ako Hiko Education Programme Lead introduces himself….another South African living the dream in our beautiful Aotearoa.
NIce rainy wintersday to stay indoors and to learn.
Your chromebook ....
Otherwise it is ONE expensive tool. These 4 words should be interlinked..part of the Kaupapa. Deep dive...to help you engage in your professional flow..to be efficient and effective in your workflow.
Tools to help your manage multiple windows and tabs:
Chrome extension: "one tab lives" up in the top of your screen. How to get one tab: google one tab extension
Reminder: the url bar is now called the omni-box
Reminder: the url bar is now called the omni-box
Another extension is: Toby for chrome...can drag and drop any open tabs in here even gmail, hangouts and google drive...you call it workflow, make a new one for your class, with hapara, blogging, etc...make multiple collections for your different parts of the day/life. Recommend toby mini extension, otherwise it opens every time you log on, and can be “irritating”. To remove it from you bookmarks right click on it and remove.
Managing your extensions: Extensity lives in your omnibox (url bar) add to chrome to manage all your extensions.
How to organise the emails: archive emails don’t delete them (communications)
Archive =hide, mute emails from your inbox
Labels = use to organise your mails
Filter = automate your emails to save time
Starring = star emails as important, like a reminder
Conversation view: groups conversations together
Settings
Share part of today:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CHTdQnoeFu0oCXPcVBte0nhzknPehMHW2s0iyKVAckE/edit?usp=sharing
here is our hangout group:
how to put a photo on your blog . Register for the exam before next Wednesday and bring a shared lunch. Brilliant day of learning, thanks to everyone!
here is our hangout group:
Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Taipa Wednesday!!
What a blessing to finally admit that I feel more digitally empowered, and more positive about my digital abilities than 6 weeks ago. To have one of your difficult teenage students tell you: "mama Afrika, you are my hero" because you've posted a video of you doing the homework problem, and they could relate and understand after listening to the video, pausing and trying it...YAY!
School connected because we all belong together...schools are standing together with this common goal. Lots of opportunities to “belong” together and to share with each other because of this common goal. 22 000 plus learners...all with this common goal. Have a shared language and we all paddle in the same direction. Impact on learning, and we all know what it is that we focus on….why and how. The visible nature of learning keeps us connected. We are all talking about the same “things”...share about being cybersmart, support and connections!!
Toolkit: Face to face opportunity, to “learn” from others. Engage with Manaiakalani Site. At a cluster level, connect with others. We will soon have a cluster Up North.
Sites: If you want to “take” something from another teacher’s site, it is nice to send an email when you want to “borrow” something ...It opens a conversation, and a network connection. Usually when it is there, you may use it, but it is polite to just communicate with the “owner” of the site.
Quad connecting: 4 classes connect to each other to comments on blogs, and blogging on other school’s blogs. Build helpful and postive comments on the class blog or learners’ blogs.
All of this helps you to put it out there for your students , for sharing their learning with them.
Why: visible and accessible learning 24/7. They can get onto their learning at any time...even when they are
bored. Rewindable learning, they can go back and watch it again, or try it again or get better at it. Each learner must have their own device. Teacher dashboard. Visible to whanau. Visible planning. Have students put goals up there as well. Who are your learners? Ask them: What is going to hook you in?
Remember the shop window!! It is what is in the window, that will draw you into the shop. Simple is best. Keep fonts consistents...no more than two fonts.
Otherwise students will get disengaged. No more than 3 clicks to get to what they need to click on for their learning.
Buttons:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MyaI08-CQmECRAamd4oB3409si2ajXIF7nLHKSf3gJ4/edit#slide=id.g39f0f8b93c_0_268
I made a maths site for all my students not only year 9’s...how cool is this. I am so extremely excited and so blessed to have Kerry in my life teaching me such cool things;
Wednesday 13 June:
Learning for the day:
Focus for the term:
Term 1: earn
Term 2: create
Term 3: share
Term 4: learn, create and share
Toolkit: Face to face opportunity, to “learn” from others. Engage with Manaiakalani Site. At a cluster level, connect with others. We will soon have a cluster Up North.
Sites: If you want to “take” something from another teacher’s site, it is nice to send an email when you want to “borrow” something ...It opens a conversation, and a network connection. Usually when it is there, you may use it, but it is polite to just communicate with the “owner” of the site.
Tweet and Blogs: Tweeting and blogging are ways to connect with each other and to share learning.
Quad connecting: 4 classes connect to each other to comments on blogs, and blogging on other school’s blogs. Build helpful and postive comments on the class blog or learners’ blogs.
Tweeter for educational tweets: Ed chat...worthwhile looking at : http://www.edchatnz.com/
Google Plus community:
Learning and sharing is supported by the community.
Talk and chalk part of the morning:
Learning about google sites.
Why: visible and accessible learning 24/7. They can get onto their learning at any time...even when they are
bored. Rewindable learning, they can go back and watch it again, or try it again or get better at it. Each learner must have their own device. Teacher dashboard. Visible to whanau. Visible planning. Have students put goals up there as well. Who are your learners? Ask them: What is going to hook you in?
What is it going to look like?
Otherwise students will get disengaged. No more than 3 clicks to get to what they need to click on for their learning.
Buttons:
High school teachers sites:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MyaI08-CQmECRAamd4oB3409si2ajXIF7nLHKSf3gJ4/edit#slide=id.g39f0f8b93c_0_268
I made a maths site for all my students not only year 9’s...how cool is this. I am so extremely excited and so blessed to have Kerry in my life teaching me such cool things;
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