Reflective+Practice+Tm+4

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** Personal Highlights/ Reflections/ Successes. **
• The range of fun activities and learning that the children have been involved in this term eg Connections, Interclass buddies and learning. Nga Toi for the Bike container (now finished) and Sports Day (Hakinakina Athletics/Tabloids at Bridge Pa School) Our Term 4 Inquiry- The Solar System, the learning and engagement in the topic and the trip to the Planetarium New ipad apps (Information gained from #ulearn15 Conference), Trips and connections eg Mayfair Kindergarten whom we visited and visited us. Many more (see in Student Highlights below) •Performing my roles and responsibilities well. Eg Duffy Co-ordinator ( co-ordinating the Duffy Books, the Preschool programme, Grandparents Reading,) continuing contact with Rotary of Havelock North and Books in Homes in Auckland). I have continued my role as Lead Teacher of Mathematics. I have been available for assistance and have also updated the Numeracy wiki on Riverslea wiki regularly with resources, ideas. PLD and planning as well as links to many valuable sites. I have provided resources from PLD sessions I have attended. I have continued my roles as Preschool liaison, NZEI rep and Staff BOT representative, including EEO officer. I have been available for guidance on Wikis but need to wait until all teachers have set up their children's wiki pages to further progress in this area. ( I am available for help in this area also). • Contact with whanau/ parents over their children's learning eg through the wiki pages. Also regular meet and greets after and before school I have recorded weekly/ daily conversations, interactions with parents/whanau about their child over the term. • The #ulearn15 conference I attended in Auckland for 3 days, in the October holidays, in which I made connections and interacted amongst 1,000 educators from around NZ, Australia and USA. Many I follow on my educational Twitter so it was great to meet face to face. The Breakouts I attended were invaluable learning. They were on 1.Using ipads in the Junior classroom and the best apps to use –Paula Jamieson (Apple Distinguished educator at 1 of 2 apple distinguished schools in NZ- Te Akau Ki Papamoa) 2. Agency and Ownership. The why and how. Steve Mouldey 3. Keys to successful school innovation in times of change. Grant Litchman(USA) 4. Teaching and Leadership-Ann Leiberman (USA) 5. The how and why of getting started with ipads in your school and great apps to use-Stuart Hale 6. Modern Learning Curriculum- Mary Ann Mills (Core Education) 7. E learning in the classroom-Graham Flanagan 8. Maori achieving success as Maori –Katherine Tawhiwhirangi & Trevor Bond. ( I paid for this PLD myself)

** Student Highlights/ Successes. **

 * Sports such as school sports, Hakinakina Athletics/Tabloids.
 * Duffy Books, Grandparent's Reading
 * Whanau and Buddy interactions in the school
 * Preschool Visits
 * Visit to Mayfair Kindergarten & students whanau,and their return visit to our school.
 * Learning new apps on the ipads eg Quiver, Explain Everything.
 * Progress in Reading, Mathematics and Story-writing
 * T4 Inquiry (Science) – The Solar System.
 * Nga Toi ( Panels now on Bike Container)
 * Mobile Learning Classroom visit (ipads, computers, robots, google cardboard etc)
 * Jump Jam
 * Writing table
 * Planetarium trip
 * Trip to Skatepark & playground
 * Omnigym trip
 * Firemen trip to R1 (Fire Safety)
 * Trip to new Winsor Park local playground
 * Wet and Wild

** Personal Challenges **
• The disruptive behaviour of 3 of the children in my class. One boy improved and then regressed when home circumstances changed. I have had success with modifying his behaviour most of the time and he has bonded with me. The other two had made major improvements and regressed again at times. Also due to changes in family circumstances. Ones older brother returned to live at home and the others Dad returned to live at home. I am in regular contact face to face and by notebook with their whanaus and have behaviour plans in place. • Keeping up to date with new ICT and changes. Love it but never ending Always trying new things and going the extra mile but frustrating when school systems don't work eg inconsistent or no internet in R1 for 2 terms (T3 & T4) due to inefficient setting up of systems by ICT provider contracted .Even when going to use it in Room 4 find that it is unavailable there at times also., as well as the Library. Most of the rest of the school has maintained it. The internet is being looked at over the Xmas holidays.

** Student Challenges **
•Some children have found the behaviour of a few children disrupting and have adapted so that they ignore negative behaviour and focus on positive behaviour and rewards. This has been difficult at times, but they are rewarded for doing so. •Learning new skills eg literacy, numeracy and on the ipads. These have mainly been positive challenges but the children have needed lots of support. •Responding positively to changes in class programmes to help all children be flexible and be able to learn in different ways.

** Writing **
There has been great progress with most of the children's writing in Room 1 in Term 4.By having a Teacher's aide to help for half an hour the independence of the students has increased immensely. Most can locate or spell their own words. I am using phonics and spelling programmes as well as modelling and 1 to 1 assistance. I have had success with Dave Burgess's hooks for writing such as Mystery Hook and using Imaginative words and props eg using a plate as a hat or a shoe and students had to describe what they could use it for (I was appraised on this lesson by Literacy advisor Anne Giles –refer to appraisal notes on wiki) I will continue to use and extend these as well as use ipads more for writing eg Write about it, Puppet Pals, Comic Life, Explain Everything, Quiver. I have introduced Tony Ryan's Thinking keys eg Different uses eg a shoe a plate, a flying saucer, a hat etc. Most students are largely writing independently as required by National Standards. I got more ideas from #ulearn15 and form educational Twitter connections online. My goal was 85% of students to be at or above in Writing.I think this was a bit high but then I wanted to aim high rather than an easier achievable goal. We reached 79% which meant 3 children were below. One was a special needs child who went from well below to below with support also from a Teacher’s aide under RTLB. Another was a child who was not ready for school. She has undergone an alphabet programme and Early words phonics programme and is now at the stage of school readiness to a start progressing more rapidly. The other child has major behaviour problems, at times,which have affected his attention and learning. He is starting to settle in Reading and Maths and also to some extent Writing and progress closer to National standard in writing.

** Reading **
All the Students in R1 have progressed at various rates in Reading. Whiore is over 1 year above National Standards. Boyden has gone from below NS to at NS. Van Hemara,Hineawe, Maraea, Nevaeyah, Te Orihana and Shaolyn etc are all now at National Standards. Only 2 students are below National Standards. My goal was 80% at or above National standards. We achieved 86%. I take Whiore and Boyden each individually to accelerate their progress and teach to their individual needs. Whiore needs work with story comprehension of interest vocabulary. Boyden also needs to consolidate new vocabulary and reinforce word solving skills as well as fluency. I will continue to take these students individually next year if possible or integrate them in a group in R2 at reading time. Lukus is special needs and is now working at below NS. He is still making steady progress and has moved up 4 levels again in Reading this term. He works with the Teacher’s aide at Reading time and also does Literacy on a 1 to1 basis with her focusing on individual skills. The Teacher's aide also assists Lukus with Writing and he has made progress in that area also. Nga Kaari who was a new entrant and lacked readiness is now moving steadily (see Writing above for programmes she has undertaken to help with Literacy learning) The other child who has major behaviour problems, at times, which have affected his attention and learning has made rapid progress in reading this term in a group of 2 and is now at National standard level.

** Numeracy **
I have continued my role as Lead Teacher of Mathematics. I have been available for assistance and have also updated the Numeracy wiki on Riverslea wiki regularly with resources, ideas,PLD and planning as well as links to many valuable sites. I have provided resources from PLD sessions I have attended. I have completed a Maths Action plan, in consultation with the Staff and based on the Charter target. This will be continued next year ,as this year has been full of disruptions, changes in staff and teachers and a resignation and appointment of a new principal. We have also set targets and will see what needs new staff (yet to be appointed ) have that need to be considered. Indicators of success will be an increase in Maths progress results both at Mid year and the end of T4 in classroom assessment data statistics 2016, and achieving the Charter targets set. In R1 2015 my goal was 85% at or above National standards.We achieved 86% which meant 2 students below. Lukus (special needs ) and Nga Kaari (not school ready). These 2 students will be focussed on as target students to move them in Maths 2016.

** Inquiry **
I have introduced the new children to the process of Inquiry and developed Inquiry with the students that have been at school since last year. We had a very successful Inquiry based on Science-The Solar System which also involved a trip to the Planetarium. ( refer Inquiry T4 wiki thread under RTC thread). I want to further increase the understanding of the Inquiry process 2016 by the students and have them demonstrate that understanding in their work and discussions. This is over a year period (2016).It will be assessed using Solo Taxonomy. The Inquiry process will also be guided. Learning buddies are also being used to help students with this development.

** PB4L/ Incredible Years **
I have incorporated PB4L in my classroom with restorative conversations and community circles being an integral part. It is a well being for success programme that involves positive behaviour. I also includes WITS ( Walk away, ignore, tell someone and make a statement eg"Stop it I dont like it") I find that gives students successfully a voice to express their dislike of someone's behaviour and it working well. We have started using Sweet As Skillls every week to reinforce with the class and school. Eg Looking after our School,Using good Manners. Sweet As stands for - School With Empathy Edging Towards Aroha and Strength' The school undertook a course in Incredible Years (Which I previously had undertaken in 2013 for the year.) This was great to help with behaviour, reinforce ideas and develop strategies. I already use Incredible Years calm down chair and thermometer and visual behaviour prompt cards eg Look at the teacher, listening ears etc. So reinforced and extended these and will do so again in 2016.

** Personal **
I have kept up to date with my personal RTC wiki ( lbennettteacherregistration), the Numeracy thread on the Riverslea wiki, the children's wikis, the website R1 page, Miharo's blog and the class twitter as well as now the school Facebook. I find different parents/whanau/educators connect to different things. This is why I keep up the wide range of sites for whanau etc to view. For PLD I have investigated more new apps for children's learning and have incorporated some of these into the classroom. I still need to continue to reinforce and extend these as somechildren are at beginning stages of Literacy and need 1 to 1 help. I want to keep continuing my learning journey in developing proficiency in using technology both personally and in the classroom. This will include ipads, apple computer, wikis, blog, websites, any new equipment introduced and will relate to both programmes and equipment. I also want to continue to connect with educators around the world on Twitter to develop new ideas and extend my Students learning in all areas holistically. Eg I went to Australia ( July holidays) to attend an educational 2 day summit (Student's Engagement,Learning and Behaviour) which includes "Teach like a Pirate." ( Dave Burgess-American teacher, motivator, author) His books have great ideas on motivating Students and accelerating progress. This has helped increase my students writing progress this year. I also attended #ulearn15 in Auckland (see personal highlights above) I wish to continue this and extend into other areas of the curriculum and holistically. Other educators I am connected to on Twitter include Rich Allen(USA) ( attended his conference on "Fun in the classroom and memory retention" last year in Hastings). Brett Salakas ( Australian founder of #AussieED chat- an Education chat that I go on every Sunday for an hour with educators from all around the world . Examples of topics are : Literacy in the classroom; Coding in the curriculum; Teacher motivation and ideas etc). Also Craig Kemp a NZ Teacher leading ICT in a huge school in Singapore, speaker at uLearn 14 and founder of another educational chat that I go on #what is school. Also Don Wettrick from USA who's book Pure Genius encourages independence and Inquiry learning in Students. As well as Professor Mark Weston also from USA who's book The Learning Edge talks about integrating ICT into the curriculum whilst still maintaining the curriculum and proficient teaching.As well as ways to help students learn. I intend to go to #ulearn16 in Rotorua in 2016 to further connect and learn with other educators (Riverslea school presented at #ulearn13 in Hamilton)

** Wikis **
I have still been available for guidance on Wikis but need to wait until all teachers have set up their children's wiki pages to further progress in this area. ( I am available for help in this area also).I will also assist with RTC wikis if needed. I can help monitor both Teacher and Student wikis, assisting with content, format, adding items to their own or the students in their classes wikis etc