Reflections+Term+4+2013

media type="custom" key="22876108"

= Reflections Term 4 December 2013 =
 * Personal Highlights and Reflections. **
 * Positive relationships developed with children and their whanau continued, as well as extended with new children and whanau coming into R2 this term.
 * Continuing to develop my skills in technology, as one of my personal goals. This includes my website page, Blog and RTC wiki and Miharo children’s wiki, as well as ipad. I am pleased with what I have achieved and am continuing to learn. I am learning and extending new skills more each term. I have also kept my webpage, blog and both my teacher registration wiki and riverslea whanau ( children's wiki pages) up to date for 2013. I have increased in class numbers so have had to keep 18 wiki sites updated for the children.
 * Being a part of the positive growth and progress that many of the children in the class are making. I am enjoying developing their initial school readiness and enthusiasm for learning and knowledge.
 * The range of fun activities and experiences that we as a school have been involved in this term. This helps the students develop holistically and it is a pleasure to see.
 * Performing my roles and responsibilities well. Eg the **Duffy co-ordinator** (coordinating the Duffy books, the Preschool programme, Grandparents reading, continuing contact with Rotary of Havelock North and Books in Homes in Auckland.) Others include **Lead teacher of Mathematics,( refer Numeracy** **thread** **on Riverslea wiki ),Preschool Liaison, NZEI Rep** and **BOT Staff Representative, including EEO officer.**
 * **uLearn 13 .** Using the skills and knowledge that I have learnt from that in the classroom with the children.
 * Opening up my wiki spaces for the whanau/ parents to see their children's work.
 * Lots of positive feedback from parents / whanau has resulted as they view their children's records of learning over the year on their wiki.

I do feel that the school could have functioned more smoothly with more team work.
 * Class Highlights. **
 * Sports-School sports such as School Biathlon, swimming, athletics and Beach Education
 * Ipads- developing and extending skills on learning apps.
 * Discovery-Emergency Services
 * Duffy books and Grandparents reading
 * Preschool visits to us and their involvement in school activities with us eg Fun Days and visitors to the school.
 * PMP with Diane from Flaxrock
 * New children in the class
 * Learning lots of new things and knowing that " I can do it."
 * Tuakana-Teina buddy and ipad learning.
 * Disco
 * End of year school prize giving.
 * Personal Challenges **
 * I always try my best and work hard. I offer support to others where needed or wanted.
 * I always try my best and work hard. I offer support to others where needed or wanted.
 * Technology and ICT- mastering new skills and applications both on the computer and ipad.
 * Taking on the new role as SENCO for Term 4
 * Taking on the role of Acting Principal.I found the workload plus running my class 4 days a week very time consuming and at times demanding.

My goals for 2013 are:
 * Class **** challenges **
 * Behaviour of children has been a big focus this term again. I have some challenging children but have made a lot of progress in developing more positive behaviour. However having relievers in the classroom was a bit disrupting for the children and they needed lots of behaviour strategies to help improve behaviour.
 * I have also had a lot more contact with home with the children needing that extra support with their behaviour.
 * Learning new skills eg in literacy and numeracy and on the ipads. These have mainly been positive challenges but the children have needed lots of support.
 * Reflection on Goals **

-This goal also includes other ICT tools, processes and programmes such as new techniques on wiki, and new ICT equipment introduced. Will continue with this development 2014
 * 1.To become proficient at using ipads and an apple computer both personally and in the classroom.**
 * This has been continually developing and varies. A lot of progress and development has taken place, I think, but new programmes etc are introduced all the time. As a result I am continually developing and re-adjusting my skills and knowledge. This process is, therefore, an ongoing one. As I learn a new skill instead of just staying at that I look at how to extend my new learning and also for new things to learn to further develop my knowledge and skill base. **
 * Can be viewed on my teacher's registration wiki and children's wiki pages under riverslea whanau and work I produce. This will be continually developing and updated **.

I have continued to develop the Numeracy thread on the wiki and included and updated
 * 2**. **As Lead teacher of Maths I will lead the Maths programmes in the school and aim to increase the National Standards levels of the tamariki in this area. This will include a charter goal.**
 * -Refer Numeracy Thread on Riverslea school wiki page ** **Riverslea School**
 * Links to Maths resources in Rooms 1,2,4 and the Resource rooms 1 and 4.
 * I have added a blank NUMPA sheet for teachers to use for recording after testing
 * I have included links for maths websites that give ideas, interactive Maths lessons,assessments, games and practice at a range of levels.
 * I have added links to PD from the Maths Lead Teacher workshops which includes ideas and an excellent format for Maths questioning.
 * I have collated and analysed school date from testing end of Term 2 and end of Term 4. We nearly reached our Charter goal from the Action plan, achieving 84% at or above National standards in Numeracy and the charter goal was 85%.


 * 3. Inquiry Learning**

-Develop Inquiry Learning with a new group of children (many in my class have just started school). -This is over a year period and will be assessed with Solo Taxonomy. -The inquiry process will be introduced and guided. - Learning buddies could be used to help children with this development. -Indicators will be the work that the children have done( displays on their wiki pages, videos, work in classroom, solo taxonomy assessments, ability to talk about it).

Children have participated well at Pre Structural and Uni Structural levels. Some children are starting at the Pre Structural level and are beginning to understand the Inquiry process, being new to school. New Entrants are coming in over the year. The aim is to continue the Inquiry process so that most of the children will have a basic understanding of the Inquiry process and progress with further understandings and experiences in this area. They will then participate more readily with confidence. (The charter target for the focus group yrs 4s 5s and 6s was met with 81% of children achieving at or above the multi structural level of Inquiry using Solo's taxonomy as assessment tool.The target was 70%.

Continue with and introduce inquiry and questioning such as Kiplings 7 servants, De Bonos hats, Tony Ryans thinking keys etc -Continue to and extend focus on autopilot for basic skills and continue to do phonics with cards and activities -Introduce and reinforce Ipad learning to help children gain fuller understanding of appropriate apps- with set outcomes and criteria -Continue with writing pad in Printing to learn to write letters in other formats not just books and to reinforce alphabet knowledge - Reading /Literacy -continue reading and writing to learn chn taskboard, ipad reading apps, teacher tuition and guidance - Writing Interactive whiteboard method for beginning chn when ready ( eg writing letters, developed coordination etc). To extend and reinforce independence in this - Older chn both books and ipads for draft. Chn use ipads for spelling also. Also use dictionaries, word cards and sheets to encourage this - Maths lesson with basic skills to teach knowledge and use ipad apps reinforcing criteria and outcomes - Introducing new ipad learning apps and practising. Children to enter examples of puppet pals, Book creator, their work and Inquiry etc on their wiki page with teacher assistance. Continue to do this .Record both child voice and what I did as a teacher. - Inquiry- continue this ( ipads used for searching/ inquiring wonderings, questions etc. Also for presentations.) -Art etc – practise skills on ipad apps such as doodle buddy and others. -Children will be motivated and enjoy learning using inquiry learning to help them learn about areas of interest and education being promoted, as well as their own interests. They will be able to think and answer “ who should I go to or where can I find this out”, as well as where to next? -Co-ordination and skills will improve due to PE, fitness and using the bike track.
 * Next Years goals 2014 **
 * With a much younger class at beginning school levels I will need to:**