Tātaiako

Updated and Edited: Saturday 14th November

"Cultural competencies for teachers of Māori learners"

Learners is about teachers' relationships and engagement with Māori learners and their whānau and iwi...

"Evidence shows that high-quality teaching is the most important influence the education system can have on high-quality outcomes for students with diverse learning needs. Evidence also shows that effective teaching and learning depends on the relationship between  teachers and students and the students' active engagement"

The competencies are about knowing, respecting, and working with Māori learners and their whānau and iwi so their worldview, aspirations, and knowledge are an integral part of teaching and learning, and of the culture of the school.

The competencies:

Each competency describes related behaviours for teachers at different stages of their teaching career, and what the results could look like for learners and their whānau

Each competency of Tātaiko shows behavioural indicators for teachers and outcomes for students.

How Tātaiko is linked through E-learning portfolio:

Throughout this e-portfolio are examples of how my current
teaching practice reflects the philosophy and elements of
Tātaiko.

At the top of each competency shows the links to the PTC (as shown
above in each photo) with the Behavioural Indicators.

For example: If you click on PTC 4, you will see examples
of teacher practice aligned with Tātaiko's competency of AKO
"Plans and implements programmes of learning which 
accelerate the progress of each Māori leraner identified as 
achieving below or well below expected achievement levels" 

Coaching volleyball term 4

In the past 3 years I had coached Basketball, Cricket, Rugby and Soccer. Having previously played volleyball myself, I was keen to put together a school team and enter into the local school competition.

Teaching observations - Deputy Principal 29/9/15

The D.P came through and did formal observations of a classroom lesson. He came through while we were doing a shared reading lesson.

Skipping September

Our school took part in Skipping September in which we raised money for the Heart Foundation. This is us working together in the school skip competition.

Coding

As part of our 'Future Friday' rotation, students are exposed to 3 aspects of ICT; Coding, 3D Printing, and Robotics.

This is my class being introduced to visual programming language using coding software.

Japanese Art

The start of our Japanese art wall as part of our country study.

Singing opportunities

Tapping into the interests of students has provided beneficial when deciding what and how to teach Room 5.

Music and singing is an important part of the kids' lives and they enjoy showing off their talents. Here is a couple of examples from the past couple of years of Room 5. Even though they act shy, they love it!

CLICK ON THE WHITE BOX IF THE VIDEO DOESN'T COME UP STRAIGHT AWAY!

No Diggity - Early 2015

 

Oh my Sweet Carolina - Prize Giving 2014 

Say something 

Kid's Sing Competition - Rehearsal 

Supporting Colleagues

Mr. Rosvall expressed an interested in switching year groups to Year 7 and 8s in 2016. I invited him into Room 5 for a morning block to experience what it was like to interact and teach this year group. He'll be back!

Using formative assessment to create individualised next steps

Part of my early 2015 goal was to record teacher observations and formative assessment data so that accurate next steps could be made for the students.

Anecdotal notes which reflect on teaching of lessons

Suggested next steps

Notes and tracking of progress in Maths lessons

2015

School duties and responsibilities

It is important to take on responsibilities and help out to make sure our school runs smoothly.

Myself and the twins on a Friday morning doing road patrol.

Taken the same day is a photo tagging on the next duty teacher. We have a peg system that is linked to house points that rewards students who show school wide expectations during morning tea and lunch.

Raising 'Below' students to 'At' the National Standard.

Rita Palmer is a specialist in Reading and works with schools and teachers all around the North Island. I requested a session with her with the aim of finding strategies and ideas about how to raise my group of 'below' students to reach the National Standard. I have seen great results on her advice.

Basketball

"Undertake areas of responsibility effectively"

Below is the Year 7 and 8 Basketball team that I take. We have practises twice a week and a game at the Hastings Sports Centre on Thursday evenings.

Working together

"Take all reasonable steps to provide and maintain a teaching and learning environment that is physically, socially, culturally and emotionally safe"

One of our class motto has been "it's about us working together". The aim is to create a classroom environment in which everyone feels safe, includes other and help and support their classmates. Activities which promote relationship building creates this.

Camp Tutira 

Marching Academy

During April, the collage students from down the road came to our school to promote the Marching Academy at their school. A great chance for the students to help and support each other and to work collaboratively toward a common goal. 

Visiting other schools - E-learning

Recently, I requested a day's leave to go and visit two other schools in a different city. They have introduced e-learning effectively into their programme and I was interested in seeing how this was happening and what ideas our school could adopt.

It was interesting to see how one of the schools used 'Google Classroom' which allowed the teacher to organise and email students their work. Commenting, providing feedback and feed-forward was much easier. The class could also work on a collaborative document on the IWB.

Super Sixes Tournament

Last Tuesday and Thursday, I took a team of Year 6s down to the Hastings Sports Park to compete in Athletic and Cross Country events against other schools from around the Hawkes Bay. It was a great chance for our kids to mix with other schools and to showcase their talents.

Technology savvy classroom

As students are slowly being exposed to a technology savvy classroom, I have started to use the teacher Ipad more to replace some of the more conventional methods of teaching.

 Previously, each Reading and Maths group had a large scrap book used as a 'modelling book' in which ideas and teaching are recorded into. The students have access to this if they need to familiarise themselves with what is being taught. I have started to record group teaching using the ipad app "explain everything" on slides.

When the students get their own ipads, this can be uploaded onto individual devices.

Parent Communication

"Engage in ethical, respectful, positive and collaborative professional relationships with whanau (family)" 

Constantly interacting and communicating with parents and caregivers is an important part of the profession of teaching. Not only reporting the child's progress, but understanding home life really helps us understand who we are teaching and how to teach them.

This is our school's version of a 'Home Sample' folder. We name ours Taonga Files (Taonga means treasure). It allows the children to take home examples of their work with progress comments by the teacher with regards to where they sit against the National Standard. It allows for the parents to revise and have a base of something to talk about during parent/teacher conferences. 

On our weekly homework sheet, there is always a message to parents/caregivers and space for them to write back to the classroom teacher. This has proven to be an effective channel of communication. 

Using devices in the classroom to raise student achievement.

" Systematically and critically engage with evidence and professional literature to reflect on and refine practice"

As we start to integrate Ipads into our classroom programme, it is essential to understand how they can be used best with the overall aim of raising student achievement. Below are some readings that have been done to examine this.

Using Mathematical materials

Using materials when teaching maths is important as it allows student to understand numbers and how they relate to each other, rather than being taught a process or a 'rule'.

I hear and I forget 
I see and I remember 
I do and I understand 

Below is an example of students using equipment to understand place value multiplication 34x3 = (30x3) + (4x3) = 102

Example of student work

Below is an example of a speech from our class that made it through to the Senior Speech Competition.

Be Yourself.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, creativity, individual and unique. What were your first thoughts when I said those 3 words? What came to mind? Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, today I will be talking to you about being yourself. There’s more to it than just speaking your mind. And I’ll give you 3 reasons. Difference, courage, change. If, during my speech, I make a mistake and giggle, I’m not sorry because I’m just being myself.

Hi my name is Sky. I’m one of the few year 8 students in room 5 and am proud to say, it is the best class in the school. Not because of the amazing teachers we have but because of the people in there. Yeah our class does argue but don’t all? Wait, no. We aren’t a class, we’re a family. My aim in school is to be and act myself. That is the main reason for my topic. It’s not really a goal because it is something I already achieved, so instead of working to be myself, I like to say “it’s something I’m working for.” Because well, it is. Anyway, enough about me.

Difference. Don’t be afraid of being different. Instead of fitting in, stick out. Instead of trying to impress, do what makes you feel comfortable. Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind – even if your voice shakes. You know? You got to be brave, go against the crowd and prove you aren’t a follower but a leader. In order to reach your destination point, you have to be yourself. What society says is something you choose to believe. The way you do things is not the only way to do them. You aren’t going to get anywhere if you’re only going to put up a façade. You see people, we are all different but then again, we are all the same. But ignore the similarities, focus on originality to attract true friends and family to be rewarded with support not parodies and carry them on your life journey. I know life can be unfair sometimes but that doesn’t mean you cancel your climb, no need to rush just take your time, don’t commit a crime or chase no dime, I know you’ll make it and cross the line, because it proves that you have the strength and bravery that everyone thought you didn’t have. You can prove to them that you are a leader just by being yourself.

Courage. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. But to get it that way, you got to be courageous. Now I know not everyone has the courage to make it that way because you are surrounded by your deepest fears. Judgement, shame, negativity and mockery. You are easily brang down by what one person might have said but you don’t show it. You cover it up with a façade. These fears are stopping you from getting anywhere so you give up. But if you keep your mind on positivity then you will have success on what you were trying to achieve. Think of a way out. Don’t think about how got there in the first place because you already know. Courage is the ability to do something that may be frightening but you know it’s worth it. It’s not the absence of fear but the ability to act in the presence of fear. Have the courage and bravery to be yourself.

Change. Change is scary. Where you’re at now, might not be where you’re supposed to be. You miss 100% of the shots you didn’t take all because you couldn’t change who you are. I’m not saying you aren’t good enough, I’m saying that sometimes changes are necessary. Half the time you aren’t who you are. You’re who everyone wants you to be. You’re letting everyone take control over your body, your life, you. We fear rejection, want attention, crave affection and dream of perfection. But what if you changed? Changed the way you see things? Fear meant need, want meant greed, crave meant leave and dream meant free. Think of it as steps. Need of something new, greedy of change, leave for a new beginning and become free. Free from the lies, free from denies. Free from fake friends, free from scam sends. Free like a bird, free to have a word. Change not for your friends, family or enemies. Only for you, yourself and your mind. Change. Because you never know until you try. People might tell you not to change, all because they like the idea of seeing you now. Change for the better and make people accept you for you.

So, today I was here talking to you about being yourself. Difference, courage and change. If everyone made a change to be their selves, it’ll show how much difference there was to the person you were before to the person you actually are and how you had the courage to embrace the inner you. Change your life, maybe become the first good wife or a chef with a knife. Become the first female prime minister or a famous NZ director. FEAR. Face Everything And Rise. Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. New challenges, new change, new beginning, new you. But can you rise up to my challenge, can you be the person you were made to be? Thank you for your time.

Buddy Reading with Room 6

"Demonstrate commitment to promoting the well-being of all akonga (students)"

Once a week, students from Room 5 read with buddies from Room 6 (Year 3 and 4). This allows both classes to interact with others that are from a different age group and gives our seniors a chance to role model mature behaviour and class expectations.

Oral Language PD - Dr. Jannie van Hees

A focus of our school was to look at developing oral language of our students. Being able to articulate thoughts and ideas in free flowing conversations of learning will give students the skills necessary to help improve their reading, writing and maths.

Notes were taken and next steps were made for teaching practice

.

Kids Sing Competition

These pictures show Room 5 and 8 competing in the annual 'Kids Sing' competition. This was a great opportunity for students of Room 5 to build relationships with each other as they strive towards a common goal.

It was optional to enter the competition and another teacher and I entered our students as the students showed an interest, especially our Pacifika and Maori students. As a result we named our choir 'Pasaega' (the Samoan word for sing).

The hard work paid off on the night as the students won a gold medal and the trophy for best song.



A rusty dress rehearsal.

Student choice workshop.

As part of the Positive Behaviour For Learning (PB4L) team, I ran a workshop for staff which looked at how student choice in the classroom improve the engagement of students to the activity and in turn could improve the frequency of positive behaviours. We looked at a few case studies of other schools and discussed individual practices in mixed teaching level groups.

Mentoring a Student Teacher

In Term 2 I was an Associate Teacher to a student teacher in her second year at Teacher's College. The kids loved being taught by her and she thoroughly enjoyed teaching this year level. It was great to give back to the teaching community and reciprocate the experiences I had on placement while I was studying to be a teacher.


She started with just observing how we did things in Room 5....

Observational notes she recorded.

Continued....
















Then started to do some planning of her own and take some groups.

For these lessons, I observed and recorded what I saw. We sat down at the end of each day and talked through her lessons with feedback and feed-forward given. We created focus areas for her based on this.

She finished her practicum with a visit from a lecturer at the College. The lecturer provided good feedback and a few areas she still needs to work on.

PB4L team readings - promoting positive behaviour

Unit Assessments

Before each term, we write units for each subject taught. These outline the learning intentions, learning experiences and how they relate to the New Zealand Curriculum.

During the term and at the conclusion we assess whether the student has fulfilled the required criteria to meet the learning objective.

Technology

We have a Friday rotation for Technology. Room 5's focus was hard materials. Under the Technological Process we planned and designed bird feeders for Mother's Day.