Kāhui Ako ki Orewa

10 May 2019

Rāmere, te 10 o Haratua

Rōpū Taunaki Ako/ Learning Support Group

Our Learner support register is just about up and running. Final tests are being done on it this week. It’s purpose is to:

a) have a common place to record and monitor learner needs,

b) collate data to get assistance for our learners,

c) provide quicker, smoother information for transition stages between schools.

All students in our Kāhui Ako will soon be given a letter for permission to be placed on the register – if and when any level of learner support is required. In future this permission letter will become part our enrolment processes.

Rōpū Tuhituhi / Writing Group

During Term 2 the writing group will begin to look at the skill set that students need to be successful writers across the New Zealand Curriculum in levels 1 -5. We will look at the curriculum areas of English, Science and Social Sciences to see the subject specific requirements in each subject area, and the links that naturally occur in writing. Using the Learning Progression Framework to guide us, we will begin to work on developing an overview across levels of explicit skills required.

Writing moderation: Thursday 20th June, 3.30 pm Orewa College. Please refer to last week’s update for details for our Term 2 moderation.

Rōpū Pāngarau/ Maths Focus Group

In term 2, this group will continue the discussion about the maths LPFs. Our goal is to work on understanding the maths progressions, as well as striving for consistency in our maths programmes. At the next meeting, we will discuss and work on the pathways inherent in the 2020 Digital Curriculum. Linda will share resources with the group. These resources will be made available to the whole community as we shift our focus from solely looking at the LPFs, to the digital curriculum.

Rōpū Te Reo Me Tikanga Māori

Top tip o te wiki for normalising te reo Māori!:

Whakataukī/Proverbs

Whakataukī are a great way to integrate te reo Māori into your akomanga/classroom. They can be used to reinforce school values, provide insight into Māori values, reinforce a message being conveyed to others.

For Māori they are very important and a taonga/treasure. These nuggets of knowledge are passed down from tupuna/ancestors from generation to generation to be used to guide our lives today.

Ways to use whakataukī in your practice:

1. Choose whakataukī that align to your school values or growth mindset and allow students to work out meaning before giving them the answers
2. Add a whakatauki to your email sign off
3. Have a team whakatauki a class whakataukī or even a personal whakataukī that you live by
4. One teacher in our team writes a whakataukī on her board and says nothing. She finds this evokes discussion on its own.
5. When problems arise in you classroom, use a whakataukī as a pathway to a solution
6. Use whakataukī to backup a point you are making when delivering professional development

Here are some whakataukī, although there are some beautifully displayed whakataukī online. If you want more follow this link:

He waka eke noa   A canoe which we are all in with no exception	Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa Let us keep close together not far apart	I orea te tuatara ka patu ki waho.mp3 A problem is solved by continuing to find solutions
Whaowhia te kete mātauranga.mp3 Fill the basket of knowledge	Ko ia kāhore nei i rapu, tē kitea.mp3 He who does not seek will not find	Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō koutou.mp3 Seek after learning for the sake of your wellbeing

Pānui ngaio/ Professional Reading

The video above and the excerpts below are from an American teacher, who is also a parent. In it, he reminds us that even though our job as teachers can be challenging, we are in fact making a difference. And he also shows appreciation for all that we do.

A few years ago, my daughter entered kindergarten. She came in knowing letters but that was about it. By the end of the year, she could put together entire words. She viewed language as a playground and reading as a chance to explore a whole world. I don’t completely understand the science of blending and phonics and sight words. But you do.

Miraculously, millions of students learn to read every day.

Because of a teacher.

There’s a maths teacher who has a room full of kids started the year saying that they’re “just not good at maths.” But now they are geeking out over ways to solve complex problems. They are learning that math can be creative and even fun. And they will become problem-solvers.

Because of a teacher.

There’s a science teacher who inspires her students to chase after their questions and on one afternoon they were so excited about their experiments that they didn’t even notice the bell ring. They will become scientists.

Because of a teacher.

There are history teachers who inspire students to capture history and a group of PE teachers who will encourage kids to get more active and think about their health. There are technology teachers who will help kids send their work to the world and fine arts teachers who help kids find their creative voice. There are foreign language teachers who are helping kids communicate globally and careers teachers who will help prepare kids for all kinds of jobs.

There’s a special education teacher inspiring her kids to do things that once seemed impossible. She’s building partnerships with the families out of a belief that all children can learn.

So, if you’re a teacher, I just want to say thank you for all you do even when the job is challenging and exhausting. You’re making a huge difference. Every single day.

Ngaio pukapuka kōrero/ Professional Development

INTERFACEXpo is a free event for people who make and influence the decisions about the direction and implementation of digital technology solutions at their school. To register your interest to attend the Auckland event in 2019, fill in your details below.

Link to register here

To keep up to date, follow us on our Kāhui Ako website: https://orewakahuiako.com/

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