Joanna Wilcox conducted an inquiry in 2016 to explore how knowing learners, explicit teaching, promoting future-focused thinking skills, and self-managing learners could raise achievement levels, especially for Māori and Pasifika students. In Term 1, she focused on getting to know her target students' backgrounds and families. She also discussed with students what it means to be a learner and how they can help each other learn through activities exploring learning behaviors. Formative assessment, goal setting rubrics, and learning conversations helped shift her students' understanding of learning.
Literacy Stories: Readers and Writers at Work K-3.
Focus on redesigned curriculum, inclusion for all in a meaningful way, assessment to inform our teaching, working together. Stories collected from BC primary classrooms.
Langley 3 Igniting a Passion for LiteracyFaye Brownlie
Tonight's focus is redesigned curriculum planning, using loose parts in different ways, a structured, teacher-guided inquiry, and a lesson sequence to support students in creating more thoughtful on-line responses.
2nd in 3 day series, The Redesigned Curriculum, a home for quality teaching and learning. AFL, whole class vignettes from gr 1-10, focus on thinking, engagement, some core competency reflections.
Literacy Stories: Readers and Writers at Work K-3.
Focus on redesigned curriculum, inclusion for all in a meaningful way, assessment to inform our teaching, working together. Stories collected from BC primary classrooms.
Langley 3 Igniting a Passion for LiteracyFaye Brownlie
Tonight's focus is redesigned curriculum planning, using loose parts in different ways, a structured, teacher-guided inquiry, and a lesson sequence to support students in creating more thoughtful on-line responses.
2nd in 3 day series, The Redesigned Curriculum, a home for quality teaching and learning. AFL, whole class vignettes from gr 1-10, focus on thinking, engagement, some core competency reflections.
Part of the Love to Learn campaign co-organised by Bring Me A Book and the Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation, these slides are from Mr James Henri's presentation, "Creating A Learner's Paradise", held in Hong Kong in June 2013
Literacy for All. Second in a 3 part series. Implementation of 'Every Child, Every Day', working with the core competencies, engaging all learners. How do we best work to include all leaners? K-7.
A brief overview of 'Every Child, Every Day' and its implications for vulnerable readers. Including a whole class lesson on making thoughtful connections.
BJF.Delta.Nov Redesigned ELA Curriculum K-3Faye Brownlie
An evening in Delta, supported by the Barbara Jarvis Foundation, with K-3 teachers and led by myself, Lisa Schwartz and Michelle Hikida. Focus on explicit teaching of reading strategies in whole class, small groups and individually, and on building a literacy community of readers who belong, read and think about big ideas in a 2/3 class.
2nd in the series, Igniting a Passion for Literacy, K-7. Focus on writing and writers' workshop - K, building criteria sequence for 3-7, 1/2 writing after a mentor text. Connected to Big Ideas of English Language Arts curriculum.
Strategies to support quality teaching across the curriculum, especially in intermediate and secondary classrooms. Thursday evening and Friday sessions.
Full day session, K-7, on differentiation in Language Arts. Focus on engaging ALL students in meaningful, purposeful reading, writing, speaking and listening, in such a way as to support their learning and their joy in learning.
Leaders of Learning: BC stories of inspiration, change, and challenge. Keynote address at Primary Teachers Convention in Nanaimo. BC stories of teachers working to include all students in meaningful literacy actives, guided by the redesigned curriculum.
This is a workshop to demonstrate how riveting motivating students in the interlearning process is. Just some aspects to be considered in the classroom management
Third day in a 3 part series, K-3, focusing on quality teaching K-12, using the frameworks of UDL and BD. Sequences from physics, gr 4/5 math and language arts, gr 1 writing, gr 10 English, images into reading.
Part of the Love to Learn campaign co-organised by Bring Me A Book and the Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation, these slides are from Mr James Henri's presentation, "Creating A Learner's Paradise", held in Hong Kong in June 2013
Literacy for All. Second in a 3 part series. Implementation of 'Every Child, Every Day', working with the core competencies, engaging all learners. How do we best work to include all leaners? K-7.
A brief overview of 'Every Child, Every Day' and its implications for vulnerable readers. Including a whole class lesson on making thoughtful connections.
BJF.Delta.Nov Redesigned ELA Curriculum K-3Faye Brownlie
An evening in Delta, supported by the Barbara Jarvis Foundation, with K-3 teachers and led by myself, Lisa Schwartz and Michelle Hikida. Focus on explicit teaching of reading strategies in whole class, small groups and individually, and on building a literacy community of readers who belong, read and think about big ideas in a 2/3 class.
2nd in the series, Igniting a Passion for Literacy, K-7. Focus on writing and writers' workshop - K, building criteria sequence for 3-7, 1/2 writing after a mentor text. Connected to Big Ideas of English Language Arts curriculum.
Strategies to support quality teaching across the curriculum, especially in intermediate and secondary classrooms. Thursday evening and Friday sessions.
Full day session, K-7, on differentiation in Language Arts. Focus on engaging ALL students in meaningful, purposeful reading, writing, speaking and listening, in such a way as to support their learning and their joy in learning.
Leaders of Learning: BC stories of inspiration, change, and challenge. Keynote address at Primary Teachers Convention in Nanaimo. BC stories of teachers working to include all students in meaningful literacy actives, guided by the redesigned curriculum.
This is a workshop to demonstrate how riveting motivating students in the interlearning process is. Just some aspects to be considered in the classroom management
Third day in a 3 part series, K-3, focusing on quality teaching K-12, using the frameworks of UDL and BD. Sequences from physics, gr 4/5 math and language arts, gr 1 writing, gr 10 English, images into reading.
Day 1 of 3 day series. What counts in effective literacy instruction? How does this match the BC Ministry Definition of Literacy? What does this look like in the classroom? What do you want to hold on to, what to let go of? 2 keynotes, with breakout sessions.
The final half day session of a conversation with intermediate and secondary teachers on how to support the development of readers with content texts and narrative texts. Samples from Richmond, Prince Rupert and Smithers.
A workshop hosted by the South African Journal of Science aimed at postgraduate students and early career researchers with little or no experience in writing and publishing journal articles.
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Francesca Gottschalk - How can education support child empowerment.pptxEduSkills OECD
Francesca Gottschalk from the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation presents at the Ask an Expert Webinar: How can education support child empowerment?
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
A Strategic Approach: GenAI in EducationPeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
Model Attribute Check Company Auto PropertyCeline George
In Odoo, the multi-company feature allows you to manage multiple companies within a single Odoo database instance. Each company can have its own configurations while still sharing common resources such as products, customers, and suppliers.
2. BIG IDEA:
This year I intend to explore the notion that knowing the learner, teaching in an
explicit fashion, targeting future focused thinking skills and promoting self-
managing learners will help raise levels of achievement in all learners but
especially my target group of Maori and Pasifika children.
3. Rationale 1: Current trend in education whereby:
● Schools should now be focusing on Future Focused Learning. Our world has changed. Our
children will need thinking skills to navigate this change.
● Knowledge can come to you anywhere, such as streaming media - we don’t need bricks and
mortar to achieve this.
● Big changes that have been driven by changing technology including the change from film
cameras to digital cameras, the move from dvd’s to digital files, the decrease in hard-copy
newspaper readership in favour of online news and the decline of home landline telephones in
favour of cellular phones and smartphones.
Refer: Tony Wagner - Harvard Professor of Innovation - Future Focused Learning
Sugata Mitra TED Talk 2013 - The Future of Learning. The revolution in learning from the Victorian
model of teaching to the modern day.
Why did I choose these ideas to study?
4. Rationale 2: Future Focused Learning:
● Economist intelligence, survey of options/problem-solving is needed in order to create
● Schools need to promote higher-level thinking/entrepreneurial thinking not knowledge-based
regurgitation
● The Learner needs to know why they are learning and how to learn-AFOL
● Time to explore - Children need to spend time solving a problem. Problem solving should now
be priority learning
5. Rationale 3: Knowledge is a commodity
● Affordance - this is an architectural term, and a great model of thinking to explore
● Creativity - Is not just art, but higher-order thinking
Refer: Julie Atkin - Vision and Values Document
● Connections to community are vital (imperative to know social/cultural backgrounds of the
learner)
● Ensure authentic learning is based on the individual (know your learner)
● Promote Ako - where children teach each other
● Allow for exploration of their thinking/creativity - trial of Must-do’s/Can do’s
6. Rationale 4: Effective Pedagogy - ‘What is good teaching?’ - John Hattie
Refer: John Hattie - What is good teaching?
Refer: John Hattie: Why are so many of our teachers and schools so successful?
● Activate the other ‘30’ teachers (other children) and move away from the teacher as the only
source of knowledge
● Peer tutoring is particularly effective with Maaori and Pasifika children
● Specific and direct instruction is also particularly effective with Maaori and Pasifika
● Practicing/revising/refining thinking is encouraged
● The most powerful teachers reflect on their own teaching and learning - “Now What?”
7. Rationale 5: Strategies To Promote Higher-Order Thinking/Improve Results of
Target Children
● ‘Snowballing’ = Pause, Paraphrase, Probe - inquire, clarify
● Power of Languages/Empower other children as teachers e.g. When a child speaks, say to
another: ‘What are some of your ideas? What do you think of that?’ This encourages thinking
about thinking which is metacognition.
● Implement - ‘Turn and Tell Your Buddy..’
● Implement - ‘Learning Buddies’ where children learn from each other
● Implement - ‘TAPS’ = Think-Aloud-Problem-Solving
● Implement - Specific Rubrics for skill building
8. Rationale 5: Strategies To Promote Higher-Order Thinking/Improve Results of
Target Children (contd)
● Have very clear W.A.L.Ts and Success Criteria for each lesson and skill
● Encourage multi-solution problem solving
● Use graphic organisers like: PMI charts to promote thinking.
● Questioning - Promote Children asking other children questions not just teacher-student
interactions. Teach specific questioning phrases.
● Promote expanding memory - play matching and recognition games, also ‘KIMs Game’ and use
B.Brann building block cards to promote improved memory and cognitive skills.
Refer: David Sousa ‘Make learning memorable and fun’
9. What will my target children need?
According to research, my target children will progress further with very explicit, clear teaching.
They will need a good understanding of:
● Why we are at school?
● What is learning?
● What does a good learner look like? Sound like? Do?
● What are learning intentions?
● What does WALT mean?
● How will we know we have done this?
● What will we do next?
● How could we make it better?
● Clear steps to learning and a knowledge of where to next?
10. What will I need?
I will need:
● A good understanding of the target children , their families and their backgrounds
● To explicitly teach behaviours around learning buddies and oral feedback with buddies
● To teach and model what a question is and how to ask a question and wait for an answer
● To link learning clearly to personal experiences and don’t teach isolated lessons e.g., use
the same word for the reader in oral language and in writing and in cut up sentences and
playdough activity
● To repeat, revisit and link learning to previous days
● To give ample opportunity for thinking, exploring, practising and changing
11. I will approach this by trialling the following each term
Term 1
● Afol - Why are we here? What is a learner? How do we help each other to learn? How do I
learn?
○ Rubrics
○ Skills, steps/rockets for learning
● Managing impulsivity (Art Coster)
● Perseverance (Art Coster)
http://assessment.tki.org.nz/Assessment-in-the-classroom/Assessment-for-learning-in-
practice/Clarity-about-the-learning
12. I will approach this by trialling the following each term
Term 2
● Learning buddies
● What is a question? How do I ask questions?
● Think, pair, share
● Wait time
● Future focussed problem solving. What is the problem? How can we solve it?
● Can do’s and must do’s
● Is there more than one answer? The first answer is not the only answer
● Discovery time (go into Term 3 also)
13. I will approach this by trialling the following each term
Term 3
● Think alouds - with teacher modelling thinking skills
● Memory Games - Kim’s game/Barbara Brann building blocks for metacognition
● PMI charts
● Independent routines
● Owl/frog
● Discovery time/Barbara Brann
14. Term 1
Action I took (contd):
● We discussed rubrics at the start of every literacy lesson. See photos “what do good
readers do”. “Good writers - checklists x 2”
● These individual rubrics were also included in every child’s ABC book and sent home
● A fair amount of time was spent clearly and explicitly reviewing our photos, rubrics and
daily WALT
● I also took photos of children who were showing great practise/explicit actions in literacy.
These were displayed. See photos of Dan, Sophie, Isileli
15. Who is Targeted?
My target children are:
● Isileli Mamatuki (Tongan - low reading and writing)
● Kaiva Etuati (Samoan - low reading and writing)
● Arjun Bal (Samoan/Maori - low reading and writing)
● Jayden Herewini (Maori - low reading and writing)
● Piripi Hawkins (Maori - low reading and writing)
16. Term 1
Goal 1:
To find out about the backgrounds and whanau/aiga/famili of my target students
Action I took:
● Personal phone calls to introduce myself
● Face to face meetings
● 1 home visit (I left with a bag of potatoes!)
● “Getting to know you” sheet sent home in cartoon form which was funky, accessible and
easy to read (see evidence criteria)
● Mihi and opportunity to share whakapapa given (Piripi returned with several A3 sheets of
his lineage)
● Photographs of each child taken Greetings from their special country added and displayed
with map
18. Term 1
Gallery wall:
The back wall of the classroom is devoted to display each child’s personal choice of work and
art. They added family photos, art, maps, feathers, rosary beads, tickets from family outings,
catalogue flyers of favourite toys, etc.
19. Term 1
Reflection:
The families and children were proud to share their whakapapa. Some parents did a project
with their child and put significant effort into presenting them, which was a pleasant surprise.
The gallery wall has been a huge hit and most successful. I have been able to see different
personalities and backgrounds and personalities emerging. I love how little plastic bags of
shells, feathers, rosary beads and a Niuean necklace found their way to our wall. I plan to use
this all year.
With the rigorous individual testing and the whanau contact, I now feel I have a great platform to
work from. I feel confident that I “know my learner”
20. Term 1
Goal 2:
To discus AFOL - Why are we here? What is a learner? How do I learn? How do we help each
other to learn?
Action I took:
● We explored and discussed the questions above drama and role play and I took photos of
what Room 8 thought great learning was. These were displayed
● We made a variety of bugs and worked out “what bugs us when we are trying to learn?”
● We learned about what a WALT is
● I shared the reading rocket (see photo) to show where we need to be at 6 years old
● Each child had an individual rocket in their ABC books with highlighted next steps for
them (depending on where they were on the ready to read colour wheel)
21. I will approach this by trialling the following each term
Term 4
● Self-managing learners
● How to blog (personal goal)
● Involving the students in their own learning/constantly checking in on making connections
to prior learning/always asking why are we learning this?
● Thinking dispositions/what do good learners use?
● Tying all Inquiry together and evaluating success
22. Term 1
Reflection:
I proved that formative type assessment, explicit goal setting rubrics and plenty of Learning
conversations with questions like “What do you think you are learning?” and “How will you know
you have learnt it?” does shift learners.
As well as the hard copy evidence of “good readers” poster and “good writers” poster all
strategies tried gave very clear, methodical steps to learning .I felt my target group could easily
articulate what good readers do and show me the photos of this. It was useful to begin each
group session with looking at these pictorial steps.
However due to the nature and personalities in our class, I felt I needed to introduce:
a) A plenary system like the OWLS to check understanding
b) Managing impulsivity/perseverance from Art Coster
We also modelled and role played often, eg: I would stop the class often, to highlight children
who were showing perseverance etc. I was trying to target Isileli, Kingston and Kaiva who did
not persist with a task.
23. Term 2
Goal:
To promote self-managing learners by shifting the reliance on the teacher to the other “26
teachers in the room” (i.e their peers)
Action I took:
● I introduced “learning buddies” which we changed every 3 weeks
● We modelled lots of scaffolded speech (even how to sit -knee to knee” and “eye to eye”
and how to look a the speaker. We modelled how to say something and then wait for their
buddy to have their turn
● I introduced and reinforced learning and language like “WALT”, “success criteria”,
“feedback”, and “rubrics”.
● We practised sitting knee to knee and eye to eye and asking a simple question with wait
time for answers (in other contexts) e.g., What did you have for breakfast? How do you
spell your name? What do you do after school?
24. Term 2
Action I took (contd):
● Photos of listening buddies were used and displayed
● We moved to encouraging student-generated questioning e.g., What did you like about
your book?
● I gave lots of encouragement to students finding their own answers
● I talked about learning buddies at the start of every lesson when I explained “Must do’s”
and “Can do’s” (read further for elaboration)
● I stopped the class and had buddies ‘reply and role play’ their actions. If I noticed buddies
discussing their learning, we unpacked why that was good
● Next, I refered learning buddies to our pictorial rubrics (from Term 1) e.g., What do good
readers do?, writing checklists and maths rockets
● I encouraged learning buddies to discuss what their next learning step was
* Refer to: Reading on the theory - Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development “there is
more effective learning with support of others”.
25. Term 2
Reflection:
I tried hard to focus on promoting self-regulated learners and how our learning buddies could
help us just as much as a teacher.
I needed to be aware of social, emotional, cultural and academic needs, so I decided to match
learning buddies myself, rather than let the children choose.
Learning about ‘what is a question’ was tricky at first for some children who just wanted to ‘tell’.
Having a learning buddy dramatically reduced the number of interruptions in small group work
Children felt empowered and enjoyed walking around with their rubrics and checklists. They
loved discussing where they were up to and giving their partner a tick.
I felt it improved my target children’s sense of self worth in that it motivated them to stay on
task more as they knew what they were doing and why.
26. Term 2
Reflection (contd):
The children enjoyed buddy reading and requested to do it.
Having our peers monitor and check in on our rubrics motivated my target children (and the
whole class) to stay on task. The questioning helped the buddy to dig deeper and explain why
they were doing something.
It was empowering for the children and rewarding for me to see 5 year olds be so explicit and
aware of their learning steps.
27. Term 2
Second action: Must do’s and can do’s
● These were introduced as pictures after a brainstorm about what might help us practise
our learning.
● The pictures were then also colour-coded with coloured spots to further show what was a
must do and what was a can do
● Children could then clearly discuss with their buddy what their must and can do’s were for
each subject including reading, writing and maths
28. Term 2
Reflection:
● Giving choices and letting children regulate how long they spent doing must do’s before
they could do can do’s was a refreshing change from me constantly monitoring and
moving groups around a taskboard. There were natural consequences if it took too long!
● Also it gave more opportunities for interaction and mixing of ability groups. Eg: a reader
from Red group might easily find themselves at the play dough table with someone much
more capable from the Orange group.
● I could also allow for children who wanted to spend time and explore an activity at length.
● There was also an element of accountability eg: A buddy would quickly make sure you
had done your “must dos” if they found you on the last ipad available! Refer photograph
Must do/Can do
● I think 5 year olds SHOULD be encouraged to have a choice in their learning activities.
29. Term 2
Third Action: Goal
To explore “What is a problem?”
Action I took:
● We discussed the question and role played some scenarios together so that the problem
of a ‘problem’ was understood
Example 1: We all went on a mimed walk around the room with our lunch boxes. A
big bear came. We got scared. Our lunchbox dropped. “Oh no, we had a problem
because our yoghurt spilled out.”
Example 2: We were reading our reader. We turned the page. “Oh no, we had a
problem. There was a big hard word.”
● Once the concept of a problem was understood, we discussed solutions. We talked about
how there is not just one way to solve a problem, there are hundreds.
30. Term 2
Action I took (contd):
● Learning partners/buddies were encouraged to come up with solutions. We celebrated
diversity of answers.
Good thinkers chart
31. Term 2
Reflection:
● The language of being a problem solver is now firmly engrained. I stopped the class at
every opportunity to share if people had solved a problem.
● I modelled problem solving e.g., “Etap wouldn’t open for morning roll. Should I throw the
laptop on the ground? Should I get grumpy?” Then I asked the children for solutions. The
solutions were wonderful and varied.
● My aim was to support my target children and shift them out of the “I can’t do it” mindset.
The goal was to help them see that problems are normal, and hard for everyone, but we
don’t give up. We look for solutions.
● I also wanted to give a voice and a speech structure to those who needed the opportunity
to say “This learning is hard, I have a problem.”
● It has been a successful shift in mindset. A side effect has been to give a voice to others
who find it difficult e.g., Sam who is autistic.
32. Term 3
Goal 1:
To target future focussed thinking skills.
Action I took:
● I explored Discovery time and what it is. “Discovery time is a hands-on activity-based
programme that puts children in control of their own learning. The teacher sets the scene
but the students decide on the action”
*Refer: Discovery time: Developing key competencies through activity based learning
www.discoverytime.co.nz
● I set up an activity space and used the key competencies as WALTS
See photo - We are learning to try hard to do things for ourselves
● I explained the key competency and linked it to Art Coster’s Thinking Dispositions
● We then made sure there was sharing time at the end to say “This is what I did today”...”I
tried hard because…”
33. Term 3
Reflection:
Discovery time is a useful option for ensuring the student is at the centre of their learning. It
was good to link it back to the key competencies and Thinking Dispositions. However I would
have liked more time to investigate this and see how other schools do discovery time. I think
that would have been valuable. I would like to buy the book “Discovery Time” - with CD for
$48.00 by Brenda Martin and Gay Hay.
The process of discovery time did support my theory that children learn best when they are in
control and have a high interest in what they are learning. If they are interested, they are more
likely to ask questions, be more creative, persevere for longer and take learning to a different
level. There is a much greater emphasis on student-directed learning.
I also liked how it naturally led to “Have you had any problems?”...“How did you do
that?”...”Where did that idea come from?”...and it consolidated our “What is a problem” work in
Term 2.
34. Term 3
Reflection (contd):
I came a bit unstuck as to how marry up this wonderful process with shifting achievement in my
target children. I will need to discuss this with Judith but I can see how the process empowered
the learner. Isileli, Arjun and Jayden were great problem solvers. I can also see how this
process will support the child for self-directed learning.
I am wanting to explore how to use this process with literacy? Can it be connected to must and
can do’s? It does have natural links to improving oral language and I like the links it has to “Te
Whaariki” and the open-ended experiences initiated by the spontaneous creative activity.
I also appreciate the solid theoretical base behind discovery time. Refer: “Boys need more time
to play” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmHWjCL_inc
35. Term 3
Reflection (contd):
Refer: Dockett Sue - Australia https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/inform
Art Coster - “Assessment Strategies for Self-Directed Learning [Sage Publications]
In conclusion, I want to continue to explore this by:
a) Viewing planning sheets for discovery time and viewing possible activities
b) Viewing other schools in action
c) Exploring how this could be used to support literacy enhancements
This enquiry remains open!
36. Term 3
Goal 2:
To strengthen memory pathways for my target children.
Action I took:
● To explore and research “a child’s working memory”. How do we hold on to and work with
information stored?” Children use working memory to learn and follow directions
● Is it possible to ‘boost’ s child’s working memory in daily life?
● I researched and implemented some fun activities that worked on visualisation skills. I
encourages children to create a picture in their minds of what they had just read. I
encouraged mental pictures. We called this “thinking bubbles on our mind’s T.V.
● Next we progressed to writing basic sight words in colours and get the child to visualise
the letter and the colour on their “mind’s T.V.”
● We learnt some key words in this fashion. We practised key words at the start of a group
reading session using this technique.
Refer:https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/learning-at-home/homework-study-skills/8-working-memory-
boosters
37. Term 3
Reflection:
Practising ‘active reading’ and visualising was very effective and it helped with reading
comprehension. Learning key sight words by coloured letters ‘imaged’ on our mind’s T.V. was
an effective strategy that supported my target students.
I want to further explore some memory enhancers. My ideas include making it multi sensory (we
already make play dough words, but what else could we do?). Could we continue to make
connections with rhymes and mnemonics or cultural themes?
Currently, I use elements like b.e.c.a.u.s.e. (big elephants can always use small elephants).
Maybe this could be cultural or be a song?
38. Term 4
Goal 1:
To bring all of these enquiry strands together with my body of evidence and research of current
pedagogy.
Goal 2:
Did these enquiries enhance and raise the achievement in all learners but especially Maori and
Pacifica?
Goal 3:
Are the learners self-managing?
39. Term 3
Actions:
● To peruse and reflect on my research. I have researched current trends in education and
have provided a body of evidence that relates to the registered teaching criteria 1-12 in
support of these inquiry
● I investigated future focussed learning by trialling explicit teaching models, implementing
AFOL strategies. Most importantly, I have tried to promote self-managing learners.
● I have looked closely a “Strategies to promote higher order thinking” by John Hattie
40. Term 3
Results:
● Arjun Bal: Emergent at Term 1, Orange at Term 4 (up 16 levels). Standards exceeded.
● Jayden Herewini: Emergent at Term 1, Green at Term 4 (up 14 levels). Standards exceeded.
● Isileli Mamatuki: Emergent at Term 1, Yellow at Term 4. He is currently on Reading Recovery
and is being investigated for memory issues and possible dyslexia. Isileli also has other learning
difficulties
● Piripi Hawkins: Emergent at Term 1, Green at Term 4 (up 14 levels)
● Kaiva and Etuati relocated schools
41. Term 3
Conclusion:
Yes! Using pictorial rubrics, higher order thinking dispositions, explicitly teaching how to solve
problems, what to do if we are stuck, empowering the student as a self-managing learner…
...has ALL contributed to success with my target group of learners.
Joanna Wilcox
2016