Four Weeks In...

Well we are now four weeks into term and it has started with a bang!
I have been lucky enough to keep my Year 5's from last year which has made a huge difference to the over all classroom management and expectations.  The Year 6's have become the 'go to people' of our classroom, helping the Year 5's adapt to the changes that they face in the middle school.
The Year 5's have found the first few weeks a different experience to what they are used to.  We are trying to develop independent, self directed and motivated learners.  They are slowly becoming more independent and this will continue to develop as the term goes on.
My testing is almost complete with only a few Year 6's to complete running records on.  It feels great to have started 'proper' teaching/learning groups and programme and the students are working extremely well and managing themselves in group situations.
I am looking forward to seeing the development of the students with specific group and class teaching.

ICOT 2013

I was lucky enough to spend the week before starting school in 2013 in Wellington with all of the NPS staff at ICOT.
What a fantastic experience, not only for the conference but also getting to know new staff.
Some of the key ideas that I came away from the conference are:

• Giving students the Independence to solve, know how and where to go to help solve
• When you teach, you are modelling, what it means to be an inspiring adult.
• Live who you really want to be.
• We need to light a fire with passion not with anger.  We need to ignite, not burn.
• Independence in students

Very thought provoking week, makes me want to better myself as a teacher, learner, facilitator to be the best that I can be and see my students be the best that they can be.

2013 'live it'!