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Showing posts from 2014

Nostalgia is not what it used to be.Try this activity.

Some e Thing Old ( etools used for more than 12 months) Some e Thing New ( newly tried or recent mastery ) Some e Thing Borrowed (Copied from a colleague ) Some e Thing Blue ( foundational,  traditional) Google Docs- shared editing BookTrack Meme to get Own Blog Started Notes copied in Camera roll and then emailed My own quick challenge. Take 2 minutes to pin  what digital tools I've used. Got to be specific with what I have used. Got to master what works best for me in my classes and in my professional style. I often use PMI charts ( p ositive, m inus, i nteresting) with students about their leaning encounters and journeys. Will encourage others to do this too. 

Fat food and friends

Fat cats, Fat cheek, Fat chance... i have an  issue with the word "Fat". Sometimes, just sometimes teachers have a woeful moment after all the traditional heavy treat foods at a morning tea and as the bell goes for the next class the 3- letter F word is uttered. Fridays are fabulous at our school...we have massive feeds (well i do) and I'm paying the price of a few (actually many) 'fat friends'! I was never really into the coffee and cake routine- until it started, and it is wonderful but i have to exercise self control, caution and remember the golden message...input must equal output. I tell my students to 'Own their Learning and study habits', to "Own their actions" to "own their digital footprints and legacy"...now i find myself seriously needing to own my own calorie intake ...it is so hard....but the rewards are great!  Visiting One Tree Hill College last Friday was a rather fascinating experience. I don't know all the details

Before they all leave

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Thinking about the start of next year seems daunting at this stage of the year- so before your students leave ask them too leave you ( and your room ) with a gift.   An idea gift . Ask your students what they really like and what they would change of they could about the layout/space in your room. Physical environments are a big deal in primary and intermediate classes because that age group spends more time in "home rooms" than college students do in their respective rooms. We value our students and therefor value the environment in which they are expected to be productive and creative. Hillary Swank aka Mrs Gruwell demonstrated that well in Freedom Writers. I was really surprised last year when my students voted for the best idea (which was totally workable) a flag ceiling...not hanging but spread flat along the ceiling. Here it is: Our school logo is a palm tree and they wanted one of those in the room (this was my Year 12 Eng class on the last day of term. Well ino

Continuing the Revolution. #edchat

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It's been two and a half months since my birthday and i'm still enjoying the delight of #edchatnz. The connecting via #CEM has been partially successful for me and the reflecting, sharing and growing that really exploded at Edchat has, for me, continued. I have read every meme and blog that has "fed" into my Twitter and have finally finished and shared my own. What a great sense of delight and need i say satisfaction. I loved the challenge from Tania Roxborogh on English Listserve "be the student-take the exam yourself." I did. And am so pleased i did. Twitter is my best and at the moment my only PLN. It works for me.I do not use or need Twitter as an escape to troll or stalk or hangout with celebrities or bizarre organisations...it is easy and thanks to great advice i access incredible educational and inspirational material. To carry on the momentum this is what i've done/am doing: 1.Watch every video of Karen Melhuish Spencer- who encouraged me

Inspiration

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Many things inspire me...  my Saviour, trees, wind, water, aromatic smells, fabric, smiles on teenage faces, my husband, my girl friends, my generous colleagues, my wonderful sons, Olive trees and pineapples! From time to time an impacting article on lasting leadership and influence- this one is a keeper for sure: http://zite.to/1txF3MD    As a TeachNZ 2014 sabbatical recipient i have been inspired by the sights and sounds of working hour routines- and the delight to be able to break out of the "physical zone" and go places. I've been reading, visiting, evaluating,running and thinking. Creativity happens. Last week i took my son to his Uni lectures, felt inspired to write about a particular tree while waiting for his two classes to finish. My tribute to the majestic tree that screens the Coffee Club on Mission Bay. Mission Bay Maiden Tired, tall, troubled but flourishing... Shadows, shelters, screens massive, old, bulging ro

Trash and Triumphs

Soaking up the sun and on a regular run i noticed two ladies picking up books from the curbside collection. "Ni Hao" i thought politely wanting to ask in mandarin what was so special about the books. I was approaching the famous Eastern Beach stairs and needed to stop before the ascent .  The younger lady offered "these are too precious for my boys not to read, they don't  belong here..." I noticed a range of popular children s titles. Even i was surprised at the amount of books "donated" to the curb. That image stayed with me as i pondered the timeless message " one man's trash is another man's cash.." How often in teaching have you and i encountered situations that were "trash" and later, months, years... something triumphant emerged? There are so many terrific  Trash to Triumph  teaching stories. I plan on documenting a few- another blog. Perhaps it is just me that often hears of other people who talk about their suc

Tributes

Best thing i did after breakfast was go for a quick run. The last lines of two poems I've been crafting finally took root.Here they are...my tributes to the Wind and Clouds... elements in nature i LOVE . CLOUDS Some domineering maestros oft known as nimbus or stratus cloaked in many shades but never simple white, sets or single- sometimes sheets or layers evidence of Nature's finest crafting clustered, stacked they crash,glide,race to be above the land of the long white cloud Aotearoa. WIND His presence manifested it comforts and cools things move-squalls on the sea- breeze blows shadows on the water, from a distance its presence is seen and is soon felt oft IT is spoken of in fear as the cooling gentle relief here can be a terrifying tyrant of destruction there. Wind, evidence of His creative power exhilarating and exciting never one directional always welcomed. My companion!

The mood in the room.

This is my simple introduction to blogging. Somehow just getting started has been daunting. Eek, "just start" is what i often say to my students. Now I'm eventually acting on my own advice. I caught the participants'   readers syndrome at #EdChat14 and then fell foul to " writers block"  for an entire term. Teaching is a moody business. For as long as i have been teaching i have always included "alliterative adjectives" for the days of the week. If i forget this in the introductory greetings my students generally by term 2 will remind me of :  marvelous Monday, terrific Tuesday wonderful Wednesday thankful Thursday Fabulous Friday ( generally yummy morning tea in the staffroom) super Saturday ( for me as we get tons of effective housework done) and Sleepy Sundae (sleep late and have sundae desserts before the main meal - it is the best day of the week!). As the adult in the room I enjoy knowing that i am able to "set the atmosphere