Wow! Check out RSAnimate presentations

This, has got to be one of the greatest ways for some people to record some of their learning journal.   I have up-loaded the code for Sir Ken Robinson`s presentation about the shift in paradigm in education, on another blog./www.classblogmeister.com/blog_edit.php?userid=167810.   They are brilliant and better still, very soon they are going to provide a PDF on how they were developed.   You can buy a copy of them on-line as well so I`ll get one of those.
I`m thinking I can introduce them with mind-maps and other sorts of graphic organisers.   I`ll get lots of copies once I get a copy of the original so the kids can have their own.
Brilliant!   I love them.

oooops...sorry!

The folks up the road...8 staff have to go for 5 jobs and 3 miss out.   My apologies for the error.   It does matter.   At the Paid Union Meeting yesterday, managed to catch up with one of the staff involved.   Mmmm...instead of going for a wage increase, we should be working for NOT losing these experienced and in some cases, excellent, effective teachers.   Another Grrrr...

A shock to say the least!

Just heard from a colleague at the school up the road that due to a roll drop, 5 Scale A teachers have to apply for 2 jobs, so 3 miss out!    I think I have those numbers correct.   Grrrrrr!   I know, I know it is a numbers game.   Just got to know some of these girls this year with more contact, travelling to Bethlehem to attend a presentation day of teaching and learning and attending our cluster sharing and presentations.   Yet one more addition added to their list.   Is nobody listening?   Why do governments continue to look the other way?   Education of the young is THE most important aspect of the world`s present and future.   Give them quality, give them conditions that promote quality, give them quality facilitators to interact with and we will minimise some of the social woes we are presently facing as a world.  No quick fix, but we know that if we maximise
learning conditions for children, they will carry their various societies and cultures forward.

The only point that I can offer to those in this situation is to say that you do survive, mind you at the time, you wonder!   Yes, what doesn`t kill you makes you stronger, yes, we learn from experience, yes, yes, yes...
In my situation, I had a job to go to...some of these teachers may not be able to get a job in education...   What if they have family dependent on them, what if they have a mortgage?    My feelings right now, Grrrrrrrrrrr again!    It is not just the financial aspect.   What about moving, changing?   You build relationships and friendships ...make connections and networks. 

Thinking of you colleagues and you are on my prayer list.

Week 1 or Term 4 bites the dust!

We are up and running again, with week 1 of Term 4 gone!   Time to reflect with others about the Lane Clark course and of course, lots of interest shown by some of the teachers.   We planned a meeting to start to "unpack" the stages in her process of thinking and learning.   Isn`t it fantastic that the excitement in teaching and learning is alive and kicking amongst us?    Along with new interest and curiosity, my groups started up and I involved Gever Tulley`s Tinkering Time in the kids options.   For my action research as part of our ICT cluster`s final year, I am doing a study on how oral language can be best be developed in the classroom situations.   The Tinkering Time works well for my obs in oral language of the kids, especially with the year 5 groups members, because they related well to each other and so they don`t get caught up in the behaviour issues scarring the learning opportunities of so many children.   The small motors that I have available for the kids are no longer made...Grrr!   You are so right Sir Ken Robinson.   Creativity needs a helping hand!   All I could get from Dick Smith were pre-packaged kitsets.   I wanted on-off switches...sorry, don`t make them anymore.   However, the Tinkering Time has thrown up challenges to make boats to race in Waitawa Stream next to the school.   Friday`s first race was hillarious...2 of the motors got wet, but we resurrected them and hopefully, they`ll be up and running for next week`s round.   I have to find some more propellers from somewhere so that we can have more effective propulsion.   Watch this space!  

Nice one Roger

What an awesome staff meeting today.   We moved around the room sharing on points that had arisen from Principal-Teacher interviews last term and we shared in ever changing groups our thoughts, ideas and reflections on these points.   I love doing this.   I love the way you get the chance to reflect...these opportunities I relish.
I want to be teaching for another 40 years...I want to take on more learning about learning.
My Mum said to me the other day, "you enjoy learning still don`t you?"   A

Lane Clark - What an amazing educator, researcher, teacher...and so on!

Man, did I love the 2 day presentation by Lane Clark or what?   It was gobsmacked with what she shared with us.   Unbelievable.   She must really be about 100 years old for all of the work she has done on learning, thinking, assessment etc.   I did in fact, come home from her presentations and I read her book on assessment `til 2.00am the following morning.  I felt I had to get my head around the concepts she had introduced us to and I`m glad I did.    Was so tired the next day but so excited and enthused and just, over the top with thoughts and ideas...   Is anyone else out there as excited as I am about this?   What do you think of her thinking?
I reckon we should get together as a cluster of schools to get this into our schools.  It is revolutionary!