I haven't updated in a while so thought I had best get my butt into gear and write something. Actually, I am just trying to take my mind off reports for a bit.
These things have happened since I last posted.
Mantle of the Expert Symposium - we traveled down to Hamilton, I worried about driving the van and getting us there safely, and home again. Pam and I drove, and we made it there and back just fine. Parts of the symposium were really awesome, like getting to watch someone else use Mantle of the Expert with a group of children, and so powerful! I really liked that. Some of the workshops were less relevant for what I need for my class, but ideas for maybe the future were there, and I will keep them in mind. The korowai idea got me all excited, and when I mentioned it to my class, they were keen to make miniature cloaks that were personally meaningful to them. I have a kind of idea of how it will work in my head, and if we actually get around to making them, I shall post photos of what they turn out like.
Lucky died. This was just too sad to mention at school so I've only told Pam and Yvette, and every time I think about him I feel like blubbering. He was 17 and I guess old age just caught up with him really quickly. He went downhill fast, and I had to have him put to sleep. That was 2 weeks ago and I am still so sad. Now we just have 1 fur baby.
Assessment - I feel as though all I've done this term is assessment! And I've started reports. The assessment results though... wow! I am so pleased with the majority of what my class have achieved. Particularly in numeracy. GloSS results came out with every single child working at or above expected level! So I can only put this down to all the changes I've made this year to how I plan and teach numeracy. The growth mindset stuff, the problem solving groups, the word problems, low floor, high ceiling tasks, 10 x 5, and all the other changes I've made must have contributed to the end results. And I'm so happy about that!
Reading levels have also gone up, everyone is either where they should be or above, and my target learners for writing have made splendid progress (except William), so yay!
ERO are visiting our school this week. They arrived today. The Kapa Haka group welcomed the with a haka powhiri, and the school sang our school song and it was all very lovely. I hope they love our school as much as we do.
I'm going now, my grandson wants to call me to say goodnight - a recent thing he has started doing, and he gets very upset if he can't call!
