Talk Moves - Math Inquiry

As part of my professional development programme over the next two terms, I would like to focus on fostering a rich problem based maths programme, using the information that Honor has been working on, problem solving and talk moves.

Since the start of term 3 I have been focusing on getting students into their group work using the problem solving approach and then using the 'Talk Moves approach' to motivate and encourage discussion about the various strategies that were used.
It is again proving to be an excellent way to expose children to new more efficient strategies to solve problems from their peers and for others to learn to discuss in mathematical language how they use their strategies.
Students seemed to struggle when in the mixed ability groups over the first two weeks. As a result I have tried moving back to leveled groups in the hope that I can build their confidence in the language, questioning and overall experience in unpacking and solving problems. The talk moves approach I am hoping can then be transferred to  real life situations as well.
 I  am thinking at this point trying the mixed again later in the term. 
My ALIM focus group of children have made great progress with solving problems in multiple ways. Continued support will see them moving along nicely.

I need to still work on giving that Wait time, and letting all children have success before moving on, even if that means extending the problem time.

Three Way Conferences

Three Way Conferences.

On July 31st and August 1st 2018 I held Room 11's three way conferences over the two evenings where the children came along with their parents to go over the goals they set in class for reading, writing, maths, RE and Self Management. The children had to justify why they had chosen the goal, review with their parents on whiter they met their past goal and what steps would need to be put into progressive goals along a continuum. The meetings were approximately 15 minutes, but we nonetheless managed to have a good discussion about the goals children had chosen and it was sometimes eye opening for the parents. Some children were able to discuss and justify their chosen goals while others had not listened at all coming up with their own goals, many of which lacked any thought.

I was very thankful that David Bach was able to come in and help out with some of the parents, questions were brought up regarding the reports that had gone home. Together, I felt that we were able to alleviate some concerns that both students and parents had over, the change in teachers.

A few things came out of these meetings that I would like to work on.

1. Parents not knowing or using the blog. - after the first evening I created cards that had the information on how to get to and use the blog, and my email. The children that came the first night I handed them out. 
2. The need for on going review of personal goals. - I think we will be placing these goals into their books and need a viable place for them within the class both for parents, kids and myself to review.
3. The importance of the first meeting, although many parents knew me from past classrooms or students, the reassurance that I had their child's best interest in mind was very important. 

Certificate in Tikanga Maori

 Certificate in Tikanga Maori

Dec 18, 2018

As part of my professional development programme this year I have signed up to participate,
along with a number of other teachers, The Certificate in Tikanga Maori, run by the local Wananga.
It will give me stronger an insight into a Maori worldview. Which will in turn help foster a stronger tie
to our cultural history here in Aotearoa. We will be learning about traditions. concepts, values, and
protocols and understand why Maori do things a certain way. It will be advantageous if we could
apply our learning to our teaching, especially of Maori students. We will also learn some
Maori vocabulary.

The first sections of the course involve learning Maori concepts such as whanauatanga,
pronunciation of Maori and various aspects of local tikanga. We will be doing the work for
this course together as a staff at staff meetings and finishing at home where necessary.

I am hoping that this course will help with the pronunciation of words and give me a broader
vocabulary that I can then use to foster a stronger Whanau within our classroom. I look forward
to starting this programme soon.


How I hope to incorporate this in my classroom.

• To use basic phrases within the classroom on a daily base
• Write in Maori on the board
• Learn a Waiata/prayer in Maori for our class
• maybe a term a week and place this on our blog challenge kids to learn/use it a home as well as school
• teach them how to use the translator on their chrome books and try and read more stories in Te Reo
• model that I to am learning and will make mistakes