Sunday, April 28, 2019

Follow up on Math Whizz 2019

Today a Term 1 assessment came out regarding the children's usage of Math Whizz.

What have I learned?
I have analyzed the data and was disappointed to see the results although not surprised. We have set Math Whizz up as a at home structural project and that it is a finished work activity. These were the results from room 3.


  • 12 of my students are meeting the math whizz recommended growth of 3 progressions a week.
  • 11 of my students are investing 30 mins of more in time but less than 3 progressions
  • 7 of my students are doing less than 30 mins of time invested per week and less than 3 progressions.
  1. two of the students who are investing 30 mins but not getting 3 progressions a week are my at risk students
  2. Two of my at risk children are  making their time and progressions.
  3. 5 of my students that are doing less than 30 mins are working at stage 6

What am I going to implement for term 2
* Give out certificates on a Monday for the past 7 days (gold, silver and bronze in number of progressions) with a reward at the end of the term for students who achieve a green tick for the term. (pizza)
  • Give all groups at least 10 mins everyday to work on Math Whizz and on a Wednesday at the end of the day people with 2 progressions go 5 min early??
  • Send messages to my children that are not meeting expectations to motivate and celebrate successes.

* Monitor children who have the exclamation mark (yellow symbol) - these are our at risk children. This shows children who have lots of usage but are not making the amount of progressions they should be. These are the children that I will want to sit with at least once a week in class and work with them so they understand the lesson and can make the progression.

Term 1 results Math Whizz

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Camp - Kearoa Marae in Horohoro

Feb 24th Room 3 Parent Meeting

Sylvia and I hosted a parents meeting regarding camp with a huge attendance from parents. We were able to cover some questions/concerns/ and the itinerary for camp.

Reasons why we want to do this camp are to:

  • To promote student self esteem and confidence
  • To develop class community and friendships
  • To offer alternative learning opportunities
  • To develop student understanding of Te reo and Tikanga Maori

Camp for Me
I love camp as its an opportunity to share an experience with your students it allows us to see a side to them that we might not get to see while at school. We are able to establish good foundations with parents and student.
I always encourage all students to have a go at all activities and make sure I know what I am doing.

Need to follow up on Flax Weaving.


March 17 2019
Today we created our itinerary with the team I am confident with the protocol on the marae as well as flax weaving. I will be leading my team the prayer pre-flax weaving.
I have with the help of Anne Cato, learnt how to print off the medical forms from the edge and have highlighted all students with issues, this has been cross checked with the teachers for any follow up info. Because we are the first group in we are kind of the guinea pigs. I am so exited to take the children to the swimming hole as I have been here with my own children. We are also going to take a eel line and have done some classroom work around this.

Reflection/Highlights
Camp was fantastic, I loved that it was just our class as I was able to spend time with each child that I might not have been able to. I love seeing kids succeed, trying new things and pushing the boundaries. Mr. McMillan ran some outstanding games for co operation which was so important for the bonding of our classroom as a complete unit.

* Lazer Tag
*Every child jumping off the rock
* saying my prayer in Te Reo
*smiles on the kids faces when they took lives off me
* the high fives
* Cooperative games

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

UBRIS P.D.


St. Marys Professional Development Staff Meeting - UBRIS Training

Tuesday 12/19 2019 Room 14

Support Information

This course has been created for schools to help with the guidance and rules for schools to manage challenging student behaviour.Where possible, schools manage challenging behaviour by preventing dangerous situations developing or using de-escalation techniques to calm things down. How we as a school can work together to create behaviour plans for children with behavioural issues so that we never end up in a situation.

Key things I learned:
  • Only ever restrain or touch a child if you or another student is in danger, but before restraint can be used a behaviour structure plan should have been put in place and followed
  • All children that have any identifiable behaviour need to have a detailed plan in place, these need to be shared with all adults that will be working with the child and must be put into action in order to prevent escalation to restraining.
  • When writing up incidents you must be very careful when describing the incident, there must be no emotion, assistance from your team leader or trusted colleague is highly recommended.

Information gained from this session.
TAKE THE TIME TO KNOW YOUR KIDS, HAVE A CONNECTION WITH THEM, KNOW WHAT MAKES THEM TICK, WHAT MAKES THE RELAX.
KNOW HOW YOU WILL RESPOND TO EXCLATING ENVIRONMENT, WHAT ARE THE STEPS FOR ANY INCIDENT
Situations where  restraint  may be appropriate include:
  • Breaking up a fight
  • Stopping a student from moving in with a weapon
  • Stopping a student who is throwing furniture close to others who could be injured
  • Preventing a student from running onto a road.
Image result for functions of the brain on behaviour Functions of the brain and nervous system works - the four levels of higher order functioning in our brains. If we are stressed and in fight or flight mode, our higher order levels of thinking are not functioning. They work like a staircase - we need to nurture the lower levels before reaching the higher ones.Image result for functions of the brain staircase
When people experience stress, the first part of the brain to stop functioning is the frontal cortex - logic, which often then results in flight or fight.
How you respond to a situation will influence the response from the child's behaviour. Use the modes of calming, soft caring voice, breathing through nose out through mouth, moving to a safe space. Follow up with support for student and other staff.
Image result for responding safely
Made me think about the need for reflection and basic teachings of behaviour responses.
Next Steps For Me:
  • Based on what happened last year and this year the need for wellness in our classrooms is paramount. Students/ staff need a time of reflective time were we learn to breathe.
  • Need for calm spaces at a school.
  • Must expect the best and deal with the rest.
  • Understand your support system and look after yourself as well.
  • Identify the children we need to make behaviour plans for. Then create the plans collaboratively, and share as a staff and with support staff.
  • Create a space for children to destress in, and teach these strategies so that they are the first response
  • Have circle time/wellness time to destress, reading, prayer in class everyday

Image result for behaviour iceberg theory Behaviour Iceberg Theory - this theory looks at what we can see on the outside but also the hidden triggers, key point here is that you MUST know your kids and have a relationship with them.

Image result for responding safely
Image result for responding safely