Term 3 Revisited

What went well?

• The children in my class-Their learning is progressing well, they have a positive attitude to school and they make me smile.
• The hockey team-even though we won every game up until the last one, thus coming second, they are a great bunch of kids who improved over time and had such a positive attitude to the game and the team.
• Incredible Years PD-A lot of it is common sense and a validation of a lot of what we are doing in the classroom already. However there is always something new to learn and apply in the classroom and I feel it is having an impact on the way I deal with some children in a positive way. This shows in the positive changes in behaviour from the targeted children in the class. Part of that change is also a reflection of the improved learning happening with these children.
• The Art Exhibition-some great stuff created by the children. Our parents were impressed and very proud of their children's work.
  
• Nicole-a very competent trainee teacher who showed empathy with the children and the ability to take on the teaching role easily.
• Kapa Haka-Our kids looked great and performed well. 

Personal Highlights

• Seeing the 3 target children in my class begin to learn and st art to progress in their literacy and numeracy. They are not there yet as far NS are concerned but they are progressing and beginning to realise that they can achieve.Reasons for this would include the extra assistance they are getting with Talk to Learn and Early Literacy and also some of the targeted teaching I am doing with them.
• Going to California!
  

Could Be Better

• I don't think we put enough into the digi awards and as a consequence the number of entries that have been selected for the finals is small. Some teachers felt under pressure with the art exhibition happening this term but I think also that some of our ICT work did not fit into the categories. We need to talk about this keeping in mind our future direction with ICT and how we see it working in our school.

Looking Forward To Next Term

• More IY learning
• Looking at our future directions with regard to ICT
• My daughter coming home
• Christmas!

Incredible Years

This year I have been taking part in the Incredible Years programme run by local RTLB's through the MOE. It's a programme that focuses on nurturing positive relationships with students and parents to promote academic growth. So far there have been 3 sessions and the overall view I have so far is that although a lot of it is not entirely new and is often what I am doing in the classroom there are aspects and ideas that I can use in the classroom. It's also a conformation of the way my class works and how I relate to the children. 
A couple of points I have taken so far from the programme are centred around the need to focus on the positive and the language you use and the way you use it. A good example of this is  Positive Forecasting that outlines the positive behavioural outcome expected in a way that tells the child that they are capable of achieving it. It is also essential to look closely and analytically at the behaviour of the children who are the focus so that interventions and solutions can be targeted specifically. Maintaining positive contact with parents also plays a big part in the programme.
I look forward to further sessions to gain more insight and knowledge.