Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Transform ourselves...

If we transform ourselves, we have the potential 
to change the world.
Laura van Dernoot Lipsky

A MAGIC day in class...

Sometimes you have an experience that you just have to blog about...

Recently I spent time in a class who are working 1:1 on iPads.  They have the most amazing flexible learning space and they are working on individualised learning programmes.  

I have made no secret of the fact that I believed 1:1 devices could cut down on the collaboration, interaction and discussion in the learning journey.  I now find I am more open and welcoming of the opportunities 1:1 affords.

I was very pleasantly surprised to experience: modelling; sharing; teaching; learning; challenging; justifying; questioning; inquiry; searching; summarising; and oh, so much more...

I was able to talk to a number of learners and hear their reflection on their journey.  These learners were clearly able to articulate their privilege; their choice of own pace learning; ubiquity of access; ability to work in high trust environment; opportunities for instant access to learning support; ability to record and re-visit learning; built in breaks... and much, much more.  

I am aware that this has most definitely not happened by chance or happened overnight... This programme is inspired by an enthusiastic, passionate teacher who is travelling a very exciting journey with these learners.

I will follow this journey with incredible interest as we journey a very exciting learning time for our students!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Queenstown MAGIC!


Sharing the snow experience…

Last night it was snowing heavily as I drove into Queenstown and I woke up to a white blanket wrapping the town in its freezing hold! 
Schools are closed and roads home are closed and south to the school I was to be in tomorrow are closed, so here I stay.
The true benefit of a fully blended work role meant I was able to work away and enjoy the beauty of this place.
Late in the day I had the privilege of tweeting a school in Auckland with some photos and skyping a class.  This was amazing as I was able to share with them the look and feel of the snow… even showing them snowball throwing…

I promised them snowman photos so set off to walk downtown not wanting to risk driving the rental car… Well, about two blocks along and the slope became unmanageable… boots and snow – not a good mix!  A taxi ride downtown and off I set in hunt of snowmen… I had limited success, but did find a cute little snow family keeping an eye out from the Queenstown Green!  

A coffee at Patagonia and a lot more photos, followed by a taxi ride back up the hill to dry out and warm up!  I hope you enjoy these photos.  I had a lot of fun making the snow angel and the cute little snow girl on the table…


My car is safe in the basement downstairs but this is probably what it would look like if it was out in the snow!
I would love to answer your questions about snow and skype you tomorrow if you would like to see it again…


Monday, May 27, 2013

Giving...

Direct from the Smile newsletter to you...

"Giving is so often thought of in terms of the things we give, but our greatest giving is of our time, and kindness, and even comfort for those who need it. We look on these gifts as unimportant - until we need them." - Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

The Secret


I just feel the need to post this message in full tonight....


Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda Byrne
Creator of The Secret

From The Secret Daily Teachings
Whatever you want to bring into your life, you must GIVE it. Do you want love? Then give it.
Do you want appreciation? Then give it. Do you want understanding? Then give it. Do you want
joy and happiness? Then give it to others.
You have the ability to give so much love, appreciation, understanding, and happiness to so
many people every single day!
May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne
The Secret... bringing joy to billions

Monday, May 13, 2013

A Mother's day like no other...


Well… that is a Mother’s day I will never ever forget!
I took Mum to church in the morning and she was really not well.  I got her home and back to bed and was feeling the day was not going quite as planned as I was hoping to bring her home to my place for brunch.

Can you imagine my surprise when I pulled up the driveway and saw Katie standing at the top of the drive……

The little monkey drove down from Christchurch to surprise me for Mother’s day. What a MAGICal day we had!  We had a stunning brunch and got some great family photos on the back lawn. 

I got another gorgeous heart for dream of an aroha wall from Jason and he helped my hang my collection to date.  This really has been a very special Mother’s day full of love and time together and the creation of very special memories.

Katie and I went to surprise Mum and owe what a surprise it was for her.  She was sooo excited to see Katie again!  

We spent the afternoon chatting and catching up and as the afternoon wore on I began to dread the thought of Katie having to drive all the way back to Christchurch on her own!  I hopped onto the Air New Zealand site and booked myself a flight home from Christchurch for Monday!  YAHOO!  Katie and I fitted in two visits to Lauren and Nana, had a coffee at Starbucks then headed off for Christchurch!  What an awesome drive.  We talked non stop the whole way.  We had a yummy dinner in Timaru and arrived at Katie’s flat by 9.30.


What an incredible Mother’s day.  I got up early and worked online for the morning then shot out and fueled up her car, took it through the carwash and bought her a tiny oil filled heater to take the chill off her bedroom.

Back to work online, dealing with my emails, planning school visits for the term and updated online.  I am truly in love with the power to work in a fully blended way.  It really doesn’t matter where in the world I am, as long as I have an internet connection I can work.

At 5pm Katie dropped me to the airport and here I am flying home.  What an absolutely incredible Mother’s day!  One I sure will never forget!

Thank you Katie!  You are a truly wonderful daughter!

A mother's heart...

A mother's heart is the child's classroom.
Henry Ward Beecher

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Friday, May 10, 2013

The MAGIC and mystery of metamorphosis...

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly.
Buckminster Fuller

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Give your heart to your work...

Your work is to discover your work and then with all 
your heart to give yourself to it!  
Buddha

Do your little bit of good...

Do your little bit of good where you are; 
it's those little bits of good put together 
that overwhelm the world.
Desmond Tutu