ANZAC day MAGIC

I just have to blog before I go to sleep today...
This morning we baked four batches of ANZAC cookies in groups...

Yes, it was in our maths or numeracy slot and yes, authentic maths learning happened as the learners weighed and measured and counted.  The challenge offered now is to work to realise the actual cost of an individual biscuit.... A real challenge...
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_P9H-8oviic8vEwrCGEOe52MdMJ3i_E6cJ1OfyNRVsE/edit
Then we packaged the biscuits individually for delivery to the RSA.

This is where the MAGIC really begun.  We walked to the local RSA carrying our individual devices, ipads, ipods, digital cameras and iphones.  As we toured the RSA, talked to the people, listened to the stories I was totally in AWE of the learners 'capturing' the story of ANZAC and war...

The story was 'captured'.  The learners were engaged, motivated, focused on capturing the story.  They now own the learning and have the experience to blog about and share.  The power of this learning really touched  me and made me realise just how important it is to embrace these opportunities....
I am in awe of the questions, reflections and family stories appearing on the blog and the wiki tonight...
As I have always believed, the technology does not control the learning, it enables learning.  The authenticity and ubiquity of this learning really is MAGIC!

The right gear...

Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have 

gears we never use. 

--Charles M. Schulz 

This quote has really got me thinking... Returning to full-time teaching this year has been a real challenge.  I am absolutely loving the time in class, learning, growing, challenging, seeking and discovering with the learners.  The real challenge is everything else... The endless meetings, the paperwork, the compliance, the feeling that there is just never enough of me to go around...


Am I stuck in the wrong gear???  Am I trying to do the impossible? Did I really get in the right gear for a full-on term?  Reflection is an amazing tool.  Looking back on the term, I see deep shades of grey!  Week three and four I was very unwell, maybe I lost some of my immunity last year... Then I lost my sister-in-law and my Aunty. Then we had ERO.  I wonder now if I really got back into the right gear for the journey?  Teaching has a way of consuming you and overwhelming you.   Did I really take time to bounce back from illness and grieving.  The answer is NO - I really didn't.  I carried on in the vortex of term 1.  


I clearly remember listening to a presenter telling us to get off the teaching roller-coaster everyday - don't wait for the holidays... Although I heard these words and remember them clearly, I have not practiced them.  I have worked through the holidays catching up on readings, reflection and my inquiry for NAPP. 


Today I head to Auckland for two MAGIC days at Ignition , a MAGIC play day on Wednesday with two dear friends, and two days at the NAPP hui.  A full-on time ahead,  but a MAGIC  learning adventure I am really looking forward to!  This afternoon I am catching the ferry from Devonport and biking along the waterfront with a friend.


Just as I will make sure I am in the right gear to bike around to St Heliers this afternoon, I will reflect on being in the right gear for term 2.  I know that there will be some challenging times, but if I want to enjoy the 'ride' I must get in the right gear, use all my gears, and get off and enjoy a balance in my life...


I would really appreciate any ideas of how to maintain speed, keep in the right gear and have a balance in life...

Test, learn, teach

Yesterday, somewhere, on the MAGIC of Twitter I read a post along the lines of test, learn, teach!  It really spoke to me and today I witnessed MAGIC in my class.
We have completed all our standardised testing.  After marking and analysing the tests, I realised that the teaching was only just beginning.
I began this morning by carefully grouping my learners according to how they scored on Maths PAT.  In small groups they worked their way back through the PAT test.  Their brief was to discuss each question and come to agreement over the answer, teaching each other along the way.  I worked with a group but had to tear myself away to roam around and listen to the power of the conversations.  I was in awe of the discussion, the negotiation, the trial and error drawing, the persistence to get the correct answer.  I witnessed delight in working out where they were getting it right and where they had gone wrong.  I witnessed learners explaining problem solving approaches in a confident, easy-to-understand way.  I witnessed collaboration and persistence.
What I learnt today - Let the learners learn!  It would have been so easy for me to mark and file the PAT tests.  It would have been so easy for me to show the learners their results and file the PAT tests.  It would have been so easy for me to show the learners their results, then give them the answers so they could see where they need to work.
Today though, was pure magic, they own the learning of today.  Yes, of course we have lots of learning and teaching to go to reach our goals, but today was a gigantic step in the right direction.
We need to do a whole lot more testing, learning then teaching.

If I could link to and acknowledge you I would!


A request on Twitter:

Was answered by the wonderful @allanahk

...so I was able to find my way back to the original post that got me thinking...

...and so the power of the blog and twitter continue to intersect and challenge and extend and empower...

Thanks DK 


The learners are reflecting on this experience here...
http://stmarys-room6.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/reflection-on-our-pat-maths.html

Reading, learning and reflecting in the vln today!

I'm catching up on my reading for NAPP 2012 today.  I came across this quote and just had to share it!

“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” 
― Lao Tzu

As I read and reflect today, I feel a blog post developing, so will be back soon.

Benefits of blogging...

As we extend our use of blogging in the classroom we need to reflect on the benefits..

Today at staff meeting we are going to reflect on the benefits we see and we will share these here soon!

Registered Teacher Criteria One

http://registeredteachercriteria.wikispaces.com/Criteria+one

Thanks to Kathleen Morris for sharing this insight:

http://primarytech.global2.vic.edu.au/2011/01/17/a-reflection-on-the-benefits-of-blogging/

As we share our learners writing we give an authentic audience, we involve extended whanau and community.  

Adding a label of tag to a post allows us to track our writers and ensure all contribute.  

Lack of immunity...

Today is only day 11 back in class with my wonderful learners and here I am home in bed.  I have a very sore throat, a bark of a cough, can't decide if I am freezing or burning up and I ache all over.  I am really surprised that I feel so unwell, so soon in the year.  Has the year off softened me?  Have I not been exposed to enough germs to have developed immunity?  Is it the sheer shock of being back at the coalface?  I am absolutely loving every moment working with my class.  We are really setting up for an AMAZING year of learning.  I am absolutely NOT ENJOYING the sheer volume of meetings and paperwork, that I am really struggling to see making a direct impact on the child's learning.  Have I become cynical?  I am really concerned that I do not have the balance right... Maybe I am being too hard on myself, because it is only week three.  My focus is firmly set on an AMAZING experience for my learners.  Am I being unrealistic?  My head is a jumble of thoughts as I try to get it all in perspective...

Daily 5 in action...

Last year I visited Amanda at Summerland Primary School in Auckland.  I was fascinated with the literacy programme she was running and have spent considerable time becoming familiar with Daily5 and CAFE.  I am soooooo convinced that the programme will help learners with all aspects of literacy and will make it possible to teach to the learners need.  A key component of the programme is reading mileage - reading more everyday.  To make this possible all learners today were given their literacy kit, or learning lunchbox as one excited learner called them.  With this kit, learners are prepared for reading to self, reading to someone (reading buddy or teacher), listening to reading (reading buddy or online), writing, or vocabulary/sounds alive work.  The readers have a range of reading material and 'work in progress' in their kits.  A really exciting moment was when we set up our individual learning zones so we are now ready for the movement of some desks to bring in collaborative tables and learning spaces.
As I was working with a group I glanced up to see the class in action.  I had tears of joy as I saw motivated, engaged, focused learners working in and around the class.  I sent a couple of learners of with cameras to record what they saw. These photos give an idea of the exciting learning in action.

There are so many places around the class where we can read with our buddy.  The important part is EEKK, we are reading elbow to elbow, knee to knee, so we can really focus and share our reading.


There are many learning spaces for working on our writing or sounds alive.  It is soooo exciting to see our learners trying many different learning spaces and working out which ones work well for each learning session.   I even saw learners listening to a CD in the cave and writers writing at the 'writing desk'.  I will try to get someone to take photos of these tomorrow.

I think the most exciting of all was to see how easy it will be for us to spend our time on learning, not searching, organising or being distracted!  We have now set up our learning space to have our individual workzone - with our bags now stored in the back room.  EXCITING!  I can't wait for the sessions tomorrow to tell and show you more about it!

A message to all the learners in Room 6!  I am sooooo excited about the development of our learning spaces.  And I am so in awe of your enthusiasm and excitement for our learning.  YAY!

I reflection for me: take my time; reflect on the successes of today with the learners; discuss challenges; work slowly towards the development of the next phase of learning spaces!

CELEBRATE the success!!!

Meeting the families

Tonight was AMAZING!  My scheduled time to meet with the families was 7.15 to 7.30 but of course it went for a lot longer. I was delighted to see such a huge turnout!  I was even more delighted to share my presentation then let the discussion evolve.  What wonderful challenges, questions, discussion, ideas!  I think it is invaluable to keep everyone as informed as possible and this is even more crucial during times of change.  Our learning space journey and our BYOD option is really creating discussion, question and enthusiasm.  We don't have all the answers yet.  We are very excited to be trialing lots of innovative, collaborative learning opportunities.  Our next move is to get our student wireless network up and running.  We are discussing a school wide meeting with families to look at our technological short and long term plan.  The next steps for me are to move towards a blended learning environment on the wiki and blog.  Our wiki is now our communication point to parents through our 'notices' page.  I have already had very favourable feedback from families with this ease of information sourcing.

Blur the line between work and play...

I just had to post this quote...

The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play. --
Arnold Toynbee 

I will reflect on it after a day out at the beach....

Day 1 of the school year...

Yahoo, the students arrived today.... Where did the day go?  It seemed to disappear in a whirl!  We had a fantastic reunion and really did have a lot of fun beginning to get to know our new environment and one another. We had an awesome scavenger hunt with some very tricky close up photos to be located and extended by sketching.  This was an awesome way to find our way around the class and work out where everything is!

We had our first early morning jog followed by fruit and water break while we chatted on the deck!  ( An idea I picked up from Jo at Raumati Beach!

The highlight of the day for me was sharing a story about a teacher (me) who was reported to have 'stolen' an apple, the story grew and mistrust of teacher grew.  https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbVguMMOMFz2ZGhjOGJtcnNfNDJjeGNwZHFjZw&hl=en_US Ideas shared by Caroline in the Back to School Google Form. 

We went over to the Recreation Ground across the road and played with the feathers from a feather pillow in a swirly whirly wind!  After a good play and photo session I asked the learners to gather up all the feathers to return to the pillow.  Of course after about 10 minutes it was obvious we would never gather in every feather! The lesson is that once our words are out, it is difficult, if not impossible to gather them back in.  We need to be very careful about what we say!  This was a great lesson and very well reported on the blog by Laura and Anahera.
http://stmarys-room6.blogspot.co.nz/2012/01/day-1-2012.html

As I reflect on our first day, I am celebrating many moments of joy.  I am reminding myself to break sessions up into small chunks with many little chats and lots of action in between!  I am reminding myself to plan less, well plan to do less of the plan, and do what we do do well!
A great first day!

A new start, a new year...

As I was preparing for a new year I was reflecting on how fortunate I was to be returning to the class to trial some of the ideas I have seen on my travels.  I am most excited about the learners redesigning the learning space.  Jane popped over to my class on Sunday and chatted with me about my plans and dreams for the start of the year.  By the end of the day Jane had put it up on edtalks and there it was. I don't know how Jane made it all happen in such a short time but she did!
http://www.edtalks.org/video/anne-keneally-student-designed-learning-spaces
I am very excited about the journey for the learners!

5 things my teacher should know about me...

Tonight I was checking in with my friend Twitter when I noticed that I had been tagged by Allanah in  http://allanahk.edublogs.org/2012/01/28/what-i-want-my-teachers-to-know-about-me/ and challenged to reflect and add my thoughts to this meme, on what my teacher should know about me!  Without a great deal of thought I churned out this...

Here are the 5 things my teacher should know about me:

* I like fun, and laughter and giggling – I know that I can learn in a fun environment;

* I like to be challenged and supported – make me take a risk, make a mistake and learn from it PLEASE!

* I like to have choice about working in a group, in pairs or at times I like to work alone;

* I like to know that I am a part of all that I learn and I can add to the learning of others;

* I like to have choice over how I share my learning, sometimes I write, or sing, or draw, or talk, or act and sometimes I like to dance on my chair!

YAY – I like learning!!!

Haha - how ironic is this post!  I LOVE learning!  This is a stark contrast to my own primary education!  I did not have a FUN learning time at primary school.  I have memories of struggling, been laughed at (by my teacher) for my reading inadequacies... I did not LOVE learning at all, until the MAGIC of year 8 at a little country primary school when we got a new Principal!  He inspired, challenged, motivated us and made me want to learn.  He believed in us, trusted us and let us LEARN!  

I can so clearly remember the feeling of being ridiculed for struggling to pronounce the word HUGE, (which I pronounced shuge)!  I remember that as clearly as I remember being trusted to collect and write up family recipes as a camp fundraiser in year 8.  I think we remember the really really good, and the really really not so good!  

Reflecting on this - I challenge myself to make MAGIC with my learners!  I want to challenge them, inspire them, encourage them to take risks, empower them, support them and learn with them.  And I want it to be a MAGICAL journey!

Thanks Allanah for making me 'dig so deep' tonight!

In keeping with the meme I invite @MsBeenz, @janinejNZ, @JazzRolton, @KiwiNomad08, @dragonsinger57 to join the journey!  (Please make sure to link back to http://allanahk.edublogs.org/2012/01/28/what-i-want-my-teachers-to-know-about-me/ so we all get to share all the MAGIC!)

Me Manifesto - 30 Goals Challenge 2012

Today I begin the 30 day challenge http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/30-goals-2012/
Today the goal is to create a Me Manifesto!  This instantly appeals to me having long being a fan of the Holstee Manifesto!

I have this on my wall and as a screen saver and often reflect on and share the words.  Then in November I met the Sandbox Manifesto with Angela Maiers!  The whole notion of play in learning resonates so well with me.  Those of you who know me will know that fun and play is a big part of who I am!  

So, to see the word Manisfesto in the challenge was awesome, and to see the word Me with it was a challenge.  What is my manisfesto?  Firstly, what exactly is a Manifesto?

as defined by http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/manifesto

or

A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifesto

So this is to be my declaration of my beliefs, my passions, my objectives, what makes me tick!  It is what I believe about life and learning, it is what I am about!  And it is my intentions!

My Me Manifesto:

• Learning must be FUN - There must be fun in my day and in my learning!  
• MAGIC must be present - by this I mean there must be a certain enchantment or WOW factor or mystery and intrigue!
• Honour all learners - Each learner must be honoured, accepted, respected, and challenged
• Challenging -  "Our task, regarding creativity, is to help children climb their own mountains, as high as possible. No one can do more"   LORIS MALAGUZZI   Using James Nottingham's Challenging learning philosophy I aim to challenge my learners into, through and out of the learning pit.
• Collaborative - I am really focusing on distant collaborative learning to connect my learners with a range of expertise and interests.
• Authentic - I believe that all learners need a real purpose and authenticity for their learning.
• Extended family involvement - it is crucial for me to have extended family involved in goal setting,  learning, reflecting and celebrating.
• Differentiate learning - allow learning to travel different routes, have different learning journeys
• Personalise learning - teaching and learning must meet the needs and aspirations of the learner
• Allow for learning spaces - spaces must be created with and by the learners to allow for challenge and success
• Team - learning is a team effort with everyone needing their own PLN (personal learning network)
• Integrate play - play is integral to all experiences and I like the Google adage of 80% work and 20% innovation in a week!  For my programme, the innovation often comes in the 'play' time of Funky Friday sessions where creation and innovation rule!

That was an awesome path of self discovery as I reflect on what is key to my teaching and learning philosophies.  I am sure I have missed some key points but I am happy with where this is for now!  

Truly give

I have had the most amazing year and now I am very excited about the return to the classroom.  I have spent a lot of time in my new class and I am really getting the feel for the wonderful learning opportunities and spaces that will develop this year!  I read this quote this morning and think it applies so much to teaching...

You give but little when you give of your 

possessions. It is when you give of
yourself that you truly give. -- Kahlil Gibran 

As teachers we really do have to 'give' of ourselves.  It is such a pleasure and a privilege to give of ourselves as we are surrounded by growth and learning and living and FUN!!

A nice quote to reflect on...

The heart is like a garden. It can grow 

compassion or fear, resentment or


love. What seeds will you plant there? 

-- Jack Kornfield  

I am just back in from a walk around the garden after returning from two weeks summer holiday!  My garden has grown some pretty special weeds in that time, but there are also flourishing lillies, courgettes, peas, sweet peas and so many wonderful things flowering and producing!  I love the analogy of a heart like a garden - and I am looking forward to getting rid of the weeds!

Transition back in...

"The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention... A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words." --Rachel Naomi Remen

As I transition back to school, I am really focusing on listening!  I have been on an incredible journey and I have sooooo much to share.  I must listen for the opportunity to share, I must be alert for the 'just in time' moment!  A lot has changed at school in my absence and I must listen for the changes.  Listen is my goal, my mantra, my modus operandi...  Those of you who know me well, know that I have challenges ahead... 

The TRUE STARS of Twitter Tour 2011

I was exceptionally fortunate to win a study scholarship for 2011.  Alongside my study I dreamt up "Twitter Tour 2011".  I have just read my very first blog posts for this year and note this entry made in March...

 "This journey for me is about making connections, sharing stories, exploring, and having fun along the way touring our country."

This journey has exceeded anything I could have imagined.  I have had the great fortune to travel around New Zealand and meet the most AMAZING, PASSIONATE, INSPIRING, SHARING educators!  I have been welcomed into schools, classes and homes around New Zealand.  I have tried to leave a little something wherever I have traveled, be it a story, a memory or a giggle.  I am in awe of everyone's generosity of time, ideas, collaboration and hospitality!

I feel VERY rich from this experience and want to thank you all.  It is just not possible to thank you all individually so please feel the gratitude from deep within my heart.  You are all STARS!

I have tried to include all of the stars I have met this year!  If I have accidentally missed you - please let me know, or know that you are a special part of my journey!  And to all of those I have met who are not Tweets, thanks for the rich layer you have added.  Last but not least, thanks to my Twitter PLN - those of you I haven't met. Your posts, ideas, and links 'light up my world'!

As I return to the classroom in 2012, I take with me the rich tapestry of learning from you all.  I am so excited about the collaboration opportunities I have lined up.  I know that 2012 will be an incredible year for all my learners and for me, thanks to the rich learning journey I have been on.

Thank you all.

Geocaching good times - Licence to PLAY

In March this year I had my first experience with geocaching with Allanah at the Jester cafe in Nelson.

I clearly remember the buzz of finding my first ever 'treasure'.  I remember thinking then, that I needed to move from my pear tree, into the ''Apple" tree! (With great ribbing from Allanah, that I wouldn't need my triumverate...)

My next experience with geocaching was in the Waikato with Barbs when I was to be found acting like a troll under a bridge...  The excitement of finding the 'treasure' again was a great buzz and it was even more exciting to find a temporary home for a travel bug named Phillipe...  http://annekcam.blogspot.com/2011/07/day-2-in-waikato.html

 I even managed to find a cache in the centre of Hamilton on my own.  I was starting to feel the buzz of this!

In August I finally got a smartphone and caching finally became possible!  When Jo came down for educampdunners we cached around my home patch!  Hmmmm it really is easier to cache where you are not known, it is so much harder to look inconspicuous in your own town.

My next big caching experience was the journey from Cambridge to Rotorua for Ulearn.  Now, this journey should take a couple of hours max... We managed to drag it out somewhat and have a MAGIC day, filled with laughter, challenge and many successes.

We even managed to "Find Nemo", a little travel bug who had an awesome time in and around Rotorua.

Nemo returned to Dunedin with me where he was 'released' by the sea at Broad Bay, to continue his travels.

I cached in and around Raumati beach with Jo and even took in a pilgrimage up the hill and found a cache at the top near Mary.

Caching adventures since then have been very memorable.  Barbs, Jo and I set a target of 11 caches on the 11-11-11 and we managed it with a very memorable 11th find at the memorial. 

 The next day we traveled south for educampinvers and cached along the way... followed by a caching session down the bay to Port Chalmers with Barbs and Jane.

I had an awesome weekend in Queenstown and managed a walk around the gardens and the lakefront and found travel bugs everywhere, arriving into New Zealand for travelling adventures.

Recently geocaching made the front page of the local Star paper with reference to the danger element, referring to a cache in the middle of a roundabout in Mosgiel (which had been removed some time ago) and a cache down the bay with a very dangerous, narrow track out over the sea).  The profile of caching has really been lifted.

Yesterday Claire and I caught up and headed off on a caching drive.  Many hours, much laughter and 13 successful caches later...

Very clever mushroom!  This cache was set up to race Travel Bugs from.  http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=f94a9dfd-0527-4b2e-9769-b5b83280a7dc

This got us thinking about the fun involved in sending off class travel bugs on and expedition and tracking their progress.  This is definitely in our plans for 2012 with our classes.  

And I thought this Krupp Gun down at Portobello might bring back some great Rotorua memories girls!

 Above and below are the access to the cache referred to in the article with dangerous access.  Maybe the photo doesn't show the full extent of the danger, but it was blowing sooo hard we could hardly stand up and the track across is very steep and narrow.  We will let you know when we conquer it!

 Below is perhaps, my favourite cache of the day!  How clever is this?  This is at a whole nother level I believe.

So now for the BIG question - WHY?

Because it is FUN!  It takes you to places you wouldn't normally go!  It challenges your thinking! It gets you out and about! And above all - it gives you licence to PLAY!  I have some amazing memories of times spent playing with friends this year.

 A HUGE thank you to you all - I just love the licence to PLAY...