Teaching and Learning reflections

 So my first week back was pretty chill - thanks to having a painful ankle during the holidays. I wasn't able to get outdoors with my family and enjoy cusp of summer and autumn.  Checked off a mega list of to do's and managed to zui with my team in the break. I love working from home... if I can find mahi in the future that allows me to teach from home so I can spend more time with my whānau, that would be the ultimate working life's dream. 

I te tino hīkaka taku akomanga ki te uru atu ki ngā mahi nei me tō rātou hiahia ki te mahi mauritau. I kite au he ara mahi tērā nā te mea he tautoko i te hunga kāore i te tino kaha ki te tuhi, kāore anō kia mau rawa ki ngā kōrero rānei. Pai ake ki au mehemea he roa ake te aro ki ngā mahi whakarongo, i ahua poto tō mātou nohotahi me te whakarite i tērā. I taea pea te mahi e akoranga mōtuhake e aro kau ana ki tērā. I puta mai te whakaaro kia hanga rauemi mātou nā te korenga o ngā rauemi reo Māori mō tēnei mea te Zones of Regulation. Kua whakairi i ngā tohu nei ki ngā wāhi akomanga rānei huri noa i te hāpori.  Kāore anō au i whakarite ki ngā pepa mō te akoranga  nei engari, nā te roa o te akoranga me te nui o ngā mahi whakaoti, i whakaarohia kē ngā kiriata. Tētahi e whakaatu ana i te ako ki ngā kōrero, tērā atu e whakaatu i te huri ki ngā mahi. Nā Whaea Zarah ahau e āwhina pea. Koira taku hiahia.

  Teachers who grow have the ability to see the ‘big picture’–what’s most important, the value of an idea or strategy, drains on their own creative energy. I ‘see’ what’s happening around me and I'm learning and making adjustments as part of my growing. As often as possible, I strive for a balance of thinking, tools, strategies, and related resources. The most popular, clicked, shared, and curated content on the internet. It's the lists... you know, the: Top 10 Strategies for..., 25 Apps..., 5 Tips for ..., etc. This is probably because they’re easy to skim, extract, save, and move on with your life. But to really see a change in teaching, strive to have a balance of content—of thought leadership, tools, strategies, frameworks, and other resources that, in fragments, combine to make a fuller, clearer picture of the complexity of teaching and learning. Depending on my own expertise, experience, and comfort level, I probably need more of one area and less of another and that’s

Change requires self-awareness and a humble approach to my craft. Instructional strategies are great, but the ability to see myself and the need for change–within or around me is the most critical step in any process of growth and change. Be honest about my strengths and weaknesses. My needs versus student needs. Reflecting on how that lesson or activity went, or why that assessment went the way it went. Content that’s fun versus content that changes students. Admit when you were wrong, or when an idea you said was good turned out badly or vice-versa. Have a sense of priority. Be selective in what you read. A lot of titles and headlines promise thinking and utility that just isn’t delivered in the content itself, whether it’s a book, blog post, video, or other media. And some of it may be from reputable sources. Be selective. There is only so much information you can consistently use. Pare down the sources—anywhere from five to ten blogs or social channels should be more than enough t