My Movie

Blendspace 2

Looking at Blendspace

Morning at cinnamon

Meeting time

Brain Research

Creativity ideas. 30 circles etc

Tim Brown: Tales of creativity and play #TED : http://on.ted.com/s09id

What is student agency?

http://edtalks.org/video/ten-trends-2014-agency

Ka Hikitia

Ka Hikitia from Karen Melhuish Spencer

While I was looking at Key Competencies, this slideshare came up as well. It ius worth reflecting regularly on these documents.

Key Competencies

I found these success rubrics when I was searching for some different comments for reports.  I think it will be very helpful for seeing a shift in children's behaviour and it offers a lot of ideas to report on.  

10 Key Competencies Success Rubric from clivemwork

Getting children thinking.

Ways to promote Divergent Thinking

Brain research

Tom Wujec: 3 ways the brain creates meaning #TED : http://on.ted.com/c0JFJ

I had an awesome day at Connected 14.  Priviledged to listen to Nathan Mikaere Wallis from the Brain Wave Trust talking about the human brain.
Came straight home to google any other resources that might help me to process the information further.  I need to write up my notes while they are fresh in my memory.  However these podcasts cover a lot of the workshop for those who could not attend.  

What-3-to-7-year-olds-need-to-learn-Nathan-Mikaere-Wallis


Nathan Mikaere Wallis and Miriam McCaleb Podcasts

What is the Best Portfolio Plan of Action for me?

I am reflecting at the moment on the variety of portfolio/reflection/research possibilities open to me. I have this blog which I used regularly last year. I have a Google sites portfolio, which is the new expectation and hence I have neglected this blog somewhat.
I have many ideas that I have collected to use in my teaching on Pinterest and I save articles that I want to read and video links etc to Evernote.  I also have my children's class blog that is primarily added to by me, but it is the children's work.
The reason I save to Pinterest is because I find the ideas on Pinterest and it is easiest to save straight to my account.
Evernote is the same.  It is an option when saving or sharing and it is what I started to use several years ago.
The question now is how to collate these into one, easy to manage space.
My concern with all things "CYBER" is that you no sooner try something that you like and then you find something newer and "better?"  I feel this is the case with Google Sites.  I don't like the way I am using this for my professional portfolio, as it is quite confusing to find your way around and therefore difficult to present my reflections and research in a way that suits me.
I am going to a ACET meeting tomorrow run by the NZEI, and am hoping they will be able to give me further direction with what my portfolio needs to look like.
Personally I am not writing to share my pearls of wisdom, I am writing to record and reflect my learning so that I know what I've done and can substantiate my actions with research or ideas from others.

So you're having a hard year?

http://www.educationrethink.com/2012/12/ten-ways-to-deal-with-hard-year.html

Some good ideas for getting through the tough teaching days.  We all have them because we're only human so it's worth having a read.

Read:Communities of Practice

Reading about "Communities of Practice".

good website for other professional reading as well


http://selectedreads.com/what-are-communities-of-practice/

dyslexia and elearning

I found this site that offers information about apps and tools that can help dyslexic learners. I find that dyslexia is a difficult problem to understand but if there is a method, app or tool that we can try... that's great!

dyslexia apps and tools
 

Good app for poetry week.

I was playing around with this app and think it has potential for all ages for poetry week. 

Brainstorm words that relate to the photo. 

Children can move them around. 

Put them in different order etc. add words to make it sound right -

Voilà! A poem!

Blogging Meme

Blogging Meme

Thanks to Marcelle Natusch @MNatusch  who tagged me for this blogging meme!

The blogging task includes: 
 •Acknowledge the nominating blogger.
•Share 11 random facts about yourself
•Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
•List 11 bloggers.
•Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer, and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. Don't nominate a blogger who has nominated you. 

11 Random Facts!!!

1. I used to live in Upper Hutt in Wellington

2. I learnt ballet for 12 years

3. I did gymnastics for 6 years after which I coached for 5 years

4. I have 3 brothers

5. I have owned 2 gorgeous dogs that I loved to pieces but I don't spend enough time at home to own one now.

6. I love being creative - I dabble in embroidery, sewing, knitting, painting, drawing, etc etc

7. I did pottery at teacher's college in Wellington.  It was so cool!!

8. I was taught to play a ukulele and a guitar at T.Coll. but I actually can't play either.

9. I wish I had learnt to play the piano

10. My favourite colour at the moment is purple.

11. A random cat strolls through my house on occasion and I have named him Randall.  He's friendly but i wouldn't try picking him up!!

My Answers to Marcelle's Questions

1. What do you love about the place you live? Please name where you live first....  Hamilton. I'd have to say the most important thing for me is the people I know here!
2. What do you love teaching the most and why?  I love teaching literacy.  I love to see the children realise that they can do it and it opens a whole new world for them.
3. What do you like doing in your spare time?  Facebook, Twitter, Stumbleupon, Pinterest.  I don't believe I'm saying that!! I also read and enjoy going out for coffee with friends.  Doing stuff with my boys is cool when they are around.
4. What is one thing you would like to change about the world?  At the moment, with what's in the news in Hamilton I would like to stop alcohol and drug abuse.  It is such an insidious problem that affects individuals and families in so many ways. 
5. Your favourite part about the holidays, I mean non-contact time. ;)  Sleeping in and having time to do what I want.
6. Name someone you admire. Jessie Hillel
7. If you could be transported back in time when and where would you go?  I have no idea, I'm sorry.
8. The first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word "chocolate".  Chocolate mousse
9. Your favourite movie and why?  Chocolat because I watched it recently and was compelled to watch it to the end even though I'd seen it before.  I like Johnny Depp and its about chocolate.
10. Name something that you wish you could do better. Manage my time!
11. Something new you are going to try in your classroom this year. I want to set up a better daily 5 system and I want to have more fun learning activities.  I think I have moved too far away from developmental learning and there hasn't been enough hands on, experimentation and FUN!!!  for the class and the teacher.

I tag you  

@KateSmith99  @GLR_NZ  @tashmacinnes  @PethybridgeA  @kworkman401  @paularobertsnz  @reshmaph   @jaimehnew   @louise_003  @onemouse  @ColeTeo

Some Questions for You to Answer.

1. What is your favourite time of the day and why?

2. What was the last 'thing' (online or hard copy) you read?

3. How do you think NZ education could be improved - one idea only!?

4. Where would you like to take your class on a day class trip?

5. What do you like most about technology in the classroom?

6. Name three things you like to eat.

7. What is your favourite insect?

8. How often do you have to tidy your teaching space? (or is it always tidy?!?)

9. What movie would you recommend for others to watch?

10. Where do you like going out for dinner,/ coffee?

11. If you could spend 4 weeks anywhere in the world, at no expense to yourself, where would you go ( you can take a friend!)?

Thinglink app

What do you want to be when you grow up? HAPPY!

 What a great underpinning goal for your learning.

Carol Burnes on Poetry and Stories

What we can learn from poetry and story from EDtalks on Vimeo.
This brings back pleasant memories of the great times down at ICOT2013 at the beginning of the year. I went to Carol's breakout and was so impressed with her ability to be totally involved in the story or poem she was telling. Her voice and actions added so much to the message!