Māori Language Week 27 July – 2 August 2009
In my class this week we’re going to be celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
We’ve been learning Rona and The Moon as part of our fortnightly Team Kapa Haka. We’re going to base our reading around the story and our poetry this week around the song.
I’m [...]
I’ve seen the name Classtools.net around but had never been to the site until I read a review in the NZ Interface magazine.
I discovered that you can create all sorts of interactive flash activities for free to use in the classroom. I watched a video or two about how to use the site and [...]
This week we started back at school. I had rearranged the groups slightly and made sure that all computers were working and online during the holidays. My planning was complete and I had a full-on week of activities planned.
Then Monday occurred and along with it 4 computers out of service! One was my original classroom [...]
I just finished reading a blog post from @teachernz. It has an embedded video from the TED series:
It’s well worth watching. @teachernz challenged his readers to list how many of the things mentioned we’d done as children. My response:
Let’s see. As a child I:
1. played with fire – my parents taught me how to make [...]
We’ve already had a bit of a play with augmented reality in my classroom. (Thanks Star Trek!) This video is very cool showing educational uses of AR. I guess the possibilities are endless!
I spent Friday and Saturday at the NZCTU (New Zealand Council of Trade Unions) Biennial Women’s Conference.
This is the third conference I’ve attended. I find I come away uplifted by the new contacts, renewed contacts and conversations that happen over two days. It’s a chance to walk outside of my own little bubble that is [...]
I’ve been in at school today doing some tweaking in my classroom. I’ve changed my two side groups around and sorted out the cables a bit better. I start next term with 30 students. Four of these go to another class from 9:30-12:30 each day but that still leaves me with 26 students and traffic [...]
Last week we sat down as a class and reflected on the changes that have happened in our classroom. I put a question up on the mimio:
Why have we changed our classroom?
It’s easier for groups to work on the computers;
We have more computer geeks;
Groups don’t have to walk back and forth to the computers;
It’s [...]
I’ve had several conversations this week with a parent about making content available in audio format. Not just website content but also things like word documents.
In doing some investigation I came across Odiogo and have decided to try using it to provide an audio version of my blog posts.
If you scroll down my blog you’ll [...]
I am a:
I have a secret passion – well – maybe not so secret – teaching is not about feeding information into kids brains – it’s about creating a place where kids are inspired, enthused, excited about discovery and learning – so my goal as a teacher is to leave my kids wanting more and having the skills to find out more.
This year I’ve moved up a year level and am enjoying the more sophisticated conversations and explorations that we are having in the classroom. It’s exciting to see kids motivated because our classroom is using 21st Century tools for their everyday teaching and learning.
This blog is really for my reflective practise – about things that have worked (or not worked) in my classroom and to share these with others in my PLN.
I should also mention that I’m a Kiwi living in the North Island of New Zealand (just north of Wellington).
