Connected Learners Share - Manaiakalani Staff Meeting

This was a really useful activity to gain an understanding of how communication has moved at a rapid rate, especially since the early 2000's! The number of sharing platforms for our learners is endless!

Creativity Empowers Learning with Whaea Donna

Our Manaiakalani Staff Meeting focus was:

• to explore ways to increase opportunities for our learners to be creative
• to discuss and explore ways digital technologies turbo-charge creativity

We discussed the following questions:

1. What is creativity?
2. What have your students created in 2018?
3. How have you used technology to create?

It was great to reflect on these questions in relation to our classroom. I believe creativity is the ability to think outside the square without restriction. Being allowed to be creative in our classroom is something that needs to be encouraged and embraced using all tools!

This term the students have been enthusiastic users of our STEAM electronic kits, digital tools such as google drawing and screen castify. The students have made screen castify's to explain how an electrical circuit works, how to use maths buddy, 

It has been fabulous for the students to have a platform for sharing their learning with their friends, whanau and beyond.

Manaiakalani - the hook from heaven

http://www.manaiakalani.org/home

There is much excitement in Te Kauru from students, Mrs Davan and I,  when Whaea Donna comes to visit our classroom each Friday. Whaea Donna is teaching all of us to 'give things a go', 'persevere in our learning' and 'extending our learning through curiosity.'

Focus Inquiry for 2018 Term 2-3

My inquiry will focus on  teaching strategies which improve and accelerate the writing outcomes for our target writers in 15 weeks. 

Our target writers are reluctant writers who often say, 'we've got nothing to write about'. The aim is to engage, motivate and model to the students ways that they can generate ideas quickly so they can be successful writers.

I will be focussing on using google apps etc to engage and encourage the students in their writing and 'The Game of Awesome'. Children will be having conversations, discussions and will be able to explain their thinking to each other.

I will have 6 children in my target group. I have assessed the student's writing levels but  need to assess their level of engagement and motivation in the writing process.