Whanau Day and 21st Century Learning

What a great event Whanau Day was with so much jammed into the one day. We started off with an awesome Reading Assembly and finished off with a beautiful powhiri for our guest Kelvin Davis who officially opened the Taniwha Classroom. I mentioned to the students on Monday that their behaviour was impeccable. They had to sit quietly for  least thirty minutes before and during the powhiri. Our whole student group sat peacefully and respectfully throughout the ceremony and I really believe that states a lot about the children who attend Mangonui School. This also reflects on the expectations of our school and ‘of course’ the AWESOME whanau they come from. I would also like to mention Matua Mike and Whaea Joan who come each week and  work with our students. Their ability to connect and engage with our students so they can lay a challenge, perform a haka, korero a karakia and sing a beautiful waiata is something we are all very appreciative of, kia ora mo te mahi. Thanks to all our whanau that came and shared this day with us. What a special day!In the last two newsletters I have been explaining learning maps and why we are using these at Mangonui School. They describe the different learning pathways students make to access learning. If the main artery is heading towards the teacher and nothing else then most likely we have a very ‘old school’ teacher directed classroom. The perfect senecio is that the student has several main arteries and veins, both thick and thin heading in different directions to different sources, friends, teachers, parents, computers, books etc. Consider what our maps looked like when we were at school….quite limited and more than likely teacher dominated with pounds of teacher talk as the number one strategy. Running alongside these maps we will be gathering student opinions to get their perspective on how they see learning in their classrooms. We started last year looking at how digital devices were making a difference to our students lives and learnt some really important things. Our goal is to look at how classrooms are using the main attributes of 21st Century. Last year the 'Learning Change Network' gathered data across New Zealand from those schools that have been working on implementing 21st Century learning environments. The data showed that students made shifts in their learning 20% ahead of what was normally expected. This is really exciting stuff and most of the strategies are around giving students more control over their learning. In the past we (teachers and parents) have been writing reports, attending conferences, telling the student/child what to do next. We have been doing all the work around the students learning. The evidence is telling us that we need give the controls to the student. Our role is changing from director to facilitator. Rather than “this is where you need to go next in your learning” make it “where do you need to go next”. What motivates you more?, When a decision is made for you or when you make the decision?  This year we are looking at:

Tuakana Teina - Students teaching students. The Kotuku classroom (Yr6) and Taonga (Yr2) have regular teaching sessions. Next term the theme is digital devices. The students will be teaching each other through a planned process (they plan) how to use different programmes and devices. Another student in Kotuku has surveyed the Junior classrooms to find out what insect they are interested in as she wants to write a book on insects. The teacher is not telling her what to do “Write a book on insects” she has decided this. The teacher is facilitating, supporting and guiding the process not controlling.

Digital Devices - Using these devices to engage and deepen learning experiences.

Talking about learning - Developing systems so that children can talk about their learning, know where they are working at and where they need to be heading. In the Nga Ringa class one child was telling me he was reading at Level 6 and planned to get up to Level 16 this year. He knew what words he needed to learn to achieve this.

Learning Pathways - Creating lots of different ways our students can learn. Learning Maps are our measure of this. Digital devices have changed our world and the way we learn. Teachers are working on developing their ‘google sites’ so students can access their site to help them understand their learning. Classroom google sites over time will develop so they hold heaps of resources for students to refer to so they can find out how to write a report or use an app or figure out a maths strategy....

Whanau Connections - Thats you! Whanau Day gives opportunities for whanau to come in and see what is happening in their child’s learning. We also are working on how best to communicate with you. Whanau is one of the most important ingredients to your child’s success. Remember you are always welcome at school.

Active Learning - This teachers moving away from talk and chalk and into engaging and interesting learning experiences. In the Taonga class this afternoon all the students were playing maths games both on devices and laminated cards that were focused on addition. It was fun, the students were engaged. Dreh and I have a rematch tomorrow! These are some of the things at a glance of what is happening at Mangonui. But we have a lot of work still to do which is a great challenge for 2015.

Have a happy and safe Easter.

    Dave Sedcole