Looking back at 2016

A busy year at Hastings Central for staff and myself.  ALL Accelerating Literacy Learning was in its second year so teachers were taking into the inquiry process with test groups. A mixed bag of success in final results but massive learning curves for staff.  Biggest impacts have been taking each student as an individual and deepening that important relationship that is necessary for both teacher and student. Teacher understands more and can select more meaningful and relevant learning opportunities that will have a greater impact on students learning and success. For the student to experience success and to  be given the opportunity to learn at the same levels as their peers rather than being stuck on the easy books and trying to learn the same stuff over and over again. Including the students in the knowledge of where they are at and what they need to do to lessen the gap gives them the opportunity to see that it is possible with support.

Also, the inclusion on whanau and valuing the input of the family makes a huge difference.  Some parents seem to be resigned to the fact that because they didn't have success at school then there is little expectation that their children will do any better. By giving families opportunities to participate in the targeted learning they too will come to the realisation that success is possible for all.

LwDT Learning with Digital Technology was in its final year of support for us at HCS. Heather McIntyre has been a valuable resource to me personally, to the other staff and also to my class in particular through the resources she has provided, the ideas and problem solving that we have worked through together and most importantly the time that she has given us both face to face and via the web.  As a result of her time with us we are now on google drive, many of our staff are a lot more confident and competent in using digital technology both in the classroom and also in their professional learning through note taking, blogging and gathering their learning together for NZ Teaching Council towards their PTC's or Practicing. Teachers Criteria.

For me as a classroom teacher, I have pushed my barriers to learning by using my class as co-learners. We have set up and used Google classroom with some success. I look forward to extending my learning in this in 2017, all students in our class were given a gmail address and we have tried many different apps, sites and learning opportunities. Looking forward to 2017, I am anticipating using the Seesaw app a lot more and including parents in the use of this to try and fulfil one of our school charter goals of including families in students learning with more success.

Over the Christmas break we are endeavouring to switch our emails over to Our Google account in the hopes of streamlining information lines of communication and easier accessibility away from school of our files.