Beyond a Blackboard

As the end of the year approaches, I have a lot to reflect upon. I have noticed many changes in my learners since returning from maternity leave. As a mum, I have found a new sense of passion and enthusiasm for teaching.  I will use the questions below to help me to consider my focus.  What achievement challenge are you considering as an area of focus in 2023 and why? Include in your WHY both evidence and your own passion/expertise I would like to focus on Achievement Challenge 4. Increasing the achievement of students in years 7-10, with a focus on reading. This is simply because our data once again identifies this as an area that we need to address. I am confident in my maths teaching, and understand the importance of reading at college.  On returning to maternity leave I definitely noticed a difference with my learners engagement and self- efficacy when it came to reading. They were good readers but had a very poor view of themselves.  What learnings from the 2017...

It feels so good to be back at Pt England this term. I feel refreshed from my maternity leave and eager to get back to business! I left part way through my most successful inquiry yet! My students were getting eyes on text like never before, we had great discussion and the whole class managed to read a novel (many for the first time). This meant that my students made great shift and I was really pleased with how I left them. The week after I left for maternity leave, New Zealand entered another long lockdown. Some of my students didn't return until the very end of the year, if at all. In term one, sickness and a strong message to 'stay home if you have a sniffle' from the government meant that attendance was at an all time low. This is still the case, it is now week five and there are a couple of students I have taught twice this term. Twice. I am definitely feeling the pressure to support these children, as they are often playing catch up and I am having to spend some clas...

Becoming a mum has definitely been the most rewarding experience of my life, although it has come with new challenges! I have been fascinated with early childhood education, reading studies about language acquisition and early development. I think I can finally see the appeal of teaching young children; their rate of growth is incredible!  I have quite often heard Dr Jannie Van Hees in my head, reminding me to keep conversing with my daughter. "Serve and return". Or Dorothy discussing how many millions of words children should hear before starting school. I guess I can thank them both for my very chatty (loud) girl! I joke, but it has been really helpful to experience these things instead of simply reading about them. Now I have a new surge of energy to bring to the classroom and a new perspective too. I've been relieving and working in new spaces which has given me more insight and eased me back into school life. Throughout term two I spent a lot of time thinking about w...