Beyond a Blackboard

To help support me to narrow down my inquiry focus (i.e. choose which of my many ideas to actually focus on), I have been chatting to colleagues to identify areas of need. Yes, reading is still at the forefront of our minds and an area of focus here at Pt England. Across the cluster we have recognised an issue with students getting stuck at an 8-9 year old reading level for several years. But we have amazing research and a variety of CoL inquiries that have confronted this problem.  At the moment we have a cluster wide reading intensive, where the Manaiakalani researchers are giving teachers practical support and suggestions that will shift our learners. This programme is based upon research in our own classrooms - it's the next level of inquiry!  I think it is quite clear what needs to be done - after years of inquiry and this reading intensive, we really need to put the suggestions from the researchers and other CoL teachers into practice.  So while it is a school focus...

 Wow, I am super eager to get started with my inquiry this year. After spending a couple of weeks with my two main classes, I cannot wait to get further into investigating their learning. In fact I'm probably too excited in terms of narrowing down my inquiry focus. On one hand, I have an amazing opportunity to focus on reading. This year half of my class are 'stuck' at an 8-9 year old reading level. I also have one group slightly lower and one group who are at. I have spent the last four and a half years focussed on reading, with particular focus on this level. This could be an amazing year to get shift and work with this level on a larger scale. But after spending so long focussed on this, would it truly be an inquiry, or more putting my past inquiries into practice on a larger scale? On the other hand, my real passion started with maths. It was the topic of my dissertation and a subject I really enjoy teaching. I love planning for maths - I can clearly imagine learning pa...

Kia ora, I'm Danni Stone! I'm a year 7/8 teacher at Pt England School.  For several years, my inquiry was focussed on reading. In  2019 , I was interested in generating more discussion about texts and used reciprocal reading, argumentation boards and debate as part of my intervention. In  2020  I looked at teaching my students to self-reflect in reading; to identify when they found something challenging and to stop and employ a strategy to support their understanding.  In 2021 I was an across schools teacher and combined my previous two inquiries, with further changes to my practice to shift my learners who were stuck around an 8 year old level. This was a highly successful intervention, but I left in term three to have my daughter, Ruby. I am now back as an across schools teacher in 2023 and really looking forward to the year ahead!  Please feel free to visit my  class site , to watch my lessons on  Class onAir  or check out my  MIT ...

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...

Today is my official last day at Pt England for 2021 before I go off on my next adventure: motherhood. It's going to be quite a change and funny for me to be away from this place as I still have such passion and love for teaching, my classes and my colleagues.  I will of course be keeping in touch as I will be returning in 2022. I'm eager to see how my target students perform in their end of year tests, but also to see my students graduate and prepare for college. I'm also excited to visit with baby so that she can hear the singing that she has kicked along to every morning in assembly. This blog may be a little quiet for a while, but I will be back with regular posts in 2022. Until then, ka kite ano!