School Expectations

Our whole school focus for the first two / three weeks of this year was unpacking our school expectations.
There are five expectations that we value at our school, and every year we unpack each expectation with
our learners. 

Unpacking of these expectations in the junior classes is very long and sometimes hard. It is long because
like any other learning, teachers have to use simple language to explain the meaning of each value, and
identify real examples for each one of them. It is hard because learners needed a reminder / redirect /
rephrase each week. 

My class is still working on these expectations - we will be working on these all year. We use pictures
(of our own learners) to show what each expectation looks like in real life. As a result of using pictures,
learners could also use them to remind each other of what needed to be done as well.

I found using of our school expectations at the beginning of the year as a very good tool. It helps with
the setting of classroom norms, and classroom treaty or rules. 

A display of all the examples of each value in each classroom is proved to help minimising most
behaviour problems. 

PB4L supports Glenbrae School around this big focus / idea, and we are going to continue working
on building positive environment for our tamariki.

Tongan Language Week - Understanding the Importance of First Language

Reflection on my first inquiry

Reflection #1

At the end of Term 2, I had to pass on all my target students to another class due to increase in my class roll.
So I did reflect on this a little bit but I would like to say that it was a bit sad to see these children left.
Obviously, this is what most new entrants class face when their class increases in number then they will have
to lose some children to another level.

What I found when I was inquiring into oral language for two terms is that it wasn’t long enough for me to
shape up some of the things that I have done (teaching practise). ‘Talking in the morning’, for example was a
good strategy and the children were beginning to talk more but I am not sure whether the next teacher would
do the same. I feel like that my learners were not strong enough to continue doing this on their own in a different
classroom environment.

However, I enjoyed working with Jannie at school about ‘dialogic conversation’. I started to implement in class
but not enough time to see my learners achievement. Dialogic conversation is something that I will continue to
do with my new target students and of course the whole class. 

With my new target students coming on board, I am going to continue doing the same thing that I have done
with my old target learners. This time I will make sure that we are doing it everyday so my learners have every
opportunity to practice and learn. For myself, I will continue to refine my practise and to see how else am I going
to make it visible for my learners and their whanau.

GOAL # 1 - TERM 1 2019