Jono's Amazing Professional Blog

What's on top?  Huge thanks to Papakura Central School for hosting the Auckland and Hamilton Manaiakalani cohorts, and today's facilitators and speakers. PCS students and staff were in their gumboots today, supporting Gumboot Friday, which I thought was an epic show of support for raising awareness for mental health .  I always enjoy working in different schools, because I get to see what other schools are doing, then consider if, and, or how similar concepts could be used in my own practise or school to improve overall student achievement and well-being. I like the bold, blue signage reminding students about expectations when in the auditorium. It was a friendly reminder which promotes the positive behaviour amongst students.  What did I learn that increased my understanding of Manaiakalani kaupapa and pedagogy?  Dorothy shared with us how important it is to 'complete' our learning process, by making sure share it with others, whether it be ourselves or students. I ...

What's on top?  Today's session was online, from the warmth and comfort of my kitchen - I loved it. My week has included horrendous Auckland traffic, early morning starts, late finishes and a busy (but highly rewarding!) interschool soccer tournament.  For today's DFI session,  I liked how we were still able to stay connected via Google Meet. Considering the worldly events of the last year and a half, it is important for us as educators to maintain our roles in a manner that serves our students to be digitally and technologically capable. So for my own professional development, online sessions like today are highly relevant, convenient and beneficial.  In some situations though, there's nothing like the bond and connection you get around an actual coffee table. Plus, I'm feeling a bit mentally fatigued from being in front of a screen all day. Whanaungatanga is at it's best when we are face to face with the people we collaborate with.  I empathise with and applau...

Block One  We revisited Google Meet etiquette as a cohort. It would be a timely reminder to go through these with my class as there was definitely some behaviours which could have been done better. It might be a good idea to even practise having a Google Meet at school, like we did this morning.  Dorothy shared about the  Learn | Ako   in Connecting with Manaiakalani via Google Meet; she tuned in from Christchurch. I gained understanding of RATE and how this applies when we try to make links in our teaching by ensuring we provide effective teaching practise and the best use of digital technology.  R = Recognise  - What does learning look like in our school?  A = Amplify  - How do we harness technologies and learning opportunities to enable empowered learners?  T = Turbocharge  - Transforming the way we learn; modification and redefining  E = Effective Practise  - SOLO inquiry, maths pedagogy, values, PB4L, PBL, enabling student...

One thing I enjoyed learning about today, which increased my understanding of Manaiakalani kaupapa and pedagogy, is the 'grassroots' of how this group was established. It was really good to hear the links between local community and all of the schools involved within a small but stacked catchment area of thirteen schools. I actually learned a bit more about Glen Innes and Panmure, the area I grew up in and went to school.  A lot of what was shown today about Google Docs I already knew but it did give me great pleasure and assurance knowing that the things I am doing in class line up very well with Manaiakalani pedagogy. I did learn a few smaller tips and tricks which will be helpful to my own organisation of Google Drive, and even for my students.  At a glance, these are some of my takeaways:  * GDocs: Using Styles  * GDocs: Speaking tools  * GDocs: Explore icon  * Google add ons and extensions * GDocs: Eyes on text - reading mileage  I enjoyed being g...