2015 Appraisal Notes

This is a copy of my appraisal notes as noted by Sonya Aifai (DP)

Learning area being observed: Mathematics   CLASSROOM OBSERVATION SHEET Teacher: Nic McGrath              Observer: Sonya Aifai              Date: 26/8/15

Learning activities	Time	Learning Intention/Success Criteria
Fans –reading numbers in place value with place value cards to separate numbers. Practice cards for experts. Bead frames to practice skip counting. Appraiser’s Comments: (focus on student outcomes) Revisited how we can help each other with mats- reiterated the class agreement about how they work together. ‘Steals you thinking’- listening to others. Often asked do you agree? How do you know- think/talk moves Removed distracting influence to teach 1 to 1 with those needing support. Good feedback given on ideas presented to the group e.g. Izzy- that was a great way of working that out- you did…. (Paraphrasing) You have a lovely nature with the children. You use humour and connect to the children well. You are also able to curtail the over exuberant ones and keep them on their learning journey. Children felt comfortable to explain their thinking and were fully involved in the learning activities. A variety of equipment used and Future Actions / Goals: The kids were great. Lovely to teach with a group of 4 with no other distractions. Perhaps as an action to keep Izzy contained is to make her lead some of the group activities. After working with the 2 less capable- make sure you have some extension time with the 2 capable ones. The former 2 could practice independently. Good work Nic. You are a  pleasure to watch teach . It is evident you have the children’s learning at heart. And so much Maths knowledge!!   White boards for recording	11:30-12 noon	To re visit the learning support rules Place value and reading numbers into the hundreds and then thousands Skip counting Problem solving activity

Signed: Teacher :                       Date:15.10.15

          Observer ____________________________Date __________

ULearn 2015 - Got me Thinking!

I have had the privilege of being able to attend ULearn 15 with the majority of the Porritt staff.  It was inspiring, motivating, challenging and over whelming.  It was great to hear the same messages about how children best learn at the conference as what I have been learning about over the past two years.  I thought I was behind in the latest thinking about education but I was familiar with the research that was behind the the MLE's, Student Agency and Transforming Learning. I feel familiar with the pedagogy which was reassuring.

It was interesting to have conversations with other staff members who still cling to some traditional ideas of education and feel that traditional structures still need to be followed.  It was really reinforced to me that technology is a huge part of the modern learning environment and that, yes children were going to spend the majority of their time on devices but that it was a tool that was relevant to them and therefore engaging them.  I still struggle with the seeming isolation of children working by themselves on devices but maybe that's my problem - I need more knowledge around that whether by reading or conversations.

Loved they way Hampden Street School in Nelson operated their senior block - inspiring!!  Wish I was involved in a scenario like that but also am scarred that I couldn't do it justice to home life demands - I acknowledge it takes a lot of work and dedication to achieve and lots of time - years in fact.  I suppose that's a challenge to face.

I would like to do some GATE stuff but again the Hampden Street school crew made me consider the implications of taking children out all the time and why are we segregating children - not sure how I feel about that as I can see both sides to the argument - typical fence sitter!

I am looking forward to the new year and seeing where to next for Porritt but am apprehensive about staff changes and the implications of that for my friends and myself.