Monday, August 27, 2018

Why blog?



I have only just started blogging.

Why?

For a while, I have felt this need to write my reflections and thoughts on my teaching practice. My Year 9 students have been blogging since primary school. During our PD, Lenva shared that students who were blogging during the summer break would return to school and when tested for reading and writing, shifted and moved up 12 months in their reading and writing level.

The students who have been blogging consistently, have shown a great growth in their literacy levels. My current Year 9 students are still blogging and always keep asking me if they could share the work that they are doing in my class, onto their blogs from their previous school. Blogging is becoming more of a increasing priority in my students learning.

  • How can you ensure your students post and comment 2+ a week? 
  • Fitting it in - when how? 
  • Is it a priority? 
  • What strategy is needed? 
  • What could it look like? 
  • How to ensure teacher comments without burning the midnight oil? 
  • How to ensure peer comments? 
  • How to ensure meaningful, complex tasks? 
  • Could Tamaki College have a 'Learning Journey'?
Colleague, Ms Latu and I, will joining forces and find a way to incorporate blogging with our Year 9 students. Watch this space! 

All this technology is making us antisocial - do you agree or disagree?

All this technology is making us antisocial - do you agree or disagree?

Technology does not make you antisocial. I normally like to keep to myself and do my own thing. If I have to talk to people or if I have get involved in something with others, then I will do it. Otherwise I am more than happy to keep to myself. 

Technology has only given me a something to look at, read, post, watch and listen to. It is more of a distraction that helps me to pass time. It may seem that I am antisocial when I using my phone, but I am only keeping myself occupied with what I want to do. 

I am naturally reserved. Technology has not influenced me to be more antisocial. 

What changes in technology could benefit us in the future? What might this look like?

Changes in technology that could benefit us in the future:
  • Health - technology that can help us monitor our health better. 
The technology available now is already at point that accessibility to anything and everything is much more easier. 

Maybe one change to technology that could benefit us in the future is making it free, accessible and available to everyone. 


Week 9 Term 2 - Totara House: Understanding Manaakitanga (June 23 - June 27)

Totara House Assembly - Manaakitanga - 23/05/25  In Term 1 Totara House spent time exploring, defining and confirming our House Values for 2...