Week 3 Term 4 - English Department: Rebranding online presence (October 31 - November 4)

 Earlier this year I met with our Manaiakalani Online Support (Mr Goodwin) and we went through my Google sites. It was discussed that the Google sites, although good, needed an updated and he asked me to consider using Work Space. I am one of those teachers, who started with online learning in 2011 and since then I have invested a lot of time and resource into creating my Google sites. Google sites is something that I (along with many other teachers) have become comfortable with and it is something that I can navigate through quite easily. In 2020 I went through a complete revamp of my Google sites, making it user friendly for my classes. Currently I am operating three Google sites - one junior English Google site and two senior English Google sites. Between 2016 - 2019 I spent three years going between my Google sites (from the old server) and sharing documents from my drive. It was not until 2020 that I decided to revamp my Google sites and I began using the new Google site template. 

Year 9 English with Stevenson (click on the image to access the site)

Level 2 English with Stevenson (click on the image to access the site)

Level 3 English with Stevenson (click on the image to access the site)

Year 9 English with Stevenson is a Google site that I created for my Year 9 English students in 2020. I also created new Year 12 and Year 13 English sites in 2020. I used the time during the lockdown in March to revamp and rebrand my sites as we were moving into online learning. This was an opportunity for me to do a complete overhaul with my Google sites and create something new, relevant and accessible for my then students (in 2020). Like most teachers, I love creating my Google sites as I have complete creative control and I can tailor it how I want it to look. My students used the sites to access the learning and assessments. My class calendars were all embedded onto my sites and made sure that every page, document and link was open to all as my student's parents were checking into the sites and online learning during the lockdown. It has now been three year since I did the overhaul and I have noticed that the Google sites is more of 'grab your resource' hub for my students and the engagement that I am hoping for - using my site as a learning tool - is not happening. 

Workspace is an online app that was introduced a few years ago and it is something that the students really enjoy working from. It is simple and user friendly app that teachers and students use to do a unit or units of work. I was a little reluctant to use it as I was (still am to a degree) avid Google site user. I have learnt that Workspace is something that the students prefer and Google sites, is something that most teachers that I know are comfortable with. Google sites, in an online learning world, is still a good platform to use but it is something that appeals to our parents so that they can see what their child is doing. Workspace is a platform that is easier and more efficient for our students. 

New google site for 2023 - English with Mr Tu'uga Stevenson

During the Term 3 holidays, I created a new Google site. My new site features all the learning levels (Year 9, Year 10, Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13). I have also created workspaces for all of the Common Assessment Tasks in our Junior English Program (4 CATS in Year 9 and 6 CATS in Year 10), as well as workspaces for all of the internal assessments that we offer to our NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3 English students. Mr Goodwin shared a template Google site with me before the holidays and I was taken back by the basic outline. I am the type of person who likes to format and add links left, right and center. The new Google site template is a lot more simple but it has what the learner needs - access to the calendar and embedding the workspace from the site. The site, again, is a reference point for the students so that they know that there is a space for our learning. The most important thing is that they have Workspace available to them. The site, is the focus point for the parent or caregiver - a place where they can tap into their child's learning. Although they cannot access the workspace, they can still see what their child is doing. 

I have shared this with my team with the hope that they too will revamp and rebrand their online platform. I have made a copy of my site and taken away anything that is related to me - making a generic English site (with all the links to the new workspaces embedded). I have done this so that my team do not have to start from scratch and if they want to, make a copy of the new site and add their own spin to. Or they can embed the workspaces into their current sites. 

An example of the workspace that I have embedded onto my site.

Why did I do this? The truth is that I did not want to, I was comfortable with what I had in place. Mr Goodwin showed me the possibilities that workspace has for our students and I also saw how other members in my department were using it in their learning spaces. I wanted to change my approach to online learning going into 2023. I wanted my online learning to be engaging and interesting for my learners and I wanted to grow with them online. I am not going to completely abandon by old sites, I have made links to my current Google sites as reference points for my senior students as I still have some exemplars and resources there that they can use. 

Rebranding our online presence as a learning area (English Department) is something that has been on my priority list since Term 2. We all have our own sites that represent who we are as teachers. I love this part of creating sites and learning spaces online, you can create a learning space that is tailored to your students and to your strengths. I think that with engagement changing with sites and now onto Workspace, I would like to see the department adjust their sites to what the students respond well too. As online and hybrid learning continue to shape how we teach throughout the year, I believe that it is important to adjust and change with it so that we can keep things relevant for our students. 

Our online presence is only part of the package now. How we teach, interact and relate when we are face to face is important and valid. I know that rebranding how we present and share the learning online is going to be a journey - it took me a while. But I am willing to go through this individually with each department member and walk them through it. 

Week 2 Term 4 -Totara House: Review of Term 3 + Plan for Term 4 (October 25 - 28)

Term 3 Overview

Term 3 was another full on, challenging, exciting and rewarding 10 weeks for Totara House. Our main goals for Term 3 was to: 

• Maintain our standard for our House Assemblies - we wanted to ensure that we set the tone and expectation at our House Assemblies for Term 3. We meet every Friday with the House (mentor teachers and students) - this time that we have together is important and we wanted to make sure that we were always prepared and ready for our assemblies. 
• Get involved - The Term 3 calendar is packed - from Derived Grade Exams (for our senior students), to Tongan Language Week, Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori Language Week, Sports etc. We wanted to make that Totara House was represented in every school wide activity and event. 
• Explore our House values - Our House values are Family, Respect and Resilience. We wanted to explore these values (during our House Assemblies) and also through the different school activities. I wanted the students experience these values in meaningful and exciting ways. 

Totara House Assembly Term 3

We were excited to meet our goals in Term 3 and none of this would have been possible if it was not for the people. A popular Maori proverb 'he waka eke noa' which loosely translates into 'we are all in this together' is something that I believe Totara House collectively pursued in Term 3. From our House meetings, to the various school events to the everyday things that we dealt with at school - it was a collective effort from everyone in the House. I am incredibly grateful to the mentorship team (Mr Gutry, Mr Niko, Ms Paketama, Mrs Rani, Mrs Tuitupou, Mr Koch, Ms Ferguson, Mr Booker, Mr Daniels, Mr Singh, Mr Milford and Ms Kolo) for their commitment and leadership to all of the students in Totara House. The Student Leadership team (Siale Pulupaki, Miracle Heta, Lisia Pauu, Maletina Niko, David Betham, Falakika Tuakivakatau and Lakai Vaisima) for their energy and commitment in how they led all of the students in every event during Term 3, I am humbled and very thankful for what they brought to the table. Finally, all of the students in Totara House, I am grateful for and for what they all contributed to the House in Term 3. 

I want to reflect on some of the highlights for Totara House in Term 3.  

Tongan Language Week 2022 (Term 3 - Week 6)

Tongan Language Week took place in Week 6 of Term 3. Different events were organized that involved students taking part in whether it was for online quizzes, to singing Tongan songs, playing Tongan games and participating in a whole house Tongan dance. The student leadership team decided that they wanted to get as many students involved in all of the activities. Prior to TLW, the student leaders were strategic in how they got the students involved. During the House assemblies leading up to TLW, the student leaders spoke about the event and encouraged the students to get involved. They also wanted to make sure that they were across the event, that they were fronting it so that they students could see it and follow through. A highlight from Tongan Language Week was students performing the Lakalaka for the Inter House Tongan Dance Competition. Initially we were going to do a Ta'olunga as we were not sure if any students wanted to perform. We prepared for a Ta'olunga which is performed by a small group of females. However we discovered that both our boys and girls wanted to take part - so we decided to do the Lakalaka (group dance). One of our Year 13 students offered to choreograph the item and teach both sets for the girls and boys. Rehearsals took place at lunchtime and afterschool. The students committed to all of the rehearsals and through this, worked together as a family (one of our House values). The students were really excited to perform and were even more excited to have perform in front of their friends and families at the competition. They placed first and were over the moon! 

Totara House Tongan Language Week 2022 Term 3

Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori Language Week 2022 (Week 8 - Term 3) 

Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori Language Week took place in Week 8 of Term 3. This week was highlight not just for our House but for all the other Houses. The students spent the week preparing, learning and rehearsing the Tamaki College School Haka - to share and perform at the Inter House Haka Competition. We thoroughly enjoyed the preparation in learning the haka as it was something special and personal to us. Our Totara House Captain, Siale Pulupaki led the charge for Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori Language week and spent lunchtime and after school preparing the students for the haka. Our House values of family and respect come to mind when I think of Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori Language Week. Many of the students who participated in this event were not Maori and so we spent time throughout the week talking about the significance and beauty of the haka and how it is our job to learn, honor and respect this tradition. Coming together, as a team and family, to learn something new helped to enforce the value of family - again, the students enjoy working together and this is something that we really enjoyed in Term 3. The students placed 2nd overall - but placings aside, they were excited to come together and really perform with heart and passion. 

Totara House Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori Language Week 2022 Term 3

Plan for Term 4

The plan for this term is to FINISH WELL and FINISH STRONG. For our Junior and Senior students, the focus is to finish the academic year well - completing internal assessments and preparing for the external assessments (which will take place in Week 5). We will be having our final House assembly at the end of Week 3 and I look forward to honoring our Student Leaders and Year 13 students. I hope to use our final assembly to celebrate and acknowledge our Year 13 students as this is the final term before they finish college. I also look forward to honoring and celebrating our Year 12 students - in particular those who have earned leadership roles for Totara House 2023. We have had an awesome year so far, but as I say - it is not how you start but how you finish that is important. So I am hoping for a strong finish for our House - a finish where we are able to close the loop on everything that we need to do for our learning. 

Week 1 Term 4 - English Department: Review of Term 3 + Plan for Term 4 - (October 17 - 21)

English Department: Review of Term 3

English Department 2022

Term 3 was another full term for the English Department. On the business side of things, we ventured into this term with a plan to:

• Junior School - Continue to prioritize and work through the Crafted Writing Program (Dr Jannie) + Reading Skills Program (Mr Milford) with our Year 9 + Year 10 English Classes.
• Senior School - Prepare for the Derived Grade Assessments (Week 7) and complete Internal Assessments.

We are happy that we were able to fulfill the goals that we set in place for Term 3. As a team, we were able to work towards each goal TOGETHER. I am incredibly grateful and proud of the team, in how they were able to meet every department goal and also continue to deliver a professional service to our students. As with every term, there are unexpected challenges that arise which at times, can call us away from work. I am so happy that the team was able to stand in the gap for those who were unwell or had personal matters that called them out of work. There is a togetherness in our department dynamic that I believe is an asset to how we operate (as a team and also with our students). I know that going into Term 4, we will continue to travel through the next 8 weeks together and meet our goals as a team.

We really enjoyed preparing for the Careers Pathway Evening + the Year 8 College Experience Week. A big thank you to Ms Kolo for organising and preparing our display for the Careers Pathway Evening. Thank you also to Ms George, Mr Spruyt and Ms Kolo for preparing and hosting the Year 8 students for the Year 8 College Experience week.

Term 3 also saw the end of an era, with Ms Amber George making the transition as Co-HOD of the English Department to full time Senior Leadership Team as Assistant Principal. I have had the privilege of working with Amber as Co-HOD of the English Department since 2019. The last three years have been an awesome learning and growing experience as I have learnt a lot from Amber and the leadership she has brought to the department. Thank you Amber for your commitment to excellence in English, preparing and organising ALL of our paperwork and department gifts :D. Most importantly thank you for your friendship and leadership for the department. We appreciate you and thank you for all that you have done for our team (and continue to do). Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pravina, Christine, Faiyaz, Anahina, Jeremy, Francis, Marc, Dr Jannie and Vivienne - thank you for all that you did in Term 3. Thank you for your hearts and commitment to the department, students and school. Thank you, thank you, thank you team! 

Junior English Term 3 Review

Term 3 saw the continuation of our Literacy experts working closely with our Year 9 and Year 10 English classes. Students across our Junior school cohort, spent time going through the Crafted Writing + Reading Program with Dr Jannie Van Hees and Mr Milford. Our Year 9 and Year 10 students worked on extended, short and visual text studies.

In particular, our Year 10 students have been working hard on their first lot of NCEA Level 1 Assessments that we offer in Year 10 - Personal Responses and the Connections Essay. The students have responded well to this and they are very keen and eager to bank some credits this year. We want to continue our partnership with Dr Jannie Van Hees and Mr Milford as we see this as a meaningful and powerful resource for our akonga.

We are also looking at introducing the English NPG (Numeracy Pedagogy Guidelines) to our Year 9 and Year 10 classes. Mrs Williams is our Department Representative for the Numeracy project and she has started to unpack what effective numeracy practice can look like in an English classroom. We are looking forward to exploring this with our junior students in Term 4. 

9TNi with Mr Milford - Term 3 Reading Program

Mrs Williams going through the Numeracy Pedagogy Guidelines for English (Literacy)

Senior English Term 3 Review

Derived Grade Assembly with our NCEA Level 1 Students (Term 3)

Our Year 11, 12 and 13 English students had a busy Term 3. We planned to focus on internal assessments (week 1 - 4), block out two weeks to prepare the students for the Derived Grade Assessment (week 5 - 6), sit the DGE and then continue working on completing their internal assessments (week 7 - 10). We wanted to create clear spaces for the students so that they understood what we were focusing on as a department. We set up special English assemblies leading up to the Derived Grade Assessment week, so we could explain what the students were revising for the exam and how to navigate the digital exam. Going forward, we will need to explain how to navigate the NZQA site to access the digital exam as there were a lot of students who did not know how to do this which caused some delays during the DGE. This was our first attempt with digital exams for DGE, so it was definitely a learning experience and we are aware of what we need to do to prepare our students better for the exam.

Below is data for the Derived Grade Exams. This is a breakdown of N, A, M, E for the three Derived Grade Exam Assessments that were offered to our Level 1, 2 + 3 English students.

English Department: Derived Grade Results Term 3

Below is the data for our Internal Assessments for 2022. This is a breakdown of our internal assessments for the year. We have seen positive shifts in Term 3 across all three year levels. Our aim is to continue to encourage our students to complete the internal assessments during the first part of Term 4.

Internal Assessment Results end of Term 3 (September 30 Week 10)

 

Junior English Term 4 Plan

Our focus for the Junior English program Term 3 is to continue our work with Marc and Dr Jannie (Literacy strategies). With the release of the new literacy standards in 2023, we are looking to use time in Term 3 to trial some mock literacy standard assessments with our Year 9 and Year 10 students. We also look forward to using the Manaiakalani Create tools in our planning for our Junior English programs. Below are some things we hope to do with our Junior cohort.

• Year 9 Crafted Writing Program + Junior School Reading Skills - Continue our work with Dr Jannie + Mr Milford
• End of Year Junior Exams - Prepare our students for the End of Year Junior Exams (Week 5) focusing on a response to a studied text (extended/short written OR visual text) essay.
• CATS (Common Assessment Tasks) - To be completed by the Week 7
• Year 10 - Continue working through the Level 1 Assessments - Personal Responses + Connections Essay - to be completed by Week 7Our Voices - Build a collection of work from our Year 9 and Year 10 students (written work) to put towards our Department book ‘Our Voices’.

Senior English Term 4 Plan

The focus for this term is to finish internal assessments with the students. We will also use time this term to prepare our students for the end of year NZQA external assessments.

*All Level 1 + Level 2 English Please note that Week 1 - Week 2 is reserved for finishing internal assessments. Week 3 - 4 is exam preparation. Week 5 is the NZQA External Assessment for L1 ENG + L2 ENG
*All Level 3 English Please note Week 1 - 3 is reserved for finishing internal assessments. Week 4 - 5 is exam preparation. Week 6 is the NZQA External Assessment for L3 ENG

Senior English Plan for Term 4

Here is our plan for our department this term. Of courses things may change but here is what we are hoping to do with you this term. We will keep you updated if anything changes.

• Professional Growth Cycle - Focus on Inquiry Goal 22 - we will meet this term to discuss what your plan is and what you have done so far.
• Literacy Strategies/Practice - Continue to share strategies with each other and learn more from our literacy experts - Marc Milford + Dr Jannie Van Hees.
• Workspace - Update sites + integrate workspace onto our sites for 2023.

 We are looking forward to finishing this year off on a good note! 

English Department @ the Careers Pathway Evening