End of Term 1 - an abrupt ending and uncertain future.

Day 4: End of Term 1 - an abrupt ending and uncertain future.

Term 1 Holidays has been brought forward to March 30 - April 14. Originally scheduled for April 9th (week 11), the school holidays were shifted to week 10 by MOE as a response to COVID 19. School closure was in effect in week 9.

An abrupt ending to Term 1, everything has taken a huge halt and I have had to adapt (literally overnight) to a 'new normal'. Online learning - an uncharted ocean that I had never really opened up to - I have now become accustomed too.

Google Classrooms is a space that I have ventured into. My senior students have not posted any comments - that is OK, I am new to this and I do not expect them to be comfortable with it as I am still trying to find my feet with this. However I have found that this is a great and easy app to use. Like social media, this acts as both a information hub but also a forum for student and educator to comment and interact. This is yet to happen (I am hopeful) but what I am enjoying about this is that I am able to share different articles and readings, post questions, post my recommendations on what they need to do with assessments (the list goes on) and it is there for the students.

My Google sites  has been a place where I refer my students to for course program content, assessment criteria .... however it is quite a formal setting and I feel that I use it more than they do. I like the Google Classroom arena - it is less traditional in the way it functions and it is more inclusive and interactive (well the hope is that my students and I can interact online with this!). I look forward to using this and more efficiently in my teaching practice even more so once we are given the clear to return to work.

In the meantime, I am going to continue to try and make this 'new normal' a meaningful experience for all of my students. Both staff and students have had to adapt to this complete change in routine overnight. A nation in lock down, this abrupt shift in lifestyle can ignite all levels of anxiety, doubt and discomfort.I thought about my students today and how many of my senior students are working to support their families, that the last thing on their mind is doing assessments and that their priority is to ensure that their families are taken of. A somber and humbling thought.  I hope that my students and colleagues can use this time, now that we are on holiday, to rest, regroup, re-connect and reflect. Term 1 2020 is a term that I will never forget and I am hoping that term 2 will bring some type of normalcy, familiarity, routine and structure in what will be a 'new normal' for everyone.

New Normal

Day 2: New Normal

Google classrooms, Google hangouts, Gmail chat, Google Drive, Hapara Dashboard.....

All educators across the county are working from home amid the global pandemic that is COVID 19. The time is 10:13pm and in less than 2 hours the entire nation will be on an official lock down. This is our 'new normal' for the next 4 weeks. 

It is only my second day working from home. I will admit that I was slightly anxious about conducting online classes specifically video classes. I tried on day one but my students did not accept the invitation (they were probably asleep - Year 13s!) I have now created an online class via Google classroom for all of my classes. It is still early days but I am sure that my students will get bored eventually and want to get online and get some work done (well that is the hope). 

My approach going into the 'new normal' is to firstly accept that I am not an online, tech savvy digital warrior and that I am going to do what I can do, and do it well. From here I will move onto video classes and I may even post a video lesson online and get the kids to watch and then I will go live with them to answer any questions - very ambitious but it is a goal that I HOPE to achieve. Underneath it all, this 'new normal' is exactly that, 'new', understanding and accepting that this is going to be our 'normal' for the next 4 weeks at least, is something that I am still finding my feet with. 

This is a very uncertain, challenging and unique time that we are living in. I hope that my learners, my family, friends, colleagues stay safe, connected and healthy during this time. 

Day 2 over and out. 

Polyfest 2020 - Behind the cancellation; a story of hope and affirmation.

This year the Tamaki College Samoan Group entered the ASB Polyfest Competition 2020. This was 10th year competing on the Samoan Stage. Starting in 2010, I have had the privilege and honor of leading the Tamaki College Samoan Group for 10 years (we had a break in 2019).

Going into the 2020 season one of my goals was to approach the festival smarter and more intentional with rehearsals. Over a period of 6 week a team of teachers, tutors and myself lead 58 young people. We were able to finalize their performance set at the end of week 5 (which was a first for me in my 10 years - we usually finish the set the weekend before the competition). Unfortunately we were unable to take the stage due to the COVID 19 pandemic cancelling the Polyfest - which saw the cancellation of many large gatherings and eventually a lock down for the country, closing all schools until mid April.

Despite the uncertain chain of events that were out of our control, I am still so proud of the team. In particular the team of tutors who I had the privilege of working alongside. The tutorship team over the years but in particular the last 5 years has consisted largely of former students and members of the Tamaki College Samoan Group. This year 7 out of the 8 tutors are former students and members of the Samoan Group - Millie Mara-Oti (2015), Roni Kamu Wright (2016), Norman Fogavai (2015), Lisi Fogavai (2013), Kevin Savili (2010) supported by Jelsma So'oalo (2018), Tim Fatialofa (2018) and Kitiona Leitufia (2018). Pene Ueta, who has tutored the Samoan Group since 2012, was back on board this year leading the Pese section of the performance.

They say success breeds success and to have these former students come board to share their time,

talent and gift was and is a blessing. They know what it takes to perform at competition level, they have helped to build the legacy that is the Tamaki College Samoan Group. Personally, I am not phased by the competition aspect, what I am drawn to and what I want to be a part of is a movement where young people feel empowered to lead, share their gift and give back to their community. That is what this is all about for me. I am hopeful that going into 2021, I can work alongside a team of tutors who are just passionate if not more so to help bring this vision to life. I would like to acknowledge the teachers who do this with me year in year out, who make sure that the behind the scenes business is managed and sorted - Ms Dorothy Apelu, Ms Sonya Robertson and Ms Amber George. I am incredibly proud and humbled by what God has allowed me to do with the Samoan Group since 2010.

Here is a breakdown of what we have achieved at the ASB Polyfest since 2010 - we look forward to doing this again with our students, staff, tutors, parents and community.

• 2010 - 1st Place Ulufale (Entrance)
• 2011 - 2nd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - Falaniko Liava'a)
• 2013 - 2nd Place Overall (Co-Ed Section) 1st Place Taupou (Solo performance - Nive Isaako), 1st Place Equal Sasa (Group Dance), 2nd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - John Tuilata Lemalie), 3rd Place Ulufale (Entrance), 3rd Place Ulufafo (Exit), 3rd Place Mauluulu (Group Dance), 3rd Place Togiga (Uniform)
• 2014 - 2nd Place Togiga (Uniform), 3rd Place Taupou (Solo performance - Laura I'u), 3rd Place Sasa (Group Dance), 3rd Place Maluulu (Group Dance)
• 2015 - 3rd Place Pese o le Aso (Songs), 3rd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - Norman Fogavai)
• 2016 - 3rd Place Pese o le Aso (Songs), 2nd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - Roni Kamu Wright), 2nd Place Taupou (Solo performance - Mui Niue) 
• 2017 - 3rd Place Pese o le Aso (Songs), 2nd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - Tim Fatialofa)
• 2018 - 2nd Place Equal Pese o le Aso (Songs), 2nd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - Tim Fatialofa)
• 2020 - Polyfest Cancelled

 

A new approach to L3 English Close Viewing Assessment

After culling through the Level 3 English assessments for my L3 English class, I have now started to think how I can teach the assessment more efficiantly. More importantly, how I can support a better learning outcome for the students. My first assessment to tackle - 91480 (Close Viewing).

Previously we have taught the assessment by getting our students to write an essay comparing two films by the same director. The essay structure requires the student to compare the film techniques that the director used in both films and then form an perspective on what style of film they believe the director has.

I met with Cynthia Orr who helped me think about a different approach for my Level 3 students with the assessment 91480. The new approach is to treat the assessment like:
A visual version of the L3 Unfamiliar Text external paper.
The assessment will focus largely on students being able to identify film techniques. They will watch the film 'A Beautiful Mind' together and then start a film analysis doing a close viewing for 3 scenes.

The overall goal for this assessment is for students to able to do a close analysis of film - any film - identifying film techniques, understanding the context of the film, director's purpose, cultural and societal context in and outside of the film, who is the intended audience and why.

Here are some links to the some of pre-close viewing activities that I have done with the class. Our discussion around Biopics was particularly interesting for the students. The discussion was good and they were engaged!

Biopic Activity 
Close Viewing Practice

Back to business

Reflection and perspective is important especially for educators. When we have to face the data and External results, we must look at what worked and more importantly what did not work. We then need to look at the big picture and see beyond the number and as mentioned in my earlier post, think about your approach on you will make the necessary changes to ensure success for your learners. Perspective can have a trans-formative power in how we see, understand and approach our situation, problem, crisis and life.

Looking back at the results from the English Department 2019 - overall picture tells me that there is a need for improvement. There are gaps that need to be addressed and there are areas in our student's learning in Level 1,2 and 3 English that need to be rectified. However there was a highlight - in my opinion - a few highlights that help to bring a positive perspective to the big picture in particular a monumental highlight for our Level 1 students.

Student intervention was a priority for our department. We identified the students who were at risk of achieving at the end of Term 1. We met with the students, contacted their parents and then gave the student the choice to choose who they were comfortable working with. This proved to be successful as the students were then engaged because they were with a teacher who they felt could help them. Going forward, we will review this intervention with our department to see how they feel, what worked or did not work for them.



Unfamiliar Text - traditionally this an external paper that Tamaki College students choose not to attempt and if they do, the success rate is low. The actual skill required for this External paper is reading comprehension. Many of students start college reading and writing below the National average. As a department we knew that we wanted to change this and we wanted the students to feel confident with this External paper. We knew that before we could nurture success for the students, it had to star
t with the department. As a department we discussed our fears, frustrations and truth with this external assessment. As a department we extended this discussion with Dr Aaron Wilson and Cynthia Orr (Woolf Fisher) who came on board and provided the department with the forum to discuss with each other, provided support and PD for the department and then provided support with our Year 11 students. This intervention - for both staff and student - was pivotal in shifting in our approach to this dreaded assessment. We were honest with each other and with ourselves and this helped to break down that barrier that we face as teachers. As a result, we had 31 students pass the External assessment. We are very grateful and humbled and this was definitely a highlight.

Jump Start is a program for our Year 9 and Year 10 students that is introduced in Term 4. The program sees our Year 9 students go into Year 10 and our Year 10 students go into Year 11 starting NCEA Level 1. This was successful for the English Department - in particular for our new Year 11 students as they used Term 4 to start banking credits for Level 1. The response was positive and has been a good start for our new cohort of Year 11 students. Many of them started Level 1 English assessments in Term 3 so going into Jump Start was easy as they continued to work on these assessments, for some they were able to complete and move onto other Level 1 English assessment.

The Team - Ms George and I need to acknowledge our team who went above and beyond. Their hearts of service and desire for our students to succeed are just some of the many attributes that our journey in 2019 memorable and rewarding.

20/20 Vision

New year, new decade.

Going into the new year, like most people, I have thought about what I want for this year both professionally and personally. It got me thinking about the concept of 20/20 vision. 20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet.

The 'clarity of vision' that I am hoping and praying for this year is to: 

Move - Faith without works is just words. I want to 'move' - in the sense that I want to action and work towards my goals, dreams etc.
Multiply - I am blessed, I want to continue to be expectant but also hungry with my goals. I want to work hard so that I can multiply my chances in getting what I want to achieve.
Maintain - I want to maintain the same work ethic and values in everything I do, say and action. I also want to maintain and nurture all of relationships - family, friends, church, work - these are important to me.
Manifest - I want to continue to speak 'life' and declare success, even when I feel like a failure.
Miracle - Expect the great :D

With everything that has happened personally and professionally in the last 10 years, my goals - whilst not new to most people - are the very things that I need to keep me grounded. It is important to have a vision - clear or not - for yourself. I look forward to talking to my students about what their vision is for themselves this year.

2019: From my perspective

This year I have seen failure, celebrated success, restored broken relationships, gained a new and much needed perspective on life and through it all, I have learnt so much.

My perspective on life has been challenged. Challenged in a way that I have chosen not to invest my time in what I deem to be problematic (this hard, I tend to focus on what is not working and not what needs to be done about it). Instead choosing to find ways on what the solution is, how can it be fixed and who can help. 

In saying this, I am truly grateful for this year. God has been so good and I pray for His hand in everything that I do and that He will continue to use me. Taking on the role as Co-HOD of the English Department with my colleague, Ms Amber George, Dean of Year 10, Teaching - everything in between - I am grateful for the experiences I have had with these roles this year. I look forward to rest and to reset and recharge. 

It is an end of an era and going into a new decade, I look forward in closing this chapter. The last 10 years have been what I believe my 'foundation years'. I started working at Tamaki College at the beginning of the decade. I married my wife this decade. We had our first child this decade. I have experienced life changing heartache this decade. I have been fortunate enough to have traveled the world this decade. I have really found hope in my faith with God this decade.  I am excited in what is ahead and what I am going to learn. I pray for God's continuous covering and direction. Thank you God for an awesome 2019!