Vocabulary Jumble

Had a really great activity that I did with both my junior English classes today.

Using a list of words from the books that we are studying they had to look at it for 2 minutes and then try to correctly write them in their books.  They then swapped their books with a partner to mark.  the top student only got one wrong out of 22!

They then took those words and organised them into categories of their own choosing.  Wrote them in their books.

Went well!

so tired

again with the so tired!  this has been a week! i need to get my long term planning sorted.  i feel a little on the back foot at the moment – always running to catch up with things.  my media girls seem to be enjoying the group magazine assignment.  The big problem seems to be getting into the computer lab!

Working through some creative writing exercises with Year 10 English.

Term Two: The Sick Term

So far this term I have been feeling quite sickly.  Classes are going well though.  I seem to have a good relationship with most of my students and there are no classes that I dread turning up to.

I am really enjoying working on The Truman Show with 11EAD. 

Poster

We are looking at some gnarly philosophical questions – existentialism, free will, the role of television.  I am enjoying planning and the students seem to be enjoying learning and constructing!

Year 9 English are reading When the Kehua Calls and while there is some reluctance and cultural cringe going on, they generally seem interested.  Some students say that they are unable to read it just before they sleep as it ‘freaks them out’.  Interesting to see a book affect them so deeply.  We are beginning to look at the themes in another text – The Makutu on Mrs Jones. 

Year 12 are trundling along doing their assessment.  It is sad to see how some of them barely manage to string a coherent sentence together.

Pedagogy Smotherodgy

I have been reading an awful lot of articles – both online and in print – to assist my understanding of student engagement.  Students in my classes seem to be switched on – as a whole – though I would like to see more lightbulbs going off.

whoop

I want to extend and exite my students.  I want to show them things in the world that they may not have the option to experience in their own lives.  And yet I do not want to shove things down their throat because I like them – and have placed a value on them.  I have to remember that the values and life experiences of my students have authenticity as well.

I have pretty much go all of the names of my students sorted out.  They really respond when I can call them by their name.  It seems to give them a thrill.  And it certainly helps to control the beginning of unruly behaviour when a swift reprimand is accompanied by their name!

Maori Achievement

I have taken on the role of Maori Achievement Coordinator and it is exciting and daunting.

My role is to improve the academic achievement of our Maori students.  One of the main problems is that we have students who enter the school in Year 9 with passion and excitment for education but end up dropping out in Year 11 or 12 with a dead heart as far as learning goes.

The main issue with Maori student engagement is their relationship with their teacher.  Many teachers – especially those with limited interaction with Maori culture in their own lives and histories – are unable to pick up on the subtle markers that Maori students present to them.

For instance – a Maori student may find it difficult to make eye contact with a teacher or someone in authority – I struggle with this and I was not even brought up with a strong Maori cultural relationship.  Many teachers can see this as disrespectful and punish the behaviour and student – consciously or unconsciously. 

I hope to be able to provide voluntary Te Reo lessons for teachers as well – classroom phrases and basic cultural awareness – not in a POLITICALLY CORRECT way – but should be of interest to any teacher who wishes to improve the success rate of Maori students in their classes.

…and we are live…

Things are going ok.  The term has been quite hectic but in a good way.  Trying to get my head around all of the new things to do with 12 ENO have been interesting.

The girls are a mixture of under-achievers and under-performers.  There are lots of intelligent girls who have been left behind – for a variety of reasons.  The biggest challenge seems to be their own self-esteem.  I am hoping that with a few successed under their belt they will see that they are capable of performing in English.

11EAD are a mixed bunch also.  They seem to think they are the bees knees but it is not always the case.  I am enjoying the content that I am teaching – the Romantic Poets unit is going OK.  Not sure I will teach it again – perhaps a little to ‘high brow’.  Maybe something more contemporary would suit 15 year olds better.

Week One

I am absolutely exhausted.  Despite doing nothing much more than meetings, meetings, meetings, meetings and planning.

The week has been all topsy turvy.  Started the week with a Year 9 English, Year 10 English,  Year 11 English Advanced, and Year 12 ENO.  Then they gave me another Year 11 English, then took the Year 11 English away and gave me Year 10 Media.  AWESOME. (no seriously I mean it).

I have done lots of planning, lots of reading, lots of internet stalking of resources (they are a canny bunch – those wild resources) and then I have come home in the evening and required lots of sleeping.

The heat isn’t helping.

Going to do my goals for Year 10 now.  I will upload as a separate entry.  I’m really looking forward to the year.  It will be challenging and tiring but I think it will ultimately be rewarding.