Design For Learning

Week 1

Highlights were getting back into the routine of the classes and feeling comfortable in the school environment again. I started to teach the year 9 science. It was nice to get back in front of the class again and carry on from where I left off .

I was a writer for a student in a year 12 biology class for her assessment. I was taken back by how much they have to get down on paper and how my hand was sore after the writing. It made me appreciate how much writing they have to do in assessments.

I had an ākonga get upset during a test. They were overwhelmed and felt like they were the only one who didn't get it. I was able to comfort them and offered to help answer questions they were struggling with. They took up the offer and I was able to answer questions they had and try to show them other ways to look at the problems and processes.

Week 2

It has been a challenge to design and teach 3 different classes this week. I need to work on having a variety of teaching methods and work on my board writing skills.

During the year 7 eye dissection I observed it was a great lesson in encouraging the ākonga to be resilient. There was a group of ākonga who were uncomfortable but overcame the ‘fear’ of it and stayed in the room and even participated in the process. They became fascinated with the organ and how it was made up. It showed me the importance of encouraging the ākonga to stay in the room and be a part of the experience as much as possible.

I had a reliever for a year 9 class I was teaching. It was really nice and humbling as they were confused and upset that I was not taking the class. It showed me that they were accepting me as a teacher.

The importance of the team situation as kaiako, how talking to others kaiako can help you get through situations. Sharing situations and how they got through it and the different approaches to the learning needs of the ākonga.

Week 3

A highlight for me this week is that my board writing skills are improving. I am not writing across the whole board and dividing the board into sections so it flows.

I was pleased in my biology class as I was opening up more in the class and showing them my thought process of how to remember the definitions and working in more types of teaching tools, whiteboards, videos and questions. For the year 12 chemistry it was again humbling that they were disappointed I was not able to teach when my AT was away. I was able to work with them one on one which was fantastic.

I also observed the importance of a routine for the ākonga and the balance of letting them be who they are within boundaries. Similar to parenting to have your threshold but not be confronting. The respect from the ākonga was fantastic where I had several ākonga come up and apologise to me for making a lot of noise with that particular spell. Making a comment in a calm manner can shut a situation down quickly and respectfully.

Week 4

A big highlight for me was that I finished a whole unit of work for the year 12 chemistry class. I started and followed through ready for the internal assessment. It was a great sense of achievement as I wrote all the lesson plans and delivered the lessons. It was a great sense of accomplishment when the ākonga were able to get excellence in their practice assessment. I was also more comfortable with marking and understanding the marking schedule related to the work in the assessment. I was pleased with how I finished off the year 9 science classes with great examples and activities that engaged the whole class.

The feedback I received from the ākonga was fantastic. (see ākonga feedback under resources) I agree with the improvement aspect which is me slowing down in my delivery of some terms/concepts. I was pleased that they all found me approachable and able to ask me questions. It was an emotional time saying goodbye and finishing up.