Flatbush 7 2019

Today was our Teachers Only Day. And Flatbush 7 has come around again. Flatbush 7 schools are: Ormiston Primary School, Ormiston Junior College, Ormiston Senior College, Baverstock Oaks Primary, Mission Heights Primary School and Junior College and Te Uho o te Nikau. Flatbush 7 in it's second year, but this time held across Mission Heights Primary and Mission Heights Junior College campus.
Our keynote speakers were: Chris Clay in the morning, and Peter O'Connor in the afternoon.

There were four workshops across the day and introduction speakers before each. These speakers were: Chris Clay, Melinda Webber, Grant Rix and Peter O'Connor. The four workshop categories: Cultural Responsiveness, Connections, Well-being and Inquiry.

The first workshop was called Learning a Language through Passion Projects with Alicia Tauiliili from OJC (Ormiston Junior College). One key idea I took from this session was that Languages and Culture are so important for learners identity in the classroom. I like the idea of learners using a Glory Box to share who they are.

The second workshop was called Real World Science with Science teachers from Ormiston Senior College. One key idea I took from this session is that Science needs to be taught through and with real life scenarios. For example: Physics class went to Rainbows End and looked at the rides and how they worked and the forces that were involved in the topic.

The third workshop was called Student Well-being through Whanau Ora and Hauora run by Ashley Sio and Mike Mansell from Ormiston Junior College. A key idea I took from this session was the models that they used to plan both Whanau Ora and Hauora, and ensuring that they are both linked throughout the programmes they focus on.

The final workshop for was called Leading without Knowing with Jenny and Jane from Ormiston Junior College. A key idea I took from this was how I see myself with my learners and wider world that included: agency, inquiry and well-being. Another key thought that was presented was to look after beginning teachers and how valuable they are.

I gained a lot of ideas from the four workshops and from all presenters and experts today. I need some time to reflect over and put into practice the ideas that interested me today.

Thank you to all organisers, speakers and MHPS, MHJC for a great day of Flatbush 7 Workshops.

Naku te rourou, nau to rourou ka ora ai te iwi
- With your basket and with my basket, the people will live
Other translations I've hear are: With your basket and with my basket, the people will thrive. Maori Proverb. Today was a prime example of teachers across schools sharing their basket of knowledge with others so that our learners can thrive.

Community Connections

Today in our staff meeting our focus is around Community Connections. We looked at the Kahakitia Accelerating Success 2013 - 2017 document. We read through page 37 and the main idea we gained from this, is that Maori students in the last decade have made massive improvement in achievements through explicit learning. On page 42 it also mentioned that making connections from schools, whanau, hapu and iwi are important and vital to student achievement in schools.

As a staff, we made a discussion spectrum. The statement was "Maori and Pasifika children need explicit teaching". Each learning coach was to stand in a position that represented their own point of view. One side being agree, the other end disagree and in the middle more a neutral opinion. It was interesting to see and hear the arguments bought forth. Lots of learning coaches had looked at the statement from a different point of view and some were quite passionate about how they looked at it. My personal view is, that I totally agree. Being of Pasifika descent but also to keep in mind that Pasifika and Maori students across New Zealand have the lowest levels of achievement.

What challenges can you see yourself as an educator moving forward with your learning today?
As a learning coach, some of the challenges that face will be to ensure that my teaching is explicit for all learners, keeping in mind the learners who are target learners. I'll need to go away and have a think about how I am going to integrate this in my hapu group and in our habitat. I'll be sharing on my blog what works and what doesn't.