I want to begin this next post with a quote from Leslee Allen's blog.
"When was the last time you went out and 'did' maths...well probably often, but I bet you didn't think of it in that narrow way, because what you were doing was connected. That is how mathematics needs to be presented to our children."
https://numberagents.blogspot.com/2018/06/challenging-our-thinking-about-maths.html
Leslee Allen has developed the Number Agents approach to maths. I have been interested in this for a while, but it was Petrina, our beginning teacher who's interest made me finally check out Leslee's blog. So over my holidays I have read up and begun developing how I will incorporate my own agency for Kowhai class to embrace this imaginary, fun-packed learning world.
So far, I feel I have squished in a bit too fast as it is Term 3. However, I do feel I know my learners pretty well and so feel confident they will trust me to push through the 'setting up' stage. Although it seems like a lot of extra planning for maths at the moment I do envisage great benefits for a few reasons: 1) It seems like a logical way for me to begin mixed ability grouping, 2) I am struggling with mixing play-based learning ideas vs the traditional classroom and this seems a good mix for quality teaching and learning, 3) It is a good inquiry journey to begin with Petrina (my mentee) so we can learn and reflect together.
Friday, July 26, 2019
Monday, July 22, 2019
Creating High Expectation Classrooms PD
Today we have had a great session from Christine Ruby-Davies on her research about creating high expectation classrooms. This has come at a good time for my focus on setting SMART goals which I have planned for this week. Many of the ideas match our learning from RBL.
At the end of the session we were asked : How will you set up a high expectation classroom?
I did reflect on this at the beginning of the year. One point that came up then was that high expectation teachers don't need to have extrinsic reward systems. That reinforced my decision to not have sticker charts for the children which was tough at the start. But I am glad for focusing on other motivational strategies instead. So I will take this a step further by considering non-contingent rewards. In the past I have set up independent activities where students are given choice. I still need to set up some choices for students to have autonomy over literacy activities.
And think about mixed ability grouping, goal setting, positive class climate.
For this term I have planned to try 'Number Agents' a drama approach for maths which uses mixed ability grouping for problem solving. I will have other blog posts in regards to this trial. Goal setting is something I have planned for this week in fact because it is part of my inquiry thinking. As for a positive class climate, I think I will have to ponder this a bit more. I always intend to have a positive class climate and believe I consider this. However, today some biases that teachers demonstrated in the research pinched a couple of nerves, so I will have to consider what it is that I could do differently.
At the end of the session we were asked : How will you set up a high expectation classroom?
I did reflect on this at the beginning of the year. One point that came up then was that high expectation teachers don't need to have extrinsic reward systems. That reinforced my decision to not have sticker charts for the children which was tough at the start. But I am glad for focusing on other motivational strategies instead. So I will take this a step further by considering non-contingent rewards. In the past I have set up independent activities where students are given choice. I still need to set up some choices for students to have autonomy over literacy activities.
And think about mixed ability grouping, goal setting, positive class climate.
For this term I have planned to try 'Number Agents' a drama approach for maths which uses mixed ability grouping for problem solving. I will have other blog posts in regards to this trial. Goal setting is something I have planned for this week in fact because it is part of my inquiry thinking. As for a positive class climate, I think I will have to ponder this a bit more. I always intend to have a positive class climate and believe I consider this. However, today some biases that teachers demonstrated in the research pinched a couple of nerves, so I will have to consider what it is that I could do differently.
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