Key Competencies

The New Zealand Curriculum identifies five key competencies:
thinking
using language, symbols, and texts
managing self
relating to others
participating and contributing
People use these competencies to live, learn, work, and contribute as active members of their communities. More complex than skills, the competencies draw also on knowledge, attitudes, and values in ways that lead to action. They are not separate or stand-alone. They are the key to learning in every learning area.
The development of the competencies is both an end in itself (a goal) and the means by which other ends are achieved. Successful learners make use of the competencies in combination with all the other resources available to them. These include personal goals, other people, community knowledge and values, cultural tools (language, symbols, and texts), and the knowledge and skills found in different learning areas. As they develop the competencies, successful learners are also motivated to use them, recognising when and how to do so and why.
Opportunities to develop the competencies occur in social contexts. People adopt and adapt practices that they see used and valued by those closest to them, and they make these practices part of their own identity and expertise.
The competencies continue to develop over time, shaped by interactions with people, places, ideas, and things. Students need to be challenged and supported to develop them in contexts that are increasingly wide-ranging and complex. (Ministry of Education, 2007)

Wearable Arts

What an amazing event the Wearable Arts evening was.

It was great to see the large venue packed out with people who had come to celebrate the talents of their children.

Words are really not enough to say thanks to all those people who gave of their time to create this memorable event. From the students who were the stars to the people behind the scenes it was a triumph of a community working together to create an experience that these children will remember forever. I am so proud of this school and what we can achieve when we dream “BIG”. "You can achieve anything in life you set your mind to, provided it is powered by your heart"

We must model this to our children, they must know that wonderful things will happen when they dream big.

Fun and Games

Well it has been a while but through some medical adventure I have had a few days off work. The thing I have found in my time away is how important lines of communication are. You see last year I was in the habit of not keeping people up to speed with my ideas, movements etc.

I understand that not getting these messages across caused confusion and often lead to mistrust.

This year I have communicated my butt off,.

I have even let the guinea pigs at my house know what I am up to!

Communication has to be both ways so when one party is attempting to get a message point across there has to be a listener. I have learnt that a listener must be prepared to give up their time and give there full attention.

I was never that great at it but am working on it. It is the most important part of my job.

My advice to anyone out there in leadership land. Listen! and when you do give the talker your full attention.

Wearable Arts

I have had a discussion with parents today. Its good to hear a parents point of view and it opened my eyes a bit. How much do are parents know about the curriculum? How much have we informed them about and how much are they taking on.

The curriculum isn't just Maths and Literacy it is the Arts as well and when worked properly the entire curriculum can be worked around an arts topic. Reading writing maths can all be a part of our wearable arts it can also be a product for introducing all the key competencies.

Isn't problem solving an important part of day today life. Our students our children have experienced all this in the last 10 weeks.

The support from the community has been vital and extremely positive. I applaud all the support you have provided for us and I am looking forward to it all coming together on the night.

Sir Ken Robinson

Organic versus manufacturing. I like it! What are we doing by creating clones or robots but only sterilising a wonderfully diverse gene pool. Schools need to be vibrant and different! It's what I love about my job. No day is the same, the relationships with children, parents and teachers see to that.

I don't want to work in a school where everyone is trying to be the same.

Every year 4 is different so how the hell can there be a set standard.

Oops I said hell.

Luke Sumich would be proud.

Watch this video

Does this ring true with where we could be heading?

School Closure.

Having to announce yesterday that the school was closing at the start of the poetry competition was a bit freaky. Operating on the advice of the road engineers a call had to be made. I would do it different next time. get the kids to go back to class with there teachers in a more orderly fashion would be a start. I was nearly knocked down by a Nana who was very determined to beat the children out the door.

You forget that an event like this is going to have differing effects on the children. Some were over the moon and some were a wee bit frightened.

Note to oneself. Must taper the way I deliver messages to the school.

That's the 3rd time we have had to close the school since I have been here,flood,snow still waiting on fire and pestilence.