Ignition and into Action

12th July 2014...Finally started my reflection  blog, something well overdue and a yearning that has had to wait with patience, as I trailed My portfolio, journals and now inspired from my PLN re twitter and colleagues that I have met over the last few years, blogging. As always time has been the biggest excuse, as there needs to be a purpose and a need for anyone to invest an additional layer to our already busy lives.  Meeting people through twitter has been a dominate motivator  as well as the many amazing colleagues who have walked my way in the 30 years of teaching.  In a sense you have all enabled this to come to fruition this year, as their own blogs, questions, solutions, support and insights have made it possible for the 'mission impossible', seem like 'mission possible',... time has finally has felt right to try and explore, and leap into the fast and ever-changing world of sharing.

PUKETAHA SCHOOL (1987-1990)

My first year at Puketaha School and my mentor principal 'Bob Moffitt', opened my eyes to this wonderful awe inspiring yet scarey environment to the teaching world. My eyes were memorized , as I walked through his class; one corner with a tent, another a bed net with desks inside it, and multiple other areas, with large cardboard boxes acting as dividers and walls.  I remember asking him..."how can you trust your children to be working and not be fooling around?"... and in my head, thinking how can children be learning successfully without teacher direction and 'eyes on'.  Weeks later, I was again perplexed, but excited as he suggested we get rid of all chairs and tables and investigate with our students the building of tepees for them to work/live from as we catapulted into an 'American Indian' social studies topic.  Imagine this...learning and working in tent like constructions, with your own markings of your own culture beliefs and values?  Little did he know that he had and would shape my career beliefs and values in both learning and teaching, which still stands at the core  root of all engagement in learning programs we venture into as a class.

Years on, as I moved on with my career. I integrating learning environments, into my planning; caves, and waterfalls; old thatched roof's form the Victorian period, Ancient Egyptian museums; trenches from the war; taking the learning outside and simulating refugee camps; and saw other teachers bringing alive learning through enchanted forests, the garden of Eden, etc.

Today we understand that learning is powerful, through student voice,learning, culture and learning conversations, feedback and feed forward,  habits of mind, MI, inquiry, reflections,collaboration, self regulation...just to name a few.  And in 1987 Bob's answer to my earlier question rings loud and clear, "Reshma, no matter what the big word is, or the fancy title, this learning environment is all about the word ATTITUDE.  If a child has the right attitude you have everything".

Today I owe a huge love of learning and passion for my profession thanks to the many  amazing principals and colleagues with whom have come my way, and injected me with curiosity, enthusiasm and most importantly the belief in myself as a truly worthy contributor.  They have all been pioneers in their own ways, however as a young teacher, their support, mentoring and ability to let me take risks, without judging me, and instead asking me to reflect and ponder deeply, has made me who I am today.

As we move into the new age of MLE, a quiet thought and smile goes out his way knowing that anything is possible with what you have.  Re-enacting, simulating, integrating the arts, providing environments where students become , excited and engaged about learning, surely this must create the 'right attitude'.

Teaching in London (1992-1997)

* Colnbook Church of England School -history and a principal who loved life, inspired me back into this profession with an abundance of self belief

* Tilehouse Combined School - turning the tile house terrors into the 'Tilehouse top team'!

* Sparrow farm Junior School - my love for a multicultural school transpired

Vardon School, NZ (1997-2008)

This is a school where I learnt humility, generosity and serious survival skills.  This was more than a school,today it is my second home, a place I cherish and will always remember.  This is a place where I put my 'blood, guts and tears'.

Hautapu School (2009-present)   Fast Forward 2014

Now I continue this ethic but not only as a capacity of classroom teacher, but as a DP, providing for the multitude of learners and abilities and passions, for both our students and teachers.  I am in a school, with tremendous support and a fantastic community that works hard to look after all of us.

This year sees our school taking a new hold on MLE for the Year 0/Year 1 area of the school. Excitement once again buzzed through some of teachers at the senior end, wishing we could have a MLE for our senior students; with the ability to practice the pedagogy that goes with it...shared planning, collaboration, direct feed back and feed forward, inclusiveness of all students, and needs based teaching and learning .  This blog is a record of what and how learning space, learning culture and environment has changed and shifted for both my students and I this year, as we try new and innovative ideas, solve and adapt to new flexible learning and collaborate so that we are all negotiating and taking our class along the journey through change and the unknown.