Dakota Shares Her Learning

In this video Dakota demonstrates and shares her understanding of the 2 times tables using the Explain Everything app. Dakota explains her learning clearly and precisely. Learn Create Share provides children with multiple ways of demonstrating and sharing their learning.

Dakota said producing the video clip was fun because she was able to work with a friend who posed the question (2 x 6 =) for Dakota to explain and solve.

Growth Mindset

Recently I read an article, Watch What's Working: Carol Dweck Talks Growth Mindset (edutopia, September 19, 2014). Link
Schools that help their students succeed, send them that explicit messages:

• "Your intelligence is something that can and will develop, with effort, good strategies, and support from this school
• You have a purpose ...
• You belong here ...
• We, as your teachers, will set high standards for you, and we will give you what you need to succeed."

Our challenge as teachers, leaders and educators, is to install a growth mindset in all of our students so they are able to reach their full potential. 

Dweck poses a question; "What is the most effective way to increase students' ownership of the work they do in your class ...?"

I believe the direction we are taking at HPS with Learn Create Share, supported by digital technology, has the capacity to  'grow' growth mindsets in all of our learners.

Ako Ngatahi Celebrates

Ako Ngatahi is a Year 4-5 class with 54 children. Miss Kate Weaver and Mr Simon Scott are in their second year of collaborative teaching. They are implementing Learn Create Share supported by chromebooks and iPads.
Today they celebrated 10000 page views on their class blog Ako Ngatahi with a shared lunch and mufti day.
Check out children's learning and see what they have been up to!

Pasifika Fiafia

Last week the Hornby Networked Learning Community held their annual Fiafia at Hornby High School. Five schools and their communities attended; Hornby High, Hornby Primary, St Bernadette's, Gilberthorpe and Sockburn.
The purpose of the evening is the recognise and acknowledge Pasifika academic achievement and/or leadership. Schools also performed and kept the large audience entertained.
Children learned songs, dance and customs prior the the evening and then shared their learning with an authentic audience - a great example of Learn Create Share.

Pupils' Perspective on Learning

Today I met with our Trusted Trekkers. This group of children are our senior leaders in the school and have earned the right through displaying our school values to be recognised as Trusted Trekkers. I was very interested to know what assists their learning. They provided the following responses:

• working in a group
• being able to work alone
• having a quiet space
• being shown an example
• hearing it, seeing it (pictures, books)
• teachers showing us different strategies
• computers and apps
• having access to dictionaries
• knowing a teacher is there to help

It is important that children know what assists their learning, and they also view themselves as active participants in the learning process. This is acknowledged in the NZ Curriculum 'Learning to Learn' principle (p 9); "The curriculum encourages all students to reflect on their own learning processes and to learn how to learn."

The Learn Create Share model provides multiple opportunities to engage and motivate our children as they become active participants in the learning process.

Blogger

A fundamental aspect of Learn Create Share is that children are able to share their work with a worldwide audience. The ability to be able to share work is crucial as this provides authenticity; there is a purpose to this activity and learning. When children are able to see the purpose of the learning, they become motivated and engaged, essential elements for learning.
Digital technology and Google Apps provide a wonderful platform for children to share their work and also receive feedback. Today a Year 5 boy told me he had responded to my comment I made on his post on Friday. The boy had a big smile on his face and was happy that someone had responded to his post and recognised the good work he was doing.
Blogger provides children with the platform to share their learning with others. Check out the following links below and see what is happening in Hornby classrooms.
Ako Ngatahi
Ruma Toru
Ruma Wha
Potu o'aoaga

Sharlisa's Christchurch City Gap Filler

For her writing activity Sharlisa chose to write about one of her favourite topics, animals. She selected a variety of pictures and came up with the great idea of a 'gap filler' for the CBD, as there are a lot of gaps since the earthquake!

MY ANIMAL GAP FILLER IDEA.

For my gap filler I am going to have a place where you can pat animals and look at them. There will also be a space where you can learn facts about animals. The animals would come from the and maybe you could adopt some too. At night they would go back to the SPCA. Some animals will have to go in cages or some water tanks and if it's windy or rainy there will be a shelter so no one gets cold and wet.   

By Sharlisa

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

The Hornby Cluster is very fortunate to be working with the Manaiakalani Outreach Programme (MOP). Each week Mark Maddren our MOP facilitator spends 4 hours at school with staff supporting them implement Learn Create Share. Yesterday Mark ran a Toolkit session at Hornby High for all members of the cluster (HNLC) on UDL. This was a relatively new concept to staff, but the philosophy that underpins UDL certainly wasn't.

Classrooms today have learners with very diverse backgrounds, experience and prior knowledge. Our challenge is to meet the needs of ALL our learners. How then to reduce barriers and maximise learning for all of our learners?

The UDL framework works for everyone and has 3 main principles:

1. provide multiple means of representation to present content; multiple media such bas text, graphics, video, ...

2. provide multiple means of actions and expression; options for expressing what they know and choices how to present material. For example, role play, drama, create a video or poster, ...

3. provide multiple means of engagement; offer options and keep their interests.

The UDL framework supports Learn Create Share and staff will be developing their understanding further and implementing curriculum and learning experiences that engage, motivate and meet the needs of all learners at Hornby Primary School. 

I would like to acknowledge the Manaiakalani Education Trust (MET) for their support of the Hornby Cluster as we implement Learn Create Share. Your support is making a significant difference to teaching and learning in the HNLC.

KEISHA'S BUNGY JUMPING ACROSTIC POEM

Keisha's task was to write an acrostic poem. First she discussed it with another pupil, then she selected a photo to insert in her work.

Butterflies in your tummy.
Unbelievable.
Nervous.
Great.             
You're not going die.
Jelly belly.
Up then down.
May the fun begin.
Play.
Inside and out.
Never be afraid.
Go and be brave.

By Kiesha

Benefits of Technology and Learn Create Share

Last Thursday I commented on Hayden's blog. He had written an article on the BMX World Champs in Belgium using a chromebook. Hayden chose to do this research and writing during 'free writing time' where children could choose their topic. Hayden inserted some photos and wrote a short description for each.
I commented on his blog that evening and posed a question for him - do you know where Belgium is? The next morning Hayden found me before the 8.55am bell and explained precisely where Belgium was!
I asked Hayden why he preferred using the chromebook for writing, here are his responses

• I don't need to use a pencil
• If I have trouble with spelling, autocorrect helps me
• I can use backspace if I make a mistake
• I can insert photos into my work

You can checkout Hayden's work on the link below

http://akongatahi15.blogspot.co.nz

Jacinda's Creative Writing

            The Creature of the Night

The darkness of the night falls on the land. I’m terrified. I hear a scream of fright. I start running for my life.The deafening roar like thunder starts to fade. Finally silence fills the sky.The only sound to be heard is the hoot of the owl and the wind blowing through my hair. I can finally relax and go to sleep.The beautiful sun shines in my eyes and wakes me up but the good moment doesn't last for long.The eyes of my enemy appear in the bushes. I hear another scream in the distance. I think to myself, what have I done ...?   

Nā Jacinda

'The Creature of the Night' is a wonderful example of Learn Create Share. Jacinda is learning to create a mood using a variety of sentences. Jacinda created her piece of writing on her chromebook and will share it on the class blog. Jacinda is very proud of her work!