Term 1 2024 Goal & Reflection

My Term 1 Goal: Strengthen Class Connections – Build a positive and inclusive classroom culture by fostering strong relationships with students, encouraging teamwork, and setting clear expectations for behaviour and learning.

Why : As we begin the school year, it's important to me to build a foundation of trust and community within my classroom. Strong connections among students first of all create a safe and supportive learning environment, which is probably the most successful thing I could achieve as a teacher.  It also encourages collaboration, and boosts engagement and academic success. I want each student to feel valued, heard, and part of a team, where they can express themselves without fear of judgment.

What I Plan to Do: To achieve this, I am planning to begin the term with team-building activities that help the students get to know each other better.  We are also quite blessed in that this will be our second year together as a class as well as with me as their teacher - so I have an advantage in that I know a lot about my students already.  We will do low stakes icebreakers, group games, and share personal stories to help everyone find common ground. I will also introduce clear and consistent classroom expectations around respect, responsibility, and kindness. As the term progresses, I hope to remember to continue to reinforce these values through daily interactions and class discussions, making sure students know they have a voice in shaping our learning space.

EDITED WEEK 10 TERM 1 2024*

Reflecting on my Term 1 goal of strengthening class connections, I’m really happy with how things have gone. The students are more confident in sharing their ideas and have started seeing learning as something fun rather than something they have to do. It’s great to see them working with classmates they wouldn’t normally choose, which shows they’re starting to connect more with everyone.

Our reward system has also worked well since we switched from individual rewards to group-based ones. The table groups are more motivated, and they’re really putting in more effort. The class voting on rewards has helped them feel more involved and invested in the process. Also, the allocated seating has been better for focus and has helped students work with different people.

Overall, I’m happy with the progress we’ve made in building a positive and supportive classroom environment. I’m looking forward to seeing how these connections grow in the next term.

Same But Different - 2024

As an educator, the classroom is not merely a space for lessons but an environment that plays a pivotal role in shaping students' experiences. Last year, I found myself in a MLE space, sharing a class of 60 students with another teacher spanning across years 4, 5, and 6. This year, the transition to teaching only Year 6 students has presented a unique opportunity to redefine and revamp the learning space to better cater to their specific needs.

One of the first challenges was to make the space feel new for the returning Year 6 students. The classroom layout plays an important role in fostering a conducive learning environment. I divided the space into two zones to cater to different aspects of our daily routine. One side is dedicated to formal learning, with organised desks and a clear focal point for lessons. The other side now serves as a flexible breakout space, providing a comfortable setting for roll calls, whole class discussions, and things that require more space such as mindfulness or drama.  It also serves as a space students "work towards" sitting in for independent tasks.

Beyond the physical transformation of the space, it has been equally important for me to communicate a shift in expectations and behaviour from last year. While the memories of some less-than-ideal moments lingered, I approached this with a focus on positive change.  During our first day together, I took a moment to address the akonga with sincerity. I expressed my belief in their ability to rise above past challenges and assured them that this year was a fresh start for everyone. By acknowledging the past without dwelling on it, I hope I have set a tone of optimism and understanding. The physical changes to the space served as a tangible reminder that this is indeed a new year.

To instill a sense of belonging and ownership among the students, we got to work straight away - displaying their projects, and artwork.  It has not only boosted their confidence but also created a positive and collaborative atmosphere where everyone feels valued.  Expecting manuhiri in Week 3 was a good motivator for this also.

Pictured is my former principal Mr Burt and I during a Manaiakalani Principals' Visit to my kura.  I took great pride in welcoming him and the other manuhiri to our space - and I was especially proud to see my students taking ownership of our class, offering to show our visitors their different mahi around the classroom.

As the year progresses, I hope it becomes evident that my akonga have embraced this new beginning.  I want them to understand that their actions will shape the character of our shared space.  Kia ora 2024!