New Zealand has an effective high-quality education system:
-professional, skilled and innovative teachers
-a world-class locally-responsive curriculum
-a learning focus on the individual
The Government has consistently talked up a “crisis” in education, arguing that this is justification for significant changes to be imposed on education. We want to re-frame the public debate to talk about how great New Zealand schools are and why investment is needed to make them even better. We need to protect and promote the great things we do and focus on moving our system, and our students, from great to excellent.
NZEI have thus launched a new campaign called “Speak Up for Education”. The aim of this campaign is to create visibility for education. We want to get people taking about how great our schools are and what is needed to make them even better.
We have held discussions as a staff at Glendowie to help provide professional and creative impetus for the rest of the campaign.
Our School Curriculum is great because…
We work to support children by…
In our school we assess each students achievement and progress by…
In our school we celebrate each child as a learner by…
What do you think we can do to make education even better at our school?
We encourage you to read these comments and invite you to notify the school through the office e-mail of any further contributions you might have as a community.
Dale Smith
(NZEI Site Representative)
Our School
Curriculum is great because…
it caters for all
learners and for the whole child and is internationally minded
it focuses on becoming global citizens
it is inquiry based
values and attitudes are included
it covers a range of curriculum areas and integrates well
it embraces differences and celebrates things in common
it has rigorous academic expectations
it is varied at our school with the National Curriculum, IB Programme and
Montessori Programme
children’s action is encouraged when the opportunity arises
Enviro Schools came out of student inquiry
TravelWise relates to the idea of global citizenship and community
it is relevant to our community and children’s lives
it focuses on skills, attitudes, concepts, action and knowledge
it is open and flexible enough to allow individual school interpretations
it allows for collaborative teacher planning
it teaches a second language
consistent vocabulary is taught throughout the levels
it is available world wide
it begins with student questions
there is success for all academic levels
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We work to support
children by…
using opportunities
for spontaneous learning
providing support programmes such as: Lexia, ESOL, small group support etc.
planning for opportunities that will develop key skills and knowledge
differentiated planning for all levels
providing feed forward to students after marking or conferencing
providing teacher modelling of expectations
teacher collaboration of materials, resources and knowledge
meeting individual needs – gifted, special needs etc.
having professional development on learning difficulties e.g. dyslexia
following and catering for various interests
having Professional Analysis Conversations where we gain ideas from other
teachers to support at risk students
having ability grouping in Literacy and Numeracy
creating positive working environments (class culture)
providing teacher aides in Numeracy and Literacy
having smaller classes than some schools
working with parents (open door policy)
knowing the students so we can teach a multidisciplinary/multisensory approach
providing adequate rsources
making learning relevant by providing trips into the community
tracking their progress by using data and implementing strategies based on
assessment data
having visually articulated learning intentions
having set criteria for expectations
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In our school we assess each students achievement and progress
by…
using
formal and informal testing by using a variety of assessment tools
Formal
PAT
ASSTLE
Gloss/IKan/Interviews
Running Records/Wedge graphs
Informal
Observations
Small group work
Feedback/feedforward
Marking
Conferencing
Peer assessment
Self assessment (reflection)
Rubrics
Anecdotal notes
moderate between year levels
keeping up to date on current research
discussing it between student, parent, teacher
setting success criteria
using an overall teacher judgement
referring to National Standards
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In our school we celebrate each child as a learner by…
valuing their questions
planning for individual inquiry
using differentiation
valuing their culture and previous experiences and making links to this prior
knowledge
giving students ownership of their learning and goals
providing choice and opportunity to share their learning
recognising individual strengths, achievements and challenges
providing positive and constructive feedback
accepting all cultures and diverse perspectives
embracing different learning styles
providing opportunities to present in assemblies
recognising and showcasing achievement in all areas
holding student led conferences
printing student newsletters
providing opportunities for leadership
praising progress not just achievement
allowing each student to feel a sense of achievement at their particular level,
by setting achievable steps
providing a variety of learner style activities
empowering students by using the IB Learner Profile
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What do you think we can do to make education even better at our
school?
more CRT time for teachers to meet and plan collaboratively
more money for technology resources
smaller classes for more individual/teacher time to implement National
standards e.g. 1 15 for Juniors, 1 20 for Seniors
more specialist teachers across year levels for drama, music, art science, etc
teacher aide for each class
free laptops for teachers
more COWS (computers on wheels) for classroom use
a Smartboard for every class
accelerated learning programmes e.g. Numeracy, Science, Literacy
full time resource manager – sourcing, ordering, processing etc.
faster internet
air conditioning for every class in summer and adequate heating in winter in
all rooms
withdrawal areas in all classes
Compiled
by all the teachers at Glendowie Primary School on 15 August 2011
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