Applied Practice in Context Week 32 Changes in Practice
Activity 8. My Journey to Change
This whakatauki found me when I embarked on this Post Grad journey last July.
Hapaitia te ara tika pumau ai te rangitiratanga mo nga uri whakatipu
Foster the pathway of knowledge to strength, independence and growth for future generations
It sits by my side at home, it sits by my side at work, it is embedded in the kaupapa of our classroom.
In September last year I resigned from my Deputy Principal position in a South Auckland Decile 1a school where I was full time teaching New Entrants, without a job to go to.
Why? Because my whakatauki told me to go… I felt I was no longer enjoying my mahi and I needed to find a school where I felt I would fit in and feel valued for being a bit different.
Fast forward to this week… My last on my Post Grad Journey with MindLab. I wonder where the strength came from to shift right out of my comfort zone in so many ways and launch into study after more than 20 years since graduating.
I was told very early on in my training that reflective practice is crucial to my ongoing professional learning. Following the Experiential Learning Cycle (Corney, 2007) I view reflective practice ‘as a means by which practitioner can develop a greater level of self-awareness about the nature and impact of their performance, an awareness that create opportunities for professional growth and development.’ (Osterman & Kottkamp, 1993). I have also been my worst taskmaster and critic. Self flagellation is one of my traits!
I am now in a wonderfully supportive environment, teaching Y8’s, where reflective practice is the norm, my self awareness is heightened and challenged and professional development is designed to cater for our staff needs.
My focus on continuing my learning is directed by the Practicing Teacher Criteria. Moving forward in my journey means being able to meet the requirements for:
- Criteria 7: Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive learning environment.
I have been able to take the time to work on creating a learning environment with the tauira in Rm 10 this year. We have established the kaupapa of learning for all, our Optimal Learning Zone which includes statements about collaboration, inclusivity and supported learning. The new learning about 21st Century Skills and how to promote them in the classroom has quite literally blown my mind. I was in a deficit thinking slump, and now have a renewed vigour for opening up to the possibilities that can come our way. Right now we are not as digitally connected as I would have liked, however, this is a work in progress and one which I believe that we’ll achieve. This takes me back to a John Dewey quote ‘if we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow…’ Our learning environments reflect his words.
The diverse cultural makeup of R10 has led me to look deeper into myself, my teaching philosophy, my beliefs about how children learn and what learning looks like for the tauira in my class.
- Criteria 9: Respond effectively to the diverse and cultural experiences and the varied strengths, interests, and needs of individuals and groups of Äkonga.
The kaupapa of our class and school reflects the diversity of our tauira. I believe Whanaungatanga is the vital component of meeting the needs of individuals and groups. Everyone has something to offer, we celebrate being different, we celebrate our cultural differences by acknowledging our different cultures in class, in the way we speak with each other the way we inquire about each other’s cultures, the way we respond to the new learning about each other’s culture, the way we respond when we focus on our Maori culture in Te Reo me ona Tikanga specialist classes, and the way we transfer our learning across everything we do at school and at home to enhance the life-long learning journey of our tauira. Together the village is raising the child.
How's your learning journey shaping up?
References
Duder, T. (2015, August 25). Experiential Learning Cycle Workshop. Retrieved March 17, 2017, from https://www.ry.org.nz/experiential-learning-cycle-workshop/
Experiential learning cycle - Google Search. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2017, from https://www.google.co.nz/search?john dewey quotes
Osterman, K. & Kottkamp, R.(1993). Reflective Practice for Educators.California:Cornwin Press, Inc. Retrieved on 7th May, 2015 from http://www.itslifejimbutnotasweknowit.org.uk/files.
Wow, what some brave moves you have made but I bet you feel somewhat lighter for doing so. Your blog highlights to me that is good to feel right in a position. This course has highlighted that people with forward thinking are not alone and it is good to have contact with like minded people, which you may be feeling now you have changed positions. Well done, kia kaha.
ReplyDeleteHi Keri
ReplyDeleteWow! Good on you, it takes strength and courage to know within yourself that you are meant to be somewhere else. Obviously you are now in an educational setting where the students are responding to the energy that your whakatuaki has provided you with.
You are correct, if we don't reflect on what we have done and where we have been we will inevitably continue to do what we have always done as John Dewey clearer saw all those years ago.
There is still time in the year for you to make the difference you know you can with all of the tamariki you are involved with and I wish you well for the rest of the year. Aroha nui.