SENCC role update.

 Meeting today with Ang to discus our CMS Case Management System.

We looked at our cases at Oruaiti and updated a doc that Ang created so we can keep track of everything.  

We also looked at our student register that was completed at the start of the year, we want to build on this register and start using etap to enter a support register so each child has that record that follows them.  Ive also found you can attach documents such as IEP plans to the etap which will be helpful for future teachers.

Ang has asked to do a PD lesson with staff next year around 'Common learning difficulties', we thought term 1 2024.

I have asked for her to let me know of any valuable PD that can enhance my role as SENCO and she also sent me a list of agencies that I had requested with what the services offer.

Teacher inquiry update

Last week I spoke to Ang (RTLB) and she said that her team are looking at ways of upskilling and doing more PD for SENCO staff.  YAY

She is asking for ideas about how to support and what would be useful.  

I have suggested a document or PD around different agencies, what they do and how we can contact and apply for support for students. 

I also finished my restraint training and here is the certificate!!!! Whoop 

2023 Teachers Inquiry

This year I would like to find out how to get more value for the students at Oruaiti School through my role as SENCO.

A SENCO is a special education needs cordinator and I have had this role for a few years now.  I regularly meet with Angela Robson who is our area RTLB (resource teacher for learning and behavior).  I also complete a data base of cases at our school with Ange.

Sometimes I will meet with ministry personnel around one student who is considered very high needs and so is under a different umbrella.  

When I first started I did request a list of all the agencies and what acronyms mean what, and this year I have been emailed a list! YAY.   RTLB Workplace Acronyms

Goal setting for this year:

Approach Ange or other RTLB's for ideas about good PD for SENCO's

Look into dyslexia programs or support for these studnets.  Talk to Mark about his site he has created for these students or reseraching good websites to support me e.g https://www.helperbird.com/

I still would like a quick link list of all the agencies available for students and their whanau.  

Email from one of my students.

 I got this email today as I was writing my school reports at home....

Wheae  Jorja is a  amazing  teacher   she  poshis us to  the limits  and she hallps me with my whrk  she is the best teacher in the whold i hop you  have a good day  

PaCT tool staff meeting PD with Sue

 We explored how to make teacher judgements today using the PaCT tool. Reviewing what we have already covered reminded us that we need to remember to look at what we are taking away from each lesson.

Take aways:

1. It is important to view the illustrations provided to get a really good idea of what the big ideas really mean for each set/ signpost.

2. If you think a student(s) is displaying evidence at one signpost then read the descriptions above and below to double check the level of sophistication fits.

3. The illustrations are also really great ideas for teaching a big idea.

4. You don’t need to review each student for each set. You would group students to think about where they are to decide your deliberate acts of teaching for the next steps, one aspect at a time.

5. We will rotate our specific focus each term on reading this year as we familiarise ourselves with these learning progressions. It would be impossible to be thinking about all the aspects for R, W and M constantly!

6. As always we would use OTJ from a number of evidence sources to decide where students are.

7. The focus should be less about where students are in terms of giving them a ‘level’ and more about “What do I need to teach, and them to learn next”. 

We took a sample of students work and then looked at each aspect and used the blurb and the illustrations to help us place a student on a sign post. 

A good discussion happened at the end of the hui regarding E-asttle v's PACT tool for end of year assessments. Below are some of the things we took away from this lesson. 

We have noticed ...

...with practice I will get faster at this and more confident with making judgements

…need to change year levels of some students, classes have been set up with names to use now, look at notifications

… writing LPF is good to use. Want to use instead of asstle this year as doubling up. Maybe can for yr1-2??

...… would be really valuable to go to experts on staff to moderate with my tricky judgements

… PaCT tool - taken lots away. Talking with others about what our kids are doing at different levels, useful to collaborate

… Feel confident with it and I want to finish putting them in

… just get it in! You know more than you think you do with your first sense.  Calm the farm a bit - you can’t teach it all

… after so long thinking about it, procrastinating and not doing it. Getting stuff in has been beneficial. SO many opportunities to double check and triple check, so it’s robust and thorough. 

Sensory workshop notes

Sensory workshop 21/10/20

Anxiety is a natural response to stress.  It’s a feeling of fear or apprehension

about what's to come.  

Distress means the state of being in great trouble. 

Distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical

or mental strain and stress.

Self regulation can be defined as a person's ability to adjust their level of

alertness and show emotions to achieve goals using an adaptive manner.

 Important to remember: A child’s behaviour is not always what it seems.  

CONSIDER          What we don’t see… what’s underneath? 

Key classroom practices for dealing with traumatised children:

• Understand the child

• Manage your own reaction

• I see you need help with….

• Structure and consistency

• Time in not time out

• Consequences not punishments

• Connect

• Acknowledge good decisions and choices

• Support parents and carers

(Guided observations to record what you notice -

then look at ways of reducing them).

FIND STRESSORS   =    REDUCE THEM

FIND UNMET NEEDS     =    MEET THEM

FIND SKILL DEFICITS      =     TEACH THEM

Student survey for online learning

 Forgot to post this but it was really interesting feedback from my class.  

After we got back from lockdown I asked my class to complete this survey and 17/24 students did.  

Here was the most informative responses: