Tahuna+Intermediate+Milestone+5

At Tahuna the collaborative planning of our integrated inquiry units has grown over the year. The lessons learnt in term 1 were reflected on before term 2 planning sessions. Staff have shown great development in knowledge of ICT tools and graphic organisers to enhance the higher thinking skills at each step of the inquiry cycle. Planning teams are working well. They meet at least fortnightly and are regularly sharing successes, ideas, resources. We now have 2 lead teachers at Tahuna. With the staff size, this was seen as essential. Staff have also attended a number of other workshops, and been able to report back to staff on further aspects to enhance our programmes. Staff have been to workshops on Key Competencies, the New Curriculum Design, and Values. Work on these areas is being shaped and consultation has started. The lead teachers, Deans, and Syndicate leaders are all demonstrating increased knowledge of the inquiry approach, are sharing web site, resources found and hands on planning well. The development of Clickview to be able to view video in all classrooms with high quality sound through their data projectors has increased the use of the internet in teaching and learning. Goals for whole school centred around Inquiry unit planning using ICT tools to enhance higher level thinking skills.

Staff are all using the School Master SMS programme for absences and for inputting assessment data. This will be an ongoing development, building our skills, confidence as we go. Staff are proud of their developments here and look forward to full electronic rolls in the future. Staff have used AsTTle and inputted data successfully. The next step with School Master is templates for assessment of units setup and all assessments inputted into School Master. Going to official electronic roll in 2009 is planned.

Staff view the cluster web site often to see what workshops are being held and review updated websites and readings that are clearly recorded on the website. All activities are clearly noted in the cluster calendar making our staff aware of up and coming events. Every cluster session this year has involved using the expertise within our cluster, sharing our expertise. The launch session was one where teachers who attended conference shared workshops of interest, and information was left with all schools on where to contact that person and obtain more information on that workshop. School visits has meant that teachers in some school shave had the opportunity to share their progress, successes and reflections. Other teachers have had the opportunities to observe other teachers’ efforts on the same areas they are working on, in particular, inquiry learning. All teachers in the contract had the opportunity to meet Jill Hammond, our facilitator, an opportunity to develop more networking in the future. Teachers have had the opportunities to attend very successful workshops on a range of topics, including special areas of request. The sessions on School Master have been both timely and helpful. The sessions on other skill and resource assistance have been well planned and appreciated by staff. Tahuna staff have also been attending weekly PD on interactive whiteboards. They are building up skills and knowledge and sharing ideas for good use within their learning programmes. Staff have been able to note it in their personal PD achievement log in their appraisals. We look forward to the 1:1 visits for Tahuna staff at the end of term 3.

The cluster has two international speakers coming to really ignite us again in our work in the key goals of inquiry learning within our new curriculum. Graham Watts will be a day attended by all my staff. It is again timely considering the work we are doing re the Curriculum developments. The Inquiry Learning day by Kath Murdoch will really refine and strengthen our knowledge and skill in delivering our teaching using the inquiry approach. Very exciting. Professional development is a continuing aspect of our profession. We will always looking at improving. The developments underway are essential for our changes with the new curriculum for the 21st century learner. The PD with both International speaker and workshops planned will really help cement good practice and expand our knowledge in the inquiry approach.