Exercise book Art?

No comment. Typically the insides of exercise books for around 30% of students in Junior school look like a dogs breakfast.

Whiteboard Art

Seen in classroom. One of the student teachers (Art). Lasted a few days before someone (not me) reluctantly wiped it away.

English first?

I was interested to see (not that I care) the above Education Gazettes, the left one is March 2024, the right one is April 2024. Silent protest by Ministry of Education staff perhaps…

Pie in teacher face to raise funds. Is this appropriate?

I don’t think teachers should be involved with charity raising endeavors that involve students paying to throw pies (or water bombs) at them for a price. I think it brings the profession into disrepute and frankly breaks down professional barriers…

Or am I just old fashioned?

Wilson Parking can see my personal information at NZTA (Waka Kotahi)!

A few people I know have received tickets for parking at New World Supermarket Island Bay – P60. I was wondering how the Parking companies can access private name and address information. It seems that the law enables NZTA to provide this information to private companies such as Wilsons in the pursuit of their profits…

I did not know this and found it interesting. I bet I don’t get a name and address of someone say parking on my driveway…

Good read – Modern learning environments and other dumb ideas

Interesting read

Damming indictment… $1m to switch back to classrooms. Might have to run a cake stall in most schools to get this done. Where is the accountability for these massive screw ups?

East Way – setting expectations

Part of the Positive Culture (Behaviour) for Learning (PC4L). There are around 50 statements that reflect the “East Way”. Quite a bit for teachers to get right…

Gaslighting by students

A developing and insidious tactic by students is to use gaslighting strategies in an attempt to undermine teachers authority, confidence, and effectiveness in the classroom. I have heard of this tactic being targeting at relief teachers and increasingly permanent teachers. Typical tactics (some of which I have seen) include:

Denying Misbehavior: Students might collectively insist that certain incidents or behaviors never occurred, making a teacher question their observations or memory.

Misrepresenting Conversations or Instructions: Students might claim a teacher said something they did not or that instructions were different from what was communicated, leading to confusion and self-doubt in the teacher.

Questioning Competence: Students might challenge a teacher’s knowledge or authority in subtle ways, suggesting mistakes where none exist or exaggerating minor errors to undermine the teacher’s credibility.

Spreading Misinformation: Some students might spread false information about a teacher to peers or other faculty, which can isolate the teacher and create a hostile work environment.

Spreading Misinformation: Some students might spread false information about a teacher to peers or other faculty, which can isolate the teacher and create a hostile work environment.

It is quite challenging to manage this individual and collective behaviour, and little wonder that some relief teachers are refusing to take junior classes or worse removing themselves from the relief pool.

Commerce students visit Rutherford and Bond Toyota

A big thank you to Rutherford and Bond Toyota Wellington recently hosted three separate class visits by Year 11 Commerce students. The students are learning about business values, decision-making processes, stakeholders, and reasons for being in business.  We really appreciated the time Derek Tilyard, Chief Executive Officer took out of his busy schedule to speak with all three classes. The business values Respect, Everyone has a voice and No customer left behind especially resonated with students. We also appreciate the time that Phoebe McKoy and Amelia Piper spent with the girls, showing them around the workplace and discussing their career pathways.

Exercise books for those students that cannot get organized to bring one…

It’s easier to just buy students exercise books sometimes. Sad but true. At least I don’t have to pay for them – unlike some teachers…