No longer a BT

Over the holidays I got my full registration - I'm a real teacher now!!

So a dilemma, do I carry on with this blog or start a new one? I think I need to start a new one. Having "Journey" in the title now makes me think there is an end point - which there was as a BT, but there isn't as a fully registered teacher. The reason I blog is to record my reflections and that needs to be ongoing, continuous, and like steps - building on ideas, thoughts and sparks.

With that in mind I am going to create a new blog - taking over some of my current pages. What I call this blog is still a mystery!

Beginning Teacher BPP

One thing I really love about Shotover is the fact that we try and start with the Why of something before moving to the How and then lastly the What rather than the age old question of "What will we do this term?"

At the beginning of the term Ben, Claire and myself looked at a BPP for a beginning teacher programme. This is what it looks like - at the moment!

Planning

I’m a BT (or should I now say PCT!), and I understand that to become fully registered I have to” prove my worth”, that I’ve morphed from a new graduate with lots of academic thoughts to a somewhat experienced practitioner. One of my current concerns is whether I’ll have enough evidence of planning to prove this transformation.

As we plan as a habitat for the week and then we each have individual responsibilities I’m concerned about my “lack” of visible planning. However trying to be adaptive and responsive to the children’s needs means that a plan isn’t always followed anyway….so the plans I did for a writing group might not be used as a learning opportunity might have appeared, and likewise I might not use a plan devised by someone else for a number of reasons.

Working in such an open, collaborative environment means that learning conversations between mentors don’t just happen at staff meetings or in the staff room over morning tea. I’ve found that the ability to ask for advice “on the fly” from another mentor has been invaluable. A 2 minute conversation has sparked a change in a planned lesson to the benefit of the students. These quick chats before, or during, a lesson aren’t something that could have happened in a single cell classroom but at SPS we’re able to adapt our lessons to the needs of the students. As a BT this is great, to have 3 other mentors experience right there, but it is also means that I have to step outside of my comfort zone at times and put down the plan. I’m begin to realise that the plan is more like a road map and you can take a detour and still end up in the same place with added valuable experiences, and that this is OK!

Another concern is that I’m not confident or experienced enough to be able to adapt on the fly to ensure I’m meeting children’s needs. I don’t have a kete of learning activities or experiences so I want to plan more to ensure I don’t have an occasion with nothing to do (unlikely….but you never know!). Because of this I’m still slightly obsessed with the when and what “things” are happening but I’m also beginning to incorporate more of the why and find that the 2 minute chats with others can sometimes shed light on something that leads to an ah-ha moment.

Week 1 at SPS

Week 1 - Amazing is the one word summary. Was scared at the thought of not having a real "purpose" in the Innovative Learning Environment as all the other mentors are carrying on as normal, but my fear did not eventuate.
Day 1, Blue pebble Maths group
Day 2, Starlings and Waxeyes Reading groups
Day 4, Sparrows Reading group
Week 2 will be planning for Ben 10 writing group and teaching Ben 10 and Thunderbirds groups.

SPS really do walk-the-talk of collaboration. We're each planning different writing groups but not teaching all the lessons, PE we've decided on a theme and will follow the same lesson plan, reading groups are taken from each mentor group, as are maths groups. Concept time is a time to dig deeper and cover multiple curriculum areas, and there is still space in the week for a "joy"session - doing what you love as a learner / mentor. What more can you ask for?! 

It's the little things that help too.... SPS use hangouts to communicate with each other so there aren't 15 new emails every time you look at your computer. Discussing students is easy as all mentors are accessible, open and right there when you need them. Feedback is immediate, if you make a mistake and another mentor is there it is easily fixed (such as phonics - it's mmmmmm, not m m m!).

Then there is also the bonus of being surrounded by amazing mentors, absorbing what, why and how they do things to add to your repertoire. It is easy to feel somewhat daunted by this too, as they are incredible, but with a growth mindset I know my beliefs, principles and practices will just get refined and improved which can only be a good thing for the learners.

SOLO

Before the previous teacher left I quizzed her on the use of SOLO within the classroom as I know it is used further up the school. She hasn't used it so a challenge I have set myself is to start using SOLO within the classroom. Might be slightly optimistic as there are only 7 weeks of school left for the year but if all I have achieved is that the students have an understanding of the different levels and how they can help them then that will be something!

I also believe it will be a great tool for extending some and encouraging others and unless I try I don't know how it will go down! Room 14 are going to be my guinea pigs!! Bring on the hexagons for tomorrow!!

Tomorrow....

Wow, one more sleep until I make room 14 all my own! Amazing the amount of planning I have already done...probably enough to see me through the first 3 weeks but I guess that is part of the joy of being a beginning teacher - you don't really know what will keep their interest, what learning will be achieved, what level they are at, and so on, until you are in the classroom and have started building those relationships. I would much rather over plan though than under plan and look like a lemon! The students don't know what I intend to cram into their day so if it's not all achieved it doesn't really matter!

Getting excited now!!

The joys of being a BT

So the purpose of this blog is to document my progress through the pitfalls, perils and positives of being a beginning teacher. To give hope and inspiration to other BTs out there whether they are employed or as a friend said to me whether they are a "soon to be employed" BT.

I graduated in April and have applied for 8 jobs and had 1 interview since then...not many I hear you say, but I want to stay in Queenstown and so there are not 100's of schools - just 6, 2 of which are of a religious nature which leaves me with a group of 4 potential employers. All amazing schools which I would be very privileged to work at.

Until 2 days a go I fell in to the "soon to be employed" category but then I had a text message (!) asking if I would like to relieve for the rest of the term in a year 3/4 class starting after Labour day. My response was "Yes please. Would absolutely love to :-)". So after 2 terms of relieving in all areas of the school and at kindergarten I will have my own class....... in 13 days.....ahhhhh!

Needless to say I am very excited! And whilst I have nothing on the horizon for next year I'm finding I can be positive about that as who knows what will happen!!!

Happy days ;-)