KPMG Day 2 - 20/5/19

In today's hui, we looked at how we can refocus and energise our Inquiry.

To start off we talked about how our thinking had changed. On top for me was how the much time it has taken to introduce the Literature Circle process to my students, the soft skills that needed to be taught with this process, and then getting the literature circles working. Now I am encountering problems with student video making, which we have to work through.

The next part of our day was spent playing the Catalyst Game. Here I outlined where I was in my inquiry, and Santi, Joanne and Marc all asked questions to challenge my thinking. Anne pointed out that my inquiry and tool were too broad. Some key thoughts and actions following the game:

1. Refer back to the LLP's - how does my inquiry tie into these, or can be supported by them?
2. Change my literacy programme to have more purposeful reading. As Joanne pointed out, %90 of reading at school post-Year 6 is for a purpose, so my Year 6's need to develop these skills. 
1. To Trial: Get my students into semi-permanent groups for the duration of Term 2. Get a selection of texts that fit into our inquiry (Connection to Our Community - Awhai mai, awhi atua). Groups select the text best for them. Run a more traditional model of Literature Circle.
2. Considerations: Text selection for JH and JK. Buy in for RW, DF, JC, JS etc
3. Refer back to the 7 Principles of Learning - what does it cover?

1. 1. Learners at the centre
   2. Social nature of learning
   3. Emotions integral to learning
   4. Recognising individual differences
   5. Stretching all students
   6. Assessment for learning
   7. Building horizontal connections
   
   

After this, we discussed who our TEAM was. Who was challenging our thinking and keeping us in an echo chamber? I am very much in an echo chamber at this stage, but possible contact to extend my TEAM could be contacting a secondary school. I will approach the HOD of English at Shirley Boys and Avonside Girls to enquire if there is anyone whom I can meet with to discuss the inquiry.

The final part of the day was spent discussing and preparing for Sydney.