Activity 1: Create reflective journal

Welcome to my reflective practice blog that is the platform for my Applied Practice in Context Assessments 1 and 2.

A bit about me:

I am a 52 year old Canadian living and working in New Zealand for the past 9+ years.  I have been married for 28 years to a wonderful man, Kevin.  We have three daughters, twins who are 25 and our youngest who is 23.   One of our daughters is a spatial designer married to a motion graphic designer.  They are on their way to live in Amsterdam.  Our other daughter is a Year Seven teacher at Somerville Intermediate, whose husband is also a teacher, teaching Health, PE and Socials at Mission Heights Junior College.  Our youngest daughter attends Auckland Uni completing a conjoint degree in Anthropology, Geology and Biology.

It has been a unique opportunity for me as my daughter has been able to bring her intermediate students to my classroom to share learning together.

Teaching my students about Canada has been enjoyable as they expand their knowledge learning about a new country and culture.

I enjoy working alongside a great staff at CBS and truly believe that great teaching and learning begins with collaboration.

I have been teaching at Cockle Bay School for 5 years.  I taught Year 1 for 4 years and Year 5 for 1 year.   I have been the eLearning leader at our school for the past 2 years during which time our school has transitioned to using GAFE, Google Apps for Education, as well as providing and incorporating 1:1 Chromebooks for all Year Four through Six students.  It has been a very exciting time for our school.

Currently my husband and I are in transition to move back to Canada, so for this term I am doing Team Leader release as well as eLearning support in our school prior to our departure in April. I am assisting the Year Four teachers in the introduction and incorporation of 1:1 Chromebooks into their classrooms, as well as supporting new teachers to our school.

My teaching style is one in which I give the students ownership for the learning as much as is practical and possible.  I establish my classroom to be student centred, a bright, active place of learning and interaction.  I love colour and vibrancy, as well as bringing nature indoors, filling my classroom with plants and nature.  I've tried pets - unfortunately they die - however the tadpoles we have had which turned into frogs, were a great delight to the students, both in Year One and Year Five.

I also have effective communication with parents and have been commended by parents and senior management regarding this.  I believe in keeping open lines of communication with parents, staff and administration, as this has such a positive effect on everyone concerned.  I faithfully keep parents updated via our classroom blog and/or regular emails.  Parents are always welcome in the classroom to see their child's learning and to touch base with me.

Google Open Morning in my classroom.

I believe that my strengths in teaching are art, digital learning, writing and social skills.  I love when children love coming to school - they feel safe, valued and heard.  To me, that is the bottom line, the basis for learning.