Mini Conference 2020

On the 6th of March 2020, for the second time a very large portion of our Kāhui Ako educators came together to share, reconnect and learn from each other.

We were very lucky, and would like to acknowledge the following presenters who contributed to the day and made it such a success. Some of the presenters have been wonderful in giving us their presentation slides to share. (folder here)

Dawn Colless (RTLB)

Understanding the impact of trauma on kids and some practical guides to help.

Dawn is an experienced educator who has worked in both sectors as a teacher, team leader, Dean and RTLB. Throughout her career Dawn has been dedicated to growing her own knowledge and insight into “what makes those tricky kids tricky” and how to intervene to make a difference. Her presentation will be a reflection on what she has learnt in regards to the implications of trauma and what we, as educators, can do to help.

Cynthia McCracken (NPDC Zero Waste Education Officer)

I am a Primary Trained teacher with a passion for our Environment. In my current position I work with Schools and community groups to assist them to put infrastructure in place alongside education of how to make these systems work.

Details of the current Zero Waste programme on offer for schools and community through NPDC, and sharing of what some of our local schools have already been up to, to get us inspired.

Answers to your questions about kerbside collection and setting up more functional school wide waste separation systems. A look at the benefit and need for a circular economy to replace the current linear model.

Erika Maifea

I’m currently working at Sport Taranaki as an Education Mentor. My background is in Education where I hold a Bachelor of Education and diploma in Physical Education and Health. I’ve spent many years as teacher of HPE but since having my family I have found myself in this new role which I’m very passionate about. I love learning and the whole process, taking time to further learn more about the ECE and Primary sectors has really strengthened my whole view on education and learning.

We as teachers often neglect our own wellbeing. It’s important that we strive to be healthy in all avenues in our lives so that we can then be the best teachers we know we are. This workshop will give you some tools and ideas not only for yourself but so you can easily adapt these into your classroom and daily routines with a focus on Hauora and the Whare Tapa Wha Model. here

Ashleigh Oakes / Letitia Stevenson: Play Based Learning

Child-led play based learning has been shown to develop creativity, social skills as well as literacy and numeracy skills in all learners. Come & explore ideas on how to stimulate and nurture child led play based learning in a classroom setting. (Letitia and Ashleigh to run).

Ashleigh Oakes: I began attending Inglewood Playcentre 7 years ago with my 1st child. I have held many roles within playcentre and completed qualifications through the Playcentre education program. I love that Playcentre allows me to be involved in the education of my children and learn with them. I am one of the “persons responsible” on session at Inglewood Playcentre, supporting the learning of tamariki through child initiated play, and work as a co-facilitator in the Space for you and your baby program.

Letitia Stevenson: I have a BA in Social Anthropology & Geography & Diploma in Secondary School Teaching. Becoming the mother of 3 girls saw me become involved with Early Childhood Education, Brainwave Trust Aotearoa NExT programme and becoming a qualified SPACE & Playcentre adult education facilitator. I am passionate about empowering children to become life-long learners.

Bex Langton

Bex Langton is an Accredited MoE facilitator working with Sharp, Kinane Limited and is based in Taranaki. Bex has 25 years teaching experience working in both the primary and secondary sectors, specialising in science and mathematics at the secondary level. Currently, she is facilitating digital fluency and the Digital Technology Curriculum PLD contracts in many schools across the Taranaki region.

“Hands on – Have a go” – It’s time to have a play with some robotic devices and coding programmes that may be new for you! Share your thinking about how these devices could be integrated into the classroom programme. These thoughts will be shared with your fellow colleagues at the end of the workshop and will form the basis of a digital library of ideas that you can further develop! here

Jo Wilson (Secondary-Based Workshops) keynote

• Session 1: Strengthening Learner Agency through Student Centred Pedagogy

Students who are active in their learning, who are motivated to learn, who manage the amount of new information that they get at any one time, who practise, who seek descriptive feedback, who test their learning and reflect on their learning, learn much better than those who experience passive learning situations. (Black & Wiliam,1998)

This workshop will explore deliberate strategies for fostering learner agency. here

• Session 2: Assessment Capable Learners

Students who are empowered in their learning can be thought of as being ‘assessment-capable’. They know what they need to learn, where they are with that learning and what their next learning steps are.

This workshop will explore deliberate strategies for fostering learner agency through the development of assessment capable learners. here

Cameron Stone

Session 1: A beginners guide to restorative and relational practices. This workshop will look at what restorative practices are, how we can start to use them in our interactions with students and why this type of practice is effective. Each attendee will walk away with a handful of very basic relational practices for the classroom also. here

Session 2: This workshop is designed for teachers who have had some experience with restorative practices and are keen to develop their understanding and practice a little further. We will look at some scenarios and also dive into some non confrontational role play. here

Sean Zieltjes: (Taranaki Mounga)

Stratford-born Sean comes from a farming family, raised on farms around the Mounga. As Project Manager of the Mounga Project he is making sure we are on target to secure the Mounga from predators and weeds, and then restore species to it, revitalising the ecology across the landscape

The Mounga Project is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the community to restore ecosystems and Sean is keen to ensure the project outcomes are sustained in the long term by promoting involvement and ownership by iwi and the community. He is excited about the collaborative approach to deliver the project, the innovation required to solve some of the challenges, and supporting the experts on the project team. Indeed, he says the project is a ‘perfect storm’ of ecology, iwi, hapu and community.