Blogpost #3 - Describe the tools/measures/approaches you plan to use...

Describe the tools/measures/approaches you plan to use to to get a more detailed and accurate profile of students learning in relation to that challenge. Justify why you chose these approaches and tools.

Tools:

• Google Form on Identity & Cultural Competencies shared to my class
• Inter-lead Self-Assessment and Student Voice tool. 
• All about the Learner Profile created by ME. 

Measures:

• Teacher Only Day Workshop Presentation - had students open up the workshop by sharing about themselves, their cultural background, their name and the story behind it. Attendees were highly engaged and provided feedback reinforcing the importance of IDENTITY.
• Student Attendance & Engagement
• Student Confidence
• Oral Language 

Approaches:

• Bus-stop activity using post-it notes by students and teachers.
• Target group - whole class
• Teaching through a Pasifika Lens

I chose these approaches and tools because student voice is what drives the learning at Glen Taylor School. This proves to be a good tool because learners love being involved with planning what they're learning. The best way to understand a student's preferred way of learning is to ask them (Causton - Theoharis, 2009) and to have them involved in the planning and assessment process of it all. 

"Often the student has the best ideas of how we might work with them, if we take time to reflect on what they might be trying to communicate."

Outreach teacher, project interview TKI, 2013 

Self-assessment is also important as it provides insight to teacher practice. It allows us to reflect and evaluate what is working, what can we do better, what can I change in my practice, to ensure we are catering to every learners' need. 

For the past 3 years, I have focused on Reading and Writing. It's helped me unpack my thinking and identify my what it really is I wanted to inquire about this year. I spoke briefly about implementing Talanoa and using Cultural competencies in past years, but I sit and ask myself now "Did I do it justice? Did I incorporate these Pasifika learning tools effectively? How can I measure it's effectiveness differently this year?

As a Y7&8 teacher, I want to ensure that my students leave GTS at the end of the year, confident in themselves, proud of who they are and embrace the richness in cultural knowledge they carry. I still find it difficult to match my Inquiry to a particular achievement challenge because my Inquiry is more than a curriculum focus. My Inquiry is to do with the knowledge captivated in each learners' story, held deep within that you need to be a 'special teacher' to unlock that taonga. 

Dr Rae Si'ilata stated at our Teacher Only Day at the end of Term 1 that "English can never translate the depth of our reo & talanoa" (2021). My inquiry encourages learners express themselves in their language, through their cultural lens and identity. If my learners Maths/Reading & Writing learning needs to be taught in a bi-lingual way for their understanding to enhance, I will endeavour to do so. It's important for the learners to make a connection before they can actually engage in the learning.