Thank God it's Friday at TP

My second week was great! Because Mr Waddy (Hamish) was on leave to build the school website; I was in with Melissa (Mrs D) and witnessed a great style of teaching and grace within the Y7 and 8s. To be frank, I really thought I learnt a lot off the children today. Firstly, I observed the morning duties which consisted of the role call etc and then headed into the spelling test and roving them which I was tested myself on some words... eeeek! Anyways, me and the students did a lot of progress for spelling and it was a lot of general self managed requirements that I was checking on and making sure they moved swiftly on updating their score graphs and had their lists ready for Monday.

We moved onto Maths and started with marking the activity worksheets from earlier in the week. Those great seniors like testing each other and are rather competitive in their work, sports and almost everything they do actually! I guess at this age, everything knowledge and competition is sucked up like a sponge - literally in some cases.

We moved into PAT (literature) tests after interval in which I was helping them set these up and running through the instruction to start. Each student had 45 mins to complete the tests and all students got through in sufficient time. I do not access the results but I did experience the different abilities from many of the students and have noticed a couple of students that may have a few discomforts to their home routine that maybe affecting their school life - mind you - it is end of the week and my own children are usually shattered this time of the week.

Maths continued from PAT test room to room (11 & 12) and the students were doing online mathletics when all was complete. Some big tips I have picked up from these voluntary hours I am putting in is ALWAYS have a back up plan for the disaster and ALWAYS have something to give them when they have completed all tasks. Sometimes the activity after the completed tasks is a reward to them and can act as the carrot dangling.

After lunch I got to watch the students home made media watch which is a 15 minute video where all the students have done everything ie. editing, filming, sound etc vimeo https://vimeo.com/110506372 (TP News). It was certainly a well made production and the team really know how to delegate and work well together. Very impressive! I watched this as Blade was my guide while they did their silent reading - it was real cool to have Blade sitting beside me for any questions etc - good man that motorcross / Xcross fugitive.

After the Silent Reading / Video session we ended the day with T - Ball out in their lovely space out the back. Seriously a great way to end the week. I learnt so much off these students and continue too. I think I have seriously found the age group I want to be teaching as they are not only full of enthusiasm, but they are just a great age to be around. They're self managed, have impeccable initiative and show all the signs of participation and contribution in some form.

It's off to cheer on the Black Caps against Aussie tomorrow for Hamish aka Mr Waddy ;)