Miss Art of Teaching

Spot me... the lady in pink! Being a teacher involves taking on roles beyond the classroom walls. For the last few years, I have been an active member of the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Team. A few weeks ago I took over as the chairperson. This role includes: Chairperson Miss Kwan Develop agenda with input from team; send to team members. Facilitate meeting. Follow up on assigned tasks; seek input from team members/staff. Before the meeting, I was a bit nervous but as the meeting progressed this feeling disappeared. I used to have stage fright but as a teacher/presenter, it requires me to conquer this fear.  In prep for today's meeting, I prepared the agenda and covered a few main points: Recap of roles In the last few weeks, I have found three new members to join the PBL team. New members bring in a different perspective that existing members might not be able to offer.  Training and network I will be going ...

At the start of every year, we are asked to think of 3 objectives. Evidence of achieving the objectives must be uploaded to a website. My objectives for this year include: 1. Promote CAPA faculty and celebrate students' achievements This includes: -Working with students, staff and the local community to create artworks that represent the school. -Create artworks that promote the CAPA faculty, -Display artworks to celebrate student's achievements.  -Share Facebook posts and newsletter articles to acknowledge the efforts made by students. 2. Lead the Positive Behaviour for Learning Team This includes: -Growing, embedding and sustaining PBL at the school. -Strengthen and maintain links between the school and the wider community. -Network with other PBL schools to discuss systems and approaches. -Look for PBL training for myself and other staff members. -Defining Expectations -Teaching Behaviour Expectations -Strategies in place to ...

What I am doing?.... A few weeks ago we had a guest speaker coming in to the school to talk about our teacher well being. He recommended that we name our to-do list as the ta-da list. This means crossing off the completed job, waving your arms around and do a little happy dance. I have been working my way through my list. Not much of a dancer so you will not see me wiggling around after every task. I have logically categorised my workload: marking, work samples, reports, program submissions, Year 8 camp organisation, Positive Behaviour for Learning team planning.... This year I have all my theory work uploaded onto Google Classroom for grades 7-12. It makes life so much easier for the student and for the teacher. This virtual classroom allows students to ask questions, submit tasks and for teachers to mark and send back the feedback. I no longer have to take piles of papers home to mark and drain the ink from my pen. My Year 7 students are making print making, drawing and paint...

During the Term 2 holidays, I started prepping for the 'Rock Colourful Pathway Project'. My Deputy Principal read up an article about an elementary school teacher at Indiana who started a project where every student painted a rock to make up a bright and colourful pathway. She kindly suggested that this might be a good Project Based Learning project. This project has gone bigger and it is now a whole school project. It is one of the Positive Behaviour for Learning initiative. Every student, teacher and staff are encouraged to paint a rock. We want to send out creative and positive vibes throughout the school and local community. At the moment I am trying to prepare for a 'Rock' stall for the school's Heritage (Multicultural) day so that I can get some parents and carers involved with the painting process. Local businesses have assisted by donating rocks! Flower Power and Bunnings are our biggest supporters. I am blessed to be working in a community where busi...