Term 3 toolkits I decided to do another workshop based around Mathematics and statistics. My last ones were very popular and seem to be of high demand. So I choose Basic Facts always an area of need and concern. I started it in lockdown so I had my site I developed already started and just needed to add to it. My big idea was how to link the creation into the teaching of basic facts and using a lot more of the online manipulatives to model number sense and understanding of the facts. I had 57 registered to attend and had 36 turn up for the hangout. I was concerned that it would become a lecture at that high number and still wanted to include some activities. So I included a padlet to assess what our teachers are using currently to teach the Basic facts. I then decided to give an activity at the end so the teachers had a chance to be in the students' shoes. I got some great feedback.
I am a Manaiakalani School Facilitator based in the Far North. As an outreach facilitator I work in professional learning and development (PLD) to support teachers and leaders to become highly effective teachers through learning, creating, and sharing of students work. Through the promotion of a digital learning environment , digital fluency, and literacy. A key focus is to accelerate learning living local and learning global.
Tuesday, 25 August 2020
Friday, 21 August 2020
Book Creator
It was great to introduce the book creator tool into cyber smart lessons. An exciting and vibrant tool that creates books, fun templates, and an easy way to add a voice recording. The students enjoyed the tool and I gave them a lot of time to explore and try out the many tools. The teacher created an account and shared the code with the students so all their books were in the class library which made it easy to share the learning on the big screen. I think teachers will use this option more in the creative part of learning.
Monday, 6 April 2020
Grid view for Hangout meets
This is a great extension for google hangout "Google Meet Grid View " we have been trialing it in our daily hangouts and it is a great way to view everyone in the hangout. Here are the instructions on how to install it.
Installation
To install the "Google Meet Grid View" extension do the following:
- Go to the extension's page in the Chrome Web Store - "Google Meet Grid View"
- Click the "Add to Chrome" button to install the extension.
- Give it permission to install.
- And then that is it! The extension will now show up in the top right corner of your web browser.
Now that the Grid View extension is installed, anytime you are in a Google Meet you will now see a new button in the top right corner of the Meet window (next to the "People" and "Chat" button).
Simply click on this button to turn Grid View on or off. Once you turn it on you will now see all of the participants in the meeting.
There are a few options you can adjust in the drop-down menu below the button.
- "Only show participants with video" - If you check this box then Grid View will not show anyone who has turned off their webcam or who doesn't have a camera to begin with.
- "Highlight speakers" - If you check this box then anytime someone is speaking, a yellow box will appear around their them in the grid. This can help make it easier to see who is talking.
- "Include yourself in the grid" - You can check or uncheck this if you want to see yourself as well or not.
Note: Keep in mind, this extension is only changing the view for you, and not for the other people in the meeting. Each person controls their own view. For other people in the meeting to see the grid, they also need to install the extension one time, and then they can turn the Grid View on or off for themselves.
Google Meet Grid View is a great extension to help everyone in a meeting or classroom feel like they are more connected with the group.
Friday, 13 March 2020
Online toolkit
Sunday, 9 June 2019
Auckland Visit June 2019
I also observed and supported her in a NE class with students brand new to IPads. She worked with a small group and we went outside and took photographs and went back in and they had to choose 4 favorites and delete the others. This reinforced the importance of learning the basics and practicing using Ipad tools. I then got to observe in Khismira junior class of Ipads and got to see the IPads Blog app in action and some students shared me their blogs and how they post up using the app.
Then I observed in Clarelle’s IPad class they where practicing maths gaps they had found form the JAM assessments they had just completed. Through drawing and writing answers to teachers questions on an EE project.
Then I got to spend some time with Anne my supervisor working on my Inquiry and effective facilitation and changes I have made to my facilitation over the year and a half. Importance of effective pedagogy, Deprivatizing, Explicit facilitation, Modeling good practice, and Co-facilitating. Wednesday I followed Fiona to Ruapotaka school in an IPad class and across to Tamaki primary. Thursday I got to Observe and chat to Robyn Anderson at Pamure Bridge primary. Looking at her very detailed processes. Great create activities. Acronyms for writing processes. Students shared their learning and blog posts. This was very motivating and inspirational. I got lots of ideas and she also picked my Maths experience. From this, we are meeting in a hangout next week with her senior syndicate to discuss some maths and statistic ideas for year 7 and 8.
Mele’s blog Pbsmelel.blogspot.co.nz
Then Fiona and I met to go over effective pedagogy and Learn, create and share.
4.30pm Thursday afternoon I facilitated my online toolkit.
Friday I joined the Auckland cohort 2 DFI it was great to learn some more tips on Google keep I love the grab image text tool which can take text off images. Also, lots of good reminders to share with teachers. The good Gmail tips setting up filters and layouts. I then took a group to practice hangouts and sharing screens, turning the mike and video on and off, and leaving messages. This was a good visit to Auckland to get the reassurance of the work I am facilitating up North and the processes and pedagogy I am using is similar to what is happening in Auckland. I also got some good reminders of not forgetting to remind students of some of the basics (control shift V). Photo tools. The visit to experienced teachers class Robyn Andersons, Clarelle and Khismira were great, very beneficial I probably could have spent more time with them.
Friday, 10 May 2019
Create
Sunday, 10 February 2019
Understanding Area of a Rectangle Conceptually
This is a great use of materials and technology to gain conceptual understanding in Maths.
Visual is Maths has some great ideas and videos.
Spark Curiosity: What Do You Notice? What Do You Wonder?
Monday, 28 January 2019
Ways to Use Screencastify
One of my favorite tools great for gathering student's voice, and sharing the learning. This free download has multi ways to use the tool. Great for rewindable learning.
Thursday, 24 January 2019
Monday, 21 January 2019
Treaty of Waitangi
Kia Ora,
With the Treaty of Waitangi day creeping up on us very quickly and schools starting back shortly I wanted to share some resources.
What a great way to start the year and build relationships and get to know your students.
Also remembering it is part of the key principles of our curriculum.
Interactively explore the document
Treaty of Waitangi Grounds Education resources
National Library
Get creative with your students writing ebooks, videos, animations, posters, multi-modal sites, drama, or art.
Mangonui School Tuatara Talks Podcast.
I was very privileged and humbled to be invited to the Mangonui school tuatara talks podcast. The students invited me along to be intervie...

















