IYT kicks off

Session 1 of Incredible Years for Teachers (IYT) kicked off.

In an impulsive act, I'd volunteered our school to go first to open and close the session. My rationale for doing this was that I like to set the benchmark, rather than trying to live up to other peoples preconceptions. That's my theory anyhow!

During the session, some key gold nuggets emerged:

• "2 for 10" - 2 minutes of 1:1 with an individual child for ten days in a row.
• Instead of asking for hands up... hands on chest with a thumbs up (or one digit for each idea they have). It's non confrontational, low key and doesn't interrupt thinking or opting out.
• Dialling "0197" then the phone number when making a phone call ensures that your number remains private.

My To Do List:

1. A weekly phone call home to one student (or more) sharing a positive for that week.
2. Consolidate "hub rules" rather than each classes individual ones, to ensure and cement a united front within the collaborative space.
3. Behaviour Plan... I need to begin to put the strategies in place.
4. Ask for feelings to be added to our "Kei te pehea koe?" kupu bank, on the wall which the akonga use for roll call.

Teacher has personalised handshake with every single one of his students

Risks when using Technology in School

Internet Health & Safety Education

NZSTA Annual Conference 2016

John Parsons

Layering Health and Safety...a defence in-depth approach.  After June 2 2016, certain policies need to be in place.  

We all have a role to play and if one layer does not do its part, it affects the other layers. We are all equal in our job to keep children safe.  Need to empower everybody in an organisation to protect children and ourselves.  

Don't think "What if I am wrong?" Think "What if I am right?"  Create open communication in your organisation.  Important policy...child protection.  Need a number one and a number two lead for who to go to.  

The rule of optimism...makes us lose opportunities to deal with potential risks.

Date, time and location...documents.  Speech marks of what has been said.  Follow that process.  Every member of staff needs to have a strong relationship to the policy. Review, sign and understand the processes.  Test your defences and processes.  

Social media policy.  Define the purpose of communication.  Terms of use.  All staff need to know what platforms are being used.  Need to now what NAG 5 is.  Need to know the process for when we have issues with staff.

NAG 5 responsibilities

a) provide a safe physical and emotional environment for students; and
c) comply in full with any legislation currently in force or that may be developed to ensure the safety of students and employees.

This section outlines the responsibilities of schools to provide a safe physical and emotional environment for students.

15.1. Under National Administration Guideline 5 (NAG 5), each Board of Trustees is required to:

15.2. NAG 5 covers a number of aspects of school life apart from bullying. However, developing and implementing a bullying policy will help schools ensure they are meeting their obligations in relation to providing a safe environment for students.

15.3. Schools are increasingly involved in incidents where the activities of students at home or in their own time have an impact on the life of the school. One example is a student creating inappropriate digital content on their own digital technology, whether at school or not. Schools have the responsibility and the power to act when any such content could reasonably be expected to impact negatively on the school learning environment.

Questions for Boards of Trustees, principals, senior leadership teams and teachers:

• How well are we doing on NAG 5? How do we know?
• Do we maintain a safe physical and emotional environment in our school?
• Have we considered the role of digital technology in the learning environment?
• Have we considered using the Education Review Office (ERO) wellbeing for success indicators?

Netsafe Kit for Schools.  Use of laptops of teachers...cannot let students use their computers or family members.  Other people's mistakes can affect all involved.  Should not be left in space with no teacher.  No teacher should have a social network connections with students.  Confident messages put out...

Capable guardians...

Note taking...make sure teachers are good at taking notes and documenting things.  

Guardian failure when letting kids play R18 games.  Be brave in expecting more from people.  

Demonstrate compassion on a daily basis.