16 August 2024

We hear a lot about the 3 Rs - in terms of Reading, (W)riting and (A)rithmetic and, of course, these are always front of mind..... and it's the 4th R - Resilience that the teachers have been using their professional learning time together in the first few weeks of this term polishing up.

In our model - it's the learn it and attempt to live it piece that comes before the teach and hopefully embed practices. This R word can be easily misinterpreted and misunderstood, I think. Plus, it's used so freely that I wanted to refresh our understanding of what it is, isn't and myths surrounding Resilience.

Over 3 sessions, we explored shifting states and reframing situations, unpacked personal 'triggers' and then delved a little more into the work of psychologist, Karen Reivich.... I really enjoy listening to her as she is really accessible and human! Is our thinking accurate and in proportion to the actual event? Have we got the ability to have 'stuff' happen and grow from it? 

In Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatté's book "The Resilience Factor', there is quite a handy chapter on resilient parenting too, so if you are interested to find out more, please let me know.

This week, teacher learning moved to the teaching of Writing - but, without refreshing them on the tools required to navigate potential change, they may not have the menu available to manage any pendulum swings in the New Zealand Curriculum with the same agility. We will see! That's the theory!

You have Learning Celebrations coming up on Tuesday 20 August and Tuesday 27 August. This is a time when you will join your child (with other parents also joining their children!), and the children share and discuss progress and learning they are proud of. We try to ensure this is also linked to the children's goals set earlier in the year. Teachers are also planning to provide an opportunity for you to pop onto the observation deck in the classroom for a look at some 'realtime' teaching and learning happening.