Curriculum Update! :)

Good Day Kunyung! 🙂Inquiry

This fortnight has been another ‘typical’ Kunyung fortnight……………learning, learning, learning and some more learning- and that was just the teachers!!

Through some wonderful life experiences and through some explicit, ‘sense of urgency’ teaching and learning we are ‘humming’ along in more ways than one……………..we also received our Staff School Survey results back (which Elaine has outlined in her report!) and I have outlined two of our most positive areas- even though they were all great!

COLLECTIVE EFFICACY and RESPONSIBILITY………say what?

Our Staff School Survey results showed that our staff strongly believe we have a high amount of collective efficacy at Kunyung- that we all have a responsibility for the planning, teaching and assessment of all students in our teams…..what does that actually look like? Here are some examples…..

  • Every week staff bring their class Student Data to our planning meetings- we look at this maths and reading data and discuss what teaching needs to be the focus for the following week, how we can move students further along in their learning and how far are they away from reaching their next benchmark (how can we get them there?). We discuss what direction the students want to take in our Unit of Inquiry and what are we actually looking for in our students to be able to say ‘Yep, they understand that!’
  • Teachers have been completing assessments that will inform end of year school reports and part of that process has been ‘moderating’ student work. At our weekly collaborative planning meetings, teachers have brought in samples of student writing to share, ask questions about and decide on a level as a team. We have discussed maths outcomes and reading levels- trying to share our collective experience, understanding and thoughts. Our aim has been to give every student the best possible opportunity to demonstrate their learning before a final assessment is made!

TRUST IN PARENTS & STUDENTS

InquireAnother area of high scoring was the trust our staff have in you as parents AND the faith we have in our students’ ability to learn! How positive is that!!! It matches the high result from the Parent Opinion Survey that showed the high level of trust you have in our staff!

We thought that perhaps the work we are putting into opening up communication channels (Skoolbag app, newsletter, blog, diaries) between home and school, in regard to the ‘learning’ and events happening around the school, that parents have more of an idea about what is being learnt at school and how best to support their children. Our Staff have TRUST in you guys….what a compliment to you!!!!

Our staff also have confidence in your children’s ability to learn! Our work on developing a Visible Learning Culture where not only do teachers know What is being learnt, How best will it be learnt and How will we know what has been learnt BUT your children know the answers to these questions as well!!!! Our staff know that not all students are working at the same level (In fact our teachers know EXACTLY where your children are and so do they!!) but they have confidence that your children are al capable of learning and to be the best they can be…………

Just wanted to further reinforce two of the many positive things our staff feel about our school………..

Meanwhile in other news……..

Our Preps have been observing their beans growing and, acting as custodians, as they learn about Sharing our Planet through the eyes of an environmental scientist! Reading and writing is starting to ‘take off’ and the Prep Swimming Program has begun!!!!! Excitement reigns supreme!!!!!!

Over in ‘Junior Land’ our Juniors have also been looking at the world through the eyes of an Environmental Scientist……their focus being on connections and Lifecycles!!! What lifecycles are in motion in our local environment? What needs do these living things have to survive? What human impact (positive and negative) is there? We have had a major focus on maths and reading and our Juniors are gearing up to go swimming next week!quotes-18he7ck[1]

Our Middle Students, not to be outdone, are expanding the Environmental Scientist perspective and are inquiring into Ecosystems and Food Webs through the lens of RELATIONSHIPS. They are creating them and sharing their knowledge with each other……..the provocation being………now you know all about this particular ecosystem (they have chosen their own in one room, worked in pairs in another rom and are doing a collaborative inquiry in another room!) what would happen if an element of your ecosystem was removed? Discuss.

This Term has been a perfect example of how science is taught at Kunyung- you can see the development across the school in science skills and understandings! Watching all age groups in the school walking around and observing, collecting data, working together and sharing evidence has been AMAZING!!

PREPS- Living and Non-lIving things CONCEPT- Custodianship

JUNIORS- Lifecycles CONCEPT- Relationships

MIDDLES- Ecosystems CONCEPT- Relationships

SENIORS- Biodiversity CONCEPT- Responsibility (This Unit of Inquiry is not taking place at the moment!)

Our Senior Students have continued their inquiry into ‘Who we are’ and are spending time deeply thinking about challenges and risks that children all around the world face. It has been a perfect way to approach transition and has allowed students to address some of their concerns, worries, fears, excitements about growing up! A highlight has been the Family Life Program run by Family Life Victoria! Kelli is a wonderful presenter and the Seniors have approached such issues as puberty with maturity and confidence (and Kelli’s humorous approach has certainly supported these discussions!)

Let’s not forget FRENCH DAY………….our students looked amazing!! J

Now……..after reading ALL OF THAT………which Learner Profile attributes do you think our students and teachers have exhibited over the past fortnight????? Have a look below and try to identify some they may have not only used but had the opportunity to develop!!!!

IB LEARNER PROFILE

The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. The IB learner profi­le represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities.

IB learners strive to be:

INQUIRERS

We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

OPEN-MINDED

We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

RISK-TAKERS- COURAGEOUS

We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination;

we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.

THINKERS

We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

 

KNOWLEDGEABLE

We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global signi­ficance.

CARING

We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.

 

BALANCED

We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of

our lives—intellectual, physical, and emotional—to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.

REFLECTIVE

We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

COMMUNICATORS

We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.

 

PRINCIPLED

We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

 

Cheers

Kim Jackson

Assistant Principal

PYP Coordinator

Making Thinking Visible! :)

Good Day Kunyung Families! 🙂

This is just an ‘in between’ my normal posts post!!!!!

I came across this short video created by the researchers at Harvard University who concentrate on developing ‘Thinking Routines’.…….their goal is to support people (particularly teachers!) to develop their students ability to be creative and deep thinkers!

At Kunyung we have been using many of these routines this year to really make our students thinking visible! In all classrooms you will see and hear these routines being used and discussed!

We wish to further explore, develop and use these in 2015 and beyond!

Please have a look- you may, not only find them interesting from a parental perspective, but you may also see their use in your jobs!!!!

For further information google Harvard University Thinking Routines or come and see me OR ask your children!!!!!!!

Cheers

Kim 🙂

Assistant Principal

Kunyung’s Curriculum Vision! :)

Good Day All! 

PROVOCATION

If we are continually changing our teaching/thinking to prepare our students for the future……what that future will look like is something we need to consider…………BUT………what will it look like?

At the 2015 Prep Transition Parents’ Meeting on Wednesday, it was my role (alongside Jo B- one of our lovely Prep teachers!) to present to new parents our curriculum vision! Well, it’s a little trickier than I thought!! Not because we don’t have one but more because we have such a strong one that we live, breath, discuss, challenge and strive to improve ALL THE TIME…………….problem being how to put that into a simple statement that just ‘ makes sense’ to anyone!!

Well our statement went something like this……………

‘Kunyung Primary is an International Baccalaureate School implementing the Primary Years Program through an Inquiry-based, Concept-driven curriculum that prides itself on having a Visible Learning Culture and actively promotes Personalisation of Learning!!’

Hmmmm…….didn’t really follow the lines ‘making sense’ to anyone…. so we followed it up with……………In parents speak……..

‘Our staff are developing and learning as teachers to be the best we can be to ensure your children have every opportunity to be the best they can be!’

I think that went over a little better!!!!! 🙂

In truth though, we do have common language and a clear vision  in our school of where our curriculum is headed……What makes us so committed, and sure of our direction, is that it is all based on research and ‘best practice’. This allows us to follow up any questions with professional reading, access online support from around the world and participate in local and state networks set up to support each other….

Now we had them sold on our COMMON DIRECTION, we thought we might start to provoke the thinking of our audience!

We asked the parents to take a YES/NO stance on the following statements….what do you think?

Learning is best measured by a letter or a number.

Product is more important than process and progress.

Children need to be protected from any kind of failure.

Teachers know all the answers.

Teachers have to be in control of the class.

Teachers are responsible for the learning.

Students are obliged to respect teachers.

Learners need to sit quietly and listen.

Learning looks the same as when you went to school.

Focus on (and fix) your child’s shortcomings, rather than their successes.

We asked parents to look at the some images of classrooms in the past and classrooms today…….they shared what they saw, thought and wondered about them!! How things have changed……

What can we do in schools to prepare our students?

We CAN develop, support and grow the 21st Century skills, attitudes and learner attributes they will need to function in 2030 through an INQUIRY curriculum

We CAN develop students who take ownership of their learning through creating a Visible Learning Culture. Developing the skills of ‘How to learn! Not just what to learn!’

We CAN personalise student learning to meet their needs through a PERSONALISED program

What can you do to help us?

•Encourage questioning (Beyond the Why question we all love!!)
•Support Wonderings (I wonder what would happen if…..)
•Make Connections (What do we already know that will help us here?)
•Support (Nightly reading, notices, money)
•Be positive (Focus on what was good about their day! Suggest ways to solve problems)
•Relationships (Model good communication with teachers, friends, school)
•Read the School BLOG and newsletters (Stay informed!)

Just thought I would share some of our presentation as it really is applicable to all of our school community!

Have a lovely weekend everyone! 🙂

Kim Jackson

Assistant Principal