DFI Class Sites - Day 5

Today was about exploring sites and developing your own class site.  In the beginning when I started my very own class site (using classic sites I created about 10 sites that didn't go anywhere) then I discovered new class sites (by accident) and went in and found myself navigating around and creating my very first first class site that I was super proud of (there was still WIP but I was more confident using new google sites than the classic sites).   This session enabled me to evaluate what was happening in Room 5's class site and make significant changes to suit my learners and the diversity in my class. 

Even though there is still room for improvement I am super happy that Room 5's class site is a collaboration of my ideas and my students.  We have tried to include in our site things that are valuable to each individual in our class.  We have captured the diversity and cultural richness that is embedded and authentic in our class through cultural events, language weeks and family links to our school community.  Cultural identity is very important in Rm 5 and this is reflective in our site.  I super greatful that what I have learnt in this session I have been able to apply and constantly make any changes necessary that make our site engaging.  Watch this space Rm 5's class site is 'moving on  👌up'

Computational Thinking: - Day 7

Today was really cool - we had a facilitator from OMGtech

come through and talk to us about 'The future of tech'.....We were able to go through future digitech ideas which were really cool but some of them a bit bizarre - The best part of the session was being able to test out our coding skills using the Scratch app.  I found this a bit hard but I think with more active use of the Scratch app I will become more and more confident.  One of the activities we got to do in small groups was creating a circuit (with a few supplied resources) that will help fend off 'zombies during a zombie apocolypse'.  It was cool having a hands on activity and the thinking behind it - getting the lightbulb to work was also a bonus for me 👀 Thank you OMGtech for a cool presentation.

Signed, Sealed & Delivered - DFI Exam Day

Wow - so today I get to say HOORAY, YIPPEE, DONE & DUSTED - today was 'EXAM DAY' 😀 and I am super proud to say that I passed (was a bit doubtful when I got up to the sheets part) but here is the evidence:

Although I had missed 3 sessions in total I still was able to go through the slides and do some revision so that I was not too far behind when I returned back to the next session.  It was quite nerve racking (and I can only imagine how it must feel for my students during testing time, or my own children sitting exams) at one point I had to sit on my hands because they were shaking so much (due to google sheets & youtube questions). During these questions I had 'nearly' made some vital mistakes but remembered what Dorothy had emphasised at the beginning of the exam 'READ THE QUESTION' - so after a few 'read the question moments' I am glad I chose the better answer/option.  With being a bit more digital confident and being able to navigate the google tools better I think this was also a major factor in me passing the exam.  The biggest hurdle was the youtube channel - a cross eye moment happened but then another Dorothy lightbulb moment was remembered 'this magic tab called **review later**' and that is exactly what I did - so glad 👌.  I found the class sites easy only because I have been using class sites more confidently in the last year or so, and most of the questions I was able to easily navigate what I needed to do.  Super greatful to Gerhard and Dorothy for all their support and help throughout this journey in shaping me to be a better practitioner in using the Learn, Create, Share model to enhance the teaching and learning experiences for my students.  Awesome collaboration Cohort 3 - we rock!!

Week 1: Niue Language Week 2019 'Tokiofa, Ofania, Mokoina e vagahau Niue'

Fakaalofa atu all - back into DFI after being MIA for a minute. Week 1 was a busy week at school with Niue Language Week getting ready to take off with Monday formal opening ceremony - with a guest speaker Faama Viliamu Co-ordinator for 531PMN News Niue, also a guest performer - Choreographer for dance troupe Fiti Lose Miss Shevalyn Poimafiti.  It was awesome to see some of our grandparents/parents there to support their children.  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday was tabloid traditional games during lunch.  Some of those traditional games were 'toume - niuean skis' 'sikeka-good ole stilts' 'olo fua niu-bowling using coconuts', 'volu niu-coconut scraping' and 'toho toua-tug o war'.  Great fun had by teachers and students.  

Then Friday came around and we were fortunate to have one of our relievers Mr Frank Haioti come back and organise a umu demonstration with a few students getting the hands on experience on prepping a Niue umu.  Our closing ceremony was just a good as our opening, where we had another guest speaker 'my mom' and a few of our niuean parents/families present at our formal assembly. We had class performances and than the grand finale by our Niuean Cultural group.  Our girls gave a beautiful performance and our boys wrecked that stage with the NIUE TAKALO 

(War dance).  The highlight though was the opening of the umu (could smell the food from the hall) and the shared lunch.  All the hot food was brought straight out of the umu straight onto the table 👀 We had so much food from umu foods (niue dishes), salads, freshly baked coconut bread, drinks and curries. 

We sat down to enjoy our lunch with Wesley Intermediate staff, students leaders, parents and friends.  The were entertained by our parents with a few traditional niuean celebration songs to end our lunch.  Although I missed session 5 I was able to use google sheets for our budget, google hangouts so that students could see what was going on at the umu site.  Overall was a awesome week - bring on 2020.  Massive shout-out to Wesley Intermediates senior management team who supported our week from beginning to end oue tulou!