This term the Year 3 and 4 team teachers had a PLD day. This day was driven by our needs and we spent it learning and supporting each other.
Our focus was writing moderation of our report writing samples and writing great reports for parents.
While this was the focus we learnt much more learning alongside each other. Here are the reflections on this day. Here are the teachers feedback from the day.
Adrianne
Report writing - How important our modelling books are to gather personal examples of learning.
Writing Moderation - We make hard judgements and need to focus on what the child has rather than what is missing.
Overall learning - How to develop my leadership skills in fostering a team learning environment. Where there is a collective view while listening to individuals viewpoints. Developing trust, openness and professionalism.
Change - focus on the positive of learning and relationships.
Report writing -Modelling books verses profile books and testing forms-what do we actually use across our team to report effectively?
Moderation - PLD day was extremely effective so could we factor this type of fresh minded term time again.Overall learning - Meetings with the team focused on (what we decide collectively) as important agenda issues is powerful. We would like this to continue as much as possible. Our sharing is awesome! Change - Change happens when all people are on board and collaboratively decisions are made. We then feel a ‘buy in’ to the decisions made which contributes to any changes success. I feel our team is fabulous at this! 
Kay
Report writing - when I first saw the report format I was worried how on earth I could fill in such a big box. Now I worry that there won’t be enough room to say all the things we brainstormed about! I liked how we came up with ways to phrase things succinctly but honestly and kindly.
Moderation - some “duh” moments when I looked at my assessments with “fresh” eyes but on the whole very useful to have the debate around what constitutes 1A, 2B etc
Overall learning - the importance of
professional discussions to clarify thinking and get everyone on ”the same page”. We have 7 “experts” in the team and it is invigorating (and sometimes scary)to hear other points of view.
Change - to add more student voice in my modelling books or at least record their ideas and name them.
PS The kids and I loved the outcome of the planning we did for our “hook-in days” - thanks, team!
Marilyn
Report writing - gathering of relevant data through the year from a variety of sources. What does others in out team do? Importance of good evidence in modelling books...be great to share and discuss these.
Moderation - having wonderful conversations with our own allandale experts (our team). Having regular time but not moments snatched after school when we are tired is really helpful
Overall learning - developing a team that works together closely and feeling valued. Having time out to have professional discussions away from school with no distractions gives the body and brain time to focus and zero in on needs. Having time together to discuss highlighted needs across the teams students.
Change - the day gave me time to think, process info and also to make some changes to my teaching that would scaffold children’s learning progress…..taking what they were successful at and using this in new ways. A new found respect for our team and their professional knowledge.
Aroha
Report writing - This was a valuable exercise to korero and have clarity on what and how we will share information about our tamariki to their whanau. To have evidence from assessments, modelling books etc to support this. It’s good to be able to go back over our PLD notes for reminders or starters when writing our reports. We all have common knowledge. I hope our whanau appreciate the new report format as I/we do.
Moderation - This was also valuable and we need to do this every term. It has made me think about how I mark my tamariki writing... sometimes “to easy and/or to hard”. I need more clarity in knowing the rubric. Moderating conversations and sharing was awesome!
Overall learning - That there is value in supporting, sharing and having professional conversations. I really enjoyed our PLD day. The drive over to Ohope set the scene and the hospitality at Adrianne’s home was lovely. I came away feeling positive, supported and valued as a team member - Tino Miharo!
Change - Focus on staying positive and passionate about teaching! I really admire the way Adrianne and Janene are able to have professional conversations about their children’s learning and writing reports etc together. This is one thing I would like to change and have in my classroom.
Helen
Report writing - I’m glad we had the opportunity to nut out between us some good phrases and an approach to these new report formats. It was great to be able to get my head around the task with my colleagues around me and all of us asking questions and giving ideas. I feel confident going into it now.
Moderation - This was hugely valuable for me. As others have said it was great to clarify our thinking and get on the same page but also really interesting to see what other children were capable of and where my class had weaknesses that might be due to my not teaching or not emphasising something.
Overall learning - The discussions were so good, all our ideas building into a greater understanding. I took away so many ideas and new perspectives on my teaching, challenging me to do better, but I also came away feeling validated and encouraged. We are on the right track! It was helpful to have the space (physical and head space) to process all this information, much harder to do between interruptions at school.
Change - The way I look at my kids writing is very junior teacher focussed and I now have a better idea of what is good, what’s expected and how far they might go if I push them, where my teaching could take them. I am also thinking about different ways to use my modelling book and the kinds of tasks I give them, to see more student voice and to reduce the length of writing tasks that I set.
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