School-Wallarano+Primary+School

Wallarano Primary School in Noble Park has about 650 students from many different cultural and social backgrounds.

One aspect of my role as Literacy Co ordinator is working with graduates - seven 2nd years and three 1st year graduates. They are fantastic to work with as they are full of youth, enthusiasm, passion and a willingness to learn. I also run regular PD sessions and recently have been researching Professor John Munro's 7 high reliability teaching strategies.

I found days 2 and 3 of the course very valuable. The information especially on questioning was exactly what I needed. I think much of my work with the graduates has been as a mentor, however I know I can use some of the coaching techniques with other staff.

I'm looking forward to working with a colleague in a coaching capacity. Hope it's beneficial for us both. I will certainly be using some of the skills we practised on the last afternoon in the coaching triads.

I have also enjoyed working with and talking to other Literacy based teachers. I have appreciated and liked the opportunities and discussions we have had.

I agree with Esther teachers are the best.

Aileen Mason.

Days Four and Five Hi everyone, Again I am finding the course very useful in many ways. It really stimulates me to think about many things. I'm currently considering coaching, cross age tutoring and play based learning. All of which have come from participating in the course and meeting other Literacy based teachers. Dana came across from Spring Parks tonight and we looked at how we could develop our own mapping tool to reflect on our practise. We found it easier to work together as we had someone to share ideas with. We are both Literacy Co ordinators however Dana is still in a grade whilst I am out of one. So we come at our coaching roles from slightly different perspectives. we are able to share our resources too which is always beneficial. I had trouble finding the video of the school where the children were doing the cross age tutoring. I did follow the link but still couldn't find the video. We watched it on day 4. Help please. Looking forward to our next meetings. Aileen

Friday 8th October I was in a different role for some of last term so was unable to continue with coaching. I am looking forward to working with the graduates again over the next few weeks. However I know I will come at it from a different angle. Now that they feel more settled in their grades and the school I think I need to shift from being a mentor to the coaching role. I am hoping to do this using Jill's consult, collaborate, coach model. I am keen to see what direction they want to go in. I intend to give them a reading mapping tool so that they decide what their needs are. I know that I have grown over this course. I noticed in my converstions that I had to stop myself from making suggestions and now ask more questions. One of the teachers I was working with didn't like this method at all. He wanted me to give the answers. It has been very rewarding to watch his own growth and how this has impacted on the teaching and learning in his grade. Aside from coaching I have been involved in TPL this year. Our focus was the evalaute domain of the e5 model. We worked as a team to produce an artefact which will be uploaded onto the Ultranet on the 29th of October. So those wishing to know more about the e5 model should look at the Ultranet after that date. I am going to try to upload a Writing checklist that two of our team from Chandler Park worked on. It is simple to use with children. Basically it is the VELs progression points written in child friendly language. Hope you find it useful. I find the Wiki very good for the sharing of resources but wish I was more competent in using it.



Had to get help to do this but finally think I know more about how to use this Wiki Hoorah!

[|Literacy Coaching reflection.doc]