Associate Teacher Meeting 13 May 2009 EDPRAC 202 and EDPRAC 622

Haere mai and welcome Whakatepea te ko, kia kotahi and No to rourou, naku to rourou, ka ora te iwi

Role of the Associate Teacher Provide opportunities for students to: refine practical experience refine practical experience construct new learning, knowledge and understanding construct new learning, knowledge and understanding try out ideas and theories to test and modify them in practice try out ideas and theories to test and modify them in practice Observe student’s teaching model and discuss own assessment, planning, teaching, evaluating and reflecting model and discuss own assessment, planning, teaching, evaluating and reflecting introduce student to teachers and families introduce student to teachers and families induct into centre’s policies and programme induct into centre’s policies and programme provide support and encouragement provide support and encouragement monitor progress carefully monitor progress carefully discuss student responsibilities and participation/contributions discuss student responsibilities and participation/contributions provide regular verbal and written feedback provide regular verbal and written feedback discuss any concerns with student and university supervisor discuss any concerns with student and university supervisor regard student as a potential professional colleagues regard student as a potential professional colleagues contribute to the triadic assessment process contribute to the triadic assessment process complete weekly reports and final assessment report and return final report to complete weekly reports and final assessment report and return final report to practicum office

University Supervisor Initial supervisory visit to liaise with associate, clarify requirements, check student has prepared profile for notice board, check student’s hours of attendance and non-contact time activities, professional preparation, check practicum file/portfolio set up, provide initial guidance, arrange time of triadic assessment visit, set up process of receiving and responding to reflections. Initial supervisory visit to liaise with associate, clarify requirements, check student has prepared profile for notice board, check student’s hours of attendance and non-contact time activities, professional preparation, check practicum file/portfolio set up, provide initial guidance, arrange time of triadic assessment visit, set up process of receiving and responding to reflections. Assessment visit to read portfolio, observe teaching (minimum ¾ hour) Assessment visit to read portfolio, observe teaching (minimum ¾ hour) Facilitate triadic discussion Facilitate triadic discussion Contribute towards assessment Contribute towards assessment Provide guidance and clarify future needs (as required) Provide guidance and clarify future needs (as required) During practicum: During practicum: to respond to queries to respond to queries liaise as necessary liaise as necessary provide support provide support respond to reflections respond to reflections deal with concerns deal with concerns After practicum to write up final report/confirm results and send to practicum office After practicum to write up final report/confirm results and send to practicum office

Student teacher responsibilities Contact associate teacher and visit centre if possible Contact associate teacher and visit centre if possible Attend 7.5 hours each day Attend 7.5 hours each day Negotiate contract Negotiate contract Follow centre or kindergarten policies Follow centre or kindergarten policies Provide profile for notice board Provide profile for notice board Inform of any absences Inform of any absences Provide evidence of understanding from course work Provide evidence of understanding from course work Maintain confidentiality and ethical practice Maintain confidentiality and ethical practice Communication and team work Communication and team work Gain ethical consent Gain ethical consent Engage in teaching and learning Engage in teaching and learning Understand teaching responsibilities of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Understand teaching responsibilities of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Consistently reflect on own practice Consistently reflect on own practice Document involvement in teaching and learning Document involvement in teaching and learning Demonstrate teamwork Demonstrate teamwork Prepare for triadic assessment and contribute professionally Prepare for triadic assessment and contribute professionally EDPRAC 202 has a set goal, EDPRAC 622 no specific goal EDPRAC 202 has a set goal, EDPRAC 622 no specific goalrequirement

Courses in the Programmes explore concepts relating to: Social Sciences HealthDrama Physical Education MathematicsDanceScience Visual Arts Music Te Ao Māori Pedagogy Learning Theory Languages and cultures Technology

Graduate Diploma in Teaching Pedagogy in Practice 18 May – 3 July This is a seven week practicum, the final practicum for students who began their study in this programme in July 2008, or if they are part time, July 2007.

Bachelor of Education (Teaching) ECE EDPRAC 202 Early Childhood Practicum 2 18 May – 19 June 2009 This is a five week practicum for student teachers in their second year of study.

Graduate Diploma in Teaching Began in 2006 Began in 2006 Is available for graduates of both teacher education and university courses (the same as primary and secondary teachers) Is available for graduates of both teacher education and university courses (the same as primary and secondary teachers) Is an extended, intensive programme Is an extended, intensive programme Includes fourteen weeks of practicum Includes fourteen weeks of practicum Is available both face-to-face and flexibly Is available both face-to-face and flexibly Attracts a broad range of people from diverse backgrounds and experience Attracts a broad range of people from diverse backgrounds and experience

Portfolios The portfolio is intended to provide evidence of the student teacher having met the learning outcomes on the practicum and of their work in each of the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE) courses.

Portfolio and Folder Requirements Can include: Photographs and interpretive statements Learning stories, child’s voice, whanau voice, planning stories Records and interpretations as demonstrations of teaching Evaluations Reflective writing Records of involvement in meetings Evidence of communication with families, whanau and the wider professional community

Reflection DATA Brookfield’s critically reflective lenses Smyth’s Stages in Personal and Professional Empowerment

DATA Describe Choose a specific incident or an aspect of practice. Analyse Look into the reasons for the occurrence. Theorise Explore alternative theories. Act Examine possible changes to practice.

Brookfield’s Lenses Our autobiographies as learners and teachers Our students’ eyes Our colleagues’ experiences Theoretical literature

Smyth’s Stages in Personal and Professional Empowerment Describing Informing Confronting Reconstructing (examples in practicum handbook)

Reflective Examples A father admitted that he had withheld signing a permission form for one of the male student teachers in one of our programmes because of his distrust of men wishing to work in ECE. The student reflected: “Until now I believed I would never have to deal with any form of accusation simply because I will never offend. However the conversation with my associate teacher pointed out to me that this kind of thing can happen to anyone….”

A student teacher has contact with a parent in another context and is sought out to discuss centre issues: “In not clearly stating that I could not talk about other children I was not being completely honest. I chose to avoid talking specific details with her and to turn the conversation to my experience. It may have been better to state my position at the start….”

Recognising the importance of own experiences “Without the ability to express our feelings through talk, our possibilities for communication are restricted and we start to feel powerless and lonely. As a foreigner to the culture and language of New Zealand I know from my own experience how difficult it can be to express oneself in a second language and in a culture where different rules are in effect. It may only seem a small difference, like a different sense of humor, but it can have a powerful impact.”

Demonstrating understanding of theory In reflective writing: “MacNaughton (2003), suggests contrasting constructions of modern and post-modern child that might be helpful. In this analysis my construction of ‘child’ would be considered modern e.g., emphasizing the difference between adult and child and reliance on the adult in the environment.”

Weekly Feedback Is important to let student teachers know how they are getting on. Discuss any feedback you write with student teachers. Great to see you engaging with families when they arrive to pick up the children. As I said today please be sensitive about how much time you spend doing this.

If you have concerns Address them to the student teacher in the first instance and as soon as possible both verbally and in writing Address them to the student teacher in the first instance and as soon as possible both verbally and in writing Contact the university supervisor, a meeting may assist to address the issue Contact the university supervisor, a meeting may assist to address the issue The university supervisor is likely to contact me but… The university supervisor is likely to contact me but… If it is still not resolved please contact me on , extn or If it is still not resolved please contact me on , extn or

Final Reports Are specific to the learning outcomes Are specific to the learning outcomes Include examples that demonstrate competence, for example: Include examples that demonstrate competence, for example: Learning Outcome 1: “Kia ora Sujatha, communication is a real strength for you. You visited the kindergarten beforehand and established and maintained contact with your university supervisor throughout the practicum. You clearly have extremely positive relationships with the children and with their families and whānau. You readily discuss interactions of interest, and their implications for teaching and learning, with me as your associate teacher. You are confident and professional in all your dealings with the teaching team and other adults in the centre.”

If the learning outcome is not met: If the learning outcome is not met: Kia ora Jane, I have been disappointed at your lack of commitment to this practicum. You have not demonstrated a consistent ability to engage with the children. You have spent a great deal of time on your own work which has made it difficult for you to establish relationships.

If any of the learning outcomes are not met Triadic assessment should still take place Triadic assessment should still take place Student teacher will be aware that there are areas of concern Student teacher will be aware that there are areas of concern University supervisor facilitates, ideally the student teacher will understand that they have not adequately demonstrated that they should pass University supervisor facilitates, ideally the student teacher will understand that they have not adequately demonstrated that they should pass All concerns should be documented in final report All concerns should be documented in final report

Triadic Assessment Important component of our programmes Important component of our programmes Times can be negotiated when setting final Times can be negotiated when setting finalvisit Facilitated by university supervisor Facilitated by university supervisor Student teacher begins process Student teacher begins process No new information should be shared No new information should be shared A collegial and collaborative process A collegial and collaborative process Includes reference to documentation and Includes reference to documentation and examples from portfolio DVD available to borrow DVD available to borrow

Principles of Student Teacher Documentation Reflections are of a high quality (rather Reflections are of a high quality (rather than quantity) Student teacher’s ability to notice, Student teacher’s ability to notice, recognize and respond to children’s learning is evident in documentation (includes ‘assessment’ and ‘planning’) The planning process is cyclical and The planning process is cyclical andauthentic

Support for Associate Teachers Web Site Web Site Associate Teacher Handbook and Associate Teacher Handbook andmeetings Practicum handbooks Practicum handbooks University Supervisor University Supervisor Practicum Coordinator Practicum Coordinator DVD DVD Combined Associate Teacher Symposium Combined Associate Teacher Symposium (13 June 2009)

“Teaching as an ethical enterprise goes beyond presenting what already is; it is teaching towards what ought to be” “Education is an arena of hope and struggle – hope for a better life and struggle over how to understand and enact and achieve a better world. We come to believe that we can become makers of history, not merely the passive objects of the great human drama” Bill Ayers