Life Education - A Learning Story

Learner: Hamish    Learning coach: Margaret Patrick           Date: June, 2016

Learning Area:   Swimming                                     Narrative Learning story

Learning Observed

Hamish has been attending swimming lessons at the Otara Community pool over the last 8 weeks. Over the 8 weeks he connected with his tutor Peter and built a trusting relationship with her. He collaborated and cooperated with his requests consistently. Hamish demonstrated that he was fairly confident propelling himself forward using one breath for 15 meters and was grouped accordingly. His first goal was to focus on creating rocket arms when stroking. At times his tutor had him using a kickboard to practice this skill using both freestyle and backstroke arms. Peter had his group practicing swimming on their side, shoulder to the ceiling in preparation for rolling. He progressed to using rolling onto his side in preparation for breathing combined with stroking arms. Hamish missed his evaluation session but the other members of his group were capable of swimming using overarm freestyle and kicking  between 25-100 meters. During the Water Safety week he enjoyed the sensation of floating using a life jacket and joined in collaborating with his group forming a ladder and huddle replicating what a group of survivors would do in the ocean to keep together and stay warm. He was committed to attending his lessons and missed only due to illness. He used his self managing skills organising his swimming gear and ensuring he was ready changed for classes and dressed on time to catch the bus back to school.

Evidence of learning

Next Learning Steps

Using a kickboard rolling onto his side, breathing then stroking arms high and touching his ears and kicking, breathing for 3 strokes and repeating. Floating on his back with a kickboard on his front and using backstroke arms high and touching his ears then grasping his kickboard. Swimming freestyle with rolling and breathing 100 meters. Swimming  backstroke independently using arm strokes every 5 kicks.   Family taking him to the local pools so he can keep up skills and enjoy the water.

Hamish, Sami & Dhillon - iExplore Learning Story

Learners:  Hamish, Sami & Dhillon Learning Coach: D. Wilkes          Date: 5.2.16

Learning Area: iExplore - Social Science

Learning Observed

In the first week of school Hamish, Dhillon and Sami opted into an iExplore around ‘respect’ ultimately creating a product using a digital media.  One of the key purposes of this was to become more familiar with our OrmPS Learning Model. The girls embarked on some important foundational learning around respect and made connections to the Treaty of Waitangi as well.  Hamish and Dhillon are beginning to understand that people have social, cultural, and economic roles, rights, and responsibilities and that cultural practices reflect and express people’s customs, traditions, and values.  Sami enjoyed working with a range of other learners and is beginning to understand how people make significant contributions to New Zealand’s society and that we all have rights and responsibilities.  Working with other learners, the boys began the learning adventure by unpacking the word ‘respect’  being curious around what  it means to them? why is it important? using the mini-whiteboards.  They had an opportunity to see the Treaty of Waitangi and to make the connection that it was an agreement grounded in respect.  They had some fun ideating ‘what would you have on your treaty should aliens comes to live on planet Earth?’ After that, Hamish, Sami & Dhillon really enjoyed thinking about how we ‘Respect self’  ‘Respect Others’ and ‘Respect Environment’ at OrmPS and came up with some fantastic contributions- particularly around respecting the environment.  They then collaborated to create a media product which they could present to the wider group and they selected Tellagami (see image below).  I was so pleased with how Hamish and Dhillon worked as capable role models for Sami.  Hamish is demonstrating some strong leadership capabilities - ka pai!

Evidence of learning

RESPECT iExplore- co-constructed presentation & Tellagami video of boys

Next Learning Steps

Start an iExplore learning journey carefully using the OrmPS learning model Explain their learning to family Continue to work collaboratively with learners who are not in their immediate social circle Use the vocabulary and NZSL signs that learn in other learning areas Grow their capabilities with other digital tools through practice eg. Pic Collage, Sock Puppets, Puppet Pals, iMovie etc.