SPS+Staff+Meeting+31+Aug+2009





31 August 2009 Themes for 2010**
 * SPS Staff Meeting

__**OUTLINE**__
 * Movie clip - Sharon Friesen - Inquiry as a disposition ||  ||
 * Whole school themes - why? || Belinda ||
 * Examples of possible whole school themes/fertile questions || Belinda ||
 * Considerations for 2010 Term 1 themes || Brian ||
 * Brainstorm possible themes/questions || Jill ||
 * Report back ideas and how they can be adapted || Debbie ||
 * Record themes collaboratively in [|Scribblar] || Victoria ||
 * Movie clip - The Lost Generation || ||

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__**WHY HAVE A WHOLE SCHOOL THEME?**__


 * Plan together, share the load
 * Launch day, shared whole school activities
 * Buddy classes, vertical grouping
 * Bundle curriculum budgets - more effective spending
 * Teacher collaboration
 * Increase student and teacher engagement
 * Aligns with 21st century learning styles
 * Trial the experience of it!
 * Open to new ideas - not just doing new things the old way

__**EXAMPLES OF THEMES/FERTILE QUESTIONS**__  Which is preferable - to be a house pet or a wild animal? Are children short adults? What would you find if you dug a hole into the centre of the earth? How is Antarctica part of our world community? Does competition make us better? Why is the sky blue? What should we wear? Which is the best season? Is technology making our lives better? How is science and technology changing our lives? Where is the best place to live? Who we are and what we do shape our lives. What makes a good learner? Should school be compulsory? Are we saving or destroying the world we live in? What makes us New Zealanders? We like to move it! Our place Change Making a Difference

__Future Focussed Issues (Principles, NZC):__ Sustainability Citizenship Enterprise Globalisation

__**CHARACTERTISTICS OF A FERTILE/BIG/RICH/ESSENTIAL QUESTION**__

Open – requires that the researcher take a position Rich – requires deep and extensive research Connected – to the the students and the learning area Interesting – to students and teachers Practical – can be coped with in the context of time, material and other constraints

Other considerations: time of year e.g. Commonwealth Games, Conservation Week, learning area, suitable for all year levels, engaging, authentic, relevant, worthwhile.


 * __ GROUPS __**

Wendy Dove Bo Hensley Coram Bradbury Kathy Pittaway || Debbie Reid Jo Lynn Nikki Bourlet Janelle Staples || Jill McClenaghan Megan Battersby Adelita Sotutu Tanya Glengarry || Kate Allen Julie Whitehouse Edwina Mills Ruth Thompson || || Helen Rolfe Michael Grimmer Victoria Fair Jo Dutton ||

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 * __ REPORT BACK __**

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