The Challenge: Providing our year 10's with quality learning.

In my last post, I described what I did to set up my year 10’s to achieve a 4 credit standard we are offering at level 1 Social Studies so that students will have credits on the board before the new changes occur in 2024.  This is blogpost is about setting up the student learning.

Choosing the right topic

It’s hard to try and think of a topic that would keep the kids focussed.  It’s term 4, a busy time of the year.  Kids and staff are under the pump and most are just hanging on for dear life.  I had to think about a major Social Action that students could see had an impact in the past and today.  I thought about the Schools strike 4 climate change march back in 2019, where some of our students had attended.  I thought about inviting some key speakers who went to try and put a face to the action.  But it didn’t seem the right topic that would hook our kids into.  Then I thought about the historical Springbok Tour of 1981.

I talked to the two History teachers in my department about choosing the Springbok tour 1981 and both suggested it was a good idea as we are in the middle of the Rugby World Cup at the moment.  It is also part of the Aotearoa Histories curriculum as one of the pivotal times in our history and needed to be taught.  I wondered if it was too old as a topic but as I started googling and looking at it in depth, I found the themes of racism and racial segregation so relevant for a focus today, I decided to go with that topic.

All paper, no devices

This one was hard to decide on but I decided that student's would only use their devices for research purposes.  I ordered 150 clearfiles and big boxed containers for the staff to put them in.  They will remain in class with the teacher to be distributed during each period so that we won't have any fluffing around with devices.  I invested in lots of pens and pencils that I will keep restocking and big white boxes for the teachers.

Clear timetable for the term

I set up a clear learning timetable and will go through it with each class so they can see the big picture.  On it, I put each of the key events that are coming up like exams, film festival, due dates for the assessment etc.  They will have a print copy and I will share a digital copy as well.

Setting High Expectations from the Start.

I expect some of the students will find it hard to settle at first but I focus on setting up the culture of learning by referring to the values first and foremost.  For example the first tutorial, I will focus on the RISE value of Success as being a partnership and that me and their teachers are willing to give them the best opportunity to succeed and they can meet us half way by coming to class on time, coming prepared with the right attitude for learning.  I will always always praise their potential.

I am hoping some of these strategies will work.