6 - Reflect & Next Steps

So how did I go? I can't say this inquiry was a success in the way I wanted it to be. I started with one goal and ended up achieving something I didn't realise I needed to do. At University, I learned the previous curriculum, but it wasn't until I started teaching it in my first year (2018) that I realised that until you do it, you have no real idea! This year has been like being a BT again with maths, reading, writing and oral language being new curriculums. Why didn't I treat it as if I was teaching as a newbie again? If I had have, my inquiry question would have been different.

The tamariki are writing a bit better, was it because I changed things? I'd like to think so, but mostly it is from filling the holes left by the new curriculum coming in. What I learned most, and what I had already learned but forgotten about, was that teaching a new curriculum requires more than just reading it, it needs to be actioned in order to get it embedded and right. Apparently I'm a slow learner.

I have changed my writing programme and introduced the following:

• fast feedback
• new activities to do independently
• "Think, Write, Check, Every Sentence". Does it make sense?
• Daily sentence combining
• Nothing is considered a draft, always must use good handwriting (is this my best?)
• Sentence structure explicit teaching
• Parts of speech explicit teaching (previously done but not to a huge degree)

I have continued and enhanced:

• daily morpheme work
• daily spelling rule work
• daily handwriting work (working towards automaticity)

This has taken three terms to settle in and get to a point that I can deliver it and the tamariki are a) enjoying and b) doing it properly. It is still a long way from where I wanted to be, but it is getting there and I will be reviewing again at the end of term 4 ready to start up term 1, 2026.

A big result has been using more handwritten work, but also that their work is presented a lot better. I can understand their handwriting, books are laid out nicely and they take pride in their work. They are enjoying writing in groups (once a week) especially. The outcomes are hilarious at times.

My next steps are to continue to refine my programme and continue to add to it where I think it is appropriate. I am keeping an eye on all the resources becoming available that align with the curriculum and now I am more familiar with the delivery of the curriculum, I will judiciously acquire those I believe support my teaching.