Blog

Expectations vs the realities of teaching e1601430680517

Beginning Teachers: The expectations versus the reality of primary teaching

Welcome to a new series of blog posts looking at the experiences of a group of first and second-year teachers. In this blog post, these fantastic teachers explore the expectations versus the reality of beginning teaching. I hope you are able to gain some useful insights into the reality of a teacher’s life from this…

Slide5

How to Write a Teacher CV

With a large number of NEW teachers completing their studies, I thought a great new addition to our Beginning Teachers Series would be a blog post on how to write a teacher CV. In this guest blog post, Gill from ep.education sets out the dos and don’ts of teacher CV writing. I know you will…

What is Kiwiana?

What is Kiwiana?

What is Kiwiana? New Zealand has a unique Kiwiana culture that is not found anywhere else in the world. From L&P to Pavlova, Number 8 Wire to Hokey Pokey, the colourful and humorous ‘kiwi’ culture is well worth a look. This blog post provides many ways of Exploring Kiwiana in the Classroom. What is Kiwiana?…

Ten Tips for Using Google Classroom

10 Tips for Using Google Classroom for Distance Learning

In this guest blogpost, Lauren Pugh highlights her 10 Tips for Using Google Classroom. I hope you find these practical tips useful as you navigate Google Classroom with your students. Google Classroom is a fantastic tool created for GSuite users to create online courses with ease. It can be a one-stop-shop for creating meaningful learning…

Screen Shot 2020 03 26 at 6.38.46 PM

Digital Reading Comprehension for Distance Learning

With many of us thrown into an unexpected period of distance learning, I wanted to highlight how my digital reading comprehension activities can help your students maintain and improve their reading skills. I’ve put together a free activity so you can trial Digital Reading Comprehension for Distance Learning. Let me unpack this free resource for…

Home Learning Choice Boards

Home Learning Choice Boards

To help with any teachers dealing with school closures or the possibility of home and distance learning, I’ve put together these Home Learning Choice Boards.  If your school doesn’t close, these would still make great activity sheets in the school holidays. Thank you to the many teachers who collaborated by sharing their incredible ideas. It…

Beginning Teacher Tips: The Mentoring Relationship

Beginning Teacher Tips: The Mentoring Relationship

In this guest blogpost, Sarah Tohill explores the mentoring relationship that all beginning teachers will experience during their first two years in the classroom. There are great tips and advice for both beginning teachers and their mentors. Read on! When you qualify as a teacher in New Zealand and you’ve finished all those assignments, readings,…

Treaty of Waitangi Books for Kids

Treaty of Waitangi Books for Kids

I’ve put this blog post together to highlight some great Treaty of Waitangi Books for Kids. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, Treaty of Waitangi Treaty Ideas, I am actually surprised by the lack of books for children around such an important issue in New Zealand’s past, present and future. However, with a bit…

Beginning Teacher Tips: The Positive Note Home

Beginning Teacher Tips: The Positive Note Home

Utilising The Positive Note Home is a simple and effective way to encourage positive communication between school and home. Why The Positive Note Home? Communication is key! One way to promote positive communication between school and home is by sending home simple and brief positive notes. Consider this: some parents have only had negative experiences…

Slide024

Treaty of Waitangi Teaching Ideas

While Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi and Waitangi Day are important parts of New Zealand’s past, present, and future, these topics aren’t always easy to teach in the classroom. Read on to find some great Treaty of Waitangi teaching ideas for how to make the Treaty of Waitangi and Waitangi Day…

Tips for Beginning Teachers

Tips for Beginning Teachers

Welcome to the first in our series of blog posts to support beginning teachers. The following tips for beginning teachers have been sourced from teachers in New Zealand, Australia and around the world. I surveyed teachers and asked them a simple question: What do you wish you knew when you were starting teaching? They had a…

Slide004

New Zealand History Teaching Topics You Must Explore

If you are looking for New Zealand History teaching resources, here are four topics you definitely need to cover. When studying New Zealand’s history, model to your students how to use critical thinking skills. Demonstrate how to look at a piece of information and analyse it critically. Students can then think critically to explore who…

Slide001 2

Teaching New Zealand History

Yes, you should be teaching New Zealand History in your classroom! Now that we’ve got that sorted, let me explain four reasons why. 1. Students Need To Know Their Past (and Not Just Some of It) We’ve all heard the classic quote from Edmund Burke, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it”….