Wodonga's VIT CRT PD

I would like to thank everyone that attended the Wodonga VIT CRT PD on Thursday 24th September. There was only a small group of us but we had a wonderful day, exchanging ideas, catching up on gossip and meeting new people. I came away from the day with a big smile on my face (and with another bag full of trick, ideas and places to investigate). Thank you everyone for your openness, friendliness and company. I am looking forward to catching up with you all in Term 4, somewhere!

I would also like to send a HUGE thank you to Dawn Colcott from VIT for her facilitation in the day. You are an inspiring people and I thank you for your hard work and travels to make OUR day in Wodonga special. Thank you Dawn!

Professional Teaching Portfolio Order

I am looking at putting an order into Creatal Publishing for some Professional Teaching Portfolios for CRTs for 2010. These Portfolios will cost about $20 each plus about $1 for postage. A CRT who attended the VIT CRT PD in Wodonga on Thursday 24th September had one and showed us how beneficial these portfolios are for teachers.

Use SECTION 1 to record employment details, teaching philosophy, career aims, achievements and maintain a travel log.
Use SECTION 2 to record teaching aims, summarise meetings, plan PD and maintain a five year record of PD.
Use SECTION 3 to log PD activities.
Add PD certificates and examples of supporting evidence to SECTION 4.
Add your Curriculum Vitae, transcripts, awards and other documents to SECTION 5.

IF you are interested in ordering one and haven't already given me your name and contact details please email or call me (beautifulwhiteangel@hotmail.com or 0417490720). I am looking at putting the order in toward the middle of Term 4 so we are all ready to start Term 1 next year.

Holidays

Hello all,
For the next two weeks Victorian schools have holidays. This is a great time to set up resources and go over anything that you have collected or learnt over the last term. I use some of the holiday to sort out my resources and look for or plan different lessons. Term 4 is another busy term with schools working right up to a week before Christmas.
Also I like to ask around the schools, that I am working at, to find out what topics they will be tackling in term 4. This helps me to find different resources and lessons.
Each term I try different lesson and I try not to use the same lesson two terms in a row.
The rest of the holidays I spend with my family. So rest up and I hope to see some of you at the Wodonga VIT CRT PD on the 24th September and the rest of you next term around the traps (I mean schools)
If you have any other ideas that CRTs could use during the holidays, please post below.

Wodonga CRT OCTOBER Meeting

Belvoir Speical Development School approached me earlier third term and ask if we would be able to hold a meeting at the school. I said, no worries! Belinda (Assistant Principal) would like to run a short induction for CRTs at this meeting. The meeting will also include a tour of the school and meeting the staff. This meeting is a good way to look at other teaching opportunities and schools in our area. To be able to CRT at Belvoir, you need to have done a voluntery day at the school to see if you are suited to this environment and teaching style.

Details -

Date - Thursday 15th October (Term 4 Week 2)

Place - Belvoir Special Development School,
Staff room
Bowman Court, Wodonga

Time - 4-5.30pm

Cost - gold coin donation to help cover afternoon tea

RSVP - Mel on beautifulwhiteangel@hotmail.com or 0417490720

Wednesday 23rd September CANCELLED

Please keep this date free. Dawn Colcott from VIT has offered to run a two hour PD in Wodonga on the new E5 (or some ice breakers/thinking skills).

Details
Date - Wednesday 23rd September
Time - 3-5pm
Place - Blazing Stump Hotel (in the PB)
Cost - nothing

PLEASE NOTE THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO INSUFFIENT NUMBERS.

RSVP - Mel on beautifulwhiteangel@hotmail.com or 0417490720

Wangaratta Beginning and Returning Teachers Meeting Details

Sorry this information is only just getting to you but I have only just recieved the email from Wayne Anderson. I would love to hear some feedback on how useful this session was. Thanks. Deatils are below.

Date: Wednesday 19th August 2009

Venue: Martini’s, Murphy St., Wangaratta

Time: 5:30 – 7:00pm

Topic: Thinking Skills

Presenter: Linda Anania

Cost: Nil

Refreshments: Finger food and a warm drink provided

The top 10 ways kids learn (according to kids)!

Sandhurst Catholic Education Office teachers have researched and collected information on this subject. See if your teaching involves these things.

1. Make lessons interesting
2. Listen to students
3. Be in a good mood
4. Always give help
5. Make lessons fun
6. Be friendly
7. Give positive feedback
8. Believe in students
9. Vary lessons strategies
10. Understand students as individuals

Haim Ginot 1975

"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am

the decisive element in the class.
It is my personal approach that creates the climate.
It is my daily mood that makes the weather.
As a teacher I possess the tremendous power to

make a child's life miserable or joyous.
I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.
I can humiliate or humour, hurt or heal.
In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will
be escalated or de-escalated, a child humanised or de-humanised."

BOUNCE BACK!

Wodonga Primary School has these 'BOUNCE BACK' posters on each of their classroom walls. I thought it might be helpful in your teaching - especially yard duty.

Bad times don't last. Things always get better. Stay optimistic.

Other people can help if you talk to them. Get a reality check.

Unhelpful thinking makes you feel more upset.

Nobody is perfect - not you and not others.

Concentrate on the positives (no matter how small) and use laughter.

Everybody experiences sadness, hurt, failure, rejection and setbacks sometimes, They are a normal part of life. Try not to personalise them.

Blame fairly - how much of what happened was because of you, how much was because of others and how much was because of bad luck or circumstances.

Accept the things you can't change but try to change what you can first.

Catastrophising exaggerates your worries. Don't believe the worst possible picture.

Keep things in perspective. It's only one part of your life.

SPECIAL CRT 'MATHS CIRCLES' PD session!

'Maths Circles' is the lastest in schools at the moment with the visiting Kaplan's. I have caught up with them today and they are more than happy to talk to CRTs about what they are doing with ALL the other teachers in the area.

Place ~ Huon Middles Years Secondary College LIBRARY
Time ~ 5-6pm (after the Cluster Meeting)
Date ~ Tuesday 28th July 2009

Please RSVP to Mel if you are looking at attending.
beautifulwhiteangel@hotmail.com

Update

Hello all and welcome back to what looks to be a busy Term 3.

I have tried to update the Calandar and PD opportunities as well as add any PD reading that might be of interest.

If you have any information that would benefit all Casual Relief Teachers in the area please email me with the information (I do miss things sometimes!)

I hope to catch up with everyone at some stage throughout the term. And remember to take care of yourselves.

Happy teaching,
Mel

GRUG

I walked past the bookshop at Wodonga Plaza yesterday and to my amazement, GRUG was on display. I grew up reading Grug, and loved him. I had to go in and buy one for my son (who is 6 and starting to read).

Of course he loved the book I picked - Grug in the playground - and when asked which book he would like to buy/read next, he told me with a huge smile his face, "All of them mum!"

Grug (1962-1975) is a fictional character appearing in a series of Australian children's books by the author Ted Prior. They were published between 1979 snd 1992 by Hodder Headline Australia.

Sadly Grug was out-of-print for many years - but not forgotten! In March it was announced that Grug was returning - in time for his 30th birthday…
The first collection of titles are out in June - with more to come in July. The new productions are faithful to the old ones - Simon & Schuster have done a great job and haven’t changed the format significantly.

Grug series

Big W Has these books on sale for $3.50 each. Thanks Leanne for this information.

Anaphylaxis Training

If you are not able to make it to the Baranduda Anaphylaxis Training Session on Tuesday 21st July then Wodonga TaFE might be your next best bet. Wodonga TaFE offer this course on two days. Details are below.

Anaphylaxis management - 21659VIC
What you learn
This three-hour course in the first aid management of anaphylaxis establishes the essential skills and underpinning knowledge you need to assist a person who is having a severe allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, until medical assistance is available.
How to apply
Apply direct to Wodonga TAFE.
Part-time:
1pm-4pm or 5pm-8pm, 2 September or 9 November 2009 (1 session). Building B, Room B009 (downstairs).
Costs $70

Thanks Ruth for this information.

Nikola Tesla

I often find information in the strangest places. Google is a great place to start and I am not talking about searching for information. The Google picture to the left is a fine example. The Google team choose things (Christmas, Easter, famous people, special events) and change the word 'Google' to represent what they have chosen. Today's (Friday 10th July 09 - in America it's still Thursday 9th July 2009) the team has chosen Nikola Tesla, a famous inventor in the field of electrical power. He was born at midnight on the 9th of July 1856 and died 7th January 1943.

Tesla said about his work, "Before I put a sketch on paper, the whole idea is worked out mentally. In my mind I change the construction, make improvements, and even operate the device. Without ever having drawn a sketch I can give the measurements of all parts to workmen, and when completed all these parts will fit, just as certainly as though I had made the actual drawings. It is immaterial to me whether I run my machine in my mind or test it in my shop. The inventions I have conceived in this way have always worked. In thirty years there has not been a single exception. My first electric motor, the vacuum wireless light, my turbine engine and many other devices have all been developed in exactly this way.”

I wish my brain would work this way. keep your eyes open for other dates, people and events that Google think are worth knowing about.

A free children's story on water

Jack and Jill: A story about water.

I came across this site by mistake but thought it might be something that you could use in the classroom. It has lots of information and has been produced to teach children about the world of water around the world. Have a look and see what you think.

Chocolate can predict your age!

I recieved this in an email from a friend and thought it was very clever. Try it, it works!

1. First of all pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10).

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold).

3. Add 5.

4. Multiply it by 50 - I'll wait while you get a calculator.

5. If you have already had your birthday this year, add 1759. If you haven't, add 1758.

6. Now subtract the four-digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number.

The first digit of this was your original number (ie. how many times you want to have chocloate each week).

The next two numbers are your AGE!

This is the only year (2009) it will ever work, so spread it around while it lasts.

Australia Post Website!

Our Past. Our Present. Our Future.

Australia Post is celebrating 200 years and have an exciting website with teacher resources, interactive games and heaps and heaps of information about the mail.

They also have their normal website with activities, resources and information for both primary and secondary students as well as teachers.

There is also a booklet you can download.

So jump on and have a look. There might be something there that might interest you or the children you are teaching.

Just need to make some effort!

Belvoir Special Development School is starting to struggle with winter colds. They are looking for more CRTs and Integration Staff to join them in fighting the teacher/aid shortage. To be able to work in this school, you need to have done a days voluntary work so you are able to grasp how the school is run, where everything is and for the school to meet you and see where you would be best suited to work. Belvoir takes both Mosaic Personnel employed CRTs and private CRTs. To line up a day at the school, please just give them a call.

Wodonga Primary School

If you have been working around the different schools in Wodonga at the moment, you will notice a buzz at Wodonga Primary School with the last of the old buildings being dismantled. This building housed the Administration staff, Principals, staff room and a couple of classrooms. So as you can imagine, things were a little choatic last week with the shift of classes and personnel. If you are booked to work for Wodonga Primary School, the office and staff room are now situated in a double portable on the Brockley Street oval (almost in front of the toilets located on the outside of the gym). The photo above of the gym (if taken today) would show part of the double portable on the left hand side.

The Principal and Assistant Principals have also re-located themselves around the school. I am a little unsure as to where they all are but the office staff are able to help you if you are looking for someone.

The newest of the brick buildings has also been moved into and I had the pleasure of working in this building yesterday. The grade 6 classes accompany this building and wow! the layout is amazing.

So if you are working at Wodonga Primary School, have a walk around and have a look at the wonderful design of the new buildings. The students (and teachers) attending this school are very lucky.

They estimate that the new building will (hopefully) be finished in September/October.

INCLUSIVE GAMES PD

We are very lucky to have Kate from Valley Sport travelling up to Wodonga to present this PD for CRTs in the Wodonga area. Kate works with LaTrobe University students and has also held a PD for the Wangaratta Beginning and Returning Teachers (BaRT) group. Everyone I have spoken to about this PD have said how amazing and on the go Kate keeps you and many who have already replied to attending our PD, have already had contact with Kate in the past. So please come and join us for what should be lots of fun and energy.

PDi Details
Date ~ Monday 25th May
Place~ Wodonga South Primary School's multi-purpose (where the March meeting was held)
Time ~ starting at 4pm
Cost ~ free
Light refreshments will be supplied

If you haven't emailed Mel to tell her that you are attending the Valley Sport Inclusive Games PD, then now is the time to do it.

Mel
email - beautifulwhiteangel@hotmail.com

NAPLAN. What is it?

It's a busy week for students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 as they undergo the National Assessment Program called NAPLAN. Students have their skills assessed in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar), and Numeracy.
National test results provide information on how students are progressing and support improvements in teaching and learning.
As teachers we can best assist students by making them feel comfortable about the nature and purpose of the tests. Their children can be assured that the assessments will give them an opportunity to show what they have learned in class.
All students are encouraged to participate in the national tests and special provisions are made to meet the needs of individual students with special needs.
All other detail on this assessment is in the blue NAPLAN's link above.

Thank you

On behalf of the Wodonga CRT Support Network I would like to say "thank you" to both The Sandhurst Catholic Education Office and VIT for the wonderful Professional Development Day held today in Wangaratta. The Network looks forward to working with the Catholic Education system in the future and I am looking forward to the next joint Professional Development Day in August. More details on the PD will be posted at a later date.

2009 Dean's Lecture Series

"What's needed to engage rural students in science?"

Professor David Finlay, Dean of Science, Technology & Engineering, will explore important issues related to student uptake of science courses and careers and the development of the necessary skill and knowledge that will be needed to address the challenges of the future. For full details, click on the blue heading above.

Thursday 21 May, 6pm
Main Lecture Theatre
Building 6, University Drive
Wodonga

RSVP May 18
T 02 60249895
E psych.aw@latrobe.edu.au

Thank you to Pam for keeping your eyes open for PDs.

Hey, what's in your bag of tricks?

CRTs often talk about having "A Bag of Tricks" that they carry with them when they go teaching. Everyone's "Bag of Tricks" will be different. If you have something in you "Bag of Tricks" that you can't do without, please add it to the bottom of this post and let's see what we come up with.

Alison Brown - MEETING THE CHALLENGE - Parent Seminar

***PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE TO CATHOLIC COLLEGE WODONGA AUDITORIUM***
MEETING THE CHALLENGE!
(Parenting Gifted Children – An Introduction)

A PARENT SEMINAR

“My child has just been assessed as gifted – what should I do?”
“My child seems to be very bright. How do we best cater for her?”

These are typical questions asked by parents new to the field of gifted education and enrichment programs

Having details of identification, assessment, provisions and expectations addressed can be very reassuring for parents. Having the opportunity to listen to and share in the experiences of other parents can also be both comforting and encouraging.

Alison Brown, Child Psychologist, has worked and conducted research in this area over the past 16 years. She gives a detailed explanation of giftedness, identification procedures, provisions offered in schools and elsewhere, and practical advice on parenting and catering for the needs of the individual child. Through a formal presentation, and opportunity for open forum, Alison addresses such issues as: typical milestones and developmental expectations; asynchrony in intellectual, physical and emotional development; issues regarding school placement and extra curricula activities; and the social and emotional intensities experienced by highly able children.

All parents and interested friends are most welcome to attend

Location: CATHOLIC COLLEGE WODONGA AUDITORIUM, BOWMAN COURT Wodonga (please note change of venue)
Date: Saturday 20th June, 2009
Time: 7.30 – 9.30pm --- (tea / coffee & cakes at 7.00pm)
Cost: $35 per person ($50 per couple)

Alison Brown is a registered psychologist, an experienced teacher and a parent. She has presented at a number of national and international conferences in the areas of technology, gifted education, and psychology, and provided consultation to schools in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Switzerland and Germany. Having taught for seven years at Methodist Ladies’ College, Melbourne and worked as a school psychologist at Kincoppal-Rose Bay, Sydney, she has first-hand experience in recognising and catering for the social, emotional, and academic needs of students. Alison runs a private practice in Melbourne, working particularly in the areas of parenting, counselling and gifted children, and is undertaking a PhD at La Trobe University researching the benefits of using narrative techniques in therapy with children.
(Email: alisonbrown@psychologyandchildren.com.au Phone: (03) 9824 6617 / www.psychologyandchildren.com.au)
________________________________________________________
MEETING THE CHALLENGE – Parenting Gifted Children – An Introduction (Parent Seminar)

I / we wish to attend the Parenting Gifted Seminar given by Alison Brown on 20th June, 2009 at 7.30pm at CATHOLIC COLLEGE WODONGA AUDITORIUM, Bowman Court

Names:
Phone: Mobiles:
Email: (for tickets)
Number of people attending: Cost: $35 per person Cash / Cheque / EFT

Direct bank deposit to: NAB / Alison Brown – Psychologist / BSB: 083166 / Account: 560401451
Mail to: 24 Robinson Street, Malvern 3144 (Phone: (03) 9824 6617
Email: alisonbrown@psychologyandchildren.com.au

Walk Safely to School Day

As part of the "Streets Ahead" program in your school, we would like you to participate in Walk Safely to School Day!
On : Friday 15 May
From: 7.30 am—8.30 am (then students walk to school)
At: Willow Park off Pearce St
(Area between BBQ and Kiosk)
Contact Kat Bennett on 60 245 642 for more details

The "Streets Ahead" program is a Health program run by the Victorian Government to get children active. On their website there are lots of ideas on how to help chidren become active and healthy.

Wangaratta Beginning and Returning Teachers (BaRT)

Hello All,

Here are the detail for the next Wangaratta BaRT meeting from Wayne Anderson. This sessions are an excellent way to meet others and get to know some faces, as well as gather information on the topic put forward for the evening. CRTs are always welcome.

Mel

Email from Wayne Anderson
Details for meeting-

Date: Wednesday 13th May 2009
Time: 5:30 - 7:00pm
Venue: Martini's, Murphy Street, Wangaratta

Jackie Gardner, Appin Park PS, completed her VIT registration process in 2008. Jackie has kindly offered (or been offered) to come along and share her experiences with us on Wednesday. Anyone else who has been through the VIT process and would be willing to share their experiences is also most welcome to attend. Those who have recently experienced the registration process are the best people to share the journey with those who haven’t.

Although not for copying, if you would be willing to let people have a look at your documentation process, that would also be beneficial to those currently seeking registration.

It remains a busy time of year but we are keen for people to attend so we hope you can make it. The group does function to support Beginning and Returning Teachers so we look forward to your support as well. If you know of any CRTs that might like to attend, please invite them along as well.

See you on Wednesday.

Wayne Anderson
Principal
Broken Creek Primary School
413 Quinn Road, Broken Creek, 3673
Ph: 5764 1253 Fax: 5764 1376
Email 1: anderson.wayne.wj@edumail.vic.gov.au
Email 2: brokencreek.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

Welcome

Hello everyone and welcome to the start of what I hope to be an exciting resource for CRTs. I am hoping this site will help support and get information out to CRTs. I am hoping the site will cover lots of different areas of teaching as well as professional development, online websites for resources and meeting updates.

I look forward to taking the CRT profession this next step into the future. I welcome all question, suggestions and information.

Thank you for supporting this site.
Mel Lichnovsky-Klock