Christmas is coming

Ideas for ESL

New Rope Bridge arrives

Education Debate, have a listen.

Here is a link to the education debate that took place on radio on the 7th of November.
Worth listening to, I know I found out about policies being implemented I hadn't heard about. The ECE debate takes place from the 27th minute but since the children now in kindergarten will be at school in three years you should listen to it in full.

The highlight for me was the 3 R's Relationships, Resourcing, Relevance, something I readily agree with. There were also hints about compulsory early childhood, further funding cuts, hints about closure and consolidation of small and rural schools, privatisation of education, parent fees, class sizes (is the funding sufficient), teacher aides, ratios of qualified teachers to children (is funding only 80% trained a backdoor teacher child ratio cut), and food in schools.

Inform yourself, weigh the arguments and reasoning, and be sure to get out and vote for your choice.

Be aware there is a lot of spin with carefully phrased messages that may give an understanding to the listener different to what has actually been said. There is also quite a bit of and questioning as to who is telling the truth.

As a guide in the case of funding you might want to consider more funding total does not necessarily mean more per child. An increase in total child numbers for the country, percentage participation by the population,total hours of participation, inflation, g.s.t., planned increases for more qualified teachers, etc will all affect the actual funding.

To sort this all out you should seek out your own information to check the validity of the various statements. As a start below are some quotes and links to a few articles discussing changes to early childhood education over the past three years with some quotes from Anne Tolley and Sue Moroney that I've noted from 2011, 2010 and 2009.

I'd also recommend this link to 15 press releases put out over the last two years by the kindergarten's national body, but do look up your own links and check the party websites as well.

sample NZK release-STANDARDS UNDERMINED

“As at 1 July, groups of up to 150 children over two years old (75 under two years old) can occupy the same space at the same time – for example in the playground or while having a meal.” says Clare Wells, Chief Executive New Zealand Kindergartens (NZK)...“Being part of such a large group is not in the best interests of children and detrimental to their health, safety and wellbeing.” said Clare Wells.

Sample NZK release - 25 November, 2010 More funding cuts to kindergartens

Another million dollars will be cut from Government funding to kindergartens next year, on top of the estimated $14 million reduction in funding already announced in the budget, according to the New Zealand Kindergartens (NZK).

...
Services employing newly qualified teachers (provisionally registered teachers - PRTS) receive a grant to help those teachers to become fully registered. Each year, a grant of $4,300 per PRT is paid, supporting their two year induction programme. The programme is an essential part of the process of becoming a teacher. The research shows effective induction is critical to the success of newly qualified teachers in both ECE services and schools.

2011http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1105/S00295/embarrassing-boo-boo-by-tolley-on-ece-cuts.htm

During a speech at the NZ Kindergarten’s Association Conference today, the Minister trumpeted the Napier Kindergarten Association as an example of being able to “do more with less”.

“But just moments later, she was corrected by the general manager of the Napier Association, Helen McNaughton, who was in the audience.

“Helen McNaughton said that in fact kindergartens are considering fee increases to families so they can balance the budget. She pointed out the figures the Minister had quoted were from the 2010 year – before the funding cuts were implemented.

...
“Anne Tolley also claimed that participation had increased at the Napier Kindergarten Association, but again, Helen McNaughton corrected her. She told the conference that the number of children accessing education through her association had actually dropped.

2010 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4072387

Kindergarten teachers say "brutal funding cuts" are threatening to squash their historic service to 26,000 Kiwi families.

On Friday, Education Minister Anne Tolley was challenged at the Kindergarten Association's annual conference over funding changes, which one service said would leave it with half of the money it had before.

Tolley was unapologetic over the cuts. She pressed kindergartens not to hike fees to make up the shortfall, but instead use fewer qualified teachers.

"You have your decisions to make around your budgeting. As minister, I have my decisions to make around my budgeting," Tolley said. "The rising costs were unsustainable."

The Government announced in the May Budget that the top rate of funding for early childhood education (ECE) centres with more than 80 percent qualified staff would be removed.

Kindergartens have 100 percent qualified staff. They estimate they will lose about $14 million as a result of the change.

Tolley said she did not accept kindergartens were at risk.

"You have a philosophical point of view and I respect that. But I can't afford to pay for it."

Kindergarten Association chief executive Claire Wells said research showed high levels of qualified teachers made for better ECE services.

2009 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0907/S00036.htm

...The Ministry of Education has estimated that 19,000 additional places will need to be found for preschoolers by 2011 just to keep participation rates at current levels and to improve the participation of Maori and Pacific children.

...“Since becoming Minister of Education, Anne Tolley has scrapped a plan to improve child – teacher ratios, cut funding for teacher professional development and reduced standards for ECE centres,” Sue Moroney said....

Something to think on.

With the election approaching it's well worth doing some research so you can make informed decisions when choosing between policies.
Retirement age for instance, should it stay at 65 or go up to 67, how much should we pay for it? Here for example a bit of research may turn up that poorer members of communities could typically live around ten years less than wealthier members. So if poorer contributors on average only get 2 years of super, when wealthier friends get 10 years, who should pay the most?
Many policies are spun on short term benefit but have long term consequences. Such polices will impact on the adult lives of children now in kindergarten. What are the impacts and consequences positive and negative of the recent cuts to kindergarten funding? Here's a video for TED, filmed in Jul 2011, to start you thinking, New Zealand features in a lot of it's statistics and it is an eyeopener and worth waltching.
When filling your child's lunch box it's the ingredients not the packaging or brand association that's important, and we need to read them and know what's healthy to make healthy choices for our children.
Politicians all understand marketing and branding. As voters we make more informed decisions when we read and understand the label on the back to inform our choices.
It's not just the next three years, its their ongoing consequences in the years that come after.

Interesting documentary

From Radio New Zealand National

Running Wild in Fiordland

Fiordland Kindergarten which has launched a new programme to take pupils out into the wide open spaces. Their midweek nature discovery day draws inspiration from the European Forest kindergarten movement.

On Wednesday mornings, the children swap plasticine, paint brushes and modelling clay for dirt, sticks and fresh air. For some children, delivered by their parents to Ivon Wilson Park on the outskirts of Te Anau, it can be a bit traumatic. There are a few sobs and tears, but head teacher Clare Maley-Shaw is not bothered. She knows that as soon as mother or father is out of sight, the child will be swept up by the group.

All brightly clad in yellow raincoats and waterproof leggings, the preschoolers know the few rules by heart. Not one has gone missing since the programme began over a year ago.

The children enjoy a range of activities from climbing trees and sliding down leafy slopes, to exploring for bugs and beetles and eating toasted marshmallows around the campfire. The philosophy, according to Clare, is one of minimum intervention, intended to foster independence and a healthy curiosity and respect for their natural surroundings.

By taking the children out into nature on a regular basis, not just walking through it but ‘being in it’, she aims to give children a lifelong passion for the natural environment.

Clare Maley-Shaw admits it all seems like commonsense, and yet Fiordland Kindergarten is the pioneer of this outdoor programme in New Zealand, and is currently carrying out research on it’s impact on both the children and the teachers.

Raffle results

Raffle #1
1st prize Canvas by Olive Bremer #199 Jacob Hume
2nd prize Half pig, Judy Vining #207 c/o Emma Kappely
3rd prize* # 84 unsold have redrawn
3rd prize Xmas lamb –finalising delivery will announce shortly
4th prize firewood –Penny Baines # 412
5th prize Grocery hamper – Rachel Wright #471

Raffle # 2
1st prize Half Pig Nadine Harrison #45 (We only had two lots of tickets returned unsold, it was too late to get them in the supermarket sale so this morning David and Nadine decided to buy most of them between them and guess what, when we drew it this afternoon Nadine was a winner!)
2nd prize Ezy Roller, Annabelle Greer #293
3rd prize Mystery merry Hamper, Lynette Chapman –Napier #154
4th prize Grocery Hamper, Jasmin Zimerman #113
5th prize Sue Lowe, Cake, #301

Prizes drawn using online random number generator
http://www.mathgoodies.com/calculators/random_no_custom.html
By David Berry
Supervised by Adrianne Coles
And Tracey Bird
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the raffle in donations and in selling tickets, special thanks to those who donated the major prizes.
Also thanks to our top three ticket sellers Tristan walker, Eden Simmons and Maanuka Winiana who will get a small gift for their great efforts.

David Berry

Sacm Warning

I recently got a cold call at home from a pushy and convincing lady who wanted me to open windows event viewer
now before I did anything I just pretended to and noted down the actions, then googled them.
sure enough a quick search of "computer phone scam"
revealed this article http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/18/phone-scam-india-call-centres

"The scam always starts the same way: the phone rings at someone's home, and the caller – usually with an Indian accent – asks for the householder, quoting their name and address before saying "I'm calling for Microsoft. We've had a report from your internet service provider of serious virus problems from your computer."

Dire forecasts are made that if the problem is not solved, the computer will become unusable.

The puzzled owner is then directed to their computer, and asked to open a program called "Windows Event Viewer". Its contents are, to the average user, worrying: they look like a long list of errors, some labelled "critical". "Yes, that's it," says the caller. "Now let me guide you through the steps to fixing it...

The company has noticed the problem. "Microsoft does not make unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer," it says on its website.

"If you receive an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft Tech Support, hang up. We do not make these kinds of calls.

Basically never trust cold calls or emails like this, if in doubt tell them you'll take it in to your computer technician to get checked.

and like the free laptops scam, just do a quick Google search of key words along with the word scam first, and or go to the official website (not one they tell you to go to.)

I thought I'd share this video I watched recently

It has powerful implications for things like national standards and how we teach.

Astronomy lecture series well worth a view

I've been privileged to attend the astronomy lecture series touring from Napier down to CHB the last few Fridays. It concludes this Friday the 26th of November 2010 and is well worth attending even if you missed the first two on galaxies and the solar system.

Roll up to the Waipukurau club at 7pm, entrance $10.

Hopefully if well supported they'll be back with more.

Protest in Napier part 3

The third part of the videos I made for parents who couldn't get to the protest against ECE cuts in Napier. Rick Barker concludes the rally.
Say no to cuts, say no to back door increases in teacher child ratios causing cuts to quality.
(These are my views and not necessarily those of our association.)

More speeches from the Napier Protest.

As I tried to explain to Chris afterward, most people can cook, but when they try to cook nutritionally great, tasty meals, for large numbers of strangers, in a restricted time frame, catering to special dietary requirements, fussy eaters and more without training disasters happen.
Then there is evaluating what and how you did as you plan for your future meals.
Teachers are ordinary everyday people, but they have specialist training.
Parents and families know their own kids and are an important part of their health care and education, but you need training to cater to large numbers and specialist needs, to detect subtle problems, and act on them.

Yes I know when my child has chicken pox but I still take them to the doctor.

Chris argued that some aren't getting anything, better they get something than nothing. While I agree we should aim for 100% participation, I don't agree cuts are the way to achieve that goal, regardless of how you manipulate the statistics and argue cuts are increases.
Yes Chris gruel will keep you alive but please sir we want some more.

Chris said it is about choices, well time and again the national government has found money for pet projects like national standards (even though it is widely regarded as faulty and redundant as duplicating existing assessments.) I know my children's school assessments have always been clear , picked up what has needed to be done, and as a parent I've always worked closely with my children's teachers to develop support programs for my children at parent teacher interviews. If it's choices I would rather have no cuts to ECE than money wasted on implementing the dubious National standards.

Anyway part 2, remember to watch part 1

The views expressed in all three of these posts are mine and do not necessarily reflect those of our association.

Napier Protest

With many families already having commitments to the CHB show not every one who wanted to be in Napier this Saturday could make it, regardless there was a huge turn out in from families across our association and others with a message for the government about the massive cuts that began affecting kindergartens and others from the 1st of November 2010.
Here's some video of the day for everyone who couldn't make it. (Speeches are edited down to key points, sorry about the jumpiness of my filming. It also needs a backing track, so please put some music on while watching. )
please also excuse the spelling error, I meant to say "hear" not here.
I also meant to say reduce the quality of teacher child ratios.

Flax weaving resource

Interested in weaving flax, here's a great website on harakeke, selecting, preparing, dying and weaving basics.
http://www.alibrown.co.nz/instructions.html
you can find out about different types of flax and how suitable your's is for weaving here

http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biosystematics/plants/harakeke/all_cultivars.asp

and also here

http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biosystematics/plants/weaving/

Desmond Morris on his new book "Child"

Interview with Desmond about his book looking at 2-5 years olds on Radio NZ Thursday 21.10.10

Siren back on.

With the changes at the fire station the siren above the kindergarten has had to be turned back on. Owen came up to show the children what it would sound like when it goes off. We've also been talking about it so hopefully no one will get scared when they hear it, but we'll be ready if they do.

Please do play the video with your child and talk to to them about the siren to help them know what it sounds like and what it does. It will go louder and longer.

Welcome to Term 3

This term we will be focusing on the virtues of Perception, Beauty and Creativity. We've already been researching various philosophies to find out what beauty is.

On the subject of philosophy we've just spent the last week relooking at our own philosophy statement responding to a challenge from our education manager.

Things we might include in our kindergarten's philosophy statement include why we were set up, what we want to achieve and what values are really important to our service and community. If anyone has and thoughts on what we should include in our philosophy statement, do let us know.

This term we farewelled last terms reliever Michelle off to a permanent appointment at Ellen Stevenson, and welcome Becky back who will be relieving till a permanent teacher is appointed.

I was lucky enough to have a principle roll in Oliver over the holidays, thankyou to everyone for your wonderful feedback on how well this went.

Sonya our student from Auckland University will be with us till the 20th of August when Elsa from EIT will be joining us till the end of the term as our new student teacher. Sonya's been introducing lots of ideas on recycling and papermaking.

This week we've been celebrating te wiki o te reo Māori, more news on this to come.

Last week we had a workshop with the wonderful Tanya Batt on storytelling and movement, a big thankyou to our hosts Waipawa kindergarten.

Over the term break we enjoyed our conference with many interesting speakers including a presentation we did on blogging and e-Profiles. We will also be presenting to our school and ECE colleagues at the Transition /ENET group on the 12th of August.

I've also been asked to help out with the high school science fair so I won't be here next Wednesday.

We have lots of new faces who've been settling well, welcome to all our new friends and families.

We also had many visitors, Bridget a student from St Josephs researching our history for a school project, new enrolments and children coming in for transition visits, do pop up.

Speaking of visitors we'll be welcoming the team from ERO near the end of the term and Zappo will be returning to present his show in the last week.

This term there's a couple of minor trips we'll look at. We've been invited by Cefyn to visit his art studio at Pukeora, we'll try to link in with school to view their performance for the Ngati Whai festival, and we expect to head out to the daffodils.

Our fundraiser for the term will be an Art Auction, probably on Thursday the 23rd of September.
Hopefully I'll have the final figures for the Hangi fundraiser next term. The final plans are nearly ready!

Electric Learning

Watching the video below you can see why the research shows every $1 spent on Early Childhood is worth $13 spent later, when you see the learning that can take place with $15 dollars worth of batteries and around $80 of science kits.

The children here are learning to read circuit diagrams, solve problems, investigate, research, share their findings, observe, collaborate and find a life long love of learning.

Standing together for quality ECE - Celebrating 25 years of the ECECA

I'd like to congratulate all who helped with the Early Childhood Education Collective Agreement. Going from workers who had to get a pay rise to reach the minimum wage to professional teachers with a professional wage as employers and employees worked together to lift the standards of Early Childhood Education in New Zealand, not for profit but for families and children.
Here's a video from the ECE together website. It's a fascinating look at just how things have, and sadly haven't changed. People may recognise our association's Hayley, a great teacher and advocate for children.

ECECA 25th Anniversary Celebration video from webeditor on Vimeo.

Virtues for Term 2

After some thought we've picked two virtues for term two.
The first is Truthfulness.
"Truthfulness is the foundationof all the virtues...When this holy attribute is established in man, all the divine qualities will also be realised." 'Abdu'l-Baha
"We tell the truth kindly. Our words and actions are trustworthy. Our promise is our bond.We do not allow others to have an undue influence on our perceptions. We investigate the truth with our own eyes."- The virtues project.

For our second Virtue we decided we wanted something that tied in with Easter, Matariki and ANZAC day and choose remembrance. Then we discovered the virtues project had no such virtue in its' cards. So we came up with our own card.