Inspire l Inquire l Imagine
Celebrating Learning Stories Conference 2017
Thank you to all who attended our Conference on Saturday 14 October - what a fantastic event! We were absolutely thrilled by the engagement and participation shown by all attendees and presenters.
This year we celebrated the transformational power of Learning Stories through fabulous and engaging presenters, including Professor Margaret Carr and guest presenters from the USA. This was an opportunity for teachers to be inspired by others, to let their mind inquire, and imagine the potential for the future of their practice!
Just some of the wonderful feedback from this year's attendees:
'I found this conference one of the best I have attended. Certainly value for money and really informative with great workshops. Would highly recommend :)'
'...a day full of inspiration and passion! So much food for thought that will provide great reflective discussions.... I can't wait for next years conference'
'Very impressed with the way the day was organised. Very interesting and rekindled a passion for new directions of writing Learning Stories. Just what I needed to stretch my own practice'
'The conference was very well organised. Everything was done in a timely manner. The speakers were very motivational and had great ideas on teaching and learning. The food was delicious and there was plenty of it! Thank you'
'Very inspiring, especially from the keynote speakers. Good selection of workhsops. It was very emotional to hear what Annie, Annette and Leslie shared about their journeys of using Learning Stories as an assessment tool in the States! 'Learning Stories are a living document, meaningful to the child and their families'!'
'A fabulous day. Well worth the trip over the ditch. It has been a beautiful "Retreat" for me to draw closer to my history as a kiwi teacher. See you next year!'
Keynote Presentations
Does a Learning Story qualify as a wise assessment?
Presented by Professor Margaret Carr
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This presentation will explore the proposition that we would like teachers to become more wise about the ways in which they assess children’s learning - and children to become more wise about their learning journeys. Many of the ideas for this topic arise from discussions with early childhood teachers during a research project, led by Margaret and Wendy, entitled ‘Learning Wisdom’. We canvassed the notion of ‘wise teaching’, and the data we built on came from the teachers recording their conversations with the children as they revisited their Learning Stories. Conversations with those teachers, together with relevant literature and the examples from practice, enabled us to explore the ways in which an assessment practice that uses Learning Stories might be described as wise practice, and a Learning Story might be described as a wise assessment.
(click here for more info)
Humanising Assessment in the USA - Learning Stories: relationship-driven work in a data-driven world.
With visiting presenters from the USA: Dr Annie White, Annette Muse and Leslie Voss.
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Educators in the USA are drowning in meaningless, time consuming child assessments practices. Teachers are yearning for change and seeking a more authentic assessment approach to make children’s learning visible. A collaborative effort to transform California early childhood assessment practices, using Learning Stories, has initiated a new paradigm shift for California teachers and early education programs.
(click here for more info)
Workshops
Please see below for details of this year's inspiring workshop options. Click HERE to download all workshop information for printing.
Session One, 10:15-11:45am:
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Key Elements of a Learning Story Kim Hope, ELP |
Connection: the beating heart that drives learning Teachers from Greerton ECC |
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Connecting the extraordinary and the ordinary Sue Fahey, Nelson Tasman Kindergartens Apologies, Sue is unable to provide Learning Story examples due to their |
Partnerships in Action Kelly Abraham & Rebecca Thompson, Barnardos |
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Using Learning Stories to Capture the Spirit of the Outdoors Wendy Lee, ELP |
How do we understand children through Maori literacy? Central Kids Putauaki |
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Continuity of Learning: Past, Present and Future Kathryn Delany, ELP |
Capturing the Learning: A Primary School Perspective Tara O’Neill, Haeata Community Campus
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Session Two, 12:30-2:00pm:
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Whānau co-authoring a Learning Story Brenda Soutar and Leanne Clayton Mana Tamariki |
Infants & Toddlers: Capturing the scientist within Anita Homewood, ELP |
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Using traditional wisdom in a modern world Lynn Rupe, ELP |
A bicultural journey Waiau Pa team & Tania Bullick, ELP |
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Teachers Registration and Learning Stories: A partnership made in heaven Marianne MacPherson, ELP |
Do your Learning Stories make a difference to children’s identities? Lorraine Sands, ELP |
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Acquiring Whānau Voice the Enjoyable and Authentic way! Bridget Chapman, Educare Kensington |
Intergenerational Learning: Our journey of discovery Central Kids Laughton Kindergarten Team
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Session Three, 2:15-3:45pm:
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Hitting the ground running Jo Colbert, Chelsea Kindergarten |
Children Assessing their Learning Marianne MacPherson, ELP |
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A Stitch in Time Julie Killick, Chelsea Kindergarten |
Infants & Toddlers: Natural Born Leaders Anita Homewood, ELP |
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Documenting Shared Experiences - Collaborative Community Stories Roskill South teaching team |
A bicultural journey Tania Bullick, ELP |
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Keeping a view of learning as complex Carol Marks, ELP |
From grit to goals: risk and challenge is a mindset Carol, Pat and Sarah, Mangere Bridge Kindergarten |
