I hosted a Makerspace Open Day where 35 teachers from across the north island were able to explore and interact in our space, you can read my blog post
http://www.takpmakerspace.co.nz/blog/whats-it-all-about

I am receiving countless emails almost everyday about the Makerspace and the use of digital technologies within this space. I paused to consider one email and the questions that make me think and reflect
http://www.takpmakerspace.co.nz/blog/questions-that-made-me-think-and-reflect

April was a very exciting month for me, I got to visit an Apple Distinguished school in New York (Marymount, see blog post www.takpmakerspace.co.nz/blog/kiwis-in-new-york)
to attend the Apple Distinguished Schools Summit in Chicago alongside my Principal and to top it off I got to meet Tricia Fuglestad (see blog post http://www.takpmakerspace.co.nz/blog/when-you-meet-someone-that-inspires-you). Bruce presented a 2 minute showcase which I helped support him in putting together and then to hear him deliver it with pride and confidence on the world stage was an honour. The two of us presented a workshop where we were challenged to think deeper and to question what we do. The depth of conversations at the World summit and the way the event was structured allowed us to form strong bonds with other ADS schools - an opportunity we had never had in the past, we left inspired and thankful for the opportunity.

The Makerspace is absolutely humming along and learners are thriving. For each lesson I run so much goes on behind that people 'looking in' aren't aware of...

Firstly I connect with every classroom teacher via their teams long term plan. I find out what the focus is, what the learning targets are and what that teams overarching goals are. For the lessons in the makerspace to be worthwhile they need to be targeted and linked to the learning in the classroom, I need teachers to buy in and for the projects learners start to be allowed to continue back in class. Let me explain...

For the early years classrooms up to year 2 their Makerspace session starts and finishes within a block session, they either have rotations where get the opportunity to visit every station (eg 5 separate STEAM stations, Science, Engineering, Art and Mathematics - whether interdisciplinary or stand alone), I do this for the 5 year olds or they have the choice of which station they want to be at for the entire length of the session (I don't do this with the 5 year olds, if you've taught five year olds you know why...think Nemo fish!) They often don't know what they are passionate about and need the opportunity to experience all disciplines. 

But as our learners get older, the less time they spend on the project with me and the more time they have completing it back in class eg the Year 5/6's might do 30% with me and 70% back in class. Sometimes if they see me early in the term they may also have rotations so that they are becoming informed on which track they wish to follow for their project.

You can visit my blog to see the learning in action
http://www.takpmakerspace.co.nz/blog

In the middle of this month I was lucky to have the opportunity to represent my school and travel Australia sharing our journey as a Keynote Speaker at a series of Apple Early Years events. I presented in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, working with the Apple team was a privilege and I learn so much from these experiences. Educators are an amazing breed, all striving for the same goal, making a difference in the lives of children, each and everyday. I am forever thankful for the power of technology to allow me to do this in so many innovative ways. 

I have almost completed my Post Graduate through Mind Lab, if I am being honest I have not found the digital component of this study to be of much use, they are years behind what we are doing in the classroom but the leadership part has been a worthwhile journey for me. 

A busy end to the school year with

• A Makerspace Workshop delivered to 25 teachers from across the North Island. Teachers were interested in hearing about my experiences facilitating a Makerspace and even though we don't have a current physical space many are preparing to set up in 2018. Both the Makerspace blog and my facebook page have provoked interest in my current teaching pratices and how this is impacting on student achievement. I contue to post on Twitter regularly and find twitter my go to for personal Pd and connections.
• This month a group of our teachers visited Richmond School (another ADS) to build and strengthen relationships. Two weeks later teachers from Richmond then visited us. I was part of a Q&A panel to answer their wonderings and help support them on their jouney. I am looking forward to the possibilities that this union will bring. 
• I have began another multitouch book which I hope to publish over the holiday period. Our teachers were looking for a Ko Au (all about me) multi touch book that could be infused in both our oral languge and writing programmes at the beginning of the year especially as young learners make the transition to school. This was also a timely reminder for me to make sure the 'content creation' team which I started this year continue to upskill and produce high quality resources. This term the group I have produced "Angles around Us" by Dorothea Collier then Doro supported her students to produce, "Learn Te Reo Maori" - Feelings and Emotions, Trudi Fausett produced "Six Sensational Stroy Starters"then Trudi supported her class to produce this book 'Best Parts of Me' - which is simply stunning and such an authentic and rich way of producing and sharing a writing and photography unit. Both Richard and Jo have finished their books and aim to publish them in the next couple of weeks.

This month saw the national awards ceremony for the MADE Awards (Movie and Digital Excellence), being the chairperson of this event is full on but so rewarding. We had well over 400 entries across all categories and the quality just gets better and better. To see Apple technologies supporting students to produce such amazing digital learning objects is so affirming. Te Akau ki Papamoa were a shining light on the night and gained many first, second and third place awards, as well as winning the 'Most Creative' award. You can view winning entries on the MADE Website on the Gallery Page.

I continue to build teacher capacity within our school and are now also supporting our teacher trainees to become Apple Teachers (it is a prerequisite at our school that all teachers current or applying for future positions are Apple Teacher Accredited).

I am also continuing to complete future postgraduate study and are linking this to my ADE experiences and while completing a recent leadership assignment was able to reflect on the 'Leading Change' workshop delivered by Meredith Bean and Linda Pitt at the Melbourne ADE Summit. This learning has been far reaching for me, especially when considering my areas of responsiblity and what I can effect (Category 1, 2 or 3).

With the Makerspace temporarily out of action in our dedicated (temporary) space I am working alongside teachers to support them creating 'pop-up' spaces in their own classroom environments. By sharing photos like these and reflecting on these learning opportunities I hope to inspire teachers to support and value the Maker Movement.

I presented two workshops at Ulearn in Hamilton this year, "Developing a Makerspace in a Primary Environment" and "iPad in the Early Years". The Makerspace workshop had a very large group (in a very challenging space!) and many schools have said they would like to visit us in the future. I also supported fellow ADE's and our Principal and DP who also presented. 

I attended an ADE dinner at Ulearn hosted by Meredith Bean (DE) and Jeff Vardy and enjoyed the opportunity to have rigorous discussions with likeminded colleagues.

The beginning of August saw the first day get together of our newly formed 'Content Creation Team'. This team consists of ADE's, myself, Doro Collier, Trudi Fausett and prospective future ADE's Richard Williams and Joanna Weldon. Our purpose is to create and publish  content both multi touch books and iTunes U Courses. this content may be teacher directed or student focused. My role within the team initally  is to build teacher capacity and foster sustainability moving forward.

We plan to meet once a term, this first get together was purely professional development focused with me taking teachers through the design process and principals of creating a Multi touchbook. I shared content created by other ADE's, Cathy Hunt, Craig Smith and Steve Papp. I hope to have everyone publishing their first book by the end of the year. In November we will meet to strategically plan for 2018.

This process was hugely reflective for me as I realised just how much I had learnt and far I had come in my authorship. I had certainly learnt the hard way and throughly enjoyed sharing some tips, tricks, tools and online assets (e.g. Flat icon, Noun Project, Status Barred) with my colleagues to make their journey not only faster but certainly less stressful.

In August we also had a group of educators from Seatoun Primary School in Wellington visit us. I had previously been a keynote speaker at an Apple Leadership conference and had shared the stage with their Principal John Western. One of TAKP's ADE's currently contracted to Apple (Glen Storey) is working with this school and accompanied them on their visit. It is always useful to share, reflect on and challenge your own school wide practises to better inform and impact on next steps. 

Wow, what an exciting month!

I was extremely privileged to be selected to attend the Apple Distinguished Educators Academy in Melbourne as Alumni along with our two new ADE's (Trudi Fausett and Dorothea Collier). New Zealand was extremely well represented with 5 new ADE's for the class of 2017.

In June we had a group of 12 Principals from across the Cambridge Principals Association visit our school and the Makerspace. 

Preparation for the MADE Awards (Movie and Digital Excellence) continues with me chairing our first big meeting for this Year. It's such a wonderful opportunity to be able to offer NZ Year 0-8 students the chance to share their learning and to celebrate their talents. This years event promises to be even bigger and better than before!

I continue to work alongside our Senior Leadership Team to guide and support our teachers working in ILE (Innovative Learning Environments). This involves guiding and mentoring teachers through the 'Open to Learning Conversation' process and challenging them to 'Lead their own learning' alongside their students. Change can be an unsettling process and several teachers are currently 'in the pit' (James Nottingham).