This week I was lucky enough to attend a session at the Southern Health School. Teachers, Jo Kennard, Vanessa Rowan, Sarah Wiseman and Health Worker, Jess Findsen contacted me to get some feedback on the unique way they were using 'Rising Tide' as a supporting text. They created a unit of work that uses parts of the Rising Tide lesson plans woven in with strands of positive psychology and character strengths in an exciting and innovative way after attending an inspirational professional development session with Dr Lucy Hone. I loved seeing this in action and felt warmly welcomed by both the staff and students.
We began by watching this fun video about 'Womps', or worries which was a great lead in to exploring our worries and support networks.
We began by watching this fun video about 'Womps', or worries which was a great lead in to exploring our worries and support networks.
| Here's Jamie's awesome 'womp' sculpture. The students used an ipad to photograph their womp and then the app 'chatterpix' which enabled them to record a voice for their womp and have it animated. The session was so engaging for the students with lots of opportunities to integrate technology into their learning and collaboration. Not only will I be looking for opportunities to use the chatterpix app I also got to try out a cool new game that I can now recommend for home and classroom use- 'Dobble' fun, fast and great for visual discrimination. It says from 6 years but I think eagle-eyed 4 and 5 year olds would love it too. |  |
New Zealand's Health Schools were established fourteen years ago, out of "Special Education 2000", to help keep children learning when they are unwell for extended periods and missing school. There are three Health Schools in New Zealand and together they assist around 2,500 students each year. Health Schools provide educational support to children whether they're in hospital or at home in the community. Modern medical practice has reduced the amount of time patients actually spend in hospital for treatment, and there are long-term illnesses which don't require hospital treatment.
Health School teachers spend about two-thirds of their time teaching children in a community setting and only one-third of their work occurs in hospitals. The Southern Health School began with around twelve teachers in six sites around the South Island, teaching around 100 students in a year. As the school has become more widely known it now has 21 teachers in eleven sites, teaching nearly 700 students in a year.
http://www.srhs.school.nz/admissions
Sarina Dickson is a Christchurch-based writer, teacher, artist and mother of three. She is passionate about the regeneration of Christchurch, education and the well being of families. Sarina co-authorsThe Worry Bug Project which produces books for children, families and schools focusing on positive classroom culture and mental health. Sarina participated as an artist in Christchurch Wild in Art event Stand Tall in 2014 and is currently working on a owl for Auckland's Wild in Art event The Big Hoot 2018.
Health School teachers spend about two-thirds of their time teaching children in a community setting and only one-third of their work occurs in hospitals. The Southern Health School began with around twelve teachers in six sites around the South Island, teaching around 100 students in a year. As the school has become more widely known it now has 21 teachers in eleven sites, teaching nearly 700 students in a year.
http://www.srhs.school.nz/admissions
Sarina Dickson is a Christchurch-based writer, teacher, artist and mother of three. She is passionate about the regeneration of Christchurch, education and the well being of families. Sarina co-authorsThe Worry Bug Project which produces books for children, families and schools focusing on positive classroom culture and mental health. Sarina participated as an artist in Christchurch Wild in Art event Stand Tall in 2014 and is currently working on a owl for Auckland's Wild in Art event The Big Hoot 2018.
RSS Feed