Tania's Professional Learning Blog

I recently attended a workshop at Somerville School about helping students with autism in regular classrooms. One important point was that 1 in every 5 students is neurodiverse, including conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism. This inspired me to find five simple ways to support these students in my classroom. 1. Offering Frequent Praise and Positive Reinforcement I make it a priority to give regular, specific praise for the effort students put into their work. I try to encourage them during tasks instead of just praising the final result. This helps students, especially those with ADHD or anxiety, feel more confident and valued in their learning. To support students with ADHD, I avoid negative labels and focus on building self-esteem by understanding the reasons behind their behaviours. I emphasise emotional regulation and self-control, use whole-class discussions to encourage understanding, and apply strategies that support both emotional and academic success. 2. High...

My inquiry has evolved this year to focus more on the children who have transitioned from Kindergartens and Early Childhood Education (ECE) settings. Some of the tamariki have not yet mastered their foundational skills, so my inquiry centers on how I can ensure that all my students achieve these foundational skills as soon as possible, specifically looking at literacy. Below, you will find my Professional Growth Cycle and the work I have undertaken so far. As you will see, this journey is ongoing, and I will be continuing to develop in this area. I am really looking forward to see how the data on BSLA has progressed. Especially my Tier 2 target group.