Sustainable Development Goals School Journal update!

Really keen to continue working on our new educational resources where art and social/environmental sciences converge to create identification and action. We have started working with Te Puke school, a little country school near Raglan. Guess what: Pip Mears, Principal used to be my teacher in middle school!!!!! 

Below are a few draft pages and the cover of the Sustainable Development Goals School Journals that each child will receive to work in with their class and teachers:

Journal draft cover

Journal draft Table of Contents

Journal draft introduction

Everything is still open for new ideas and co-design!

Key Competencies 

The educators who collaborated on the Sustainable Journals designed the program with the following key competencies in mind:

Thinking

Success Criteria: I know I will be successful if I…

·  Share my thoughts about the ideas that the artworks bring up

·  Share my comments and questions about the connection between the artworks and the actions they can inspire

·  Contribute new ideas to discussions as they happen

Participating and contributing

Success Criteria: I know I will be successful if I…

·  Take advantage of all the time I have to work on my project

·  Listen as others speak for students to group their ideas into different categories

·  Take a risk and share my questions or confusions to help my understanding

Using language, symbols and texts

Success Criteria: I know I will be successful if I…

·  Respond with words, drawings or music when sharing my ideas

·  Connect some of the words already written with my words and thoughts to create new ideas

·  Listen and ask questions if I do not understand some of the teacher explanations

Relating to others

Success Criteria: I know I will be successful if I…

·  Listen as others speak for each student to share time and take turns when sharing ideas

·  Recognise that other students may have different ideas to mine

·  Respect other students space and time as we work together

Managing self

Success Criteria: I know I will be successful if I…

·  Use my gentle voice when working with other students so that other groups may concentrate on their projects

·  Have a ‘can-do’ attitude to answer the questions we ask ourselves in class

·  Use class time to think and connect my ideas to the artwork 

Reference: https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Key-competencies/Capable-kids-Working-with-the-key-competencies#collapsible2

Reflection time

Every so often, I stop to reflect on what people say during and after my presentations... so that I can adapt my intervention to best suit my audience.

Parents are particularly touched to meet with me - some say they do not know any adult that has the same condition as their child and they fear the uncertainty of the future:

"Yaniv's presentation was inspirational to our school with many parents able to reconnect with hope for a significant future for their children"

Teachers think about their relationship with parents:

"The message is multi-dimensional: It is about following one's passion and becoming very good at it! Sure, it outlined the role of creativity to bring out talent from our disabled students, but parents then started to reflect on what their children really liked that could be developed into a career - some artists, computer scientists, animal carers, kindergarten teachers"

A school Principal notes:

"Parents and students can re-connect to a future with meaning through Yaniv's story. Teachers went away and tried the "key hole" methodology developed by Dr. Janson to focus on children's strengths - not deficits - and build on what they loved doing"

Next, I want to focus on organisations that support people with disabilities - after they leave school.

Meeting with the IHC librarians in Wellington

the IHC is an important organisation that greatly help the disability sector by sending out information to families and disabled people. Ros and Ann are lucky to work in such a tall building - 14th floor Willis Street.

On our way to see Hon. Nicky Wagner, Minister Disability Issues!!!

Silverdale Primary School - with Gillian Ingham the school teacher who supported me in high school:)

It was great meeting Margaret who is the Principal of Silverdale Primary school

She suggest I run an exhibition in their staff room.

After our visit she called me a role model and she published a story about my visit in the school's newsletter!

Hillcrest Primary School: a hearty discussion!

The discussion was so lively that we barely remembered to take a picture in Hillcrest primary school!

Southwell School Principal - interested in new ideas to inspire students

Picture taken in Southwell school. The Principal offered to visit the art room and the art teacher was very pleased to see us.

It was interesting to discuss how the school takes pride in helping their students with disabilities.  I came away ready to roll with new ideas!

Tamahere Model Country School: a warm welcome in the staff room

This is the 1 where I had a staff meeting

I spoke to 3 of them in depth.

They remember me from years 2000 - 2002
They said about when I was in their class room
I felt proud of how much I developed since that age.

Taking Action: starting our UNESCO book project - Three site visits amongst the 8 confirmed meetings with educators

For the start of our UNESCO book project, we have already visited three locations (2 in Auckland with Minji and Ngaire - photo below) and one in meeting with the Matangi Primary school Principal (photo below too).

We are so grateful to have received funding from the Eleos Trust to start on our pilot - talk to teachers, parents, school principals and people with disabilities.