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Next hamilton cluster meeting

Earlier today you will have received an email about the next Tauranga / Bay of Plenty cluster meeting.

Here’s one confirming details of the next Hamilton meeting, which is  even sooner- 1st August.

Our hosts will be the enthusiastic bunch at Knighton Normal School and the session will be  1 August 1st: 4:30pm – 5:30pm 

Viv will share  reflections on the “Heathcote Reconsidered” conference  and we will have a go at crafting a commission letter – as a way to consider language, task boundaries and ‘givens’ in MOTE planning.

Bring a plate of nibbles – and a friend… All welcome – from first timers to old hands!

 

 

 

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BOP Cluster Meeting 23rd August

Hi All

Our next cluster meeting will be held at Maungatapu Primary School from 4.30pm (5pm start) on 23rd August.

Viv has returned from the Heathcote conference in UK reinvigorated (not that she needed any more energy for MOTE)  and ready to share some more amazing insights into MOTE. She will be leading a workshop on Commission Letters, as well as our usual sharing and Q + A sessions.

I look forward to seeing you all there – enjoy your holidays in the meantime.

Cheers

Jon

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Heathcote Reconsidered

Here’s a brief report about the Heathcote Reconsidered conference held in Greenwich, London from 4-7 July. You might also like to check out the video clip of John O’Toole’s keynote address (given in role as Dr Phil. E. Stein). I haven’t been able to upload the clip directly, but you can see it on our facebook page  here 

The conference was really great. It was held at the old Maritime college, Greenwich – extremely beautiful buildings right on the Thames. Having volunteered to present twice I  didn’t get to see as many papers or workshops as I might have – but there was plenty that was interesting. A real stand out presentation for me was Brian Heap’s taxonomy of the 50 ways Heathcote uses TIME in process drama planning. This is going to be a really useful list and I’m going to ask Brian if I can share it with you. Erika P presented some really smart thinking about authenticity in drama teaching. I loved Brian Edmiston’s workshop on dialogue in teaching: he’s such a good facilitator and his theorising of drama through positioning theory is groundbreaking stuff. I also really enjoyed watching Iona Towler-Evans and David Allen – two experienced mantle practitioners as they worked with teachers on establishing procedures for MOTE. Helen Cahill did a thought provoking session on abstract conventions (definitely going to change the way I work) and there were wonderful keynotes from David Booth and Cecily O’Neill as well. Last but not least, Sue Davis and her team shared the results of an online “rolling role” project in which students from around the globe participated in a series of inter-related drama activities based on a common starting point. Very profound and moving. I’m going to see whether Sue will let us link to her video  – meanwhile you can read a bit about the project by clicking here 

Quite apart from the academic side – and the social events – it was lovely to finally get the chance to meet Dorothy Heathcote’s daughter, Marianne and family and to see the special photos and objects they had brought to share (including Dorothy’s MBE). All in all a fantastic experience and I’m enormously grateful to Pam Bowell and the University of Waikato for supporting me to attend.

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Mantle idea from Pam Bowell…

On her recent flying trip to NZ, the lovely Pam Bowell shared a powerpoint all about a process drama / mantle she ran recently in a year 5 class. She has generously agreed to share it here.

Lindisfarne Gospel Project

But wait, there’s more….!

At the Waikato cluster meeting last night, we spent an engaging evening thinking of possible ways to adapt / rework this company, client and commission to suit a New Zealand context. It was a really useful exercise and I am hoping those who attended will respond to this post with some of the ideas we came up with… So check out the powerpoint AND check out the comments below

Over to you team….

 

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MOTE at secondary – a new blog to enjoy!

Thanks Gaenor for spotting this one…. Debra Kidd from the UK has written some very compelling material about using MOTE at secondary. You can follow her blog here… I’ll also set up a link from the site. Impressive and inspiring stuff for our colleagues working away within NCEA and timetable constraints at secondary level….

http://debrakidd.wordpress.com/

 

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Correction to date for cluster meeting – it’s THIS Thursday

Apologies for the mistake in the date in my last post. The next Hamilton cluster meeting is THIS Thursday (30th May) at 4.30 at Puketaha School. All other details as previously advertised. Sorry for the mix up and I do hope to see you there!

Viv

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Hamilton Cluster meeting 5th June

Our colleagues at Puketaha school are hosts for our next Hamilton cluster meeting, which is 4.30pm on Thursday 6th June.

Viv will bring a resource generously shared by Pam Bowell, and we will talk about ways we could adapt it for use in the NZ context.

A good session for absolute beginners – or more experienced mantlers….

All welcome.

Please bring a plate or drink to share. See you there.

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Priya’s new mantle with year 4s – follow it on her blog!

Latest from Priya Gain in Wellington. Many of you will have enjoyed her blogs in the past – a great way to share in and learn about a mantle as it unfolds. Here is the information about her latest adventure…. Follow the link and you can sign up to her blog. THANKS Priya….
Just to let you know that I have a new Mantle unit up and running this term with a full Year 4 class.  We are a company called ‘GeoReady’ [based on the real NZ company GeoNet] and our job is to monitor geological hazards and work on the science behind these hazards.  The children wrote the company’s mission statement: ‘when the earth is going crazy we are the experts!’.  All details of the learning journey will be at: www.muritaimantleblog.blogspot.co.nz
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BOP Cluster Meeting

Hi everyone.

Wow! What a passion and positive energy filled meeting we had last time we met.

Paula shared with us the Mantle she did with her Yr 3/4 class at Maunagatpu in T4 2012 – which we all helped her with at our previous meeting – the room filled with her positivity as she described a Mantle that ran for hours most days throughout the term with engaged and motivated kids that were producing amazing work – she promises a Blog about it soon!

Viv cunningly steered the group in helping three other teachers (groups), planning on upcoming Mantles, to clarify their intentions and how they were to be achieved – all went away with a glow of anticipation.

Our next meeting – 17th May – Mount Intermediate – 4.30pm for a 5pm start – PD from Viv – planning exercise focused on drama for learning and using the conventions  – can’t wait!!!

Spread the word!

See you there.

Cheers

Jon

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Te Kore Conference. Did you get an email?

Hello colleagues.

I have just sent out an email to everyone who is registered for Te Kore – The Drama NZ conference. The title of the email was ‘Information for delegates and presenters’. If you did not receive one it means that either:

1. You’ve yet to register (come on – there’s still time!)

2. You’ve registered but I haven’t got your email address (in which case please contact me)

3. I’ve got your email address but there was a typo in it. This is possible what with the perils of databases. I did have a few messages ‘bounce back’…

So please, if you are in any of the above categories, could you get in touch asap.

Viva – on behalf of the exhausted but proud conference team

P.P.S. Enjoy the last week of term…