Greetings colleagues

A friendly reminder that the date for our next cluster meeting is Thursday 7th August. We have been invited to Melville Intermediate school, Mt view road, Hamilton at 4pm for a 4,30 start.  Thanks Sue and staff for hosting us! Focus for the session is on using drama conventions to build belief… Please bring your favourite ideas plus a friend and snacks for the table Look forward to seeing you there… Meanwhile, here is a photo from our last gathering at Puketaha – lovely lot!

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I thought I would share this wee handout I have been working on. Created for a recent drama workshop at a local primary school ( I LOVE working with groups like this who are hungry to bring drama into their teaching!!)  Anyway, the handout is adapted from ‘Role Registers’ by Dorothy Heathcote. It extends the list of possible positions a teacher can take, and gives examples of how this can change things for the children. Check it out… and let me know what you think. Smiles,  Viv.

Role registers and positions in drama teaching

Reminder

Our next BOP Cluster meeting will be held at the Windermere Campus (Tauranga) of Waikato University in the Maharaia building from 4.30pm for a 5.00pm start – Viv will be chairing the meeting – please bring yourselves, your colleagues and some nibbles.

[Our focus will be on drama conventions – particularly those that can be used in the early stages of a Mantle to build belief in the fictional world.]

See you there!

Jon

Here’s a lovely link to check out. A teacher’s blog about using Mantle of the Expert to explore the history of the Titanic. Teacher Jenny Burrell has included details of her planning, notes on children’s responses and feedback from parents in this blog (from a UK school).  Lots to learn from and enjoy here.

By the way, if any NZ teachers are blogging their work in Mantle this team – do please send the link so we can share yours too!

Click here for linkmantle of ex titanic 005

Our Hamilton cluster meeting tonight (fantastic as ever) was focussed on assessment within Mantle of the Expert. Teachers shared some strategies they have found useful for keeping assessment “authentic” within a Mantle of the Expert frame. Then we read and viewed some material from the UK website. As promised, I’m re- sharing some of that material here – with thanks and acknowledgement to original authors: 

Here is the handout given out at the meeting ASSESSMENT IDEAS FOR MANTLE OF THE EXPERT – adapted from material on www.mantleoftheexpert.com

Click here for link to Assessment as an act of love – article by Debra Kidd

Click here for Mary James’ slides on Third Generation assessment

Follow this link Michael-Questioning for the excellent handout Questions Questions Questions by Michael Bunting, originally published on www.mantleoftheexpert.com

Great to see the new faces at our group – Welcome Vicky and Larissa….! Next meeting will be in early August – details to follow.

Hi team

Just a wee reminder that this term’s cluster meeting for teachers and interested others in the Hamilton / Waikato region is this week – Wednesday 28th 4.30pm at Faculty of Education, gate 5, hillcrest road. The focus is on assessment strategies in mantle teaching – including assessment in role!  So bring your stories – and questions – a friend and a plate of food to share if you can. Everyone is so busy at this time of year but we are always invigorated and inspired by these meetings – do hope you can make it.

P.S. The exact room for Wednesday’s meeting is still being confirmed. please check at reception on arrival. (:

I promised a bit of a flurry of posts this week… here’s the next one. Sharing an article written for NZ teachers using the metaphor of the korowai to help explain Mantle of the Expert. This article has just been published in Drama Research International as part of a commemorative edition on the life and legacy of Dorothy Heathcote. Thanks to the editors for allowing us to reproduce it here. Do check out the other articles in the journal – which can be accessed by clicking here 

DR Article 10 Aitken_ Risking HeuristicsScreen shot 2014-05-14 at 12.24.56 PM

Thanks Stacey for pointing out the  error in yesterday’s message where I gave the date of the next cluster group as March, instead of May!

Here’s the updated version:

  • After its highly successful launch last month, the Whangarei cluster has its next get together on Wednesday 28th May at 3.30. I think this will be at Kaurihohore school, but please email Leslee Allen (principal@kaurihohoreschool.co.nz) to confirm and to notify your attendance. The focus for this session will be on drama conventions.
  • Also on Wednesday 28th –  at 4.30pm – is the next Hamilton cluster meeting. This will be held at the Faculty of Education, University of Waikato. The focus for the session is assessment strategies for Mantle of the Expert. Please RSVP if possible to viva@waikato.ac.nz
  • Finally, a little further off Tuesday 10th June will be the next Bay of Plenty cluster at 4.30pm at University of Waikato Windermere Campus. Further details to be confirmed, but this session will be all about drama conventions / drama for learning. If you are planning to attend this one, please let Jon know: jmj28feb@gmail.com

As usual  please bring a plate, a smile and an interested friend.

It has been quiet on the Mantle of the Expert website lately, but you will be receiving a wee flurry of posts in the next few days.

First up, this message has information about cluster group meetings coming up. Please read carefully to ensure you have the right details for your meeting:

  • After its highly successful launch last month, the Whangarei cluster has its next get together on Wednesday 28th May at 3.30. I think this will be at Kaurihohore school, but please email Leslee Allen (principal@kaurihohoreschool.co.nz) to confirm and to notify your attendance. The focus for this session will be on drama conventions.
  • Also on Wednesday 28th –  at 4.30pm – is the next Hamilton cluster meeting. This will be held at the Faculty of Education, University of Waikato. The focus for the session is assessment strategies for Mantle of the Expert. Please RSVP if possible to viva@waikato.ac.nz
  • Finally, a little further off Tuesday 10th June will be the next Bay of Plenty cluster at 4.30pm at University of Waikato Windermere Campus. Further details to be confirmed, but this session will be all about drama conventions / drama for learning. If you are planning to attend this one, please let Jon know: jmj28feb@gmail.com

As usual  please bring a plate, a smile and an interested friend.

Greetings colleagues

There is much ‘clustering’ occurring in the next few weeks. Please check below for a meeting to suit you. First two notifications are new gatherings, the others are reminders.

* Hamilton Cluster meeting will be Thursday 27th 4.30pm for 5pm start  at Puketaha school – please note this is a change from the date previously advised.  The topic is a walk through the planning process – with updates on the planning model.

* Secondary skype meeting – for specialist secondary teachers around the country. Thursday 3rd April 7pm over skype. Please email gaenor@waikato.ac.nz with your skype name if you wish to join. This discussion will look at possibilities for Mantle at secondary and adapting Mantle for older learners.

* Northland cluster at Kaurihohore School – 24th March contact Leslee Allen <principal@kaurihohoreschool.co.nz> for more information or to register interest

* Bay of Plenty cluster at Omokoroa Point School – 4.30pm for 5pm Tuesday 18th March contact Jon Jenner <jmj28feb@gmail.com> for more information.

Great to see all this activity happening. As always, you are encouraged to bring a plate of nibbles to share – and a curious friend… All welcome.