Learning yet again

At the start of the year we like to make the focus about learning. What are we here for, and what does it look like when learning occurs.

The children at the school always jokingly say that Whangaparaoa College is all about learning, learning, learning.

But we always get distracted from the intention around learning.

Why is that?

So I have been thinking around why this happens. My thoughts

1. Children at risk are often 'free' and have few boundaries for seven weeks over the break. There are parents are working, and they just hang around doing little. We then force them into schedules and patterns of working which they resist.
2. While the children are two months older after the holidays, we as teachers see them as a whole year level older. They "were Year 10 now they are Year 11" approach.
3. Focussing on learning is hard. It is much easier to focus on uniforms and lateness. While I know it is important to get the 'little' things right, I sometimes feel many staff never move onto the 'big' things.
4. It is really hot and unpleasant at this time of the year.

Next year I am going to think around the whole year start stuff and getting it right.