Staff professional development - Dr. Paul Taylor

Most of our professional development focuses on linking our content knowledge with the art of teaching so our children can interact with the essential learning they need to know to get on in the world . From time to time we need to stop and look at the wider aspect of our jobs and look at how children are made up and how each child offers us a different menu in the 'restaurant' that makes up the classroom. Yesterday we spent an hour with Dr. Paul Taylor, a clinical paediatrician from Nelson, who workshopped with staff about the diagnosis and understanding of the qualities of a child who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It was a fascinating talk and staff and parents were inspired by how difficult it must be for these children to participate in class. One of the biggest issues for all children is their feelings of difference and self-worth, Clearly some significant adaptation and differentiation needs to be provided in class so children can flourish. Dr.Taylor outlined the desire to try and build a working environment so that all children had the 3 A's of self -esteem - Affiliation - belonging; Achievement - being capable; Authority - control. To build an environment where children can focus on their learning, despite all being wired differently is a huge challenge. But if Muritai kids are to be the best that they can be then we have to understand each child, enhance their self-esteem and focus their learning on their next steps of development. A thoroughly relevant PD session.