Posted by
tom
on
March 16, 2010
Nice trip to Napier on Monday to spend a few hours learning about PATs.
Progressive Achievement Tests have been used in NZ schools since I was a child – 1970s – and are now high tech with a flash website, scanned answer sheet marking and updated reporting tools.
Some snippets from the course:
We were recommended to expect around 5 to 7 points improvement a year on the scaled score – a useful directive indeed.
Also the reminder that a test is that child’s score on that day. Remember that it is not the be all and end all of their performance. One test to support the professional judgement of the teacher.
Stanine 4 is a poor score although in the bottom of the averages.
The norms have recently been updated.
And a couple of Napier views:
Posted by
tom
on
March 14, 2010
We took Ellie for a walk at Timona Park today. The river there is shallow and the perfect place for her to gain confidence in faster water. Usually she avoids water which is quicker but the sticks sail away!
We started off with some easy fetching into the river. She was very excited and jumped up several times which is a little unusual. Sometimes a new place really gets her going.
is a picture of her retrieving from the faster water. Shallow but quick. The good news is that she was very confident and jumped in without any hesitation.
and here she is leaving the water to then drop the stick and shake water over anyone who is near.
Owning a dog gets you out and about and enjoying nature. This river is a lovely spot, clean and very easy access. It was busy at Timona Park too with a horse event on and athletics as well as other people enjoying a beautiful Manawatu day.
Doesn’t that make your heart melt?
Posted by
tom
on
March 12, 2010
The tail end of the Wellington storm petered out with a squall which lashed the Esplanade around 6pm tonight. Rain pouring, sun shining, wind howling. A rainbow glistened on the road in front of the car as Ellie and I drove to park for our evening stroll.
It was clear when I took this photo of the river. This view is looking towards the Fitzherbet bridge.
And as usual Ellie was looking magnificent
until she smelt something delicious and proceeded to roll in the grass. It is something altogether curious to me – she will be running along then suddenly stop, sniff around and then dive roll onto the grass and twist and writhe for a minute or so.
We ambled around for an hour, enjoyed a rendevous with a black lab and avoided getting wet which was a real bonus.
The weather is starting to change and autumn is slowly moving in. It is an awesome time of year to be a dog owner!
Posted by
tom
on
March 12, 2010
It was cold – very cold!
Had the Variety Bash visit us this afternoon.
Posted by
tom
on
March 11, 2010
Ellie and I spent an enjoyable hour at Paneri Park and surrounds the other evening. She loves this walk which has a bit of everything except a sealed surface. Gravel and metal tracks, dirt, riverside stones, grass and wasteland areas.
Here is the lovely posed shot!
Come on she seems to be saying. I’m running – why aren’t you?
Looking for that rabbit. I can smell it!
And a gleaming coat in the late evening sunshine!
She is mostly well behaved these days and stays close when off leash. This is still a bit of a work in progress and is very enjoyable.
If you had told me that I would love owning a dog I would never have believed you.
Isn’t it great that we can change!
