Welcome to my blog! I'm Karen Belt, a Deputy Principal, working at Lynmore Primary School in Rotorua, New Zealand. In the past I have taught Years 0 - 4 and used 1:1 iPads to engage and motivate learners and improve student achievement. This blog documents my teaching and leadership journey and my learning processes with iPads in the classroom. I am a Google Certified Educator #SYD17 and I'm proud of having been a member of the inaugural Manaiakalani Digital Teaching Academy(MDTA) program and a Spark Manaiakalani Innovative Teacher (MIT) and an inaugural Manaiakalani Google Class OnAir teacher.

Tuesday, 24 January 2017

New Year .... New Challenges


2017 marks a new challenge in my teaching career!  It was extremely hard to say farewell to Pt England School, having had such an amazing start to my teaching career, but the need to move away from Auckland, to more affordable housing (and less traffic) was strong.  In less than a week, school will start in my new classroom, at Lynmore School in the beautiful city of Rotorua.

I'll again be working with iPads and I look forward to using the teaching pedagogies that I have developed over the last three years in my new classroom as well as continue to innovate and try out new things in order to make learning exciting and engaging for my learners.


Over the last few weeks I've been transforming my teaching space and moving into my new classroom.  It is exciting to take a blank canvas and transform it into a learning space that will inspire and motivate my learners (although time consuming too!)   Here is just a small snapshot into my classroom - I can't wait to add to the 'blank walls' as my learners start creating!