More home reading certificates

Here are some more certificates that were awarded today!  Well done.  Keep up that home reading and fly around NZ and the world!

Lucas learns to ride

After our school triathlon Lucas has been determined to get going on a push bike.  Here he is zooming around among the other kids during our swimming/bike time.  Well done Lucas.

Reading Night Certiicates

This week we have had a group of children gain their first home reading certificates of the year!  Well done to you all and keep up that home reading.  Here are a few photos of them with their proud looks on their faces.  We are are so proud of their efforts and are very impressed at how they are progressing.  

You can see from the photo on the right photo a map of NZ.  This is a way of the children knowing what reading level they are on and where they need to be by the end of 1 year and the end of 2 years at school.  The children love being able to move their plane to a new location as they move through their reading levels.  Check it out next time you are in our class, and ask your child about where they are.  Also don't forget to ask them what their reading goals are as they are reading to you.

School Triathlon

Today was the day of the School Triathlon.  Our kids did SOOOOOOO well.  Watch this space for examples of writing that the children do on their Triathlon experience.

Sorry no other photos as I was too busy helping the kids transition with the bikes!  We had a parent kindly take photos and movies so when we get these we will share them with you.

Milk in Schools

We had a visitor (Tracy) come to our school to share with us the importance of folding our milk cartons properly so they can be sent off to be recycled into some really cool things, including; books, roof tiles, desk tops ...

We then wrote stories about this.  Here is one Dakota has put into an explain everything presentation for you.  Also here are some photos of us practicing our folding in the afternoon.

Visitor from the US

Today we had a visitor in our school who enjoyed seeing how we learn and interact with each other.  She was interested in how we link our inquiry into all aspects of our learning and how we work with each other.  Nice meeting you Sherry!

Maths learning - Tens and Ones

In maths we have been focusing on place value, and learning about how we read/say/make numbers that have tens and ones.  Here you can see a group of children working together to solve some problems on our teaching station.  They have been also learning how to complete similar activities on the iPads and will be able to share that on our blog shortly.

Writing - What is it?

 Today Daniel and his mum came in with a special 'what is it?' question.  We all discussed we thought it might be and why we thought it might be that.  We even got to touch it.  In the end Daniel told us it was a broadbill fish (AKA Swordfish).

 

We then choose to change our writing focus for the day so that we could write about such a magic experience.  Thank you Daniel and your family!

Visible learning here we come!

Visible learning is happening in our classroom already but we are all just a little excited about getting our board going again.  The children have really been missing being able to look up and see what we are up to next.  

Its not until you don't have something sometimes, that you really work out how much you use it.

SADLY ... 

We have been unable to mount the projector as we were sent the wrong parts so fingers crossed we get it up and going shortly.

Watch this space.

Mini Inquiries - student led

I have to say SORRY to all the parents of children in the Jets and Bicycles who have been bombarded with children bring crickets to and from school.  This has also becoming a class wide experience as more children get recruited to find crickets in the playground.

Last week the children had a book about crickets, and I encouraged them to make a cricket house, and research crickets.  They loved making these and taking them home, with crickets inside.  This kind of learning has continued at school I promise you, with children overturning rocks and chasing crickets all around the playground.  They have also looked up books in the library and enjoyed re-reading the cricket book we had used in class.

This has been a fantastic learning context for the children so please bear with it and remember to ask them questions about what they are learning.  If you have time you could also look up information about crickets together.  Feel free to email me information and photos of your experiences together!

kariene@ohaeawaiprimary.co.nz

We had a great day with Tracey learning how to be safe in the water with a life jacket. We learnt how 'tight is right!' To have our jacket snug and tight to help keep us safe. We also learnt how to huddle together and kick in a line.

We can't wait until tomorrow when Beth comes in to follow on with our water safety learning. 

Team Maunga Movie

Here is a movie the kids created to share with their parents at the 'Meet the Teacher' evening.  

Hope you enjoy.