Half way through Term 4, already!

It is already half way through Term 4!  I am not sure where the time has gone, obviously we have been very busy!
Are learning programmes have continued to run smoothly this term.

The students are particularly enjoying the continuation of our Inquiry around Rockets.  We have made balloon car rockets, vinegar and baking soda rockets and as an end project we are making water bottle rockets!
It is fantastic to see the students so engaged and enthusiastic about building their rockets, not realising the great discussion and learning that is taking place through the process of designing, testing and launching.  I can't wait to see how they go!

The students are busy completing an artwork to be displayed at prizegiving.  The artwork is based around an artwork by Julia Sanderl.  The students have made a clay tile that will be the centre piece on a painted canvas background.  The students have used maori art designs as inspiration for their artwork.
The are working hard to make them be the best that they can be.

Going where no class has gone before?!

This term our inquiry is centred around rocket science.  The students will learning about the ideas of forces and motion, how rockets work and some of the challenges for those wanting to make rockets go faster and higher.

Will ignited our students curiosity with a rocket launch.

We then continued with making our own rockets out of film canisters and using baking soda and vinegar as the propulsion.  Lots of fun!

Term 2 Reflection

Another busy term over and so many things achieved!
Here are some highlights:

• Reading - We started Book Clubs with 3 reading groups this term.  It was really enjoyable to read and share a text with the students and the discussion around what we have read, our predictions and connections.
• Maths - We have run cross grouping between Rooms 10 and 11 this term for multiplication and division.  This has proved successful for teachers and students.  There is less planning for teachers and more streamlined focuses for the students.  Many students have made positive comments about this working well which is great.  We hope to continue this as much as possible over the next term.
• Writing - We started off the term writing cameos which has provided the students with the opportunity to add more description and language features to their writing.  The students enjoyed the very detailed, short cameo writing structure.  Towards the end of the term we began writing narratives.  The students have struggled with adding more length to their writing and many sure the reader has all the details they need to follow the story.  We will continue to write narratives again next term.
• Science Inquiry - What a fantastic, enjoyable inquiry this was.  The students were so engrossed with the experiments that we completed, often trying these at home themselves.  Throughout this inquiry they have gained a knowledge of acids, bases, dissolving, melting, mixing, solids, gases and liquids.  Here are some photos from our inquiry.

I am looking forward to the fun that we will have during our learning during Term 3!

Starting Term 2

We have once again settling into our learning groove for Term 2.
I have implemented a few changes to start with this term.
Writing -
I am going to run writing groups this term with the eventual intention of each group focusing on a different piece of writing and/or genre.
I am so far keeping the genre and piece of writing the same for three groups with a different focus for my target students.
My target students will continue to focus on picture writing, writing 5 sentences that describe what they see and think might be happening in the picture.  This is to focus on getting the structure of the sentences and writing correct before moving onto adding description and detail.

Maths -
We will focus the first half of the term on Statistics and then shift into Multiplication and Division.  We will continue to complete our daily MDR and Kerri will work on basic facts with the students on Mondays.

Reading -
This will continue to be a big focus in my planning, PD and classroom.  We will continue with the tasks and activities that I have implemented in the first term with the introduction of Book Club for the top 3 groups to get more discussion happening around literacy and text.

Weeks 6 & 7

I can't believe that we are already 7 weeks into the term!  It has flown by way too fast.
I now have all of my core programmes up and running.  The students seem to be really settling into routines and comfortable in their groups.
Maths -
I am currently running 5 groups for maths.  I have split my bottom group into two smaller groups because of the difference in abilities and this is working much better.  Studyladder is proving to be a great tool for follow up and extension activities for all levels.
Reading -
Currently in reading we do a variety of activities to improve both reading, comprehension and vocabulary understanding.  Students complete a reading strategy based activity, a vocab busting activity and a SRA weekly.  I will need to add in some extra activities now that swimming has finished and make sure that my top students are extended.  I think that I will begin Book Club for my top group to extend their reading ability and reflection on written texts.  Am hoping to start this after we return from camp.
Writing -
I have experimented with using my writing groups to brainstorm and plan their writing together.  For the top two groups this worked really well.  I worked with the bottom group to brainstorm and plan our their writing.  I have noticed that the students are writing narratives instead of recounst and not focusing on a moment in time.  I used a recount that I had written as an example and this really worked with showing exactly what I am wanting.  We also looked at writing in the correct tense, many of the students are mixing past and present with their writing and even within sentences.
Learning Spaces -
Trista and I have purchased some mosquito nets and bean bags to create extra learning spaces on our deck.  The students are loving being enclosed in the nets and are using them well.  We are planning to change the location of our bag hooks and convert the cloak bay into another learning space, with couches, bean bags etc.  This will be a fantastic additional to our classrooms.

Our learning spaces:

Four Weeks In...

Well we are now four weeks into term and it has started with a bang!
I have been lucky enough to keep my Year 5's from last year which has made a huge difference to the over all classroom management and expectations.  The Year 6's have become the 'go to people' of our classroom, helping the Year 5's adapt to the changes that they face in the middle school.
The Year 5's have found the first few weeks a different experience to what they are used to.  We are trying to develop independent, self directed and motivated learners.  They are slowly becoming more independent and this will continue to develop as the term goes on.
My testing is almost complete with only a few Year 6's to complete running records on.  It feels great to have started 'proper' teaching/learning groups and programme and the students are working extremely well and managing themselves in group situations.
I am looking forward to seeing the development of the students with specific group and class teaching.

ICOT 2013

I was lucky enough to spend the week before starting school in 2013 in Wellington with all of the NPS staff at ICOT.
What a fantastic experience, not only for the conference but also getting to know new staff.
Some of the key ideas that I came away from the conference are:

• Giving students the Independence to solve, know how and where to go to help solve
• When you teach, you are modelling, what it means to be an inspiring adult.
• Live who you really want to be.
• We need to light a fire with passion not with anger.  We need to ignite, not burn.
• Independence in students

Very thought provoking week, makes me want to better myself as a teacher, learner, facilitator to be the best that I can be and see my students be the best that they can be.

2013 'live it'!

Holiday Set up

Have spent the last two weeks popping in and out of school 'fluffing' with my classroom set up etc.
Am going to find the wide range of abilities in all areas a challenge and juggling act this year, want to keep it fun and interesting for all of the kids.  Making sure the tops are challenged and needs supported.
Week in Wellington for the ICOT next week then straight into Term 1!
Bring it on :)