Term 3 Reflections

Term 3 
Reflections and PD

This term our class has been busy getting organised for PrEP by making ginger beer and doing baking. We were lucky enough to have parents come in and help the children with the making of chocolate chip biscuits and truffles. Our parent helpers are a god send as without them it would be quite challenging to organise 47 children with 2 teachers to get all the making done in the time available.

On top of PrEP we have had our Gymnastics festival and Cross Country. Our children have to prepare for these by practicing their gymnastic routines over at the hall and also running each day - and we still have to do the core subjects - reading, writing and maths. It was no wonder our children were all exhausted by the end of term.

In Writing we have started  peer writing programme to help with spelling, punctuation, getting words on paper and working together. We are only a few weeks into the programme as it takes a lot of setting up. We have had the help of our RTLB lady in implementing this programme with the hope it will help our challenging few. Chris and I went to observe the programme at another school and decided we would give it a try. We have had to change and adapt it to our particular needs. In the first few weeks it felt like bedlam and we had to change a number of tutor/tutees as they were not working together. Already we have noticed the increase of correct punctuation and spelling and our focus will be back on content which seems to have slipped. We think we have the right mix now of tutor/tutees and look forward to the beginning of the next term and continuing with it for another four weeks.  

Our Maths focus for the term has been number and fractions. We have been revisiting our strategies in addition and subtraction and learning new ones. I have had a big focus on number of the day with place value being the main focus. It is interesting that the children who are still working at Stage 3 are struggling with this - I wonder if it is too much for them and that they are not really ready for this concept yet - but they must know it (mmm????).  

Our Reading focus has been understanding the text and this will continue next term. We are working on going back to the text to find the answers - quite a challenge for some. We have started Reading Eggs in our Junior classes this term and the children are enjoying the activities on here more so than other reading online programmes we are involved with.

At the start of Spring we visited the daffodils across the road at the Hurst's. The children had to sit on their own and sketch the daffodils. They did four sketches each taking a little longer to do. The children then made a stencil and did rubbings. They then wrote a poem using a noun, saying what it was doing and then activating the noun. We got some fabulous pieces of writing for both the daffodils and fire.

The class also painted daffodils. They only had green,yellow, orange and white to use and we ended up with some lovely pictures to display. It is interesting to watch children using the paint and getting it on the paper thickly. Lots more work needed using paint.

We have looked at Fire Safety this term and presented a dance and song to the whole school at assembly when we completed our unit. We learnt about getting down and keep low if a fire happens in our house and talking with their families about a safe meeting point.

PD

This term Chris and I visited another school to observe and implement our Peer Tutor Writing Programme. It was good to see it in practice and working well.

We have worked through the ELL programme on line. We both thought that what we learned on this site we were doing for our ELL in our class. As a school we are now doing the JOST when new ELL students arrive and then have a TA working with the children in areas that need developed. 

Our school is involved with two other schools working to combine our resources and teacher strengths to improve student agency. Student Agency is our school inquiry and we have worked with the other schools to develop 'I Can' statements in reading and writing for students to follow. I can see student agency working well in the senior part of the school as students are able to read and assess where they are going quite easily. In the junior part of the school I think it is going to be a little more challenging. A lot of our 'I can' is verbal and giving children a sheet with where they are heading to when they can't read yet will be interesting.

Term 2 2014

This term has been a short term and trying to cram everything in has been a mission. 

Our numbers were getting quite high and with our new class being completed and the seniors moving into it we have moved our New Entrants and most Year 1's into the hub.This has enabled us to have 2 teachers in the 2 classrooms. The noise level has decreased but it is a pity as it defeats the purpose of keeping all the Juniors together - our NE and Year 1's do not see what is expected of them as they progress through the class. 

We have changed our programme a number of times in Whare Iti trying to ensure we cover everything. The children are all very adaptable and enjoy the change. We are still moving students between our 2 classes and it is great that children are able to work with others at their level.

We have now included our Handwriting into our Reading time and children have the choice of when they do this. We are looking at changing our Spelling Programme again as we seem to run out of time to do and we are not seeing any improvement in the children's writing.

Our focus for the term in writing has been Fairytales. We have looked at characters, settings, time connectives, adjectives and verbs used. It has been a fabulous term of writing and we completed it with our giant footsteps in the classroom. 

Giant Footsteps that were in our class when we arrived one morning.
How did they get there?

In Maths we have been working on Measurement, Geometry and Number. Most children are able to use a ruler correctly now which is great. We have looked at 2D shapes and their properties and continue with 3D at the beginning of next term.

We have had Technology Challenge up at Waitaki Valley School again this year. It is wonderful to watch the older students taking the lead in their groups. 

Our speech competition was held in the second last week of term. The Year 1 and 2 children recited poems. There was some varied results but all children got up and said their poem which was fabulous.

In topic the class has been looking at Food and what is available here and overseas. We also start PrEP which continues in term 3. We are having a Cafe on Market Day and are making Ginger Beer and  baking to sell at it. 

I have discontinued one child off Reading Recovery with pleasing results. I am starting another child at the beginning of the term and hope to have another finished by the middle of next term. 

It has been a changeable term with us teachers trying to get the right mix that will work for us. I look forward to next term and keeping our programme the same. We may find other challenges with calving in full swing and tired children.

Term One 2014

What a fantastic term we have had in our new class of NE to Year 3. It has been a huge learning curve and adjustment for all concerned - teachers and students. Working in a confined space with 3 classes and teachers is challenging at times - not your own class or space. The noise level is quite loud sometimes but the children are adjusting to the numbers and learning to keep their voices low. Children are working collaboratively with each other with the Year 3 students taking on the role of leaders with ease - it is fabulous to see them working with and helping the younger students. We are lucky to have parent helpers come in to our class at literacy time and all children are reading most days with an adult.

Our classes are mixed. It is fantastic for all children as they are working with children of the same abilities in maths, reading and writing. The children are moving with ease between teachers in all these areas.

We are using Joy Allcocks Spelling Programme in our Year 2 and 3 classes to increase our children's awareness of language and spelling and hopefully transfer this to their writing.

This term in topics the class has looked at 'What makes our community special' and 'How can we bring the Buzz back to our community'. This is my Reading Recovery time so I miss out on these areas but it is fantastic to see and hear all the students are learning. I know there was concern that our topic would not stretch our older children but this has not been the case as they are the ones who are doing more research at home - finding out new and interesting facts  and bringing it back to school to share with all. 

We have looked at our reporting for our Junior Classes and  are changing to reporting 6 monthly and at the anniversary of their birthday. This will mean we are essentially reporting all through the year and will need to ensure we are a lot more organised. 

I am enjoying the challenge of working in our combined class and know by the end of the year as our numbers increase it will become more of a challenge for space.

I am finishing may Children's Lit papers this year and will be keeping busy in all my 'spare time' getting my assignments completed.