Camera

The children take all the photos themselves and they are getting very good at it. They have learnt how to hold the camera when they are carrying it and using it. We have looked at the angle to hold the camera when taking a photo. Holding it portait, up and down, is good only when the photos are for our art in the classroom. But if we want to make a Photo Story, landscape, long ways and the normal way a camera is held, is best. This is because we don't want to have to fiddle around with changing the picture around when we are making the Photo Story.

The children are also learning to save all their own work into their own school folder, how to transfer photos into their own folders and how to make a Photo Story. The stories you can see on the blog has had plenty of teacher input but these children are quick learners! I am looking forward to when they can do it all themselves!

Skyline Walk 25 February. Rooms 16, 17, 23 and24

Homework

Reading: The children will bring home each night a book to read. Each child will need a bookbag. This is an important part of our reading programme.

Spelling: The children will have 6 words in their homework book to learn each week this term. They are to write a sentence for each word into their homework book.

Maths: This will start to come home after Outdoor Education.

Oral Language: Each week a child will present to the class all about themselves.
Week 4: Hugo, Petra, and Lachlan
Week 6: Ruben, Britta and Hanna
Week 7: Lexi and Matthew
Week 8: Katelynd, Frederick, Joshua and Kent
Week 9: Cole, Tyra, Kane and Ami
Week 10: Paris, Isabella and Colin

Maths

This link takes you to NZ Maths Families. Help and support for you at home:
http://www.nzmaths.co.nz/families/index.aspx

Wicked Maths: http://www.tki.org.nz/r/wick_ed/homework_help/maths/

Interactive maths activities: http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/maths/intermathsindex.html

English Online

I really enjoy this site and will be using the student area in the classroom. If you would like to use it or just have a look at home here is the link.

http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz/resources/students.html

Oral Language

As part of the Oral Language programme each week a group of children have a turn at being the 'Star Students' for the week. They get to present to the class all about themselves. This week it was Kiky, Ashley Thomas and Samantha's turn.

Tony's Visit

Challenge Ourselves!

This term we are looking at 'Challenging Ourselves.' We want to have a 'can do' attitude towards everything we do. We have started by setting our own term goals using the 'Pizza Smarts':
Word Smart: Reading, writing, talking and listening goals.
Number Smarts: Maths goals.
Picture Smarts: Art goals.
Body Smarts: Acting on doing it and getting a gut feeling.
Music Smarts: Music goal.
People Smarts: Working with others.
Self Smarts: Think about it and connect it to your own life.

The Ministry of Education is implementing the 'Key Competencies' into the new curriculum. The Key Competency we are looking at this term is 'Managing Ourselves'. Our class treaty reflects how we know when we are managing ourselves in our classroom:
"I know when I am managing myself when I am looking and listening to the teacher."
"When I am working quietly."
"When I know what to do."
"When I am a good friend."
"When I look after my classroom."

Lexi's Dad, Tony, visited our classroom and talked to us all about his challenges and his 'can do' attitude towards his challeges. He had a lot of really fantastic motivational ideas for us to think about. Kane and Hugo took photos while Tony was talking. See the PhotoStory. Thanks Tony! We would welcome any of our class parents to come in and share how they have challenged themselves. Please reply to this blog.