Tuakana Teina

As part of our Maniakalani program I have enrolled our class into a group where we look at other schools blogs and they look at ours (leaving comments as we look).

My class went to a senior room to help us learn about commenting on blog posts
"Is it positive, is it helpful, is it thoughtful"

Making Playdough

We had an experience morning. We made playdough one Tuesday morning (to help our visit children feel excited and engaged at school). It gave our children who have been here awhile a chance to combine maths and reading.

On the Wednesday we wrote about it.

Buddy Reading

 Students are set up with a buddy to read with (they are done on ability ie: more able with someone not as strong).
 The students have to take turns reading each other a book from their reading folders.

Making fairy bread

Learning can be fun and hands on. Here is Room 5 making fairy bread to help learn about 1/2s. 

Whanau Hui

Whanau Hui is done at the end of everyday (Karakia, Whakataku, Waiata, Patai ie: Kei te pehea koe, Kupu).
Students are encouraged to lead this with support from the kaiako.

Slide show made and available.

Learning With and through our buddies

Here is a lesson learning about groupings within 5.  More able/confident students are put with those needing a bit more support.

 

Oral language activities

Conversation with Livvy Sheehan (other new entrant teacher) about improving students oral language.

We discussed how some of our students oral language was not strong. Some were unable to speak clearly, some cannot share their ideas. Some students comprehension is very low.

Idea:
Make Wednesday’s whanau hui into a wondering Wednesday. Ie; show a short video, share a news article or photo. Pose questions to the students to get them thinking and talking.
Sharing ideas = Think, pair, share. Doughnut circle.
Popsicle sticks = All names written on a popsicle stick. Can either make groups by drawing names out. Or that is how students are chosen to answer. Ie: instead of picking the same kids everytime.

Class Blog

Each week between my buddy teacher we ensure that our blog is updated weekly. I always include photos to keep it engaging and for parents to see what the kids are up to.

https://room56parkviewprimary.blogspot.co.nz/

Making Shapes with Playdough

Room 5 had fun making shapes with playdough today!

 

 

Shape lesson on the Court

 

Shape/Geometry
This lesson we went outside and had to find shapes on the court (that I had pre-drawn). We then each had our own piece of chalk and had to practice drawing shapes.
What a fun lesson!

Learning is Social - Inquiry Follow Up Activites

The students doing a follow up activity (for inquiry) independently. However it still involves their peers as they can talk about what they are doing as they sit by one another.  

Friday Discovery with other classes

  Taken from my class blog: Shows learning in a social setting. "Play" needs to be done in my class to allow children some down time from the demands of formal learning. 

On Friday we joined up with Room 1,2 and 3 for discovery.

In each of the classrooms different activities were offered. Rm 1 was craft. Rm 2 sponge painting, Rm 3 construction, Rm 5 dress ups and pretend play and Rm 6 had board games.

The children were able to choose where they wanted to be and then move freely between the spaces.

All the children enjoyed themselves (the teachers did to). It was a great opportunity for
the children to mix with others and learn in a fun way.  


 

Ability Grouped

Children are ability grouped for writing, reading and maths.
Groups are reviewed in our own class continually. We haven't been swapping between classes Term 2 due to report writing.

Sharing weekend news

Sharing our weekend news.
x1 minute each = taking turns to talk

Helping each other at writing

This photo was taken at writing time. Those children who can manage themselves chose where they work. Each child draws their own picture and writes their sentences underneath.

I encourage the children to help one another
"When you have found the word the show the other people at your group"
"Help ..... find the letter on their card".

Continuing to do this each lesson has lead me to hear children naturally helping others. I hear conversations such as
"Here it is"
The children singing the alphabet to help find the letter on the word card.

I have found that by sometimes manipulating the seating
Ie: putting the talkers at my chosen spots for the session can help to allow tuakana-teina.