Episode 2: Know Your Learners as Readers (Not pithy this time, or do these brackets make it so?)

How to make you want to engage? 

Try and find the hidden link to an amazing (subjective) easter egg.

Learning occurred and knowledge increased. 

The consistent delivery of valuable tools continues when you are part of the Manaiakalani crew. Today was no different. Despite my hectic 3 weeks since last visiting the meet zone I was able to take a lot from the session.

Dorothy came and visited us from Kūotuna sharing the sun and the beautiful bush, along with the usual mic drop wisdom that comes from a passion to improve and do the best for her educatees. I am looking forward to delving into the podcast world.

The discussion of those blessed standardized test and how they are standard for those who are standard was deep and felt like a similar page across the group. The work book offered a one stop shop to store and use important information for our tamariki and their movement forward.

I must say I appreciate the practical aspects and tools we can use for our selves. Keep it all relevant I say. We looked at intentions and relating them to curriculum. Making it easy for students ot respond and unpack these so they know what they are doing. The task board is similar to a tool I use around agency. Again it is a task that I will do and then use with my group, how good! In progress e.g.

I am looking forward to catching up with my mentor to discuss and look into these things deeply to check I am as understanding as I think I am. I may be wishfully thinking that I am on the right track.

Agency e.g.

(The image illustrates that he used to have friends but now they are enemies. So maybe not as amazing as I sold., possibly a waste of your precious time, sorry)

The Great Brighton Skip

This month we have been Jumping into June as we build to our big jump day. We went into the community and took advantage of some of the cool places New Brighton has. Team Tahi got to jump at the playground which gave us lots of different things we could jump on. Our jumping has improved and we are feeling fitter. The next big adventure is on Thursday afternoon where the school will spend the afternoon jumping for our Jump Rope day.

 

Learning about life in the time of Jesus

This term we are learning about who Jesus was.

We have learned about the clothing that people wore in the time Jesus was in Israel. 

We also learned about the geography of Israel compared to New Zealand.

This week we learned about Herod's Temple in Jerusalem.

We talked about how the temple was similar and different to our church St Mary's.

Some people then created their own temple in Minecraft and others made a cardboard and paper version. We are still working on these, but here are some progress photos:

Year 5s Chat with Google!

Last Friday while the Year 6s were at Dancing Like the Stars the Year 5s had a virtual visit with staff from Google.

Steve, Lauren and Paola introduced themselves to us and talked about how they came to work for Google. What they studied at school and university and what their jobs involve now. We watched a video of what the offices are like at Google in Australia and what a day might look like for staff who work there. 

It was really interesting to hear about how you could include your interests like art and music with technology to create new things that people all over the world can use. 

The week before our visit we learned about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how we can "teach" our devices to "look" at pictures and then "know" what they are. We taught our chromebooks to tell the difference between a flower and a hamburger!

The last part of the Google Meet was our turn to ask questions. We were very interested in whether children can work at Google, who owns Google, if you can create things like food with technology, 

The best advice that we got was to give everything a go and to explore things as much as we can. Be curious and try new things. 

There might be a few more of us now that have been inspired by the possibilities of working with technology to create new and exciting jobs and opportunities in our futures!

Edited to add: We had a parcel arrive from Google! They sent us stickers, magazines and cool green sunglasses. How lucky were we??!!

Music through the Years

 The 60's 

This term we have been learning about music and how it has changed through the years. Here is Tristan's work on cds.

Here Tristan is working on 

the positives negatives and some facts about cds. cds were really popular in the early 2000s.

He has some at home and sometimes listens to them on a CD player. He is a fan of rock, and his brother makes him listen to Linkin Park.

What way do you listen to music?

Term 2 Happenings

Kia ora Whānau, 

Check out our class newsletter for Term 2!

This is where we can see what is coming up in the new term.  

Click this link to read all about it. 

Ground control to Mr Gray

 This week we started to look at space with some rocket research...

The experiment by Mr Gray was a bit of a fail which allowed us to think of ways we could improve!

We were given a template and could use it or not to create a rocket that would fly using straw power.

The three groups that pushed the limits were:

Monty, Jacob and Liam took third place. They were pipped at the post by Aleigha and Laylah who took out second place.

The team of Jamie and Jack had the furtherest flyer.

Reid went home and showed how it should be done!