A staff meeting with a difference

The architect came back and presented two different plans for incorporating the special needs unit in a new position within the school. These plans prompted a lot of discussion and have been displayed in the staff room for our feedback, both plans have pro's con's and interesting points which will make it very interesting to see which plan comes to the front.

Mapping and location

Mathematical lessons in Ruma Manuka 

As part of the geometry and measurement strand in Manuka we investigated mapping and locating after a lesson from our curriculum texts to introduce the strand at their respective stages. Students explored and viewed the pathway that they would take to travel from their own house to James Street School, discussing what locational points they would pass on the way. 

The following day for the next lesson students viewed and discussed how to find locations on a local street view map with grids and coordinate markings. Students needed to locate their place of residence and provide the grid coordinate for their location and successfully locate this on a local map. 

We then progressed on to extend this lesson by using our local map to locate landmarks and facilities and discussed how we could get from a point A i.e. their home to point B landmark/facility.      

Teachings in Rata and Tawa

Rainbow fish

While working in Ruma Rata and later in Tawa at James Street School I wanted to include lessons that incorporated the strengths of the James Street School PB4L growing great learner’s programme; we are Proud, we are Respectful, we are Safe.

 After discussion with my AT and following her suggestions I selected Rainbow fish written by Marcus Pfister an awesome junior shared book with great messages easily linked to the PB4L programme. After reading the shared book to the class, children participated in discussion and brain storm about what they thought made a good friend these were recorded on the white board at the teaching station suggestions from both classes included choosing who is good to play with, being nice and kind, greeting others by saying hello, hi, good morning, kia ora, sharing our time and things, be good to make friends, help people when they are hurt or sad, ask others to join in. (here would have been a good opportunity to extend and involve children in a more in-depth discussion about why these suggestions make for good friendship tips and to think about what actions they are using to show this) overall I wanted these lessons to improve children’s thinking about their relationships with in the classroom and further out to the playground.  

 

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Developing my Learning

A great and informative teacher only day,

A lot of learning going on and some hair pulling :( but I have managed to keep up and develop some new knowledge of blogging :) 

Community breakfast

What a great day for an early start, with the sun shining we served a hearty breakfast to our tamariki  and whanau