Personal Experience Writing

We are learning to:   Use a Red Thinking Hat idea to begin our stories.

Joni's story uses a variety of interesting language features including Red Thinking Hat idea to begin:

I felt like a dog that couldn't swim last week during the Aquathlon.  "On your marks, Get set, Go!"  Zoom!  Off we went like a rocket zooming off into space.  I felt the wind on my face.  I was in lead!  But when I heaved myself into the water I started to panic.  My eyes bulged like two balls popping.  I felt like stone.  I had to keep going.  I couldn't stop.  It would be too embarrassing.  I hoisted myself up out of the water and ran into the scorching sun.  I ran round the field twice.  When I stopped I was so puffed that I just about couldn't breathe.  Then it was time to call out the names and GUESS WHAT?!  I came third!  I had a fabulous day!

Here are some of our story beginnings.  Do they make you want to read more?

I felt nervous when I was at the front of the line of the waterslide but I gave it a go. Kylie

Every day feels exciting because I am getting two guinea pigs for me and Jamie.

Alice

When I hopped off the water slide I felt dizzy.

Kobie

Icy cold water.  Oh no!  It's my turn on the water slide.  I felt like a frog going down the water slide.

Thom

It felt easy when I ran but when I hopped in the pool I felt like an ice cube.

Scarlett

When I went on the water slide I felt frightened because it was so so bumpy.

Coco

I felt petrified on the water slide as I zoomed down because it was a long way down.

Jack

I felt cold at the Aquathlon because I had no t-shirt on.  My brain was hurting because it was moving in my head.  I was exhausted.

Nic

Our Aquathlon was legendary because it was easy.

Dannii

When we arrived at the Aquathlon I felt nervous because it was a really hot day and I thought that I could not do it.

Amy

What a bunch of talented writers!

Week 6

This week the main concepts we are learning are to:

• Use a Red Thinking Hat idea (feeling) to begin a story.
• Use Past Knowledge of a topic to build new learning in our reading.
• Understand sounds of letters and parts of words in order to read and write unknown words.
• Write a personal blog.
• Identify how we deal with conflict.
• Use known basic facts and understanding of Place Value to solve addition and subtraction problems.
• Form letters and numbers correctly.
• Play a simple musical instrument.
• Publish a piece of work on a Word Document and save it to a personal file.
• Rescue a person in the water.
• Swim freestyle and backstroke.

We are also exploring various ways to complete work and discovering how we learn best.  For example, we might be most comfortable lying on the floor with a bean cushion to write, or it may be better to stand at a high table.  Some people enjoy sitting on a couch or sitting at a regular desk.  The desk may be isolated or in a group.  We might prefer to kneel at a low table.  Ask your child where they prefer to work.  Next week we will consider other aspects of learning styles such as light/dark; noisy or quiet.

Check out children working in many different spaces today!

Standing table

Kneeling table

Floor or desk

alone or together?

on the couch

Year 2 & 3 Aquathlon

Well done everyone!  Mrs Foley and I were most impressed with the enthusiasm, dedication and persistence of all our Year 2 & 3 children in our first ever Aquathlon. You were so brave in that freezing cold water and we are very proud of you all.  Here are the results:

Year 3 Boys

1. Max Thornton
2. Sebastian Webby
3. Nicholas Frost

Year 3 Girls

1. Scarlett Nilsson
2. Milla Stack
3. Joni Uytendaal

Year 2 Boys

1. Gus Thornton
2. Bruno Moriarity
3. George Clarke

Year 2 Girls

1. Lydia Burns
2. Neve Ward
3. Amelia Dowling

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Week 5

Mathletics

Thanks to the 3 people who have accessed Mathletics.  As this is a free trial it is important that you do have a look soon because I will need to know whether people want to sign up to the long term programme.  

Study Ladder and Reading Eggs

Continue to use these great learning sites to enhance your child's progress.  The children love using them......particularly Study Ladder.  There is a huge variety of activities and great rewards.  Keep up the good work.

Poems

Our poetry publications are almost complete so look out for these wonderful creations hanging up later in the week.  Children have worked very hard to complete this tricky exercise.

Friday Sports Event

It was originally planned for a swimming demonstration with races for Year 3.  However, after watching the seniors complete the triathlon last Wednesday the children became so excited that we have decided to hold a duathlon for Year 2 & 3 instead.  A more detailed note will come out later in the week but if you plan to watch it will definitely be before lunch - around 11am (possibly changed morning tea time).

Also on Friday morning is a Hip Hop demonstration by the local club in which children will be able to participate.

Testing

There will be 3 formal tests held this week.  Reading, Listening and Maths.  It is an introduction to this type of testing for these children.

Worm Farm

Some children chose to explore creating a worm farm at Discovery Time last week.  Some errors occurred but was an excellent learning activity for them.  We now have a worm farm in our classroom.  Thanks to Mrs Foley for arranging the opportunity.

Parent-Teacher Interviews

Please note - there is a change of dates and times.  Now Tuesday and Wednesday - 18/19 March.

Mathletics

We are registered for a free trail of Mathletics.  Please use this within the next couple of weeks as I will be asking for parents' viewpoints about whether you wish to continue with Mathletics.  There will be a charge to continue.  More information to follow.  In the meantime, your child will come home with a username and password today - glued in their homework book.  Happy Maths learning!!

Week 4

It feels like we're on holiday again!  Spending a Friday at the beach enjoying the best of Hawkes Bay weather,  combined with a scorching Art Deco weekend makes it difficult to think about school again!  Thanks to all those parents who helped out and made this day special for the children.  But it actually didn't take long to start thinking about poetry and using wonderful, rich language to describe our experiences.

We wrote some interesting 'Haiku' poems last week.  These traditional Japanese poems are based on nature.  They are written in 3 lines  and are structured around syllables.  
Line 1 = 5 syllables; Line 2 = 7 syllables; Line 3 = 5 syllables.  It is tricky and requires lots of persistence to get it just right.  Well done to those children who have completed their poem using the correct structure, and to those who have work in progress.  Good things take time! Read a few and count the syllables.

Chicken

Chicken walking fast

Chicken laying yummy eggs
Fluffy brown feathers

                                   By Cullen

 Owl

Owl screeches and squawks

Owls like eating crunchy food

Eyes glow in the dark

By Milla

Stinging Nettle

Stinging Nettle stings
And hurts because it just does
Pricks like a needle

By Coco

We will continue writing haiku poems this week and begin to publish them.

Take a look at the new website link to Poetry Box.  There are plenty of ideas for poetry writing on here, along with a challenge to write poetry using adjectives like Margaret Mahy!

Maths

We will continue learning about Place Value and ordering numbers from smallest to largest, Number Bonds to 100, and completing number patterns.

Remember to check out the wealth of resources on NZ Maths for Families for activities to help your child.  Also check out the Mathletics site this week.  Look for the Mathletics page to the right of this post.

Swimming

Keep bringing those togs.  Some children have earned another certificate last week.  Let's see who else can gain some new skills this week and complete the Herring certificate.  They will be presented at the Junior Syndicate Assembly on Friday afternoon.

Have a great week everyone.  Remember.......Persistence is the key to achieving tricky goals.  Keep working on it - even when it's difficult - and you will feel proud of yourself.