Week Three - Maths Week and Library Fun!

Kia ora parents, whanau and caregivers,

This has been a wonderful and enjoyable week of learning.  This week is the national New Zealand Maths Week and the students have been able to take part in some national competitions on Mathletics and also complete some interesting maths activities!  The students showed a great interest in the activities and completed them to a very high standard.  Please see the images below to see some of their completed work:

Thank you all for your support around our individualised spelling programme and the completion of the students homework, their spelling is already showing good improvements!


Nga mihi,

Nicholas Shimasaki

Week Two - Geometry, Inquiring About Ourselves as Learners and Art

Kia ora e te whanau,

Welcome back for Week 2!  With the cold and wet weather this week seems as though it has gone very quickly!  Even though the wet weather has meant that the students have spent a little more time inside than usual, they have used this time well to improve their skills in both art and crafts!

Strand maths this week saw us continue with our study of Geometry!  Last week the students showed a really great interest in their study of shapes.  This week in Geometry the students have moved on from identifying shapes, their corners and their sides and are now examining symmetry and rotational symmetry.  Strand maths has given Room 7 some authentic opportunities to be able to incorporate technology and crafts into our study of shapes.  See the photos of our Pic Collages below!

In Inquiry the students have been trying hard to complete a Pic Collage relating to themselves and how they fit within their cultures, communities, schools, and whanau.  I have been very impressed with the quality of work which has been completed.  The photos below are some examples of the students Inquiry work!

In Art the students have been working on completing art for their whanau to have the option of purchasing in the format of a calendar or diary.  The students are working hard to impress their whanau with this artwork and these should be completed by the end of the week!

Finally, those students who completed all of their Home Learning Challenges last term and who completed them to an exceptionally high standard were selected to join Ms. Smith for a morning tea in the staffroom.  They were very excited and took some photos to share with the rest of Room 7.  

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog and I wish you all a safe and relaxing weekend!

Nga mihi,

Nicholas Shimasaki

Week One - Start of Term 3 and the Second Half of the Year!

Kia ora e te whanau,

It is great to have all of the students back at school and to see so many smiling faces!  I hope that you have all had a restful and rewarding break and have had the opportunity to spend time with friends and whanau.  In these cold winter months it has been wonderful to have some really sunny days to welcome the students back to school!

This term is going to be a very rewarding term for the students.  In Writing the students will be discovering and working with narratives, in Mathematics the students will be considering shape, symmetry and tessellation alongside multiplication and division, and in Inquiry we are looking at our different cultures and whanau and learning more about ourselves.  

The students are already showing great focus and dedication to their work, and have settled back in well to the routines of school.  

As many of you will already know the homework has changed slightly.  Rather than learning the spelling words on the homework sheet, the students now have a spelling notebook filled with words which they spelled incorrectly in our spelling test.  The homework also now includes mathematics work and will get progressively more difficult as the term progresses.

The children were very positive to begin Reading lessons again and have shown some great teamwork when reading and playing reading games.

Thank you for your ongoing support,

Nick Shimasaki

Week Ten - Gold Awards, Student Led Conferences and Holidays!

Term 2 has been an amazing term for student achievement.  The students have put in a lot of hard work and a concerted effort towards achieving their Term 1 goals.   A large number of students in Room 7 met those goals, and are now tracking towards new goals for Terms 3 and 4. 

I have been so impressed with Room 7 and the progress which they are making in Literacy, in particular with regard to their Reading.  In Terms 3 and 4 I would like to encourage the students to make an even more concentrated effort towards improving in Spelling and Writing.

I have been most impressed with the work which the students have completed around Inquiry and the extra knowledge which they have taken home about how they can save power.  The students are energy saving stars and already I am hearing stories of students practising the knowledge which they have learned at home!

As I am writing this entry for the blog we have almost completed all of our student led conferences in Room 7.  This time has been a great opportunity to catch up with whanau and caregivers to celebrate the learning of their tamariki and look at how we can continue to develop their successes moving forwards.

Bringing a close to this term is the Gold Award Celebration.  This is a time where the students can reflect on the learning of the term and consider the things they might revise or do differently in Term 3.  One lucky Room 7 student will be receiving the prestigious Principles Gold Award and Room 7 will get to share some of their amazing work which they have done over the last month.

Finally, thank you for the great response with returning the Learning Journals.  It has been great to have such a quick turn around and the children have been ecstatic to receive their 5 house points and a sticker for being so prompt!

Below are some photos of this weeks Reading and also our GoNoodle inside fitness.  The students have worked so hard with their fitness that they have actually levelled up our GoNoodle monster!

Nga mihi,

Nicholas Shimasaki

  

Week Nine - Cold Weather, Inside Play and the Amazing GoNoodle!

Kia ora Room 7 whanau and friends,

As the weather continues to get colder and colder and as we get into the real depths of winter, the students are spending more and more time inside, but Room 7 has a cunning plan to combat the winter blues!  We are writing poems about winter and our favourite things about it!  We are also keeping our feet moving and blood pumping through some amazing inside fitness with GoNoodle.  Having practised GoNoodle with the children on a number occasions, I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of this tool in fitness I was puffed!  Our amazingly fit tamariki have made huge gains in their fitness and are certainly showing me up with their dancing skills!  I am sure that if you ask the tamariki about the 'Bones' or 'Disco Brain' dance they will be able to show you a couple of the moves! 

Keeping in tune with this winter theme within Inquiry this week the students have been looking at different ways which they can save electricity and keep warm and snug during the colder months!  The students have learned about the importance of curtains and insulation to keep warm!  Our tamariki have made some great posters to share with the rest of Linwood North School about what they have learned.  Thankfully, these amazing posters begin their journey in Room 7 and are currently brightening up our Inquiry wall.

Thank you to all of those caregivers and whanau who have booked a time for the learning conferences in the final week of Term 2.  It is a great opportunity for the students to share their successes from Term 1 and 2 and to look forwards to the goals they want to achieve in Terms 3 and 4.  If you would like a booking these are available online with a link and instructions having been posted on the Linwood North School Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can pop into Room 7 and see me and I can book you in.

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend, I look forwards to seeing you all again next week!

Nga mihi,

Nick

Week Eight - Inquiry and a Change in Timetable

Kia ora whanau and caregivers,

This week has been an awesome week for change.  The students have taken the amendments in the timetable well and are really enjoying the changes in timetable which allow for different times to consume their sandwiches and water.   Being hydrated is so important, not only for the wellbeing of our tamariki, but also to ensure that their brain is in its optimum state for learning.  The students were all very grateful for the drink bottles which were given to them and are now using them quite sensibly in class.  

This week has been an action packed week for Inquiry also.  We have had a really good opportunity to consolidate all of the knowledge which we have been learning during Term 2.  The students will all have some great energy saving tips that they can take home and share with you!  

See below for some of our energy saving work!

Nga mihi,

Nicholas Shimasaki

Week Seven - Noel Leeming and the Mobile Learning Centre

This week saw Noel Leeming and their Mobile Learning Centre come through the classes at Linwood North School.  It was a very interesting opportunity for myself and the children.  We got to interact with some wonderful devices which have opened up the world of technology for us.  These devices included; virtual reality headsets, innovative iPad and Android apps and games, a programable robot and also a 3D printer!

The students loved these opportunities and took great advantage off them asking some great questions and really showing their pre-existing knowledge around ICT.

Below is a photo of one of our students laughing and enjoying the spelling iPad app!

Week Six - Short Week

This week was a short week due to Queens Birthday and the Staff Only Day however, the students made great attempts to continue with their school work despite the disruptions.  All credit goes to the students for their hard-work and determination in getting down to work, and keeping up the momentum!

In Mathematics we have been practicing our Hotspot of skip counting and basic facts, during the group parts of our sessions we have been focusing on strategies to use when adding and subtracting multiple numbers.  The students are following up the group sessions with reinforcement work around place value, something which almost the entire class showed we needed a focus on when we completed the Measurement (Money) component of our maths unit.

Within writing the children are showing a much better understanding of Explanations.  The topics we have written on this week include explaining what our favourite TV show is, and why, and also why it is important to keep warm in the winter.  The latter of the two topics ties in well with our inquiry topic which is 'Sustainability and Energy'.

Despite the dark and gloomy weather outside, Room 7 continues to produce some excellent student work which we are proud to have up on the walls.  The students are all working very hard to achieve and are making great progress!

A real focus on the integration of e-learning devices has begun this term so please, if you have your own device bring it along as we will be using them a lot in class!

Have a great weekend and keep warm during the cold winter days!

Nga mihi,

Nick Shimasaki

Week Five - Art, Numeracy, and Close Reading of Texts

Kia ora,

I hope that everyone has had a relaxing long weekend and has had an opportunity to rest and relax!  Last week was an action packed and interesting week filled with fun learning activities for the akonga.  There were a number of birthday celebrations last week and the weekend prior including; Ayden and Danica's birthdays.  On Friday we were very lucky enough to get to celebrate with Danica and her whanau with a special birthday cake!

In Art we completed our sunset silhouettes this week.  The students did a great job of blending colours and practicing the different ways which we can utilise the brushes to give different textures.  For those students that finished, or were waiting for it to dry, they got to design a new Class Dojo avatar which they will be painting later this term.   

Inquiry proved to be very interesting this week.  From the questions which the students developed in our explanation session in the previous weeks we were able to really hone in on questions which the children had on electricity and energy.  One interesting question was "where does electricity come from and how does it get to our devices"?  To answer this we looked at how electricity is created, how it is transferred and what devices actually use electricity in the first place!

The students showed self-direction and self-management with this task, identifying and colouring in those things which use electricity.  

Maths this week saw the students developing strategies to work with addition and subtraction problems, and also saw some groups developing their knowledge around place value.

Enjoy the final two days of the long weekend and relax as much as possible!  I look forwards to seeing Room 7 and their whanau on Wednesday.

Nga mihi,

Nick Shimasaki 

Week Four - A Settled Week and Regular Timetable

For the first time in a little while, Room 7 and the Karawha block has had no extra-curricular activities on during the week where we have had to leave the school.  This has meant that the week has been much more settled, and has allowed us to really focus on the students furthering their understanding of literacy and numeracy concepts.   

In reading, the students have been focusing on individual and group targets to further their personal understandings of their texts.  At the moment, we are reading two books per student, per week, and the reasoning behind this is to give the students, not only confidence in their decoding of unfamiliar words, but to make sure that their understanding of print, and concepts of print are really honed in on.     The students really are showing promise with their work!

In writing, the students are further developing their knowledge of Explanations and how they differ from Recounts.  This week was really a week of differentiation, looking at how they were different to how we had been writing, and what made up an Explanation.  The students have worked hard to craft explanations in their writing groups of 'Why it is Important in New Zealand to Know how to Swim'.  Their arguments/reasons are very compelling and I am surely convinced of its importance!

In mathematics the students are working back with their dedicated maths groups rather than the groups which were constructed for our exploration of money.  The students are enjoying this return to normality and we have seen some real successes in Room 7 with Kolby and Govind both winning awards on mathletics!

Te Reo, P.E., Inquiry, and Art are all also showing promise.  The students are greatly enjoying our focuses of; feelings in Te Reo, Energy and Sustainability in Inquiry, invasion games in P.E., and painting in Art.

Thank you again to all Room 7 caregivers and whanau for your ongoing support.

Nga mihi,

Nicholas Shimasaki

Week Three - Back to Regularity and the Trip to St Chads

This week gave the students an opportunity to return to the regular timetable and the expected events of school.  Now that swimming has finished for Term 2 we have moved into our full reading interchange.  The children are settling back into this routine well and are enjoying the ability to take home books again.

This week these students were very lucky.  They got to experience another special play put on at St Chads.  All of the students in Room 7 represented Linwood North School well as we traveled to and from the venue.  This play  contained an interesting set of messages and challenged the akonga to read for enjoyment!

Below are some photos from the event:

In Week Three we have consolidated our knowledge of money.  The students have shown great movement even in just the short time period of three weeks.  The students in Room 7 can identify all New Zealand coins and notes and many of the students are feel confident in adding small amounts together.  Some students have even challenged themselves and practiced buying and selling classroom resources (like pens, erasers, and pencils) with pretend money!   

In literacy, the students have began working on explanation writing.  The writing this week centred around explaining why it is so important to learn to swim - something which all of the akonga should now be very familiar with!  The students have put in some hard work and I am sure that by the end of the week we will have some amazing and encouraging reasons from Room 7 to learn to swim.

I all Room 7 caregivers, whanau, and students have a wonderful weekend!


Nga mihi,

Nick Shimasaki

Week Two - Swimming and the Principles Challenge

The last two weeks have been absolutely action packed!  The children have been making a huge effort with their swimming, and have made huge gains in their confidence and skills.  It was absolutely awesome to see so many friendly caregivers and whanau taking the time to come to Aqua Gym and support their tamariki!  

This weekend will provide a great opportunity for all Room 7 akonga to recuperate from the change in pace that swimming caused, and to get some well deserved rest.   

In week two we continued our focus on money during our strand maths time.  In their ability groups the students worked closely with me to further their knowledge of monetary identification, addition, and subtraction.  Although we have made a good amount of progress within the past two weeks, next week will also be committed to furthering this knowledge, as it is so important and transferable within the realm of mathematics.  

In literacy, the students have now completed their study of recounts (a style of writing where they are required to recount an event or story).  This culminated with the completion of a recount on the story 'Where the Wild Things Are'.  The students put in some hard work across the week and they have completed some very good pieces of work.  Week three will see Room 7 moving on to explanation writing and will involve the students completing activities and explaining the processes behind it.

Below are some photos from Aqua Gym this week:

Week One - Return to School and Swimming!

Firstly, let me welcome everyone back to Term 2!

This term we have hit the ground running!  From day one the students were practicing their swimming at Aqua Gym and have since shown their aptitude in the water!  It has been a very fun week but also tiring as I'm sure the children have explained as there is so much on!  

In strand maths, we began looking this week at Money.  The students began by completing a pre-test to give us an idea of where they are at with their learning regarding this topic, and they have since been grouped so we can target their learning needs as closely as possible.  This has been an interesting and enjoyable segment of maths to look at with the children as it has a 'real' element to it where the children can use the mathematical skill on a daily basis.

With swimming the timetable has had to change slightly.  Within our literacy time we have began to consolidate our knowledge of Recounts so that we can move on to our next focus, explanations.  The students are showing their aptitude in this area and are currently working hard to complete a recount relating to the characters of Ice Age.

Below are some photos from Aqua Gym showing the enjoyment and hard work that all Room 7 students have put in to get to where they are!

I hope all students, whanau and caregivers have a great weekend and get some well deserved rest!

Nga mihi,

Nicholas Shimasaki

Week Eleven - Cross Country, House Reward and the Term Break!

This week was an action packed week for all students!  Among the many activities which they were part of, the Cross Country and House Reward seem to be the most memorable!

All of the students gave their best and raced within their age-group to try and earn points for their house.  The event was supported by a large number of parents, caregivers, and teachers who were cheering all of the participants on!

Friday also saw the culmination of the students' hard work towards points for their houses.  Not only do the students get rewarded on a weekly basis with exclusive access to the swing for winning the house points challenge, but the term winning house gets the reward of free-time on the playground or the scooters.  This term Wilding won, but lets see if next term one of the other houses can't give them a run for their money!  This was enjoyed by many and will surely spur on the challenge next term!

Finally, I hope everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable holiday, and has the chance to spend time with their whanau and friends.

Please remember that from day one of next term we will be going to AquaGym so you MUST bring your togs if you are swimming.  


Nga mihi,

Nick

Week Ten - The Spencer Park Field Trip

This week Room 7 undertook an adventure!   On Wednesday there was a wonderful opportunity for the students to get involved outside of school grounds on their first field trip for the year!  We visited Spencer Park and the children enjoyed a number of great activities.  These included; a very large playground with special equipment, the beach, a farmyard, and also team games.  The children enjoyed it very much, and it was a day which I am sure many will remember for some time!

Great thanks goes out to all of the parents who were able to attend and assist with the day, without your support events like this are unable to take place!

The photos bellow were taken by a student in Room 7 and show the budding artistic talent which our Linwood North akonga show!

Nga mihi,

Nick