Monday 30 June 2014

No Photos Monday

Good afternoon,

Just while I've got a wee break between interviews...I've got nothing of the children to share!

One thing though, while I think about it, regarding how to help at home with maths, this is the routine I'm using in class during the week, I think it would be helpful to incorporate the same routine into your afternoons...

Get a set of cards, remove the picture cards (keep the Ace - that's your "1"), and...

  • Monday - use them as prompts to work on halves and doubles
    • "What's half of this, what's double that"
    • Stick with whole numbers until they are really good at it, then ask them to halve odd numbers - we're doing that in class
  • Tuesday - put aside the cards, have them skip count in 10s, 5s, 2s, 3s and 4s
    • When they're really good at it, challenge them to do it backwards!
  • Wednesday - Basic facts to 20
    • "Add these two cards, subtract this from that..." etc
  • Thursday - Make 5 and make 10
    • Show them a card, and ask them to "make 5" (that is, what do they need to add or subtract to turn that number into a 5), and the same with "make 10".
    • When they get good at this, extend it to "make [any given number]".

...for perhaps 5 minutes each afternoon.

Other than that...it's a normal Tuesday tomorrow.

Kind regards,

Mr Grant



Friday 27 June 2014

It's Friday, Sister

Good afternoon,

This morning we practiced reading with mitre to a 4/4 time signature.



Unfortunately, the teacher/student soccer game was postponed due to wet grounds. The field is a bit of a bog at the moment.

Other than that, a good time was had by all.

I hope you like the reports,

See you Monday,

Mr Grant

Thursday 26 June 2014

Wenesday's Thursday

Good afternoon,

Sorry about the lack of a post last night, I had to rush off to a choir meeting.

Yesterday and today we continued breaking down the Our Father prayer, thusly...






We also Skyped Mrs Campbell in Room 1.

And a great time was had by all!

Please remember to dress up in red, black and yellow tomorrow...


...and bring a donation for Jose,

Mr Grant

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Monday Tuesday

Good afternoon,

Sorry for the lack of post last night, I had to rush off to an eLeaders' meeting in Linwood straight after school.

So...yesterday we started breaking down the Our Father prayer. So we looked at God being Our Father through the parable of the sheep.

A farmer had a bunch of sheep.



Or a flock...a herd of sheep?

Of course I've heard of sheep! Heard of chickens? (Laughs himself silly...!)

Anway, he counted them all up...




...to find that he was missing one.

So he left the good sheep safe and sound in their pen and went off to find that one lost sheep, and bring it home. With her tail behind her.


I tried to use this parable as an example of God the Father giving up everything to save us, his lost sheep. Upon further reflection, the story of The Prodigal Son would have served the purpose better.

Anyway, today we started with a touch of maths...



...and had a visiting show in the afternoon.





All courtesy of Kahuna Kidsongs.

Right, time to head home to sort out portfolios.

Mr Grant

Friday 20 June 2014

Fineday Friday

Good afternoon,

It was nice to see so many parents able to join in in our Mass this morning.

Once we got back, we practiced reading with mitre...


...before trying our hand at a spot of photo art...


...using these images.


If you would like copies of any of these pictures, please let me know.

Have a great weekend,

Mr Grant

Thursday 19 June 2014

One Wet Night

Good evening,

A fine day was had here in Room 2 today. Unlike the poor farmer in the story shared by Kakariki Reading Group this morning.


As for tomorrow, please send the children to school in their full school uniform, all ready and rearing to go to our Rutherford Team Mass @ 9:15. Please join us.

Mr Grant

Wednesday 18 June 2014

ICT Reading

Good afternoon,

This morning for reading the children chose one of their browsing box books and in groups retold that story on the iPads.




Some rather creative stuff was going on. I'm hoping that these activities will be replicated as independent reading activities.

Have a nice night,

Mr Grant

Tuesday 17 June 2014

Good afternoon,

Here, finally, is the complete collection of the Room 2 interviews done over the last couple of weeks...






















...which some finished this morning, while others exercised their literacy or numeracy skills independently.




Then it was out for a spot of Fitness...




...and a spot of P.E....


...before a spot of rain (literally, one or two spots of rain!) sent us inside to read The Lorax.


Some great language in there.

See you in the morning,

Mr Grant