On Thursday, the children received 10 new spelling words which they copied straight into their homework book (if it was available :( )
In class, children were tested on the words, then corrected any errors. They were then required to;
* Pick three words they know and then define them.
* Pick three they don't, and find a dictionary definition.
* Make three sentences (varying sentence types) using their list words.
Sorry this note is out of order...
Friday, February 28, 2014
Blog invites
As stated earlier, the original blog invites went out on the 10th of Feb, but no one managed to reply. I have resent the invites today (March 1st), but I fear that they will go straight to your spam folder again. Please check your spam and junk folders if you would like to post your own comments and questions on Blogger.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Homework, Tuesday Feb 25
In class today the children were working on timelines for Society & Environment. Their task is to complete a timeline for the 24 hour period that began at midnight yesterday, so their main goal is to record tonight's events comprehensively ( NO Phoenix - not THAT comprehensively!) on their timeline for sharing in class tomorrow.
Also, please remember that anytime you write or even say something, you should consider who might end up reading it...Phoenix.
MathsMania
I started some free private tutoring with selected children from the class today, and I have to say that I was very impressed with the girls' efforts this afternoon. Children can be quite different when taught in a small group environment as opposed to a whole class, and I was very pleased with the results!
Tomorrow will be the second Mathsmania group's turn, and I hope that they can match the girls' work in focus and concentration. Let's wait and see, shall we?
I selected certain children for MathsMania based on their current progress and their ability to focus on school work after the school day was done. Although sessions are full up at the moment, this may change in the future. If you believe your child would benefit from some after school maths tutoring on a Tuesday or Wednesday, please let me know.
Tomorrow will be the second Mathsmania group's turn, and I hope that they can match the girls' work in focus and concentration. Let's wait and see, shall we?
I selected certain children for MathsMania based on their current progress and their ability to focus on school work after the school day was done. Although sessions are full up at the moment, this may change in the future. If you believe your child would benefit from some after school maths tutoring on a Tuesday or Wednesday, please let me know.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Homework Monday, Feb 24
There was no official homework sent home today, but please can we keep up the emphasis on the importance of Home Reading. All students now have a Reading Log in their Homework Book for them to record their (hopefully) daily reading.
In class I can teach them about commas and apostrophes, nouns and adverbs and direct speech and complex sentences until the cows come home, but they'll get this new learning reinforced and embedded if they READ! If you want to see some faster improvement in your child's spelling, punctuation and grammar, encourage them to read, read, READ!
Also, each child has a times tables grid in their Homework Book. Children recite their tables to a parent who times them and signs the grid. This activity can be done daily, and children don't need to have it asked specifically of them.
And finally, for this week's Leader's Assembly, I have asked about 10 volunteers to write, edit and read a one paragraph report on Room 10. Volunteers will read their thoughts to the class after receiving their leadership badges. I hope they're all complimentary...
In class I can teach them about commas and apostrophes, nouns and adverbs and direct speech and complex sentences until the cows come home, but they'll get this new learning reinforced and embedded if they READ! If you want to see some faster improvement in your child's spelling, punctuation and grammar, encourage them to read, read, READ!
Also, each child has a times tables grid in their Homework Book. Children recite their tables to a parent who times them and signs the grid. This activity can be done daily, and children don't need to have it asked specifically of them.
And finally, for this week's Leader's Assembly, I have asked about 10 volunteers to write, edit and read a one paragraph report on Room 10. Volunteers will read their thoughts to the class after receiving their leadership badges. I hope they're all complimentary...
THINK!
This morning at our Monday assembly, Mrs Lund told us to THINK before we said anything. While for some people this may be a new experience, what Mrs Lund meant was that, before we said anything to another person, we should check that its;
True Helpful Inspiring Necessary Kind
And then about 10 minutes after the assembly I had to put myself between two students who were going to start a serious physical altercation because one of them had chosen to say things to the other that he didn't like. While he may have believed they were true, they certainly weren't helpful, inspiring, necessary or kind - particularly as I had already told him to stop several times since I could see where the conversation was going to end up!
All we need to do is THINK people...
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Thought of the week - Jayden says...
It was a good start for the week meeting a new AWESOME teacher and meeting new class mates.Its nice having MR D he's funny and he doesn't make us do lots of work and write it all down because if you write it all down you don't learn much instead he tells us it and it stays in our head if your listening
Leadership badges - oops!
We have just noticed that there is a timetable clash when we wanted to give out the year 6 and 7 leadership badges! Room 9 will be attending swimming lessons during the Monday morning assembly, and they can't postpone because it will throw the entire school out of sync, as well as the leisure centre.
So...now we want to give the badges out on the FRIDAY full school assembly, which starts at approximately 2.30pm. At this assembly some of our leaders will be giving a report on the year so far, and what they have thought about Room 10 to date.
So...now we want to give the badges out on the FRIDAY full school assembly, which starts at approximately 2.30pm. At this assembly some of our leaders will be giving a report on the year so far, and what they have thought about Room 10 to date.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Blog invitations
I still haven't received any responses from the invitations sent out 2 weeks ago. I just tested it myself by sending one to me on an alternate email address - and it went straight to my junk folder.
Please check your junk folders for your invitation if you have notified me of your interest. Otherwise I will resend invites again next week.
Please check your junk folders for your invitation if you have notified me of your interest. Otherwise I will resend invites again next week.
My thoughts on the week just gone. Amber says...
Room 10 is really cool because unlike other teachers Mr D fleshes out and explains more about the subject. History is my favorite subject because it is interesting to have a class discussion instead of getting a sheet put in front of you and getting asked to complete it that doesn't teach you anything. The lessons are very entreating and they make you ask more questions which makes you join in on the class discussion. the last two weeks have been a blast with Mr D and my new classmates and I think its going to be a very good year!
Meet the Teacher!
Well...I wasn't sure whether to run another of these this year, since last year's turnout could have been held in a telephone booth, but...
On Wednesday this week (19th Feb) I would like to invite all parents and guardians to a Meet the Teacher session in Room 9, straight after school. Myself and Mrs Hancock will be able to answer any questions and queries you may have about graduation shirts, camp, the end of year activities as well as transition to high school.
Remember, it's everyone's final year at primary school this year, and this will be an unnerving experience for many of the children. You can put their minds at ease by finding out the answers early, and ease the stress that builds as the year progresses.
On Wednesday this week (19th Feb) I would like to invite all parents and guardians to a Meet the Teacher session in Room 9, straight after school. Myself and Mrs Hancock will be able to answer any questions and queries you may have about graduation shirts, camp, the end of year activities as well as transition to high school.
Remember, it's everyone's final year at primary school this year, and this will be an unnerving experience for many of the children. You can put their minds at ease by finding out the answers early, and ease the stress that builds as the year progresses.
Homework...
Well, homework trials for week 2 were completed with mixed results, but I think that having just a little bit each night will suit more people than a fortnight's worth in one hit. Now the only danger is me falling behind and not keeping up with it myself...
There will be a fair cross section of homework activities sent home, but the first (and possibly foremost) challenge will be to master the Times 10 Rule. This is simply when you know 6 x 8 = 48, then you should know that 60 x 8 = 480, and that 600 x 800 is 480000. Expect exercises of this nature to be sent home repeatedly until they are fully mastered. I believe that mastery of this idea has very far reaching benefits into many other areas of mathematics.
Another common homework piece will be home reading. Ideally I would like children to be able to read to a parent or guardian for 10-15 minutes per night. Reading to themselves is great, and this should also be encouraged, but reading aloud will encourage them to break down words and understand meanings more, because they just tend to gloss over the unknown when reading to themselves. There will be a reading register coming home in their homework books, so please look out for it...
There will be a fair cross section of homework activities sent home, but the first (and possibly foremost) challenge will be to master the Times 10 Rule. This is simply when you know 6 x 8 = 48, then you should know that 60 x 8 = 480, and that 600 x 800 is 480000. Expect exercises of this nature to be sent home repeatedly until they are fully mastered. I believe that mastery of this idea has very far reaching benefits into many other areas of mathematics.
Another common homework piece will be home reading. Ideally I would like children to be able to read to a parent or guardian for 10-15 minutes per night. Reading to themselves is great, and this should also be encouraged, but reading aloud will encourage them to break down words and understand meanings more, because they just tend to gloss over the unknown when reading to themselves. There will be a reading register coming home in their homework books, so please look out for it...
Monday, February 10, 2014
Digital photo permissions
After checking with the office, I know of only three students in all of year 6 or 7 (both rooms) whose photos are NOT to be published to this site or to the ENPS website. If you have any concerns at all with your child's image appearing on the web, please let myself and the front office know as soon as possible.
Blogger invites
The 8 parents that provided me with an email address from the last newsletter have now been invited to the blog. You should receive a confirmation email soon (remember to check your junk folder just in case) which will help you through the process.
Fingers crossed - this feature didn't work last year!
Fingers crossed - this feature didn't work last year!
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Homework routines 2014
Last year homework was handled with a fortnightly package full of different literacy and numeracy activities, and while this had varying degrees of success, it was almost impossible for me to keep up with the marking and feedback cycle in addition to everything else that was going on...
This year I would like all the children to have a homework book (possibly doubling as a communication book) in which they will complete nightly activities. This is more in line with what they do at the high school, and also encourages a greater level of discipline and organisation from the children.
Parents can help their child by taking an active interest in their homework activities. Everything I give them is supposed to go into their home folder, and I have already seen at least one child who received a letter on Tuesday, and still hadn't taken it out of the home folder by Friday. There are many children who will say they don't have homework when they really do, so please, please, please be involved. Your child will be given more practise and reinforcement activities this year, and less written work, and they will need you to hear them read, or check a spelling list etc etc.
The first homework activities will go home on Monday this week.
This year I would like all the children to have a homework book (possibly doubling as a communication book) in which they will complete nightly activities. This is more in line with what they do at the high school, and also encourages a greater level of discipline and organisation from the children.
Parents can help their child by taking an active interest in their homework activities. Everything I give them is supposed to go into their home folder, and I have already seen at least one child who received a letter on Tuesday, and still hadn't taken it out of the home folder by Friday. There are many children who will say they don't have homework when they really do, so please, please, please be involved. Your child will be given more practise and reinforcement activities this year, and less written work, and they will need you to hear them read, or check a spelling list etc etc.
The first homework activities will go home on Monday this week.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Home Folders...
Just another reminder - any notes the children receive in class (including homework) should be placed immediately into their Home Folder, and the Home Folder should live IN their schoolbag so it doesn't ever get left behind.
Today the children received several notes - The West Coast Eagles are holding a clinic at Clayton Road oval this Thursday (no - don't worry, Ben won't be attending) and a health form and consent went home for signing.
Also, there are Swimming Lessons coming up at the end of February (Feb 24 - Mar 7). Lessons are $4 per day.
And...the Faction Swimming Carnival will be held on March 11. Children will need to nominate for races ASAP. Parent help would be greatly appreciated on the day! See Mr van Wyk if you can help.
Today the children received several notes - The West Coast Eagles are holding a clinic at Clayton Road oval this Thursday (no - don't worry, Ben won't be attending) and a health form and consent went home for signing.
Also, there are Swimming Lessons coming up at the end of February (Feb 24 - Mar 7). Lessons are $4 per day.
And...the Faction Swimming Carnival will be held on March 11. Children will need to nominate for races ASAP. Parent help would be greatly appreciated on the day! See Mr van Wyk if you can help.
Back to the wheel...
Well the first day back went pretty well - alright I had someone jump ship to Room 9 and someone else in tears before the first hour was out, but it all ended okay...
I took things pretty slow for the kids, because it was the first day back after all. They gave me a maths test, and a writing sample with themselves as the subject. Somewhere in there we learned that Anton Lavoisier still holds the world record for blinking after having your head cut off by a guillotine, and also that even though my Great Uncle was killed while invading Norway he wasn't necessarily a bad bloke.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring...
I took things pretty slow for the kids, because it was the first day back after all. They gave me a maths test, and a writing sample with themselves as the subject. Somewhere in there we learned that Anton Lavoisier still holds the world record for blinking after having your head cut off by a guillotine, and also that even though my Great Uncle was killed while invading Norway he wasn't necessarily a bad bloke.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring...
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