Write4fun writing competition

While we're all waiting for homework to kick in with baited breath, I thought I'd draw your attention to Write4fun's annual writing competition. There are some very cool prizes on offer while you're sharpening your pencil and your mind!

This year there is no theme, and writers may choose from poetry (16 lines max) or prose (500 words max). They must be the sole author of their work. 

Full details are available from the site: http://www.write4fun.net/

Keyboarding skills

On Friday we will be starting to look at Keyboarding skills in ICT, and there are actually some pretty cool games out there which aid students in developing their typing speed and accuracy.

Have your children try www.funtotype.com if they want to get a headstart on the class typing competition. I recommend "Keyboard Ninja" because you can focus on certain keys and rows. "Zombie Defender" has them typing actual words and "Ninja Cat" is just silly as well as hard, but they may want to give it a go. 

Homework Week 2

Sorry for the misleading title, but there will be NO homework in Week 2!

I like to run my homework weeks from Monday to Friday, and leave them with little for the weekend but sport, chores and relaxation. 

You can expect homework routines to begin from Monday of Week 3.

Week One

Well, the first week is done and dusted! Swimming lessons continue next week, and because they tend to steal my time with the children, this week we will concentrate on getting some testing done and begin assigning Mathematics and homework groups. We may even find time to conduct a mock Naplan test :)

I really want to say that I am looking forward to a great year this year, as the children seem a very switched on and sociable lot. It gives me the confidence to believe that we can achieve a great deal this year. Let's make it happen!

Meet the teacher session

Thanks to all those parents that showed for today's Meet the Teacher session. I hope that you found it informative and that it answered all your questions.

For those who couldn't make it due to work and travel commitments, you can generally catch me directly after school on any day except Thursday (at the moment). Check in with me the day before to avoid disappointment :)

ENPS Website

I just realised that the Room 10 page of the website is still set up according to last year's class of Year 6's and 7's. I've sent a message to the principal that we need to fix it quickly, but until then there won't be any point checking in for any communication there. 

I will keep you posted when the Room 10 page is ready and worth viewing.

Parent Communication

I have to say that I was really impressed with how many children returned their notes on the first day, as well as how many parents expressed an interest in joining Blogger and Class Dojo. There has certainly been a marked difference from last year to this...

For those who have provided me with their email address, I will invite them to participate in Blogger more fully very soon, however from past experience the invites usually end up going straight into everyone's SPAM folders! To get around this I will message you through Class Dojo when I send your Blogger invites, and you should be able to retrieve them before they are deleted (hopefully).

Please don't forget that there is a Meet the Teacher session happening this Friday, Feb 6 at 3.30pm in the classroom. I will be happy to give you a rundown of my views on the best ways of teaching this year, and I would welcome any questions or comments you have.

Those of you who have questions or comments specific to your child are welcome to remain behind on Friday and organise a further meeting with me. I will do my best to make myself available at your convenience.  

Welcome to 2015

Well - I obviously should have updated this page before handing out my newsletters! Now a bunch of you have checked out this page and seen a bunch of stuff relating to last years class - AND that was well out of date to start with!

Oh well, no point in crying over spilled milk I suppose...

I'm hoping that your children are enjoying life in Room 10 thus far, but truth be told, with swimming lessons eating up my valuable time they have seen far more of Mrs Dyson in Room 8 to date. While they may be in capable literacy hands there, they won't be getting the mathematics they need! I will be happy to say goodbye to the pool after next week.