In Term 2 I would like to welcome all Term 1 MathsMania participants back again. As several of my Tuesday students have sport on this day now, they will move to Wednesday.
This has left a gap in my Tuesday group, and invitations have already gone out to fill it. This means that there could be as many as a dozen MathsMania pupils - which is too many, but we will endure regardless.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
NAPLAN
The National Naplan tests will be happening in week 3, and while I would advise children that the tests are important enough that they should try their best, they are certainly nothing to panic about. The tests will come and then the tests will go - don't panic.
Tuesday, May 13 - Language Conventions and Writing
Wednesday, May 14 - Reading
Thursday, May 15 - Numeracy (Calculator and No Calculator tests)
Tuesday, May 13 - Language Conventions and Writing
Wednesday, May 14 - Reading
Thursday, May 15 - Numeracy (Calculator and No Calculator tests)
Term 2
Well, week one is now over and we are right back into the thick of things. We didn't quite get to finish up some of term 1's projects, and had to spend this week catching up (which I HATE, because it feels like there hasn't been a break), but they are pretty much done now. Here's a brief rundown of what we are trying to achieve this term;
English - We have been trying to refresh and renew our knowledge of Narratives at the same time as Persuasive Texts, because Mr Naplan won't tell us what will be the focus of this year's test. This isn't how I would like to do things, but everyone seems to get caught up in test fever whether they like it or not. Because we have been splitting our literacy time between them, we have only covered half as much in each, so we will continue to pursue improvement in these areas until end of term 2.
Maths - Perimeter and Area continue to be a thorn in Room 10's side, but we will take a break from them for now. We are moving onto expanding our understanding of fractions this term, while continuing to refine our understanding of games of chance (no cash changes hands I assure you!).
Science - In science we are pursuing an understanding of molecules and atoms through the Change Detectives module, which will end up being the focus of our science report at the end of the term.
Society & Environment - I'm not really supposed to, but this term I'm setting them the monumental task of researching 20th Century history from WW1 to the Cold War. Our official topic is Immigration, but I believe that this will work in context, because this period is the greatest single cause of Australian Immigration. Trust me, I'm a teacher.
English - We have been trying to refresh and renew our knowledge of Narratives at the same time as Persuasive Texts, because Mr Naplan won't tell us what will be the focus of this year's test. This isn't how I would like to do things, but everyone seems to get caught up in test fever whether they like it or not. Because we have been splitting our literacy time between them, we have only covered half as much in each, so we will continue to pursue improvement in these areas until end of term 2.
Maths - Perimeter and Area continue to be a thorn in Room 10's side, but we will take a break from them for now. We are moving onto expanding our understanding of fractions this term, while continuing to refine our understanding of games of chance (no cash changes hands I assure you!).
Science - In science we are pursuing an understanding of molecules and atoms through the Change Detectives module, which will end up being the focus of our science report at the end of the term.
Society & Environment - I'm not really supposed to, but this term I'm setting them the monumental task of researching 20th Century history from WW1 to the Cold War. Our official topic is Immigration, but I believe that this will work in context, because this period is the greatest single cause of Australian Immigration. Trust me, I'm a teacher.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
We shall, we shall not be moved!
Well, I have to say that today's political furore took me completely by surprise, but I think it was educational gold and I ran with it as far as I could!
For those who came in late - As part of their leadership program, senior students formed groups to perform various leadership based activities. Several students have taken on fundraising as one of their activities. The last fundraiser was to fight Ovarian Cancer, and went off quietly as per usual.
However today, students had decided that raising money to fight factory farming was a worthy issue, and before we knew it, we had protestors on both sides putting forth their own point of view. I stepped between two opposing groups when things looked like they were taking a negative turn, but aside from that, I was following the directives of Frederick Douglas - "Agitate! Agitate! Agitate!" I even pointed out to a group that a united chant was more effective than individual voices, and they immediately began speaking with one voice. The opposing camp quickly came up with a chant of their own, and of course, it rhymed!
I didn't really see this conflict coming because I am one who is in the middle of this issue, without strong opinions one way or the other. But with my teacher's hat on, we discussed a whole raft of related issues, from effective forms of protest, to whaling, Buddhism, the difference between facts and opinion, and why teachers are careful not to reveal their opinions even though there is nothing nicer than a medium rare scotch fillet topped with prawns and covered with garlic sauce...
But I digress. Ms Collopy will today address this issue as it relates to the school, and our impartiality or the perception of it. I'm happy to discuss my own teaching with any parent at any spare moment, and if you have any concerns I would love to hear them. Until then, I would urge both sides to Maintain the Rage!
Is that politically incorrect?
For those who came in late - As part of their leadership program, senior students formed groups to perform various leadership based activities. Several students have taken on fundraising as one of their activities. The last fundraiser was to fight Ovarian Cancer, and went off quietly as per usual.
However today, students had decided that raising money to fight factory farming was a worthy issue, and before we knew it, we had protestors on both sides putting forth their own point of view. I stepped between two opposing groups when things looked like they were taking a negative turn, but aside from that, I was following the directives of Frederick Douglas - "Agitate! Agitate! Agitate!" I even pointed out to a group that a united chant was more effective than individual voices, and they immediately began speaking with one voice. The opposing camp quickly came up with a chant of their own, and of course, it rhymed!
I didn't really see this conflict coming because I am one who is in the middle of this issue, without strong opinions one way or the other. But with my teacher's hat on, we discussed a whole raft of related issues, from effective forms of protest, to whaling, Buddhism, the difference between facts and opinion, and why teachers are careful not to reveal their opinions even though there is nothing nicer than a medium rare scotch fillet topped with prawns and covered with garlic sauce...
But I digress. Ms Collopy will today address this issue as it relates to the school, and our impartiality or the perception of it. I'm happy to discuss my own teaching with any parent at any spare moment, and if you have any concerns I would love to hear them. Until then, I would urge both sides to Maintain the Rage!
Is that politically incorrect?
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
East Narrogin Footy Tipping Competition
Good day folks,
Just a quick advert on behalf of our school footy tipping competition.
Every year I run this competition, and funds raised are used to help pay for senior school activities. In the past, we have used some of this money to subsidise the cost of the graduation shirts, bus fare to the end of year water excursion as well as the graduation lunch.
This year, we will have twice as many graduates, and so your support for activities like footy tipping and the chocolate drive is now more important than ever.
The cost for entry is only $30, and we give away around $600 in prizes. Please check with your parents, brothers and even your auntie's sister's cousin to see if they would like to play. We hope that we can count on your support...
Just a quick advert on behalf of our school footy tipping competition.
Every year I run this competition, and funds raised are used to help pay for senior school activities. In the past, we have used some of this money to subsidise the cost of the graduation shirts, bus fare to the end of year water excursion as well as the graduation lunch.
This year, we will have twice as many graduates, and so your support for activities like footy tipping and the chocolate drive is now more important than ever.
The cost for entry is only $30, and we give away around $600 in prizes. Please check with your parents, brothers and even your auntie's sister's cousin to see if they would like to play. We hope that we can count on your support...
Friday, February 28, 2014
Homework Thursday, Feb 27
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...
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...
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.
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