Greetings Parents and Caregivers.
We are well into week 8 and the term has been flying. Here is a brief summary of what we have been doing and also what's coming up over the next few weeks.
Maths: We have been focusing on adding and subtracting. Two useful strategies that the pupils have been learning have been partitioning and place value. For partitioning the numbers, the ones and tens are added separately. For example: 23 + 35= (20 + 30) + (3 + 5) = 58. The pupils can work them out mentally. You can give them lot's of practice at this.
For place value, examples like 52- 36 can be worked out as: (52-30) - 6 = ( 22 - 6) = 16. These can also been done mentally.
Learning times tables has value in solving problems and also seeing patterns. Listing the multiples can be a useful strategy. For example when learning the four times table, list the multiples of 4.
4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24.....
Reading: The pupils have been practicing reading skills every day by reading a new story and then completing an activity. Some of the reading activities include:
- answering literal, vocab and inferential questions about the story.
- Writing a recount about the story.
- Writing a blurb about the story.
- Designing a "Wanted " poster of a main character.
- Designing a word search.
- Sketching diagrams.
- Summarising the key ideas of the story.
- Reading for meaning in cloze tasks.
Writing: We have focused on writing recounts. A good recount should have:
- Time connectives (Firstly, Next, Then, Also, After that, Later, Finally)
- Be written in paragraphs with a clear introduction (what/where/when/who)
- Include compound sentences.( two main clauses) For example: I had to mow the lawn but Mum was able to trim the edges. The weather was fine and it was fantastic for swimming.
Pupils can practice recount writing at home by writing about the weekend/ a news event/ trip/ sports match/ special event.
We have also been writing recount poems based on personal experiences. The structure for the poem has been "Have you ever smelled _________? These can be viewed on the class blog under Waimarino poems.
Pupils can also use this format to write poems at home about an experience.
Inquiry: The main inquiry topic has been about Famous NZ sports stars. The pupils have completed activities on stars such as Lisa Carrington, Richie McCaw, Casey Kopua (Williams), Scott Dixon and Sarah Walker.
These have included activities such as mind maps/ Venn Diagrams/ Q and A sheets/ T charts and PMI's.
Art: They completed some amazing art on "Cubism" with Mrs McEwan which is on the blog. They have also been working on portraits of famous people which can be viewed on the blog as well.
Homework: Is now going home on Monday and to be returned on Friday. Successful home work pupils will get the opportunity to take part in "Golden Time" on Fridays.
Library Day is Tuesday. Please ensure book bags and library books are taken to school.
Team Sport: On Thursday morning Team Kereru take part in team sport. This term the classes have been rotating around 3 activities- dance, scatter ball and non stop cricket.
Congratulations to: Manning Baxter for his superb swimming at the school swimming sports. Manning also took part in the "Fluro Golf Day".
Coming Up: A new exciting event. A notice has gone home about the "Amazing Race Challenge". Teams will complete challenges around the school, local streets and beach. This will be on Wednesday 10 April from 10:30 to 2pm. There is a cost of $4. The challenge will finish at 12:00 on the Evan's Road beach where we will have lunch and beach games. We will also require parental help on the day as well.
If you would like to catch up with me, a good time to see me is any morning before school or straight after school. The only days that would not suit would be Thursday afternoon and Friday morning as I am on duty. You can also contact me via e mail. Thank you for your support.
Greg Semmens
gregs@tahatai.school.nz
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