WRITING

To start Term One, Rm 18 is looking at Information writing and how we can inform ourselves, our teacher and others about topics we are looking at in class.  We have begun looking at Champions which is our overall theme for this term.  We shared and discussed about someone whom we felt was a Champion in something he / she had achieved.  We selected the one and only Usain Bolt.

  Here is our WALT (We Are Learning To)

We shared about what we already knew about Usain Bolt and what we wanted to know about him.  We then went on to research and gather relevant information based on our inquiry questions.

After gathering a range of information, we then worked on planning our writing.  We researched some sites that gave us some examples and tips on information writing and its purpose, which is to inform the reader.

From this, we went on to planning our writing with what we knew and information gathered, that was relevant, interesting and new, so that we can inform others of why Usain Bolt is  a CHAMPION!!

 We have gone through the beginning stages of the Writing Process and will now begin writing our information report. We will keep you updated on our learning and the completion of our  information report.

Whakapono 18's Maths Learning Journey

We are proud to introduce this years new Maths learning incentive, in which we will embark on a new journey in the way our Maths lessons are structured.  Whakapono 18 have begun their journey in building and growing our Mathematical thinking, using every day Maths contexts that our children know and understand.  Along this maths journey we endeavour to encourage and engage in maths through our participation, explanations and justifications.  

This week we have begun our new maths programme and look forward to growing our students in their mathematical knowledge and thinking in becoming confident mathematicians.

We begin our maths with a warm up, which gets our minds thinking Maths and talking Maths.

 Our WALT (We Are Learning To..), our timer, and warm up activity is part of the preparation towards our maths lessons.

 Students are working out how many different ways can we make 50 (Warm up).  It is a fast and quick warm up improving our speed and accuracy in our Basic Facts.

Next our class is split in half, one group working on independent tasks and one group with the teacher on the mat.  Students are grouped in mixed abilities, so that we share our learning.  We take note that sometimes our children's best learning happens when they are working with other students.  A paper and felt is given to show their working out (no pencils so that we can see all working out including the mistakes)

LAUNCH - We launch the word problem.  We read and understand the word problem before working it out.

We then split into mini groups (of mixed levels) and begin working out the maths word problem.   Students share their working out and explain how it is done.  This is shared amongst the group where they discuss and ask questions to get a better understanding of each others mathematical thinking.

 A group is then selected to share back their working out, through demonstration and explanation.  This allows for students to see and listen to the way other students process their mathematical thinking and justify their answers through their maths knowledge.  Students are also given the opportunity to ask questions for further understanding or clarification.

We look forward to a positive outlook in the new maths structure and how this will make us grow into great mathematicians.