This week, we begin celebrating the unique strengths within our classroom, and we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on Grace. Grace has shown incredible talent and dedication in te reo Māori and tikanga Māori. Her passion for our culture and language is inspiring, and she consistently shares her knowledge with her classmates, enriching our learning environment. Ka pai, Grace! Your commitment to preserving and promoting Māori heritage is a taonga to us all. Keep up the amazing mahi!
We have moved on to multiplication and division for numeracy. This means we have a new warm up activity: the Timed Multiplication Grid! This activity is designed to sharpen multiplication skills and enhance mathematical fluency. Students race against the clock to complete a grid of multiplication problems, encouraging speed and accuracy. After each session, their performance is plotted on a graph, providing a visual representation of their accuracy over time. This dynamic warm-up not only makes practicing multiplication fun and engaging but also helps track progress and identify areas for improvement. Perfect for daily use, it’s a fantastic way to start each math lesson on the right foot!
We also have some new multiplication and division games that utilise UNO cards. These have been a welcome addition to our maths activities.
Some groups have been working on ‘multiplication in parts’. Using place value knowledge to pull the number apart, multiply known facts and then putting the answers of these facts back together.
Talofa lava! This week we embraced and honored the rich culture, traditions, and language of Samoa. This week, our class came together to acknowledge the beauty and significance of the Samoan language and to incorporate its vibrant cultural elements into our learning environment. We are especially excited to have our resident expert, Enosa, guiding us throughout the week.
Samoan Language Week, known as “Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa,” is more than just a celebration—it’s an opportunity to deepen our understanding and appreciation of the Samoan heritage. Language is a vital part of any culture, and by learning Samoan, we not only enhance our linguistic skills but also build bridges of understanding and respect between different cultural backgrounds.
One of the highlights of this week is the innovative integration of Samoan design into our maths curriculum. Samoan art is renowned for its intricate patterns and symbolic motifs, often found in traditional tattoos (tatau), barkcloth (siapo), and other crafts. By incorporating these designs into our maths lessons, we can create a visually engaging and culturally enriching learning experience.
Here are some ways we’re blending Samoan design with maths:
We are thrilled to have Enosa, our resident expert, leading us through the intricacies of the Samoan language. Enosa’s passion for his culture and language is infectious, and he brings a wealth of knowledge to our classroom.
This week we welcomed Matua Bernard to the Rutherford Junior High School staff whānau and Taoho to the Rutherford Junior High School ākonga whānau.
Continuing our work against bullying, we enjoyed two sessions with Constable Ben as part of the Kia Kaha program. Throughout the sessions we discussed bullying from the victims perspective and the bully’s perspective. We talked about ways in which we could begin to stamp out bullying. The role plays were a very entertaining way to discuss the topic.
Pink Shirt Day is a powerful movement that stands against bullying, celebrates diversity, and promotes kindness and inclusion. We wear pink to symbolise our solidarity with those who have been bullied and to affirm our commitment to fostering a safe and respectful environment for everyone.
It’s a reminder that small acts of kindness can make a big difference and that together, we can create a community where everyone feels valued and respected. By participating in Pink Shirt Day, we are sending a clear message: bullying has no place in our schools, workplaces, or communities. Let’s stand up, speak out, and lift each other up, creating a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
This week, our school gymnasium was transformed with a temporary ice skating rink, and it has been an absolute delight for students of all ages! Room 1 enjoyed their session and there’s nothing quite like seeing young faces light up as they find their balance and start to move more confidently. It’s been a fantastic way for everyone to step away from their routines and experience something new and exciting. Kudos to the organisers for bringing this incredible experience to our school.
It was great to have Jen from Sport Whanganui back with us this week. We are learning to practice our value of Respect through games.
Learning Intention:
Show respect by supporting my own and others wellbeing and the environment.
Questions:
Here are some of the questions we will discuss while learning new games:
How can you use what you have learnt in regards to respect when no adult is present?
What does showing respect for spectators, other competitors, coaches etc look like?
How can we show empathy to others?
What was the aim of this game and how did have a focus on respect influence this?
How do others influence you when playing games?
How do you influence others when playing games?
If this game is simple, does that mean it is easy?
HOW did you display the school value of respect in this game?
How can we hold each other accountable for our school values through movement?
What did you do when you saw someone doing something that they shouldn’t? How would you respond differently next time?
We played a version of Tapu Ae.
Thanks to Enosa we have learnt a new game called ‘Bomb’. Enosa wanted to use his leadership skills to facilitate a Taha Tinana session. By doing this, Enosa also achieved a goal within his Wetiweti Ana award checklist.
The game was a hit! We have played it both in the gym and out on the field. It is a game that everyone can join in on.
Well done Enosa! Keep building those leadership skills and being a role model for those around you.
Talofa lava, Hello, Kia ora, Namaste
Today I have been learning about creating quality blog posts as part of the ICF Energiser. One of the best tools so far has been the ‘Blog Writing Sentence Starters’ template. This has been a great starting point to get my thought process around blogging started.
I am really looking forward to sharing this with all the learners in Room 1! There is also a support video which I know will help support our learning about blogging as well.
My next learning step will be adding graphics or images to make my blog posts more appealing and engaging. Perhaps you are already doing this and would like to share your learning with me?
Bye for now,
Whaea Maria