WEEK 7: 8 & 9 April

Tuesday 8 April: New entrants

Today I was fortunate enough to observe a shared writing lesson from a reliever. They were writing about their favourite food. The use of their essential writing cards was very useful and helpful for their story writing. They can sound of the words and recognize the sounds of most letters.

I conducted a maths lesson to a group of students. I taught them to play Mertle the turtle, and twinkling star. Both these games reinforce the learning they are doing, which is adding on from 5. So 5+_=_. After teaching the group I had, they now can go and play these educational games with a peer, in their maths groups.

I was offered to observe a teacher taught maths group for her year 1 level group. The teacher organized some resources which helped the students learn. This consisted of the students using farm animal pictures and a piece of paper as a paddock to create number stories to equal 5. The teacher got them all to choose 5 animals and place them in two paddocks. They were orally able to explain to the teacher their number story. (Story, relating to prior knowledge of writing, and number relating to maths). This group was a level 1. Tomorrow they would write their number stories, for example 2 and 3 altogther is 5. Later the teacher explains that and is + and altogether is =.

The class are really focusing on being good role models. As they receive lots of visitors from younger children ie kindy kids, and they need to set good examples of how they behave and be responsible with good manners and doing your absolute personal best.

My learner I have for my assignment is in this class. I was so proud of her with my interview I completed with her regarding 'time'. She clearly demonstrated what she understood about time. This was sequencing and ordering. We made a book together of her sequencing her order of events for a day. My next step with my learner would be to do duration, and show her how long a minute is and what could be done in a minute etc.


Wednesday 9 April: Year 3 and 4

I was really looking forward to returning to this class. The highlight was definitely remembering lots more of the learners names, this made me feel great. I loved addressing the learners by their names. When I done this a lot of kids commented to eachother about oh cool she remembers my name. I was welcomed by enthusiastic good morning Mrs Buckman, are you in our class today? "Yes x I am" I would say. They got really excited knowing I would be with them not for just a little while but the entire day.

I made sure I was in class early this morning to say hello to the teacher, welcome the students and meet some of the parents and whanau of some of the students that would come in. Student x was so eager for me to meet her mum and baby brother and without hesitation I approached the family for a friendly meet conversation. I noticed throughout the day from my enthusiasm of meeting some of her family she was totally engaged with me the entire day. She worked hard to do her personal best with me looking on in her classroom.

I was really pleased to see the stories and art they had started last week. Some students had completely finished, published and were displaying their creations. I enjoyed reading and looking at their completed work. They were amazing.

I received my learner for my science investigation. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and talking with this young man. What a delight and highly intelligent student. The answers he gave me were gold. From the audio conversation I had with him I gauged his interest in elephants and computers. I have decided to complete my investigation with him on the netbooks so we can produce a slideshow. He also come to me at the start of lunch to say "Mrs Buckman I just want to say how very excited I am to be working with you on this project, I am really looking forward to it". That made me feel incredible.

I observed another shared writing class. This was with new entrant children. Was fascinating to see all the contribution the young students involved themselves in and the amount of enthusiasm they had for their story about the fire alarm that went off today. The schema they already had and building on that knowledge was so interesting to watch.

I spoke with the Netball co-ordinator about a team I can take on a Saturday morning and when I should take practices etc. I am really looking forward to the coming season and building a relationship with these kids.