Newsboard - Organ Donation

What started out as a Newsboard session has exploded into it's own Inquiry! All thanks to a video shared with me from Anne Barker (Primary Science Facilitator)  - Somebody That I'll Never Know (Gotye parody) Organ Donation which led to a discussion around organ donation. They were hooked! From here we discussed key points from  NZ Future Problem Solving around organ donation in the year 2025. After a lot of cruising the Internet searching up interesting information around organ donation we were ready for our next task - Anne brought in a teaching manikin AND the major organs from a beast (heart, lungs, kidneys, and bronchial tube) which the students dissected with Anne's dissection kit.

From here we looked at the news report of  Dad uses 3D printer to make his son a prosthetic hand  and the possibilities this could open up. WOW! Students also contacted ODNZ (Organ Donor New Zealand) about the process of donating an organ and receiving an organ. They are keen to send along an expert to speak with us!

Our next visitor was the recipient of a heart 14 years ago - the students had some very interesting questions for her...What did the surgeons tell you about your operation? What was your greatest fear having a transplant? Do you know anything about the person who donated their heart?

The students were totally focused during her visit - one of the biggest thoughts to come from this was how important your attitude is...just like life in general!

I'm not sure where this will go at this stage, in the time we have left this term but am thinking that organ donation awareness within our community could be our making a difference.

Term 3 - better late than never!

Where has the time gone?!
Term 3 was busy with assessments, literacy, mathematics and Inquiry.
There was some nice growth in Probe reading results, GLoSS and PAT Maths which was great for the students and the work they had put into their learning.

Short and sweet!

Term 2 Reflection

The term finished as it started - with learning experiences happening at every opportunity! As part of our science inquiry we made a difference making composite containers which are presently drying out in the art room. Interesting observations made..."How will that container hold anything? It doesn't have a bottom." No doubt these containers will cause some discussion when it comes to using. Photos to come!

I was very pleased with a piece of writing we did across the team which we are going to moderate Week 1 of Term 3. There was certainly more detail and information presented and it was great to see students actively thinking about how their writing should be organised (sequencing and paragraphing). We will be carrying on with Narratives for the beginning of Term 3. 

Book clubs have also gone very well this term, with one keen group wanting to meet in the holidays - it eventuated that only one student out of the group came online but it was the thought that counted. We conferenced on a piece of his writing instead! It was great to see students truly engaged in their reading material and discussing key points of the text.

There have been 'Aha' moments in maths as the light came on in Multiplication and Division - making the connection to multiple additions being the same as multiplication (the big scary times tables). The top group is discovering algorithms for solving 2 and 3 digit multiplication and long division. We will be carrying on with this strand in Term 3.

The Term 2 Thrilling Thursday Art group were very focused on their painting and certainly met the challenge to be better than before. All of the completed artworks are displayed in our staffroom and there are some very proud artists! 

We have a very busy term ahead - only 9 weeks and no doubt we will try and max it out!

Term 2 Week 7

Over this term we have been focusing on our Science Inquiry - How does a Mad Scientist organise his pantry? The students have had many learning opportunities based around everyday chemicals, how their state may change (through heat or adding something else) and investigating what acids and bases are. The following photo shows our Ignition Activity where we posed the inquiry question and asked for the students to work collaboratively to design a scientists pantry. This photo shows one group's 3D presentation.

From here a series of experiments were set up and the students were given the opportunity to test their ideas. What was exciting about this was some students followed up what was happening in the classroom at home in their own kitchens - hopefully not too many pots died!

The following photos show our lastest experiment involving testing everyday household chemicals with the red cabbage indicator juice that we had made.

Below is the results of our experiment. The students had to identify which were bases and which were acids. It was exciting to watch the changes take place.

Our next step is to make a composite fabric. This will encourage the students to explore how the properties of two different things come together to meet a need. They will design a container that a Mad Scientist would find useful to have in his pantry.

If you want to see more click on the Brainiacs Class Blog link on the right handside of the page.

Exciting times ahead!

Term 2 Week 2

It has been a while since I have actively posted on my Blog...
I wasn't happy with the way writing was going in the Brainiacs so I spent a bit of time talking with Karla (our writing guru) about how to make writing more engaging, opportunities for feedback and publishing. Connecting on a regular basis in writing is something that easily falls to the side in the busy life of the classroom.
I also contacted Judith (RT:Lit) about my continuing frustration with the Wonder Writers and where to next with them...
On the flipside - the term certainly has started well. There are more opportunities within the Literacy programme for student choice, planning and learning. Making that next step in accepting responsibility for ones learning has been quite challenging for those who can struggle just being organised for school each day. When mum isn't there to 'do' stuff, students discover very quickly there are consequences that may involve following up learning in their own time. Constructive feedback is our next major focus. We are still on track to introduce our 'My Learning.Me' personalised timetables by Week 6. Our self managing students are super keen to start these and are already organising my time for me. There will still be a lot of teacher direction for the target students in terms of planning their week.

Week 8

I've found my 'calm' again! It's been a while since I've had it...I don't think I really realised that it had lost it's way.
My classroom feels a much better place to be and I'm helping connect the dots for my students. The power of those around you makes all the difference and it is important to celebrate what is going well. Allow yourself time to breathe!!

Week 5...
It's hard to believe we are nearly half way through this term! Learning Activities that have been going well have been

• Swimming; where there have been huge improvements in stamina, technique and overall performance. It has been great to see students move up groups due to their hard work and see their results in the recent school swimming sports.
• Reading; two groups are enjoying Book Club following Sheena Cameron's programme. Novels being enjoyed are 'Boy Overboard' by Morris Gleitzman and 'Freaky Fish' by Feana Tu'akoi. The students choose their role for the week, and meet together to share their discoveries. Positive comments have been, "It's neat to hear what others in the group think", "We listen to what everyone has to say without interrupting". Allowing the students in other groups to choose their own guided reading material has seen a rise in engagement and their it much discussion coming from the couch.
• Writing; we have completed our sample for moderation and this has presented a mixed bag of data, ranging from Level 1(ii) through to Level 4. It is taking the Year 5s a while to get used to writing online but they are getting there. We are now looking at how we can make our writing 'better than before' through unpacking the writing matrix, choosing areas to work on and using lots 'great writing' models. I am also working with our RT:Lit - Judith, on ways to engage my well below and below writers so they taste success. More about that in my Inquiry Posts.
• Maths; Targeted Maths is going well, 6 students focusing on place value, counting in 2s, 5s and 10s and making tens. The other groups are focusing on add/sub - consolidating strategies and practicing new learning.
• Art; we have finished our first art work for the term, using pastels and black vivid following 'Sea Life Pastel' using 'Tangaroa’s Gift' by Mere Whaanga-Schollum from TKI. 

The Line of Life lives on in our classroom with several students sharing it at home as well. Posters have been created and have become an easy reference for everyone.

No doubt the rest of the term is going to be as full on!

Three weeks in...

I thought it was about time I put fingers to the key board, especially after our staff workshop led by Karla. 

It was quite challenging settling back into school after being at ICOT, there were so many questions and wonderings whizzing around in my head...it was scary but reaffirming at the same time. An opportunity I was lucky enough to experience!

This year I have been blessed with being able to 'keep' my 2012 Year 5's in my classroom - the Brainiacs,  rather than mixing them up. They already know classroom routines, my expectations and groups are easier to set up for learning as I already 'know' half of my learners. The Year 6 students have stepped into the role of "Learning Buddy' making the transition into Year 5 much easier for my new Brainiac students. The perfect way to build a collaborative learning environment. 

One of the ideas gleamed from ICOT has been The Line of Life (Karen Boyes). This has proved quite a talking point amongst teachers and students.We have looked at The Line of Life where we are courage students to live above the line.

Below the line: 'Blame, Excuse, Deny' - we can't learn from our mistakes when we do these three things. Below the line play for the victim team.

Above the line: 'Ownership, Accountable, Responsible' - above the line are the Learning Team.

It has become an easy question to ask...Where are you on the Line of Life? Responses are becoming more aware. It will be interesting to see how The Line of Life impacts on other areas of my students' lives.