Tree Planting

Tena Koutou Katoa,

The tree planting / stream study at Wainui was fantastic. Once again, I was impressed with the knowledge and enthusiasm all the kids had for getting out and exploring nature. Here are a few pics of the mighty Motupipi School's room 4 and 5 tamariki in action.

Rock On,

Mr M

Welcome to Week 2

Kia Ora Koutou Katoa,

Things are getting pretty exciting with production practice starting to get underway. Here's a few things to look out for over the coming week.

• In art recently, we've been looking at doing a picture with an object in the foreground, an object in the background and a horizon line. We've also been practicing observational drawing using a pencil. 
• In maths, we're just finishing off a unit on time, from this week onwards we'll be looking at filling some gaps in the students' numeracy skills. I'll post some resources and home learning ideas later on in the week. Revising how to read a clock and getting your child to work out how long they spend doing various activities would be excellent home learning follow up. 
• In writing, we'll be looking at doing a fictional recount following on from the non-fictional holiday recount we're finishing off currently. We'll be looking at describing an imaginary worst day ever. You could brainstorm some ideas with your child to help them think of funny unfortunate events they could include in their piece. 
• We've been beavering away at learning the actions for a haka called Utaina and a waiata called E Te Ariki. You could get your child to perform what they remember of the pieces and show you the actions. It's a work in progress, but by this stage your child should be able to remember most of the words and at least some of the actions.

Rock on,

Mr M

Welcome to Term 4!

Kia Ora Koutou Katoa,

I hope everyone had a wicked holiday break. We stuck around the Bay mostly and caught up on some much needed gardening and family time. Here is a heads up for what to expect this term.

• The production is at the end of the term, we'll be kicking into action with our super secret plans in the first week. More updates as the chaos preparation progresses.
• At the start of the term in maths, we'll be looking at telling the time using clocks and looking at some maths problems that test our time knowledge. 
• In writing, I'm going to start the term doing a holiday recount that uses paragraphs and includes some stupendous vocabulary. It would be helpful to talk to your child about three holiday highlights they might like to write about so that they're prepared when we kick into action on Tuesday.
• Spelling lists will continue to go home weekly in spelling notebooks. I did some testing last term so we'll be updating the Essential Lists in the first week. Spelling is a classic and useful home learning task. I've noticed a big improvement particularly in the students who have been practicing consistently as part of their home learning programme throughout the year.
• I'm thoroughly looking forward to the final and most epic term of all.

Rock On,

Mr M