Today in Mathematics we worked on problem solving in groups. Some of the class worked on solving the problem - Make 35 as many ways as you can. When we shared at the end, we realised there are so many ways to make 35 using multiplication, addition and subtraction.

Others worked with Mrs Ngan to work out the following problem:


Here are some of the ways we worked it out:

Garden to Table helpers

We need some helpers for our next Garden to Table day - Tuesday March 7.
Room 1 needs 2 parents:11.40 - 2.55. Kitchen first followed by the Garden
Room 2 needs 4 parents: 9.00 - 11.30. Garden first followed by the Kitchen
Please email Jenny or Hayley if you are able to help.

Studyladder Login details

Dear Whanau and tamariki,

Your new Studyladder login details will be sent home early this week, allowing you access to a huge range of learning opportunities on Studyladder.  We know you've been anticipating getting started, and appreciate your patience!

Parents - keep an eye out for a strip of paper with these login details. If they happen to be misplaced, feel free to send us an email and we can email you back with the details.

Kind regards,
Hayley and Jenny.

Studyladder Information for Home learning

Meet the Teacher

Thank you to those of you who came to Orientation night on Wednesday. I appreciate that it was a school night, and there were families who couldn't make it. Below is a summary of what was discussed for those who were not here:

·      Our classes are made up of Y3 and Y4 students, who work very well together.

·      Rooms 1 and 2 are operating collaboratively. At the moment we are setting up classroom routines and the children's books to establish high expectations. Our focus in the morning is on key curriculum areas – reading, writing and maths. Focus in the afternoons – Inquiry, Assemblies, PE, Art.

·      Our inquiry this term is "Zero to Hero" - an inquiry into New Zealand heroes and heroines. There will be a research aspect involved in this inquiry, as well as multiple practical experiences including a trip to Rutherfords den and the Canterbury Museum.

·      Discoverers 1 and Discoverers 2 pods are both part of the Year 3/4 syndicate – we are working on the same things, just in two separate pods.

·      Star Student - each child has the chance to be our "Star Student", which involves jobs around the classroom, leading the class when lining up, sitting up on a chair and helping like a 'mini teacher'. The children cherish this opportunity.

·      Library day is Wednesday. A gentle reminder to your child to remember their books for Wednesday is very helpful!

·      Garden to Table - Happens 3x a term for each class in the Year 3/4 syndicate. Our first Garden to Table experience was awesome! The next date for Discoverers 1 Garden to Table is 7th March, and then again on 28th March. Do let us know if you are able to help out.

·      Goals setting conferences for Year 4’s - look out for info on the blog or email about these.

·      Behaviour management: class Dojo’s are awarded for showing our values or putting in a great effort; we use restorative practises to resolve conflict, and ensure that the class emphasis is being positive, firm and fair.

·      Supporting your child’s learning at home: Homework / Home Learning – We encourage at this age that children read for at least 20 minutes. This can be at night/before school, or split up. Reading groups formally begin next week, and books will be sent home with children next week. Children can also read library books if they like.

·      Maths home learning can be accessed through Studyladder (logins will be sent home next week) and there is also an optional Homework Challenge grid posted on our blog under the "Home learning Term 1" tab. Evidence can be bought in to school by the child, and kept in the back of their Spelling book (paper) or shown to the class / posted on the blog (digital).

·      If you would like to discuss specific aspects about your child’s learning, please feel free to make an appointment with class teacher/s. There are Year 3 milestone conferences, and Year 4 goal setting conferences to discuss these too.

·      Communication – Our blog is a great way to keep up with the learning in our pod - we endeavour to post as often as we can, and if there is anything specific you'd like to know about or see do drop us a line. Jenny and I are available on email 24/7, and you can call in to the classroom before or after school for a quick chat too.

·      Help in the classroom – We love having parent helpers for for school trips, Art, Garden to Table, putting reading books away, changing our class set of library books, and for Writing on Monday - Wednesday mornings 9am - 9.50am. If you would like to help out in the classroom or outside of the classroom let us know.

Thank you!

Kind regards,

Hayley and Jenny.

Art for Kids on You Tube

In Ruma Rua we love drawing, and are learning to draw a range of weird and wonderful things by using "Art for Kids Hub" on You Tube.

The link is here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ArtforKidsHub

Rob home schools his four children in the United States, and uploads three new art videos a week. He shows us, step by step, how to draw simple and complex drawings. Check it out!

Fluffy and Cookie

On Friday Maya bought her guinea pigs to share with Room 2. They were very friendly and cute, and Maya showed us how to hold them correctly, and let people gently pat them.

Thank you, Maya!!

Room 1 at Garden to Table

Our first Syndicate Assembly

Ted

Ted lives in Room 2 and he's a very fluffy guy. Everyone loves him. He's the best teddy we could ever have in our class, and he cheers us up if we feel down.  He's cute! By Danica.

Be Like Buddy!

Today we did recount writing about Buddy going to a restaurant. Some of the tamariki in Room 2 extended themselves and wrote about a time they went to a restaurant. Keep a look out for published writing here on the blog shortly.....!

Star Writers!

Room 2 at Garden to Table

Take a look at our fun first Garden to Table session. A huge thanks to all the parent helpers, both in the morning and afternoon sessions.

Photos taken by Caiden and Mrs Ngan.

A fairy tale recount by Ryan

Once upon a time....

There were three little pigs. One of the three little pigs built his house out of straw. The second pig built his house out sticks. The third pig built his house out of bricks.

But one day a big bad wolf went to the first pig's house and said "little pig little pig let me in". "No" said the pig. "Then I'll blow your house down". So he blew the house down. The little pig ran to his brother's house. 

"Little pigs, let me in!" "No!" they said. "Then I'll blow your house down". So he blew the house down. The pigs ran to their big brother's house.

"Little pigs let me in". "No!" said the pigs. "Then I'll blow your house down!" So he blew, but the house didn't blow down. So he tried again but it still didn't work. So he climbed the roof and he went down the chimney...right into a pot of boiling hot water!

He ran up the chimney and ran, never to be seen again and the little pigs lived happily ever after.

The End.

By Ryan.

School Photos

Hi all,

School photos are next Tuesday 21st February. Room 1 are scheduled for 10am, and Room 2 10.10am. Family photos are approximately 12.30pm. Bring your best smile and tidiest hairstyle :-)

Look who came to visit today!

We built a home for the stick insect before school, and at mini break time we checked on him and passed him around so everyone could have a hold. He enjoyed sitting on Anika's nose and glasses. During numeracy time we noticed that he wanted to get out, so we let him go in some foliage outside. Then he disappeared.

It was so cool to have a stick insect join us for the morning!

URGENT: Garden to Table helpers required for tomorrow!

Hi all,

We still require parent helpers for tomorrow's Garden to Table:

- Room 1 needs two parents for the morning (9.-.9.45am) and one for (10.00 - 11.30 am)
- Room 2 needs two parents for the morning (11.40am - 12.30pm) and three for the afternoon (1.15pm - 2.55pm)

Email Jenny or Hayley asap if you are able to help at either of these times. Grandparents or friends are welcome to be helpers!

Many thanks

p.s.
The Room 1 & 2 Garden to Table Schedule for Term 1 can be viewed here . If you are able to help out at one of the sessions in March, please feel free to add your name.

Brain Break Song

Here's the Sid Shuffle, it's a brain break dance we do in our pod

We are going to practise it till we are really good at it!

Nut allergies

Kia ora,

In the latest Pod newsletter (which can be found under the "notices and events" tab at the top of this page), we mentioned that there are children with severe allergies in our Pod to peanuts. I forgot to also include hazelnuts and cashews as two of those allergens; please kindly check that no items with either peanuts, cashews and hazelnuts arrive at school in your child's lunch box.

Many thanks for your understanding.

Kind regards,
Hayley

Parent helpers for Garden to Table

Hi everyone,

We still need parent helpers to join us for Garden to Table next Tuesday, for both the morning and afternoon sessions.

The morning session runs between 11.40am - 12.30, and the afternoon session is between 1.15pm - 2.55pm.

Please let Jenny or myself know which session you are able to help out with, either in person or via email is fine.

Thanks for helping us make this exciting programme a success!
Hayley Ngan

Our teachers

Here's our teachers, Mrs N and Mrs W!

And here's some shots of our classroom in action! We worked together to fill out our "Discovering Me" booklets.

This is where we eat our kai

This is the Discoverers team eating lunch at the amphitheatre. Don't we look fantastic! Mrs Sumer reminded us that once we find somewhere to sit, we stay seated until we have finished our lunch and the duty teacher says we can go and play. It's a bit of a walk to take our lunch boxes back up to our bags, but we enjoy walking and talking with our friends!

Our First Day in the Discoverers 1 Pod

Thursday was our first day in the Discoverers 1 Pod. It was a fabulous day, with lots of fun with old friends and new. Our Year 3 and 4 team is made up of five classes (Rooms 1 - 5), and the Discoverers 1 Pod are Rooms 1 and 2 combined.

Our Tumuaki (Principal) Mr Callaghan, and Tumuaki Tuarua (Deputy Principal) Mrs May both came to visit our Pod. 

They reminded us that if we live through the St Martins School values, we can't go wrong! We're focussing on the value of "Caring" this term.

 

We show our friends we care by using nice words, helping, and making sure they feel alright.

Welcome to Discoverers 1 Pod blog!

Hi everyone!

We are the Discoverers 1 pod at St Martins School. Subscribe to our updates, and follow our learning journey throughout 2017. It will be a fabulous year, filled with learning, new experiences, and lots of fun.

We hope you keep in touch, and leave us lots of comments,
Hayley and the D1 pod :-)