Rich Task Info

This rich task we are working on sustainability, we have lots of ideas ranging from Nuclear energy to Endangered Pandas. In week 9, our work is going end up in a roadshow. and we have to display our stuff as creatively as posible, thinks like power points, diagrams, poster, picture, speeches And even using games!

We will try to update the rich task posts more often from now on,

Thanks, Room 10 Bloggers 

Term 2

English:

We will be focussing on transactional writing this term which includes report writing, advertisements, persuasive language,  infomercials, broadcasts, roadshows etc.

For reading we will be focussing on Knowledge aspects of reading using the contexts of journals and chapter books amongst others.

In our Spelling  will be continuing  to focus on the “Spelling Under Scrutiny” programme Balmoral has  adopted  by Joy Allcock.

Maths:

We will be continuing on with revising and retaining our number knowledge and strategies.  We will also be focussing on improving, retaining and learning all about Geometry and Algebra.

Rich Task:

Our focus for this term will be on transformation and Sustainability.  With our fertile question being “We know we should, but do we?”  Meaning we are all trying to live sustainably but do we really?

P4C:

Our Philosophy topic for this term will be related to our rich task and follow the lines of are we truly being sustainable or not?

Art: Surrealism vs Realism. 

We will be looking at surrealism and attempting to understand what is surrealism and does it relate to realism?

Languages:

Languages throughout this year will be Maori and French.  In these two languages we will be focussed on learning about the culture, environment, geography  as well as basic conversational speak.

PE:

This term our PE is Dancesport.  Where children will be learning all bout different types of dance and how to do them.

Dates to Remember:

25  April                –             School closed ANZAC Day

15 May                 -              Intermediate Maths evening

30 May-1 June   -              AI MS

4 June                   -              Queen’s Birthday Weekend (Monday school closed)

21 June                 -              Intermediate Social

Room 10 Class Blog 2012 Term 1

Welcome to the start of a brand new year. I look forward to working with all your students this year. We will be doing a variety of fun and exciting things this year form Camp to Socials to sports days!

First a little bit about myself. My name is Vanessa Counsell. I have been teaching for 15 years this year. I completed my training at Waikato University in 1996. I then taught year 7/8’s for 5 years in Hamilton. I carried on my career in London (where I was based for 6 years) where I taught any number of children from ages 3 – 13. During this time I was in many positions of responsibility from head of English to Maths to even Religious Education. I came back to New Zealand in 2007 and taught at A.N.I for 2 years. I have been at this school for 3 years this year. I am currently Head of Languages as well as a Tutor and Associate teacher.

One of my many passions is Languages (I will be teaching French to you student’s this year as I have spent a number of years travelling throughout many French speaking countries as well as living in Noumea). I also love to travel and have been to many places over the years.

If you wish to contact me my email address is vanessac@balmoral.school.nz

Our Programme:

Literacy (Reading, Writing and Spelling):

Reading:

Our reading programme is based on the asTTle tests students sit early on in February. Once these results are analysed children will be put into differentiated groups where we will be focussing on the many aspects of reading techniques and strategies students may need extra practice in.

Spelling:

Our Spelling unit at Balmoral is based on the “Spelling Under Scrutiny” programme by Joy Allcock. This is where we focus on the many aspects of spelling in the English language (such as prefixes, suffixes, contractions and apostrophes)

Writing:

As teachers we underwent intensive professional development in teaching Writing to students last year using the ‘genius’ of Murray Gadd. We are using what we learnt last year to improve our student’s writing ability.

Maths:

This term we will be focussing on not only improving and retaining our basic facts knowledge but also focussing on the Measurement strand of year 8 Maths. We will be doing a range of activities relating to these aspects of the Maths curriculum including using games and the internet to consolidate this.

Rich Task:

Our Rich Task this term is ‘Developing Ourselves and Leadership’. And our fertile question is “Do all explorers lead others, or is leading yourself to successful achievement equally important; therefore how do you lead yourself to greatness and success”? We will be looking at great leaders the world over and analysing what made them great, we will be also asking the question ‘what can we do ourselves to become leaders’? We will also be goals setting for not only our camp (which is in week 6 of this term) but for the year as well.

PE:

Our main PE for this term is swimming sports as well as striking and fielding and summer sports.

Visual Arts:

Our Art for this term will be ‘The Renaissance’. Where we will be finding out what the Renaissance is and what made it great.

P4C:

Our P4C this term will be related to our Rich Task.

Languages:

Languages throughout this year will be Maori and French. In these two languages we will be focussed on learning about the culture, environment, geography as well as basic conversational speak.

Dates To Remember:

9 February Meet the teacher BBQ

14 February School Photos

17 February School Swimming Sports

Week 6 Year 8 Camp

14 March Parent Interviews

3 April HPV Booster shots for yr 8 girls

6 April Good Friday

Literacy


We will be focusing on Speech writing this term. With the Balmoral school speech competition being played out in week seven of this term





Spelling


We will be continuing with the Joy Allock "Spelling Under Scrutiny" programme.





Writing


We will be continuing on with improving our writing ability using ideas from Murray Gadd.





Reading


We will be continuing to focus on improving our understanding of what we are reading. We will be focusing on improving on our word play knowledge and reading non fiction books so we can experience a range of genres in preparation for next year.





Maths


We will be continuing our focus on Number and Algebra, Geometry and Measurement and Statistics. We will be continuing our revision of number knowledge using online games and activities.





Rich Task


Our rich task is "Citizenship" with the overall fertile question being: 'does everyone have an equal voice'? We will be undertaking a variety of activities to enhance our understanding of this with the overall result being shared with the community towards the end of the term.





Languages


The next two terms we will be focusing on French and many aspects of french culture and language.





Art


This term we will be focusing on "Pop Art" and looking closely at the art of Lichenstein and to a lesser extent Warhol.





Important dates to remember!!!


1-12 August - Korean students visiting


3 August - Parent Interviews


4 August - Parent Interviews


9 August- Kidsing Choir at the Town Hall


19 August- Intermediate school cross country


22-27 August-Shinano Japanese High School arrives


Week 5- AIMS


Week 6-CZ Cross Country


week 7 - Speech competitions, IZ cross country


week 8-arts festical


week 9-Aparangi Rich Task presentation





O.O XD :) :D yall have a great rest of the year!!!!!