Student of the week - George

Congratulations to George for his amazing independent research work on Emperor penguins - we love how you have presented your information in a unique and creative way George. 
George also gets the student of the week for consistently creating interesting pieces of writing.  Both Mrs May and Mrs O love reading George's written work.
Keep up the super effort George. 

Happy 8th Birthday Jenaya!!!

Happy Birthday Jenaya!!!

Today was Jenaya's 8th birthday, and we have enjoyed spending her special day with her. Her Mum brought a birthday cake in to school so that Jenaya could share it with her friends and teachers at morning tea time. The cake was delicious and everyone loved it!!!

We hope Jenaya has had a terrific birthday!

Elephant and Mouse Quick Write

Friday 25th May - a few samples of today's five minute Quick Write

“Stop”.  I’m getting stomped on.  Yuck, I don’t want to die.  I hold my tiny claw up.  I hear a humongous trumpet from the elephant.  Thump.  “Ow”  I’m covered in mud, grass and heaps of poo from the ground all around.  Yuck!   - Abby.

Smashing, crashing, banging and thump, thump, thump is all I hear around me.  A ginormous shadow crowds me.  I run and jump at the same time the thumping and jumping follows as I run.  And there is the ginormous animal crowding me  - George

No, don’t step on me.  But it was too late.  Squash!  I... couldn’t... believe I was going to die.  Bll!  This is the end of this mouse.   - Toby

“Rrrr.”  There is an elephant.  I go “Rrrrr” again.   I said to myself ‘I am going to die’.  If I could push the elephant’s foot... but it didn’t work because it was too heavy for a little mouse like me....  Jenaya

As I walk across the grassy lands of Africa I see a huge, ginormous elephant even bigger than me.  You see I can get stomped on so easily because I’m really small and tiny.  As I run as fast as I can, he spots me just like a witch.  So I went on the tree stump and introduced myself.  “Hi, I am called mouse.  Who are you?”    - Jessica

Aaaaaah you’re squashing mmmmmmeeeehhh.  Get off meeeee.  Please just get off.  I’ll give you peanuts.  Just get off!  Phew he’s off.  Oh no here comes a big herd of elephants!  I sprint but then....    Connie

“What are you doing to me?  I don’t want to be squashed and stomped by big foot.  Call the cops.  Wait there are no cops in animal life.  I hate this place.”  - Blake

What on earth is going on?  I am getting squashed by an elephant.  I’m going to die.  This is freaky.  I hate this place...   Max

What am I doing?  I have a big paw and I am about to get squashed.  Oh no.....  Lucy S

Making popcorn

As an introduction to writing instructions, we made popcorn in Room 4 and then had a go at writing the instructions for another student to follow.  Luckily we were allowed to eat the delicious popped corn while we wrote our instructions.

The next day we had a go at following each other's instructions to make the popcorn and realised that we need to be really specific and include ALL of the steps.  For example, we need to remember to tell the reader to turn the popcorn maker on!  We also need to make sure we tell the reader details.  For example, we can't just say 'Put the kernals in' as this could mean 2 kernals or the whole packet!

Shining Star - Lucie

We are so proud of this week's recipient of the shining star award. Lucie was awarded the trophy because of her kindness and concern for others. When someone lost their brand new book fair rubber earlier in the week, Lucie felt so bad for that person that she came to school the following day with her own money to buy that student a new rubber. This was a kind and generous gesture, and it makes us very proud to see such wonderful characterisitics being displayed by our students.

Well done Lucie, you are a terrific friend and a great role model to others. You really are a 'shining star'.

Student of the week - Abby

Congratulations to Room 4's student of the week.... Abby, for always settling to work quickly, remaining on task and setting high standards for herself. 
Abby you are such a hard worker and a great role model to the rest of the class.  You always know what is expected of you and get stuck into your work.  We know that you are here to learn!  Ka pai Abby.

Book fair colouring competition winners

 

 Today in Junior Singing Assembly we had a special visitor.  Geronimo Stilton came and presented the prizes for the winners of the book fair colouring competition.  Congratulations to the four winners - Regen, Lisa, Alyssa and Imogen.

Room 4's winner was Regen.  Geronimo must have been very impressed with the great job that Regen did of colouring his picture. Please leave us a comment Regen and tell us what was inside your parcel.

Lion Quick Write


A selection of Quick Writes about this picture (remember this writing was completed in only 5 minutes)

“What in the world are you doing?  That lion could kill you,” said the zookeeper.  
“But he’s so adorable,” said the woman.
“Yes but he’s a lion for crying out loud, a wild animal who’ll get out of my zoo.  Therefore stay out.  If I see you here again I will call the cops!”  - Alex

As I put my hands around a stranger and kiss her, her breath smells like strawberry.  I close my eyes so she wouldn’t pepper spray me.  When the bars surround me it’s like I can’t get my paws back in then... ow she punches me in the face. - Regen

Roar!  The lions roar peirced the air.  Soon a lady came up to the lion.  The lion wrapped his arms around the lady and they started kissing.  Yuck!  I scribble down some notes and send it to the Newspaper People.Co.  Then CHOMP! Where did the lady go?  Why was the blood on the floor?  I send some more notes to the Newspaper People.Co.  They put it in the newspaper straight away.  Soon the newspaper was at  my door....   Mac

Oh why do they always lock me behind bars?  One day I’m going to break out of this death trap.  I’m always getting hugs and kisses and I’m not a real lion.  I’m a human and I think they took me serious when I said I’ll dress up to be in the circus!  - Lucy W

‘RRRRRR I want to jump on my chinese lady and eat her for my prey’ I said to myself.  I go up to her then..... What!  She grabbed then started kissing me.  What the heck! - Rubie

I’m the reporter writing a shocking story.  This lady has broken in and is kissing a lion.  But don’t worry the cops are on their way and then.... snap!  The lion’s mouth goes over the ladies head.  The cops walk in and.... they are shocked to see a girl being eaten by a lion.  - William

What is that?  A girl grabs my two front paws and puts them around her neck.  I think ‘What is she doing to me?’  I try to get my paws off her neck.  I want to attack her!  -  Lucie

As I point a paw towards the top of my cage I lick my lips as I see a woman.  I slowly walk to her.  I thought to myself ‘If I make myself look friendly I could make her breakfast, with a touch of meat!!!!!’ - George

Geronimo visits the book fair

Today, while we were checking out the school book fair we were suprised by a visit from Geronimo Stilton. He was awesome and we were lucky enough to be able to get our photo taken with him before he headed off for a tour of the school.

Bungy Jumping Quick Write

We have started a new writing initiative in Room 4, where three times per week we begin the day with a five minute 'Quick-Write'.  When the students arrive at school there is a picture displayed on the interactive whiteboard.  They notice it straight away and begin talking about what is happening and how they might interpret this picture.  Once the first bell rings the students have 5 minutes only to write about the picture (no talking).  They can interpet it any way that they like - some students will write a recount of the event, others will make it a 'What am I?' description, some may write instructions.....

After 5 minutes we have three volunteers who share their writing with the class, receiving feedback about their work.  To finish off, the students buddy up and share their writing with a classmate.

The aim of our 'Quick Write' sessions is to give students more opportunites to write, write, write.  We hope to be able to reflect on these as the year progresses and help students to notice the improvements in both the quantity and quality of their writing over time. The response has been so positive that the students are disappointed on the two days of the week that we don't begin with a 'Quick Write'.

Here is a selection of Quick Writes from Friday 18th May 2012 (those students who handed their Mrs O writing books in for Mrs O to take home for the weekend)

“Ahhhhhh,” I yelled as I jumped off the bridge.  Everyone around me was cheering.  I’m going down but not far down because the rope has hold of me.  That was good because I would have hit the bush! - Abby

“Ah, ah” as I jump off the edge.  It feels like I’m unhooked. I put my arms out.  I go fast.  I plunge down and come back up to the edge. - Regen

Whoosh!  I run over the bridge and get ready for a real xtreme sport.  They slap on a stretchy thing around my legs.  “3, 2, 1 JUMP!” said the man.  It feels like watching someone jumping off the bridge at the Queenstown bungy jumping place.  A shiver runs up my spine....  SNAP!! - Mac

“AAAAAH”  I’m off the bridge screaming so hard and then people were screaming so hard back at me and then I’m near the ground and I hit the water and I’m still going “aaaaah” all over the place.  Then I go back up.  It feels like I’m a spider going up and up and up until I’m right at the top.  The people say “Do it again” but I say right in their ear “NO!!!!!” - Connie

“Aarrh” I screamed as someone pushed me.  I was going up and down.  I can only see water.  I thought I was going to fall into the water.  The man said “Time’s up!” - Emma

Help!! I thought as the rope snapped and a person body slammed into me.  Lots of waves rippled through my water as the drowning person died.  I can stand screaming, yelling but not being hit by a blasted person I decided.  Somebody’s rope snapping has only happened twice. - Rylee

“What the heck” I screamed.  Someone pushed me when I wasn’t ready.  It feels like the strap is going to snap. I hear it starting to snap....  SNAP!  Good thing there’s a life boat under me with someone in it. - Alex

“Ahhhh!”  as I get pushed off the platform I scream.  As I get closer and closer to the water suddenly, snap, the rope breaks.  I fall into the water and hit a huge fish.  Then I swim back to the shore and I said to myself ‘That was cool before the rope snapped!’ - Kate

AHHHHH I’m falling to the ground.  My heart is pumping.  Why did I choose to do this?  This is ridiculous.  Hope I do not get wet and the rope brings me back up.  I’m thinking of course it would.  I'm not dumb.... - Rubie

OK, here I go.  3, 2, 1 Ahhhhh.  I’ve got shivers down my back.  The air is flying through my hair so fast that it burns.  I hit the bottom.  Snap the rope goes...   AHHH!!! - William

Finally we arrive at the bridge.  Right it’s my go.  I’m all set.  I jump into the air.  Down I go.  Not doing that again. - Blake

Where am I?  There’s people shouting at me.  The people are making a bad feeling for me and the other people that are doing it.  But will the cord hold?  - Hamish

“Aaah” I screamed.  I jumped off.  I fell into the water.  I came back up.  - Paris

“Ahhhh” I scream as I fall.  I think that the rope will snap.  The person pushes me off the platform.  I think my shoes are going to fall off! - MaxAS I jump off the bank I go “Ahhhhh” head first.  The water is really fast.   A life boat came and rescued me. - Jenaya



"Ahhhh!"  I got pushed off.  I was not ready .  The clips were not on properly. I started screaming.  As I slowly closed my eyes I think I saw a fish jump out of the water.  I think the rope is going to snap.  SNAP...  - Lucie



The people jump aiming at me.  I am scared because he might land on me and hurt me!  He is only 20 metres from me.  Thank goodness he doesn’t land on me and he flies up.  - Toby

Ready and waiting for the Highlanders

Well, we dressed up. We made posters. We got VERY excited! We were all waiting for the Highlanders to visit......but....it was too wet and too windy for the helicopter to fly and land, so they had to postpone their visit. So then we all got VERY disappointed!!!  Looks like it was just a dress rehearsal for when they do come, and we can't WAIT!

Student of the week - Jenaya

Congratulations to Jenaya, our student of the week.  Jenaya has been working really hard on her reading, writing, handwriting and spelling and is making great progress in all of these areas.  Keep up the hard work Jenaya as we are all seeing the positive results!!!!!

Motocross Quickwrite

I’m going around a track, mud flings up onto my mudguard. I put my foot onto the ground. It feels like I’m going to fall off. My number is 123. My bike gets stuck in a bog. I do big skids but I can’t get out.

Regen

Splat! Mud goes everywhere. I jump on my motorbike. I’m dying to start.
“Go,” he said. We all raced off like a cheetah. People are in front of me. I think I’m not going to win because I’m way in behind. We’re at the finish line. He’s announcing the winner. It wasn’t me, but I’ll have better luck next time!

Abby

Am I ready to start? The whistle goes. I start. I get faster to go round the bend. I hope I don’t break down. I come towards the bend. I go round it. I go down low, I wonder if the person falls off!

Lucie

Where am I? I can see mud flicking up my back as I go round the track. As I go round the sharp corner even more mud flicks up. As I turn my head slightly to the side I see another boy behind me. I go zooming to the finish line. Woah! I won the race.

Kate

Mud, mud, mud, everywhere. Bumps, jumps and turns. As I go up the jump I do a double back flip and make sure that I don’t hurt myself. Two jumps ahead of me, I must be impressive.
“Yeah bro!” I did a triple forwards flip and a triple backwards flip. Three, two one and the winner is...you better know who.

Jessica

Bang! Then I’m off racing around the corner. There’s a person in front of me. Then I skid up to him. It’s me or him to win this race. Then there was a big corner. I turned my bars so hard. Then I go over the finish line. They show me a checkered flag then I knew I had won but the other motorbike speeds but I just managed to pass him then I would be getting a gold trophy.

Connie

Vroom! I go as fast as a cheetah, sprinting as hard as he could. I realise there’s a boy in front of me. OH NO! I...was...STUCK! I click into neutral. Then into gear 1. Guess what happens now! I pull a wheelie out of the bag, doing a rooster tail as well. I keep doing the wheelie up the jump, do a backflip and land it. The crowd goes wild. Someone catches up to me. I only just won.

Mac

Where am I? I hear the engine rumbling like an angry troll. I can hear the crowd appreciating the rider. I’m near the finish line but there’s another lap. Now I’m really annoyed that there’s another lap.

Hamish

I’m in a race coming in first place. The guy behind me is about to pass. Well I don’t think so. I step up my game. I see the finish line. I’m about to win. I hear people shouting my name,
“Josh, Josh, Josh!” I’m on my 123. Woah! I nearly fell off. Yes! I won. YES, YES! I won!

Alex

MMMRH I hate motocross day. It’s the day where I get torn up and ripped the most, lots of people ride on me. I hate being the motocross track. Rip. tear. There goes another rider. That’s going to be a hard tear to patch up. Oh no, this rider fell off. Ouch! Rip. Tear. It hurts me more than it hurts the rider.

Rylee

My wheels turn. Around the corner I go with the man on my back. I think we’re going to win. We won and the crowd goes wild. We won the trophy. Whoopee!!!

Toby

Haunted House - Quick Write

I am outside, too scared to even take a little step. All of a sudden a crackle in the bush. A light went on. I wanted to scream! All of a sudden a door opened. Something got my arm and dragged me inside and chucked me into a fire! I think that was the end of me!

Lucie

I am in the haunted house. I am scared and silent. I want to live but I can’t find my way out. I turned the light on. I saw a mouse! I ran and ran until I found my way out.

Jenaya

AAHHH! I scream as a cruel witch grabs me.
“Help!” I walk to her house as she pushes me across the bridge. I take a deep breath and open the door. Bats fly out like jet planes. “Keep walking,” she says.

William

I’m standing outside. The ghost is in the house. She walks to the door. She opens the door. I am breathing fast. I just had to freeze behind that tree. I just had to hide somewhere. Then I hesitated. I could not breathe.

Rubie

There are trees surrounding the haunted house with owls sitting upon one of the trees. I can see a light on in one of the upstairs windows. I can also see a path leading to the door of the house with spooky side on the path.

Kate

I was ready to open the door of the witches house. The door just opened itself. I walk quickly into the house. A voice yells up from the top of the building,
“Who goes there?” I turn around, the door locks. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP is all I hear .

George

I looked up at the scary house. It made me feel scared. I am by myself. Looking at this house makes me really scared because there is a monster flying in the sky. It has an ugly face

Emma

Lightning roars, birds fly past, only catching a glimpse of the spookiest house. One light is on but the others are off, perhaps just worn down. There’s a moat round the house with heavy black water. Also there’s a bridge you can walk over. This is a very unlikely place you’d want to be around.

Lucy W

Spooky crooked trees with no leaves hang across the grass. As I climb nervously up the stairs this is what I see. A very haunted house like nobody has seen before. At night all the lights are dark black and not on, but this night there was only one.

Jessica

It’s a spooky night in the garden of the haunted house. We slowly open the door... a ghost appears out of nowhere.

Blake

I’m flying about. I see a light. I fly over to the window. I see a witch and a little girl in a room. She is locked in the room. I saw a tree. I hide behind the tree.

Paris

Alex's Birthday - 9

 Today was Alex's 9th Birthday!!!

 This year, instead of having a party, she decided to share her birthday with the whole class. She had a shared lunch, and her Mum brought in lots of delicious party food and a wonderful cake that was decorated by her Nana - Elaine.

 Mrs Crawford helped her to cut the cake into enough pieces to share with everybody. The cake was delicious!! Luckily there was one piece of cake left for Alex to take home for her Dad!

We have enjoyed spending your birthday with you Alex. Thank you for the lovely party and we hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

A day in the life of Room 4

This post is especially for you parents.  How often when you ask your child "So what did you learn today?" or "What did you do at school today?", do you get the response "Not much"?

Well, in Room 4 we always have VERY busy days, jammed packed with learning opportunities.  Here's a little snapshot of how today went.

We began the day with singing.  Mrs O even got her guitar out for the first time this year!  Mrs O recorded us singing our very own creation of 'Easter holidays' which can be found on our blog.

At 9am Mrs Harrex arrived in to teach us Bible in Schools. She read us a story about how things are not always as they seem.  Then we completed an activity in our workbooks.

After that it was straight into spelling.  Some of us worked independently at our desks while the rest of us learnt about 'Magic e' with Mrs O on the mat.

Writing was next up for the day. We are all flat-out writing recounts about our experiences.  We are trying to include all of the who, what, where, when, why, and how information for the reader, as well as remembering to order our ideas. 

PHEW!  What a busy start to the day.  Finally time for morning tea and a quick play outside.

Reading was next.  This is one of the busiest times of the day in Room 4 as there are students doing all sorts of different reading activities: reading independently, reading with the teacher, studying reading-related activities on the computer, playing reading board games, listening to stories on the listening post and completing reading research activities.  Busy, busy, busy.

For Maths today we had a post-test.  This is when Mrs O checks to see what we have learnt from all of her teaching - should she get paid or not?  And also, to see what we need to learn next.  Our next maths topic is measuring Mass so she needed to get an idea of what we already know about grams, kilograms and reading scales.

FINALLY lunch-time!  Time for some kai and fresh air.

After the lunch bell, it is always DEAR in Room 4 (Drop Everything And Read), although today we did have the choice of silent reading or silent writing.

Mrs O then read our latest novel 'Tangled Fortunes' by Margaret Mahy to us.  It's great to just sit back, relax and enjoy listening to a chapter book.

We are winding up our Antarctica unit by doing our own research.  We have been allowed to choose any topic that interests us about Antarctica and today we finished off writing our questions that we want to find out and then begin to find relevant information for our research.  Everyone was so on-task today, keen to take their learning in their own direction.

Last of all was syndicate singing, lead beautifully by Room 7 this week.  The junior syndicate sang songs together and congratulated this week's 'Student of the Week' children.

So......  what learning happened in Room 4 today?

"Not much!"