A Typical Week in Ngaio

Hui

Monday's usually begin with hui, however in red setting, these are strand hui rather than whole-school. Clifford meets with us on the turf. He communicates any key messages as well as birthdays, and teaches us about a key virtue. Unfortunately we are unable to sing in red. If the weather is wet, Clifford visits each class instead.

Work cycle: numeracy

Work cycle runs for the remainder of the morning. Monday's lessons are focused on the numeracy learning area. Students will generally be part of one lesson with the teacher. Often they will explore a concept with Montessori materials, however these older students are moving to abstraction so may do book-based work too. They will have followup work to complete by the following week.

Library

On Monday afternoons, Ngaio visit the library. Students have the opportunity to browse for new books, look for any research materials they need, and have the chance to relax with a book. I am always keen to help ākonga choose a good book and like to recommend something to extend them. Students are able to issue up to 3 books for 3 weeks.

Work cycle: literacy

Tuesday lessons are focused on literacy in Ngaio. Eight year olds from Pōhutukawa join us for the morning. Generally Work Cycle will begin with some sort of writing lesson for the whole class, setting a focus for that mornings writing which students will draft before lunchtime. Other small group lessons will run throughout the morning, focused on anything from punctuation to the writing process, or reading comprehension through to spelling.

Performing Arts

Shani runs Ngaio in the afternoon, currently exploring The Performing Arts.

Work cycle: science

Wednesdays are science day in Ngaio, under the umbrella concepts of the Montessori Cosmic curriculum. We cover a huge range of topics, this year giving extra consideration to our two school overarching themes of water and urban environments. We will be studying chemistry this term.

Kai iti

To enhance and nurture our community, we have a whole staff morning tea on Wednesdays. This is the only day Montessori students join the rest of the school for kai iti.

Mahi Kaitiaki

Wednesday afternoons are dedicated to mahi kaitiaki, where the entire strand gets together to care for our environment. Ngaio ākonga are tuakana for Pōhutukawa teina, guiding the younger students as they work. Students volunteer for a variety of tasks including gardening, sweeping, sharpening pencils, picking up litter and making cards to show gratitude. 'Clifford's crew' visit him in his office to offer their services.

Work cycle: geometry

Thursday is dedicated to geometry and other strand maths (statistics, measurement & probability) in Ngaio. We are guided by the Montessori Geometry curriculum, and supplement with lessons and materials conducive to the Montessori Method. Ākonga usually have a lesson with those in their age-group, and have a week to complete a followup activity.

Class hui

Thursday afternoons is class hui, run by this weeks' kaiārahi. We celebrate any birthdays with chair lifting, give compliments, discuss virtues, raise any community events or initiatives, and address any other items raised. After hui we continue the community theme with a class game.

Work cycle: history & geography

Friday is another cosmic curriculum day, with a focus on history & geography. Catherine helps ākonga explore a theme, often through project-based learning. Eight year olds from Pōhutukawa join us for the morning. Currently students are exploring Te Ao Māori o Neharā.

Technology: Year 7 & 8

Year 7 & 8 ākonga travel to the Technology Centre at Karori West Normal School. They need to be at school before 8:40 to catch the bus.

P.E.

We finish the week with P.E., usually collaborative activities.

We endeavour to have regular joint events where both classes are learning together. The focus of these times change dependent on wider school activities. Our favourite activities are exploring the environments at Otari Wilton's Bush together, and mahi kaitiaki.

Participating in whole school activities gives children a chance to meet and socialise with peers outside their classroom as well as having the opportunity to learn from the whole community. Whole school activities change throughout the year, and will be different in this year of Covid. These may include kapa haka, singing, sports or a specific education programme. Whole school activities are generally run in the afternoon.

As a general rule, each class has a duty to perform each term. Ngaio are currently emptying the staffroom dishwasher as a service to the staff community. Term 2 we typically set up the hall for school hui, and Term 3 is road patrols. In term 4 we share road patrols with the other senior classes, and also tidy the P.E. shed.