Term 1

Term 1 was the first ever time we did #NZREADALOUD. We all ready knew how to sketchnote because we practiced it before we began reading. The first book we had for #NZREADALOUD was Tui Street Heroes, it was a very interesting book and it made you think critically about each character in the text.

"This is an interesting way to read and understand the text." Chloe

Twitter Chats With our #NZreadaloud Authors

The twitter chats are really good because we get talk to the author and other learners from across the country about the book we are reading. We like this because it happens in real time which means that everybody is able to share their thoughts about what is happening in the text at the same time and we are able to ask and answer each others questions.

Collaborating with the other schools opens up our minds and helps us to critically think more about the shared text because we have to justify our thoughts and ideas using the text as a base. Listening to other learners thinking and ideas helps us to expand our knowledge about the text.

Being able to write succinctly, is really hard at first but we are now becoming more able to do this because we practice our skills weekly.

Using twitter as a way to connect with others is awesome!

Mana Akonga

Mana Akonga opens up a range of opportunities that are really enjoyable, as a class we really enjoy this way of learning because it gives us some freedom inside of our learning. We use many platforms in our learning, the platforms that the teachers choose are really interesting, and we really enjoy using them. We can also use platforms that we think help us with our learning which means we are not limited to what the teachers think. Our teachers are always looking for new innovative ways to make our learning really entertaining and engaging and, this means our learning is always fun. We explore our wonderings and create inquiries based on our curiosities and being able to do this is helping us to develop our agency as learners. Also in Mana Akonga we use a platform called google classroom. ` This platform helps our teachers give us Feedback and Feedforward about our work so that we can achieve the learning goals we have set for ourselves.

To access our Mana Akonga learning we use a virtual classroom slide where we go and click on the hyperlinks/images that lead us to develop our curiosities and wonderings. This way of learning is awesome because we timetable in our workshops and basically drive our own learning with support of our teachers the teachers do not control our learning we control it we strive for our own excellence.

Flipgrid

In Rongokako we use flipgird often to help us connect with other schools and other people. Flipgrid is a great tool to use as we are able to record our thinking and share our learning verbally. Rongokako we manly use flipgrid for our #NZRA tasks but also use it for in writing, reading, reflecting, goal setting, MYTime Inquires and 'What If?' learning.

We use flipgrid all through our #NZRA flipgrid is a interactive integrated and connected literacy tool that we use on a daily basis. Flipgrid is great to use in a ILE classroom because ILE is a connected class and Flipgrid is a connected tool.

'I think that Flipgrid is a good tool to use because Iam able to connect with learners from other schools' - Ethan Berge

'Flipgrid is a site where you can introduce yourself and talk about things and share it to people all around Aotearoa. We talk about things in #NZReadaloud or with learners from overseas about learning that we are involved in.

At the moment, we are using a text #Tumeke as a catalyst to the learning we are doing. We have made a rap, drawn a visual image about what is inside an artists mind, and we also made fist bumps. Flipgrids are a fun way to connect'.- Kurt Unciano

Heroes Journey

The Hero's journey is a journey that most books or movies follow. The Journey starts at Status Quo.

1 O'Clock |Call To Adventure| this stage is where the hero gets a message or a sign.

(You are introduced to some new learning)

2 O'Clock |Help| The Hero gets assistance or an item of significance from a much older or wiser one.

(Teachers, buddies, internet, whanau and experts can support learning)

3 O'Clock |Departure|This is when the hero plunges into the pit and begins the challenge of the unknown.

(You are leaving your comfort zone and entering the special world)

4 O'Clock |Trials| This is where the hero gets a test or a TRAIL and so begins to build on or further develop skills and strategies that may support them with the challenge that is ahead.

(You begin trying some new learning strategies)

5 O'Clock |Approach| The Hero Approaches the beast or the challenge head on and all the planning, thinking, strategies and developing skills begin to be called upon.

(You are now entering the pit)

6 O'Clock |CRISIS| This is where the hero experiences weakness and needs to draw on a range of strategies to help them problem solve solutions to the challenge. The hero needs to remain strong, use their growth mindset and push their way through the challenges they are facing so that they can be become stronger and more confident.

(You are now at the bottom of the pit)

7 O'Clock |Treasure| The Hero begins to defeat the challenge or beast and gains a treasure.

(You have found and used a strategy or a skill to help you learn)

8 O'Clock |Result| The hero uses learnt strategies with success or realises that a solution can not be found using the methods tried. (This can vary between stories) The creatures of the special world bow down to the hero as he now understands that learning is a process.

(YOU DID IT!) SUCCESS!

9 O'Clock |Return| The hero enters the ordinary world once again. Learning has taken place; the challenge or challenges were met.

(You are returning back to your comfort zone)

10 O'Clock |New Life| The Journey has changed the hero's life.

(You have learnt something new) YOU ARE A HERO!

11 O'Clock |Resolution| All the twisted plot lines straighten out; goal reached or next steps created.

(You have achieved your goal )

The hero is happy but his curiosity is sparked and as he now begins to question and wonder about new ideas; where to next?

12 O'Clock |Status Quo (The Next Level)

(YOU ARE NOW READY FOR A NEW CHALLENGE/ADVENTURE)

Writing in Rongokako

Pandora

We are always doing some form of writing in Rongokako and we always get to share our writing with other people which is cool because we know that we have a purpose that we are writing for.

This writing named Pandora was inspired by a moving image that we watched as a class.

Below is what Taine wrote in relation to this writing opportunity.

A planet of weird and wonderful things planet pandora. A planet with different creatures and different types of humans there is a leader of this planet was merlan. Named after his great uncle who was the leader of pandora once. He passed away three years ago. Merlan was 26 years old. And had a sense that something was hiding on this planet. His mother and father live in the village. They were so proud of their son. The parents retired from their job.One day something attacked the planet. It was a spaceship with big laser guns on it and it started shooting at the village. “Ahhhhhhhh!”said the woodsmen in the village, all his wood had gotten shot and burnt. Everyone screamed they were terrified and scared for their lives. People were dropping dead like flies. The leader Merlan was running and he leaped on the spaceship he knocked out the pilotes the planet was saved. Families were running to their family who was on the ground dead crying. The leader was shocked at all the dead bodies on the ground. The bodies were barred in the graveyard. sad feelings spread around the street that month. The people were so sad leader Merlan was shocked by the attack he felt like he let his people down; he hadn't been out in public for 2 months Merlan came out from the castel and spoke to the public saying “I know what all of you have been throw but it wont be forever we will rebuild the village”he said “it doesn't matter about the village!”someone from the crowd said “why does it not matter about the village?” “because you let us down and that's the only thing we care about you let our family die!”said the person from the crowd. “Yea she's right!” The crowd yelled “ok but how am I supposed to rebuild your family members it's -Taine Smith

Art Deco

Rongokako went on a small field trip to the Napier Sound Shell, where we celebrated Art Deco with other schools from across Napier.

We wore /Art Deco themed clothing and had an Art Deco picnic which we shared.

We planned what we were going to bring for a shared picnic the previous day and had an amazing time and some great food.

There were a lot of classical cars and motorcycles from the time period of Art Deco and we competed in a scavenger hunt to find answers to a range of clues shared. One of our class members won this challenge and a ride in two of the vintage cars.

Bands and performers wore time period clothing and did excellent performances at the Sound Shell for all of the schools who participated in this awesome day out.

Rongokako learners had a wonderful day and talked about this experience for a long period after - fond memories were made on this day.

Please check out our photos of this wonderful day out.

It was an excellent day.

Here are a couple of photo's from the day.

Vintage Car Ride

'My group and I completed in a scavenger hunt to find answers to a range of clues shared. I won this challenge and a ride in two of the vintage cars which I got to do the following weekend.'

-Joshua Fairweather

Pit Plane Visit

In term 1 we had a visit from the New Zealand air force. There were two mechanics, one pilot and one engineer that taught us about the planes. They taught us how drag, lift and flight works on airplanes. It was really interesting and everybody there learnt a lot. Then we went over to the pit plane. We got to take the prepalers of the front and after we took them off we put them back on, and we learnt what kind of tools you need to take them off and put them back on. After we did that we went over to the cockpit of the plane and we got to put some of the New Zealand Air Force gear, after we put some of the gear on we went into the cockpit and we were allowed to push any button and pull any lever that we pleased. It was very fun to learn what some of the buttons and levers do. Then we went over to the back of the pit plane, and we had the privilege to take the back of the plane and then put it back on. It was very fun to learn what tool gets used for where. After all of that everybody had learnt heaps of new stuff.

What If?

What if humans had never landed on the moon? We had to decide where humanity should adventure to if we could only explore one more place. We had to think about what and wehre humans should focus on exploring next. My group decided that we could colonise one planet and we realised that there was to be no travelling to other planets for resources. We chose to inhabit Mars because we thought it would be easier to get to it as it is the closest in distance. We had to think of the problems that inhabiting this planet would bring us and then find was to solve them. We did heaps of research and learnt many new things about both Mars and other things like how to make sure water is drinkable. We love doing this type of learning because we have to justify our thinking with others in our group,we always start in the pit and we have to come up with solutions.

WHAT IF?

One of the other "What'If?' activities that we did was 'What if Dinosaurs Hadn't Gone Extinct?' We had to image that we live in a neighbourhood struggling with an over population of dinosaurs. They were everywhere! We would come home and find dinosaurs in our yards eating our plants and leaves off our trees. Some of our homes had be stepped on and crushed to smitereens. We had to come up with what we would do to dino-proof our homes and schools. I found this activity fun and challenging because we had to do research about what dinosaurs were like and we got to draw and design our schools and houses so that the dinosaurs weren't able to crush them.

We also had to think about how we could live alongside dinosaurs as we were no longer at the top of the food chain and we had to think about whether or not humans would have evolved in the way they have if we had to compete against dinosaurs everyday. We asked ourselves questions like would we be as advanced with technologies? Who would rule the earth, dinosaurs or humans? Would our world be better or worse and why?

We really like doing these challenges because we have to think critcally and really look at developing solutions to all of the problems we would be facing and in this situation; if dinosuars really hadn't become extinct. - Ethan Berge

Book Snaps

#BookSnaps are digital, visual representations of learning that showcases our voice. They are very useful when we are showing our learning and what we think about the book we are working in a digital format. Booksnaps are very easy to create and you can let your mind run free when you are creating them. We also put our QR Codes on them which is very useful as well because we have recorded our thinking and ideas about the text we read and, others can hear our thoughts on our 'Talking Wall'.

'I really like listening to other peoples thoughts about the books and am always interested in hearing which language features they have liked.' - Daniel

'I like that we get to share what rating we give the book' - Lucca