Kia orana

Last week was Cook Island Language Week.  There was lots of learning of Cook Island language, fitness took on a new meaning with Cook Island music and dancing, Cook Islands songs were sung, ai katu pārau worn. 

At the end of last term we celebrated Matariki, culminating in a Cultural Assembly, where all tamariki performed items from cultures from across the world.  Thank you to all the whānau who were able to join us in this celebration. 

We also held the Moveathon Fundraiser.  The weather was not so helpful, but our wonderful staff managed and used a lot of flexibility to make sure tamariki were moving a lot during the day.  Some of you have already handed in your sponsorship money, or put it in the FoLBS bank account (their bank number was on the information that was sent home.  Please could all fundraising money be sent to school, or put in the account by the end of this week?  We have a spot prize draw at the whole school assembly on Friday next week, so need to know whose names to put in the draw!  The fundraising money is going to be used to make improvements to our school grounds.  You might have already seen John digging a driftwood pit, this is one step in the process.  We have lots of planting to be done too, and hopefully some new playground items.  So far, $2,901.90 has been raised!

This week is Maths week.  We have a lot of different math activities throughout the school this week.  Have a chat with your tamaiti at home and find out what they are doing in maths. 

There has been a lot of talk in the media lately about maths, so it is timely to let you know about our maths programme.  Every day, in each hub, there are maths workshops. Workshops are the explicit teaching of maths skills and strategies.  Kaikao have assessed the tamariki using diagnostic assessment, normed assessment, observations, talking with tamariki etc.  Using this information kaiako know where to focus for each of the tamariki.  There are also 'rich tasks' which are maths tasks that have a low floor and high ceiling, so everyone in the group can work on the task, using varying strategies.  You will get information home about maths in timely comments or celebrations of learning.  You can find out more at Learning Conversations (which are planned for the end of this term), or pop in and chat to kaiako. 

Here is an extract from an email from Erica Stanford received yesterday...

Is structured maths a programme?

It’s an approach.  The New Zealand Curriculum is the foundation of teaching and learning for mathematics.  The teaching sequence for mathematics with statistics is built on the principles of the science of learning, supporting gradual and sequential progression towards student mastery.  The delivery of this curriculum will be supported by high-quality, curriculum aligned, teaching resources offered by a number of different accredited providers [active process] and $20 million in professional learning and development funding to support implementation of the new curriculum.

Does reference to structured maths and workbooks mean rote learning and kids sitting at desks?

Structured maths is the opposite of rote learning.  It’s about building understanding of concepts in a sequential way.  Great, innovative, exciting maths teaching that grows a love of mathematics in our students is made up of a combination of explicit teaching, group work, maths games, different representations and manipulations of mathematical concepts, written work and ultimately a journey towards the mastery and automation of foundational skills.  Student workbooks are just a small part of the picture.

Finally, I want to clarify we are not asking you to stop teaching music and the arts.  Our intention is all schools implement an hour a day of reading, writing, and maths, and I fully expect the arts and music to remain in your timetable.  We often find it is through the arts, for example, that you can bring a curriculum fully to life.  I see wonderful examples in schools of creative writing turned into drama sketches or fractions and ratios taught through music.  Competence and creativity are foundational to any child’s love of learning.

The newsletter is published every two weeks on Tuesdays.  The newsletter is available on HERO and on our website.  In each newsletter,  there will be te reo Māori shared to help us all to develop our knowledge and understanding.  This week is a focus on everyday phrases you can use:  Maranga mai! - Rise and shine, Today's a new day - He rāhou tēnei, I au te moe? - Did you sleep well?, Haere ki te horoi - Go and have a wash.

Our swimming sports were also interrupted by weather.  We are not able to book another time before the Eastern Zones, but will put together a team of yr 4- 6 swimmers and will hold a swimming carnival later in the year. 

At the beginning of the term we welcomed leaders from across the North Island to Lyall Bay School.  They were introduced to beach school as part of their visit and were very impressed with the learning that was happening across the curriculum.

Beach School is an extension of the classroom programme and focuses heavily on the Learning Through Play pedagogy of Notice – Recognise – Respond and the Science of Learning.  The kaiako and kaimahi who attend Beach School recognise the urges of the tamariki, design invitations to learn, and provide appropriate resources.  While ākonga are engaged in the New Zealand Curriculum, kaiako observe, assess, and record learning (photos, videos, written).  Sometimes Kaiako respond by using questioning or probing statements while at the beach, other times they use the data collected to inform the next steps for future sessions or workshops in the classroom related to reading, writing and maths.  These are explicitly taught by Kaiako with small groups.

At Lyall Bay School, we believe that the beach provides an excellent learning space for our ākonga, allowing them to develop their skills as communicators, collaborators, critical thinkers, and creators.  

Our Beach School programme responds to our tamariki by integrating all learning areas of the New Zealand Curriculum, alongside their interests and urges.  

We give effect to Te Titiri o Waitangi by providing culturallyresponsive teaching and learning opportunities centred around Kaitiakitanga, Whānaungatanga, and Āwhinatia.

As a learning resource, the rationale of going to the beach links coherently to our Strategic Plan ensuring our use of the beach is focused, inspiring, responsive, and engaging.