Windy Writing

Friday afternoon was very windy!  The tiles in our ceiling were jumping up and down and this prompted us to write about who or what was making this happen.  Some excellent writing comes from impromptu ideas.   ooooooooooooh!!!


Suddenly the roof wooshed out!  Room 3 is haunted!!!!!!!!  I feel scared.  He makes a ghost noise.  He has pink freckles.  He has no body - just his head.  He smells like dog poo.  His head is made of candy floss.

Angus L

I heard the wind howling like a wolf.  Creeeeaaaak!  I nervously looked up.  Several parts of the roof were flapping up and down.  Friday afternoon was giving me the creeps!                                                                                                   May

In Room 3 Mister Stinks was messing about.  He had a family.  They all stink.  You will never want to taste him.  He whistles on and on.  It was on the roof.  I was shaking when I saw it.  He always tricks us.

Emily

The roof was slightly lifting on a windy day.  I was watching the pink batts move up and down from my grey wooden desk.  I smelt nothing.  I tasted nothing.  I heard wooooooo noises.  Room 3 is haunted!!!!!

Nelson

In Room 3 the roof lifted slightly.  It sounded like a ghost whistling.  The ghost is white with a big droopy mouth and huge, black eyes the size of tennis balls.  It wore ripped up clothes and smelt like fish bones.  It slowly hovered over the pink but he was all by himself up there.  He eats fish and bugs.  He has lived up there for 100 years.

Quinn

The roof slightly moved.  I think I saw a monster.  I think it had glowing, red eyes and a pair of devil horns.  It had a million blue spikes on its back.  It was haunting our roof.

Jake

The ghost in Room 3's roof was lifting up all the boards on the ceiling.  As they creaked we all got scared.  Was the ghost going to haunt us?  Do ghost really exist?  I thought I saw some glove-like hands and it had a ponytail on her head.  She was wearing a nice dress with dots.  Was it really a ghost?

Isla

In the attic there is something that is scaring me.  His name is Casper.  Casper is a friendly ghost.  What I think is that he wants to have some fun.  When Room Three's tiles on the roof lifted it made a windy noise and a banging noise.  I smelt nothing but fresh clean air.  What I feel is fear and shock, and I am frightened.  How can ghosts do that?  I really don't understand.  When did it come here and does it live here?  I don't know.                                                                                     Kahlani

There was a ghost in Room 3.  He lifts up parts of the roof.  No-one knows what he looks like.  All you can see is two bold eyes.  He smells like dead fish.  If you try to punch him your hand goes right through.

Theo

                                                             

Writing - Turning a daily activity into something interesting

We wrote some descriptive recounts this week, with pleasing results.  Our aim was to take an everyday activity and make it interesting.  Which vocabulary do you think is SPECTACULAR?

We are learning to: 

•    Begin the story in a way that hooks the reader in
•    Use interesting and explicit vocabulary
•    Use adjectives to describe an object
•    Use similes - (using the words 'like' or 'as')
•    Add detail to interest the reader

Here are some examples:


Dad explained that I had to put Benson, our family dog, away in the kennel.  He had flopped down on the thick carpet.  Bright sun rays were shining all over Benson's fluffy, fur-covered body.  Benson has white fur on his belly and the rest is black.  His eyes are black and shiny.  He is a miniature Schnauzer.  I called for him.  He slowly heaved himself up.  We went outside and had a tough race.  At first he went bounding ahead of me as fast as a wolf can go.  Then I suddenly plucked up my speed and shot off like a rocket and beat Benson by five inches.  He went  into his kennel.  I gave him a crunchy treat and he barked "Thank you."

By Max

When I was brushing my teeth my tooth popped out.  When it popped out, the tap was still running and I JUST saved it from running into the drain.  I tried to keep it a secret but I couldn't because my slimy gum was bleeding.  My heart was beating so hard like I was running hard out.  I tried to keep it a secret because my Mum and Dad's friends were over.  That would be embarrassing!  The next time I brushed my teeth it felt funny because my front tooth was gone and I started to get upset.

By Emily

I was playing with my cute kitten in the hot sun.  She was following me around and meowing like my brother when he was a baby.  When I drag a long piece of white string across the smooth ground she will chase it.  Sometimes she nudges my face.  She is as fluffy as cotton wool.  I love my cat!

Katie

I was slowly patting my Nanna and Pops soft cat while the rich, yellow sun was sparkling through the old window.  She started to purr.  Queeny has white fur under her medium chin and the rest is black.  She has eyes like a green emerald.  I patted it one more time.  It hissed like a snake at me and stuck it's hard paw out and tried to scratch me with its sharp claws.

Nelson        

When I scratch my cat under his chin where it is white, he shuts his eyes and purrs in the sunlight like music in a disco.  He follows me wherever I go and when I pat him he immediately lies down in the sunlight.  He's got white whiskers as long as a piece of string.  He's black and white and likes chasing rats, mice, birds, bees, and butterflies.  His fur is as soft as snow.  His name is Boris.

Yannick

Cross Country

What a wonderful day it was!  Luckily I was able to watch the Year 3 races before I rushed off to a meeting in town.  I was so proud of everyone for completing the race with a smile on their faces.

Unfortunately, technology has failed me and I have lost all the photos I took on the day and of their certificate presentation at Assembly.  Sorry about that - but you can visit the Haumoana School facebook page to see some photos.

Term 3

  Haumoana School – Room 3 Newsletter, Term 3

                                                    24 July 2017

Dear Parents and Guardians

Welcome back to Term 3 in Room 3.  I hope you and your children have had enjoyable holidays and are over all the illnesses we were experiencing before the holidays.  Term 2 was so busy with Matariki and our School Production!  This Term the children will be deciding on what they will learn through their new research skills and based on their play. 

Brain Food – Continue to provide several healthy snacks for eating first thing in the morning and throughout the day when children feel the need.  Named water bottles should be at school each day too to ensure the brain functions well.

Our Habits of Mind foci this term are Thinking Flexibly and Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision.  We will continue focussing on articulating our thinking more clearly to learning buddies.  As a follow up at home you could expect your child to justify their thinking by using the word ‘because’ and to add detail to their discussions with you.  This is a good habit to develop and will ensure our learning accelerates.  For some people this feels a little uncomfortable, but our best learning is done if there is a challenge that is overcome.  The Key Competencies are an important part of the curriculum and this term we will focus on  “Using Language, Symbols & Text” and  “Thinking”. 

Integrated programmes:  Last term we brainstormed topics the children would like to learn about.  Many expressed an interest in MAGIC so we will begin with children exploring an area of Magic that interests them.  The main focus of all learning will be research skills but will integrate all Curriculum areas – including Art, Drama and play etc. Our aim is to explore values such as Respect and Integrity.  

Play-based Learning – This concept complements the strong literacy and numeracy programmes that are already in place.  We will try to play and work outside (weather dependent) for either a half day or whole day each week.  We have several knitters amongst us and more children will add to the pool this term!  Irene (Yannick’s Mum) has made a very good start to the mosaic wall along with Cat (Theo’s Mum) and the children.  It is looking fantastic.  This will continue each Tuesday afternoon.  The Potions table is set up now and children will no doubt be looking for more ingredients to use in their potions. 

Learning Stories in the children’s portfolios will also update you on their learning in this area. 

Resources will be required so please keep an eagle eye out for anything that we may be able to use. 

*  Natural resources (e.g. seed pods, pine cones, drift wood etc) will be used for creating;

*  Remnants from old bottles of vinegar, shampoo, spices, sauces etc for our potions table

Writer’s Notebook -  Please encourage your child to bring along items of interest to glue in e.g. photos of pets, holidays, special events; newspaper articles of personal interest; tickets for rides, movies etc. 

Even interesting words or phrases that you come across or that tickle your fancy which could be used in their writing can be included. 

Homework

Although homework should not require more than 20 minutes each night, tasks still need to be completed and books returned to school each day. 

☺   Spelling - Please encourage your child to learn words before being tested.  Refer to the chart in their books.  Using colour to practice with is a very good way to aid memory. 

☺   Reading Logs - Please remember to help your child record the date, title and a comment about the content of reading.  This could be related to what your child already knows about the topic, what he/she has learnt, what surprised, frightened, worried or made him/her laugh.  It is important to talk about the book before, during and after reading.  If your child is tired, share the reading.  Discuss their/your experiences around the topic.

☺   Number Knowledge must be learnt each day.  It is a good idea to sign up to e-ako maths and this is a more motivational way to learn their number knowledge.  Thank you to those people who have offered to help out with testing this term. 

Finally, if there is anything you are unsure of or that is worrying you, or you have something to celebrate please do not hesitate to email, call in, text or phone to make an appointment to discuss these matters. Please use the homework book as a communication book.  It saves losing notes.  

Sue Jensen

Teacher – Year 3.

Music Production - Whatever the Weather

We are so proud of our backdrop for the Show!  We made the "View through the window" with collage materials and we made the calico curtains.

This involved the use of lots of our maths skills.  Firstly we needed to measure the areas to decorate.  So we used a metre ruler to measure the width of the hall and the board for the window, the height of the curtains and window etc.

Then we needed to measure the calico and cut the right lengths.

       

     

Next was the sewing!

       

We also worked hard on the window.  Firstly the background was painted, then pictures of beautiful plants, birds and garden creatures were found in magazines.  The fence was painted and some children gathered foliage from the garden to finish it off!  Then Keith helped us to hang it up.  Thanks Keith!

Doesn't it look great?!!!

Of course we also had to practice our routine a LOT during the term.  Our item was rather difficult as we were creating music with our body and performing the item in 3 parts.  We sang, tapped, stomped and jumped in the puddles..... it was AWESOME!  

Week 10

Hi everyone

We had a wonderful hangi on Friday and the children were pleased to be making use of their woven baskets to eat their kai from. 

This is another busy week.  Monday – Wednesday will be focussed on our Musical Production (practices, Matinee performances and an evening show).  Please ensure your child has their blue/grey clothing and gumboots at school each day.  These will come home Wednesday after school to change into prior to returning for the evening show. 

Be prepared for our wonderful window creation to be revealed!  We have integrated many skills learnt this term....mosaics, measuring, sewing  :-) See you there!  Here's a sneak peek....

On Thursday we will travel by bus to the Star Compass at Waitangi Park.  Please ensure all permission slips are returned and money paid.  We will be back by morning tea time.

Some parents have been asking for ideas to practice Number Knowledge.  This is just one aspect of our maths programme and the blog shows what is taken into account when making judgements about whether your child has met the National Standards required after 3 years at school.  Please take the time to look at the Maths tab at the top of the blog, check the links and sign up for e-ako maths.  This is a fun way to explore number ideas and learn the basics required for solving more challenging problems.

There are some photos and videos of our learning this term.  We have been so busy that I am still working on posting everything, so keep checking in.  It will be up to date by the end of the week!

This week children’s homework is focussed on maths.  Please check the blog, explore maths sites given, and work on the Number Knowledge books.  Have an awesome final week of term and enjoy the holidays.

Maths Practice

Maths is an important aspect of our learning at school in order to solve many real life problems.

On the Maths tab at the top of the blog you will find posters explaining what you will need to be learning as a Year 3 person, and links to a wealth of resources for practicing in fun ways.

Please take the time to explore.  Sign up to e-ako maths and see what you can learn over the holidays.

Also try Maths Buddy for free and let me know what you think.