Back in the Classroom – Expo Day, a Fabulous Project and Family Campout

2014-03-01 | puppy1952

Another busy week is over. The girls are striding ahead with their Reading, Writing and Mathematics and surprising me with how quickly they are grasping new concepts. We are working at developing good habits of mind and this week our focus was on thinking with clarity and Gathering Data through using all our senses. Well after talking about what all this means the girls amazed me how they could get into these habits at their own level. Listening to all the Speaker Reader recitals I was impressed how the little ones were able to speak out well and capture their audience’s interest.

Some of the girls are good at gathering information using their ears while others prefer a visual approach. All the senses though help us to learn. After giving just a verbal explanation of a task to the girls I found that only half of them understood what to do – the auditory learners – As soon as I repeated the instructions bringing in visual examples on the board and getting them to point to pictures on their worksheet there were no more problems! Playing a game of blind man’s bluff taught the girls how their other senses were sharpened when they could not see. They all decided that they did not want to do without any of their senses thank you!

As always there was a lot of excitement at school this week. On Thursday we had an Expo Day. The Grade Ones showed what learning in the 21st Century was like when they got stuck into their project – Me, From Birth till Now. Their brief was to research the meaning of their names, ask their parents why they had chosen it, find out why they were special to their parents and collect photographs of themselves reaching their milestones. Mom and Dad could type and print out their bits of pieces of information and send materials to school so that they could scrapbook it into an A3 project for display in the classroom. Wow – did they just love this. I was super impressed at the enthusiasm and effort that went into both the preparation and presentation of their work. We had many visitors to the classroom and I hope they enjoyed the morning as much as we did.

Do you know what this says?

My parents think I’m great!

Look at mine!

A little help from the Room Mom

I’m ready to start

Careful thought going into the design

Now let me think

Help me read this please.

I need some help

I know just what I’m doing

Do you like it so far?

You can arrange it any way you like

What do you think of this?

To end the week we had a camp out on the school sports field this weekend! The weather looked a little threatening – the wind was blowing and dark clouds were gathering but the turnout was amazing. What a vibe there was with music playing and the rugby showing on the big screen outside our tuck shop – Birdie Num Nums! I was on duty early on Saturday morning. As I wandered around the field to chat to some of my little ones, it was clear that everyone had spent a very enjoyable night in spite of a bit of rain in the early hours of the morning. It cleared into a beautiful day though, and everyone was rising sleepily, parents getting their caffeine fix while the youngsters bonded with their friends.

One of mine with her big sister (also one of mine once upon a time)

Dad was on duty this weekend!

Another one of mine. (Dad was also on camp out duty!)

At 7:00 a.m. my duty began with serving breakfast at Birdie Num Nums. Wow – new respect for the catering staff – but what fun my colleagues and I had helping them. There was such an amazing vibe with music playing and Mrs J shouting out the orders which we rushed to fill. At first we were nervous about taking money and giving change – after all we only do Grade 1 Math – but when it got busy we had no choice but to help with that too!

Should we change our careers? My colleague and I hard at work!

Getting those hot chocolates and coffees to the expectant clients

All to soon it was over and the field was cleared by all but the hardened campers who did not want to leave. One dad asked us to please make this a quarterly event as it was so much fun! Well – we’ll think about that one!

Back in the Classroom – Group Teaching

2014-02-20 | puppy1952

Because this week ended today at 12:00 noon for a weekend of staff training, I am doing the BLOG early this week. It has been a short week yet we have packed in so much. We have reached the time of term when the girls are really settled and into the routine of school. They are learning so quickly and I am enormously proud of them. I know I say this every year but I am always amazed at the rate at which Grade Ones learn. It is the most rewarding part of this job.

In the first few weeks our focus in on getting into good routines, learning to follow instructions, to work quietly at our tables and to consider others. Once this is established and the teacher has begun to know her learners she can begin with group teaching. This has now started in my class although I am still teaching in small mixed-ability groups. Later in the term I will group the children into ability groups and allow the girls to progress at their own pace. Teaching in groups has so many advantages. It allows the teacher to focus on individuals and to give more individual attention to learners who need it. I also allows her to extend the fast workers.

Working with concrete apparatus at this age is vital

Can you see three with your eyes before you grab in in one go?

How do you change three into four? Just one more!

We are so smart!

While a group is busy working with the teacher on the mat the others have tasks to do on their own at their desks. These tasks are well within their ability and the girls do not need help from the teacher. The girls have to be able to work independently and quietly and with just the odd reminder from me the cope very well indeed.

These girls are working on a THRASS activity while a group of learners is having a group Reading lesson.

I am practising my known THRASS skills

I am colouring the words that begin with the dog phoneme ‘d’ Aren’t I clever!

We do all kinds of activities to learn our phonemes and graphemes. We have made the flying birds for ‘b’ a rabbit for ‘bb’ and yesterday we made a crown for our queen. Don’t forget the queen, queen. Her majesty the queen, queen. Queen begins with ‘q’ queen. And of course she needs a crown!

That is all I have for this short week, folks. It was a long afternoon of staff training where we performed many fun tasks focussing on the Habits of Mind. It’s all very exciting and promises to make us better prepared for teaching your children.

Parents we have already started listening to Speaker Reader presentations so if your child hasn’t anything prepared yet please make sure she has something by Monday. Projects begin next week too. Make sure your child has all her bits and pieces to compile her “Me from Birth to Now” poster.

Have an awesome Long Weekend!

Back in the Classroom – Our Senses, Animals, Butter and Valentine’s Day

2014-02-14 | puppy1952

Teachers travelling to the future from a bygone age may not recognise the schools they visit in the 21st Century – well our school certainly is one they might think was created from creatures from another planet! It appears that no work is ever done – it’s just fun, fun, fun. Songs and movement, dressing up, outings to exotic places – well I never – is this what the world of the future has come to – I am sure they would wonder.

Yes – it is fun at our school but wow – do our children learn – and they don’t even know it! On Thursday we went to Higgledy Piggledy Petting Farm at Imhoff’s Gift and used our senses to learn all about farm animals and also how to make butter. What is butter? asked one little girl. mmmm – I guess some people only use margarine on their bread in these heart safe days! The jury is still out on the truth of this one though. Personally I like to think a little bit of butter is better for Betty.

The girls smelled the stinky farm smells, listened to the cocks crow and other animal noises, touched the furry creatures and they were beside themselves with joy to be able to feed them first hand. Even the pigs were adorable.

The goats got loose and I got a photograph!

If we hold our food up high we won’t be stormed by hungry birds

I’m not too sure about this piggy

The goat is safely back in his pen

Cuddling a furry creature is just the best

We’re trying to tempt the guinea pigs out of their safe place

He is so soft

Love is holding a pet

The bunnies were the best

After washing our hands carefully we went on to make butter while brother class connected with the animals. What a fun thing that was. We learned that milk actually comes from a cow and that we could shake the cream from the top of the milk to change it into a solid that is called butter. And boy does it taste lovely and creamy on the biscuits our teacher gave us the next day.

Ready to learn about making butter!

Churn it up , Churn it down, Churn it all around

And what do you get – creamy butter!

This so amazing

It tasted delicious

We also learned how to milk a goat – yes we did – but it was not a real one!

It feels weird

Is this really where milk comes from?

What a crazy thing to do!

I’m getting the hang of this

What is my mother going to say!

We ate our homemade butter on biscuits on Valentine’s Day

mmm Creamy and delicious

Well – I’m not so sure about this

I think its okay

Yum Yum

Oh – yes – this is good!

On Friday there was more fun at school – we all dressed up in pink or red and white and celebrated Valentine’s Day. I was so spoiled by my little girls who brought me flowers and chocolates – Thank you girls and parents – I felt very pampered. Everybody looked amazing but we chose four specially lovely outfits and then the girls voted for a winner who was quite overcome with joy. The others made her feel very special when she was presented with a heart-shaped eraser and a lollipop!

The princesses all dressed up

Aren’t they gorgeous

Cuteness in pink red and white

But the kids weren’t the only ones dressing up – the teachers joined in the fun too. We also decorated the teachers’ lounge and had some romantic music playing. We were treated to a cupcake and a cutesy poem telling us how fab we are!

Don’t you love the tie!

Full of fun she is!

Love you daaarling

The gorgeous girls

Ladies in Red

Love you my friend!

Nothing like sharing Valentinés with a handsome young man!

We all love each other at SVPS

The girls were fascinated by the story of Valentine – ask them about it parents – I hope they remember it and can repeat it to you.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Back in the Classroom – Another busy week

2014-02-08 | puppy1952

Apologies to my parents for not posting yesterday but I had to leave school straight after sport and then it was into the car and off to Struisbaai for the weekend! So here I am in the most beautiful part of the Western Cape, listening to birdsong in the garden while I catch up on my blog.

Wow – what a great week we have had. It never fails to thrill me when I see the pace at which a young child learns. Already they are able to build sentences with their little pink words – some just the ones they know from the story while others are creating their own, sometimes funny, ones of their own.

Look at this long sentence!

This is easy

Have I got it right?

I am so pleased with myself

I did it all by myself

I can do it!

Can I make another one?

The girls are also learning to transcribe their sentences into their books but the emphasis at the moment is building them with our word cards before we stress over getting them into writing but look how far we’ve come.

I am proud of my work

Is this okay?

I am doing my best

On Tuesday evening we are having a “night school” on how we teach THRASS. Parents, do make an effort to attend.

We have already learnt all about Jean Pierre the brave ant who lives in Paris. We have sung his song and listened to his story. We now know that a is for ant and have found pictures of a words.

I cut out my ant and found the pictures that start with a

I am learning cutting out skills at the same time as learning phonemes and graphemes

It is fun finding the a words on the apple tree

It makes me happy to learn all about this French ant!

I am having fun while learning

Just look at what I can do

I am learning to focus on my tasks too

Now let me think!

I think I have it right

The girls are really making me proud with their beautiful work. Keep helping them at home with the homework tasks as practising new skills ensures that they will become a habit of the mind.

Back in the Classroom – Meeting Our Hoofie Leaders and starting Homework

2014-01-31 | puppy1952

On Tuesday the Grade Ones met their Hoofie Leaders. At SVPS all the children are divided into families of seven, consisting of a child from each grade. These families meet once a fortnight and are headed up by a Grade Seven learner. Before these gatherings occur the Grade Ones are introduced to their Head of Family (Hoofie Leader) who explains how the whole system works. We find that having these families reduces the occurrence of bullying because the children learn to get on with the other kids no matter what grade they’re in and families stick together and help each other out in times of need.

I feel special with my Hoofie Leader

Getting to know what it is all about

I think I’m going to like this

This week was yet another busy one full of new learning experiences. We continued with shapes, colours and reading. What fun it was to create pictures out of our diamond shapes. We had to remember to use our shapes in size order too! That was tricky when you were concentrating on the creative side.

Kites are flying. Have I got the sizes right?

Do you like my colours and patterns?

This week we focussed on the colour Orange. What fun we had honing our cutting out skills and strengthening the small muscles in our fingers and hands by colouring Ollie as brightly as we could. We then mounted him on black paper all by ourselves. Getting him to stand out was quite tricky but we managed!

I must cut very carefully

Tongue out helps me concentrate

So How am I doing?

It’s a piece of cake!

Don’t rush me – I’m nearly done!

Aren’t we clever!

Homework for Grade Ones began at the beginning of this week. We do not require you as the parent to teach your child. Everything that comes home has already been taught and just needs to be practiced. Any new skill that is taught must be practised in order to perfect it and this is the reason we give simple homework exercises daily. Make sure your child does the required homework as specified in the homework diary, remove notices from it and sign. It should take no longer than 20 minutes per day. Then watch your child thrive!

Funny Story of the week:- One little lass had a tummy ache. “Tell me exactly how it feels.” I said. “It feels like my tummy is biting me.” She replied. I sent her home!

Smart answer of the week:- Question: “What is a widow?” Answer: “A black spider!”

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and parents, please cover the THRASS Book sent home with your child today. This book will travel back and forth from school to home every day – it needs to last the whole year so a good quality plastic cover is required.

Quote

The thing I love most about teaching Grade 1 is watching children learn to read. Research has shown that children aged 6 turning 7 are at the perfect learning stage to start reading. In some countries children start earlier than this but by the time they are 10 our children will be at the same level as the 5 year-old starters. Our programme is geared to the 6/7 year-old whereas other countries gear theirs to younger learners.

Six and seven year-olds seem to just catch reading like one catches a cold, only its so much better! The only thing I do is expose them to the written word, provide them with some tools to work out new words and then watch it happen all by itself. Parents too, should be exposing their children to stories and books. More important than getting your child to read to you is for you to read to her. Remember when your baby was learning to talk? You didn’t teach her. You spoke to her – constantly. Well mostly it’s the same with Reading. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to read to your child. Then leave the rest to the teacher and follow the homework procedure vigilantly.

The girls have already started their journey into Reading. They are rapping the alphabet and the THRASS chart. They have been introduced to their first Reading words. It’s happening already!

I can read this!

I love this bird story!

It’s so easy

Concentration is required

This week we have introduced the beginnings of writing and the girls are working hard at getting their patterns right. Imagine having to hold your crayon correctly, remember to start in the right place and touch the top and bottom line. Lots of effort and concentration is required but once those neural pathways are set we will be ready to start on letter formation.

We are also working hard on our mathematical concepts. We know our shapes and are counting beautifully. Now we are working on recognising numerals and spotting how many dots make five no matter how they’re arranged! Some of us still need to count them all but soon we will get to see the number instantly. The teacher has some funny requirements too. We focus on one colour and have to do a page of things just that colour. Then we focus on a shape and have to make a picture of just that shape too! Oh well – we love her so we just do it!

Cutting and pasting a yellow scene

Getting to grips with rectangles

I’m making a rectangle cake

Do you like my robot?

It has to be just right and mine has his own style!

Our school encourages healthy eating habits. We know this is sometimes difficult because of all the tempting treats out there and busy parents find it easy to just pop in a packet of chips or some yummy biscuits into the lunch box. Treats are great but should be just that – treats. They should not substitute nourishing food. Research has shown that children who eat healthily perform better at school. We are a brain-based school and believe that correct eating feeds the brain and reduces hyperactivity and lethargy in children. And surprisingly children like healthy food. It is not difficult to pop something nourishing into a lunch box and if you do your child will be more alert and able to focus better in class. Let’s work together to make the learning process easier in every way possible.

Some healthy options

Funny story of the week —– Each morning we greet each other with a show of fingers 1 for very sad and want to cry, 2 for I am grumpy – 3 for I’m just fine thank you and 4 – I am excited, very happy and just fabulous. One morning a sweet little lass asks – “What’s the number for bored?” And this was Day 2 before we’d even started the day! At the end of the morning she assured me she wasn’t bored anymore!

Back in the Classroom – Welcome

2014-01-17 | puppy1952

To all my new parents – a very warm welcome to Grade 1 Fn! So often the reply to your “What did you do at school today?” is – “Nothing!” This is the place you can log into at the end of each week to see the what the answer should have been!

Two and half years ago I returned to teaching after a 10 year break during which I only did relief work – then the call came again. It was supposed to be for four months —- but still I’m “Back in the Classroom!”

The first day of school is always exciting but for Grade 1 it is a giant leap to the next phase of their lives. Even though the first few days have been short, I am sure you have found your girls to be quite exhausted by the time they got to bed! There is so much newness, so much to get used to and so much excitement. Be patient with them until they get used to their new lives. A good routine, healthy diet and early bedtime will make all the difference in getting them to settle.

There was a fabulous welcome to all the new little ones in the hall on Wednesday morning and then we all trooped to our classrooms and started working straight away! The girls were introduced to The Gruffalow, learnt about RED, made a picture from circles and are getting to grips with writing their names. They have had their minds filled with new expectations and routines and I have to say they’re coping beautifully.

Red is an exciting colour

I made balloons for my clown out of circles

There is just too so much to do!

At last – time to play on the mat!

Australian Adventure –

2014-01-13 | puppy1952

The Australian Adventure is over and we are safely back in our homeland – South Africa! To all the Australians who have read the blog – thank you for hosting us in your fantastic country. Almost every Australian we met was friendly, kind and helpful from the smallest child to the very old man I met and chatted to on the ferry. He struck up the conversation and showed a real interest in where I came from and he was proud when I told him that his countrymen had been good to us.

Thanks to my Aussie Family for their love and care of us, putting up with our demands and showing us a jolly good time! We love you guys and look forward to you coming to visit us in the very near future!

It was also amazing catching up with friends – the Morrises – Australians we met some years ago – your hospitality was beyond amazing and you made our Australian Birding dreams come true! Gail and Martin – wow – so sorry we didn’t have a tad longer with you guys – but our day together was awesome. We look forward to having a Kruger trip with you soon!

I thought the flight back would be easier than the one over but the opposite was true. We left at 10:30 a.m. Australian Time and arrived in Johannesburg at 3:30 p.m. South African time – 14 hours in the air! By the time we got onto our connecting flight at 6:00 p.m. I was exhausted. I guess it was because we didn’t really have a night and I didn’t even try to sleep.

However, after a good night’s sleep I felt great this morning. School started bright and early with a rousing, inspiring and welcoming staff meeting at 7:30 a.m. And so it’s back to normal life and living the South African Lifestyle!

Australian Adventure- Day 36 – Catching up with expat friends

2014-01-11 | puppy1952

Sad as it was, we had to say farewell to our hosts Wil and Christiaan this morning. We had our last delicious breakfast and fabulous coffee at Katine and then Martin our lifelong friend and my surrogate brother, now relocated in St Ives, Sydney, Australia came to collect us. Wow – it was good to see him and Gail in their new environment. After dropping off our luggage at their home we went to West Head and took in the view before making our way to Palm beach where we had a delicious swim in the Pacific Ocean.

My two favourite men – my husband and my ‘brother’

West Head with Martin and Gail

Martin and Earl love Palm Beach and what it has to offer

In the evening Martin and Gail took us to their favourite Indian restaurant in St Ives – Road to Goa where we shared several delicious dishes. The food was great but the bonding with our friends was the best! We miss you guys!

Australian Adventure – Day 35 – Parramatta River Cruise and Chinese Gardens

2014-01-10 | puppy1952

Our second last full day in Sydney and the weather looked promising – still overcast but definitely clearing so no need to drag jackets out with us. We had a light and early breakfast at Kantine Cafe, met up with Bruce and Ella who were heading to Bondi and got a lift to Circular Quay with them. Just outside the cafe we spotted two sulphur crested cockatoos in a tree. One seemed to be making a nest in the hollow while the other kept guard.

Sulphur Crested cockatoo keeping guard while his mate makes a nest in the hollow?

Moored in the harbour Earl was delighted to find a big cruise ship. I am not keen on cruised but I must admit this one looked exciting and I just could have been tempted to board her. Instead we settled for a River Cruise to Parramatta Wharf.

Isn’t she magnificent – the ship I mean!

Maybe I’ll give in to a cruise one day – when I’m very old

Can’t get enough of that fabulous bridge

Earl as I have mentioned many times before just loves boats, ships, fishing, the sea, lakes, rivers, dams – so long as there is water he is a happy man so he was in heaven on this almost 3 hour round trip which took in Darling Harbour, Cockatoo Island, Kissing Point, Sydney Olympic Point among other harbours and ports. The last stretch up the river becomes quite shallow and narrow and passes through mangroves which was lovley. We spotted birds like white-faced herons, ibises, pied cormorants, darters and ducks.

A beautiful neighbourhood

You can spend the night in a tent on Cockatoo Island

Good fishing in the river

Prime Property

Mangrove Swamps

Some bird life

On the return trip we disembarked at Darling Harbour, had lunch at a coffee shop then visited the quiet, shady and gentle Chinese Gardens before walking back to our penthouse for an afternoon nap! We might be having a night out later so have to get our strength up!

Darling Harbour

Peace and Tranquillity

Terrapin tanning

The Ducks love it

A gushing waterfall

Earl in the bamboo forest

Imperial visitors? No but you could pretend for a day

In the evening we went to Wayne and Tamara for dinner. Wayne took on the role of Jamie Oliver and cooked up a storm – veal with a berry sauce followed by baked chocolate pudding. Afterwards he raided the ark and found his slides from his 1984 trip to South Africa which brought back some great memories. His son, Alexander, didn’t know what a ‘slide’ was and was completely fascinated by the old fashioned projector! We’d all forgotten which way to load the slides and fell about laughing when they appeared upside down on the screen! Finally we got it right and enjoyed the show!

Earl shows Alex some ancient technology

Wayne’s delicious dessert

Australian Adventure – Day 34 – Rural Australia

2014-01-09 | puppy1952

My cousin Alan and his partner Lynne have for the past five years being recreating a home on a family farm in Cobbitty. Today he took Earl and me on a visit there and showed how this project is progressing. We were amazed at how he uses ‘junk’ in creative ways to create a practical home of shabby chic. Alan was not born to farm life but finds that he is spending more and more time there and is loving all aspects of the country lifestyle and his ‘shed’ is his best therapy. There are a few sheep on the farm but geese and ducks are the main livestock kept. There are also two female ostriches – just to remind Alan that his origins are South African!

Alan’s Farm Home

Bathtub off the kitchen

Coffee Table made from scraps

Alan and his ostriches

Some of the livestock

Before we took the hour’s drive to the farm we stopped off at a bakery in Bourke Street for some of their speciality breads and cakes. Lynne made us pizzas for lunch – she even made the dough herself – and they were baked in a gas pizza oven!

The Bakery

Making Pizza

In the afternoon we walked to the river. After a short while we were rewarded with the appearance of the Azure Kingfisher. He gave us a 10 minute display of skimming aquatic insects from the surface of the water and preening on the overhanging branch he dived from. We watched him through our binoculars but photography was difficult because of poor light and distance.

Aquatic Insects

Azure Kingfisher

After once again indulging in delicious cakes bought from the bakery, Lynne and Alan drove us back to Sydney and spent the night at their city home in St Ives as they have plans here tomorrow.

We really have been spoilt by our Aussie family!

Australia Adventure – Day 33 – Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk, Harbour Cruise. Taronga Zoo and Dinner with Cousins

2014-01-08 | puppy1952

Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge was high on my priority list. But Hubby wouldn’t even let me do the tree top swing thing and so imagine what watching me 134m above sea level would do to his nervous disposition. Of course I didn’t have the slightest bit of fear and would have done it in a beat if I hadn’t been so concerned about his anxiety! The high price of the high climb justified me chickening out on this one too! I envied those brave souls up there though but settled for second best and walked across on the footpath instead. There was after all the pylon climb which Earl declined to do but said it was okay for me.

So after a slightly different breakfast at Kantine – we ordered egg and bacon rolls but were presented with a starter of fruit salad to share just before it arrived – thank you kind hosts – we took the bus to Circular Quay, finally found the start of the walk in Cumberland Street.We kept having to turn around to see the view toward the city and realised that coming the other way would be more picturesque. So we finished the walk and then walked back again! On the return trip I climbed up the pylon paying the “senior’s” fee of $8.50 which for a South African was a big saving on the regular $13. There are some advantages to growing older!

Bridge From the foot path

Cyclists are catered for

There is a cycle track over the bridge – here a cyclist is coming down from the bridge

The pylon I climbed

Breathtaking views from the top

Looking down on the bridge

Tall ship in harbour

After the double walk – it was about more than 2km there and back – we took a hop on hop off ferry to Taronga zoo which included the entry fee. The ferry ride itself was interesting as we got to see Fort Denison, Shark Island and Watson’s Bay en route and being on a boat is always a highlight for Earl. The zoo is lovely but we only did the Australian animals – Africa in Australia did not appeal to us. The best was the bird aviary and being able to see the birds up close – just sitting there watching was a lovely experience.

One of the more unusual birds we saw – Noisy Pitta

The weather today was overcast and chilly at first so fortunately we took our jackets – it rained slightly on our return ferry trip so we were grateful for them.

In the evening the cousins got to together for a fabulous meal at Alpha – a Greek Restaurant in Surry Hills. Not only was the company warm, friendly and stimulating the Greek food was to die for! Thanks Cuzzies for an amazing evening.