A Look Back At Last Week

Mathematics

In mathematics the students have just finished exploring positive and negative integers, addition and subtraction of decimal numbers, ratio and proportion . Next we turn our attention towards securing mental methods for all fours options and solving complex multiplication and division problems.  Through the use of multi-steps word problems we aim to tackle how we can filter through the language to decode these problems, and in turn, identify what is required before completing the calculations.

The recent Khan Academy app update has been excellent as now we can view video tutorials, obtain hints and complete activities all in the one place.  Previously, we could only view videos.  A big thanks to the team at Khan Academy for this free service and awesome update.

Just a few calculations.

@KICSYear6 students are loving the @khanacademy iPad app. Fantastic new design & features. #kicslearns @KICSprimary pic.twitter.com/UkKU2svhnU
— Donovan Hall (@donovanhallnz) January 27, 2015

Language

In Language we have finished our journalistic writing focus on tabloids and broadsheets and it was fun using the same news to compare and contrast these types of writing.

We are now looking at narrative writing and using the Story Mountain planner to help us organise our stories.  This ties in nicely with the Tayeb Salih Junior Short Story Competition and our visiting author Sam Osman who will no doubt be able to provide us with some excellent advice and tips.  Because we live in a connected world, we plan to tweet authors to find out their top tips.

We have just finished the latest reading assessments in the form of running records and it has been pleasing to reflect upon the progress made since the start of the year.  We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for your support in this area and modelling the importance of reading at home.

Try me out!

UOI

Last week our Mighty Media unit concluded with our assembly in which some of the students shared their audio or video promotion of their print advertisements.  By embedding a QR code into their poster the students made an interactive advertisement that engage the consumer.  Next we hope to "WOW" people with the use of the Aurasma app to create augmented reality.  Hopefully we will be able to find a work around for our current issue.

Exhibition

We have started the tuning in stage of the Exhibition and the students have been working independently and collaboratively to explore local and/or global issues/problems that warrant a significant investigation.   In thinking about possible issues/problems the students have been encouraged to answer the following questions:

• What is the big idea?
• Why is this issue/problem important?
• Who is this going to benefit?
• How are you going to solve this issue/problem? (Action)

This year's Exhibition falls under the transdisciplinary theme of Sharing The Planet which involves are specific inquiry into:

• Rights and responsibilities.
• The struggle to share finite resources with other people and with other living things.
• Communities and the relationships within and between them.
• Access to equal opportunities.

• Peace and conflict resolution.

We look forward to meeting with parents in the Junior Hall on Monday 9th February from 08:15 - 09:45 to explore this in greater depth.

KICS Primary Athletics Day

Once again this was an excellent event as it not only provided an opportunity for the students to text themselves physical but it also provided them with the opportunity for leadership.  During the morning the students were involved in running events alongside teachers for the Year 1 to 3 athletics events.

Thanks @MullinAndy & Branden for a fantastic sports day. @KICSprimary students had a blast. #kicslearns pic.twitter.com/AJsDePDFui
— Donovan Hall (@donovanhallnz) January 26, 2015