Welcome to 2016 in a newly renovated Room 3!! We are so lucky to have this updated environment to work in and I'm particularly looking forward to air conditioning! Still some setting up to do - and it will be great to have children's input. I'm sure you and your children have had happy holidays and are eager to start a new year of learning. We will initially be working on developing the routines of a new class, focussing on the Habits of Mind Listening with Empathy and Understanding and Persisting. I am looking forward to working more with the Senior Team and the other Year 3s. More details about this to come. The reading books your children bring home in the first few weeks may be easy, as we work on establishing the routines and I get to know the children. These are a few notes to help your child settle in.
Brain Food
Each day starts with a healthy snack and milk to help activate the brain. The snack should be fresh fruit or vegetables, or plain crackers with cheese. Please cut larger pieces of fruit such as apples into manageable segments that can be consumed in a short time. No packets or sweet biscuits. Room 3 has a policy of flexibility with eating during the day (at any time suited to the child). Please provide severall healthy snacks for this purpose. Research shows that when healthy snacks are eaten regularly, students are more att4entive and enjoy learning more. Morning Tea is eaten while teachers read to the children. I ask that they choose something that does not have commercial packets as the noise is difficult to hear over as the wrappers crackle. I encourage them to bring a named bottle of water to the classroom and have this available throughout the day. It is essential to keep the brain functioning well.
Stationery - this can be ordered through Office Max - either online or in the shop. If this is organised early we can get straight into our learning programme. We use a shared/pooled system for rubbers, crayons and pens so naming is not necessary. For this reason it is best to keep any extra fancy items at home. It saves worries about loss or damage to items. Coloured pencils may be used but we do not require felt pens.
Sport - During the first few weeks of term our PE programme is aquatic (swimming). The few weeks we have available to learn to swim are crucial. It is expected that your children bring togs every day. Even though some mornings may be colder it often turns out hot enough to swim in the afternoon. If there is a medical reason why your child cannot swim please write a note in the homework book (or see me).
Topic Studies
This term our topic is "TEAM" (Together Everyone Achieves More) and we will focus on working toether, becoming aware of our immediate environment and then the wider community. We will have several out of school experiences to explore. This focus will be integrated through all Curriculum areas - Reading, Writing, Maths, Art etc. our aim is to explore values such as respect, honour our School Value of Belonging (A place to stand - our turangawaewae - Being empowered and connected). Two Habits of Mind - Listening with Empathy and Understanding and Persisting will be the big ideas woven into everything we do. Great habits to set the tone for the year! In Room 3 traditional ability grouping for reading and maths will be minimised. Collaborative learning in mixed ability grouping is proven to be more beneficial to children. In time, the children will come home talking about this. Thinking Hats and Thinking Maps will feature strongly in all areas of learning too. A Writer's Notebook will be used to generate ideas for writing. Please encourage your child to bring along items of interet to glue in e.g. photos of pets, holidays, special events; newspaper article of personal interest; tickets for rides, movies eetc. Even interesting words or phrases that you come across or that tickle your fancy which could be used in the writing can be included.
Homework
Please see your child's homework book for details about this. You should not require more than 20 minutes per night.
Let's work as a TEAM to ensure your child is reaching his or her potential and that everyone is happy. 2016 is set to be an awesome one!
Brain Food
Each day starts with a healthy snack and milk to help activate the brain. The snack should be fresh fruit or vegetables, or plain crackers with cheese. Please cut larger pieces of fruit such as apples into manageable segments that can be consumed in a short time. No packets or sweet biscuits. Room 3 has a policy of flexibility with eating during the day (at any time suited to the child). Please provide severall healthy snacks for this purpose. Research shows that when healthy snacks are eaten regularly, students are more att4entive and enjoy learning more. Morning Tea is eaten while teachers read to the children. I ask that they choose something that does not have commercial packets as the noise is difficult to hear over as the wrappers crackle. I encourage them to bring a named bottle of water to the classroom and have this available throughout the day. It is essential to keep the brain functioning well.
Stationery - this can be ordered through Office Max - either online or in the shop. If this is organised early we can get straight into our learning programme. We use a shared/pooled system for rubbers, crayons and pens so naming is not necessary. For this reason it is best to keep any extra fancy items at home. It saves worries about loss or damage to items. Coloured pencils may be used but we do not require felt pens.
Sport - During the first few weeks of term our PE programme is aquatic (swimming). The few weeks we have available to learn to swim are crucial. It is expected that your children bring togs every day. Even though some mornings may be colder it often turns out hot enough to swim in the afternoon. If there is a medical reason why your child cannot swim please write a note in the homework book (or see me).
Topic Studies
This term our topic is "TEAM" (Together Everyone Achieves More) and we will focus on working toether, becoming aware of our immediate environment and then the wider community. We will have several out of school experiences to explore. This focus will be integrated through all Curriculum areas - Reading, Writing, Maths, Art etc. our aim is to explore values such as respect, honour our School Value of Belonging (A place to stand - our turangawaewae - Being empowered and connected). Two Habits of Mind - Listening with Empathy and Understanding and Persisting will be the big ideas woven into everything we do. Great habits to set the tone for the year! In Room 3 traditional ability grouping for reading and maths will be minimised. Collaborative learning in mixed ability grouping is proven to be more beneficial to children. In time, the children will come home talking about this. Thinking Hats and Thinking Maps will feature strongly in all areas of learning too. A Writer's Notebook will be used to generate ideas for writing. Please encourage your child to bring along items of interet to glue in e.g. photos of pets, holidays, special events; newspaper article of personal interest; tickets for rides, movies eetc. Even interesting words or phrases that you come across or that tickle your fancy which could be used in the writing can be included.
Homework
Please see your child's homework book for details about this. You should not require more than 20 minutes per night.
Let's work as a TEAM to ensure your child is reaching his or her potential and that everyone is happy. 2016 is set to be an awesome one!
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