Thursday, February 27, 2014

Our writing programme....

We thought our families might like to see what we do in Room 1 when it is writing time.
Our first step each day is to think of a great story idea. We choose one person to come up the front to share their idea.
It is Seth's turn to sit in the story chair. He has decided that he would like us to write about his new bike.
We sit on the mat and tell each other the story idea so that we have it clear in our heads.
Today's story is: I have a new bike at my house.
Then it is time to write our story in our class 'Writing Book.'
We pull out each word so that we can try and hear as many sounds as possible.
Mrs Bargh writes down the letter sounds that we can hear.
When we have finished writing Seth reads us his story.
The second time we all try reading his story.
Our next step is to split into 3 groups. 
The first group have a turn at writing their own story.
They are working on looking for the sounds on their alphabet cards.
The second group are drawing a picture to match their story. These children are publishing the story that they wrote yesterday in their books.
Then it is time to read our stories.
We practise reading our stories in front of the whole class.
Look at Stella's great finger pointing!
The third group practise language games to help learn the alphabet and the early words. It will be their time to write with the teacher tomorrow.

Room 1 would love you to come and see their writing books!

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Welcome to 2014!

What an exciting start to the year! A very big welcome to all our new Merrin families. 
Thank you for coming along to our 'Fish and Chip Evening' and our P.T.A Valentine's Picnic.
Our school met together on our first Wednesday for a Mihi Whakatauki. 
Ms Dillon Roberts welcomed all the new children and new teachers to Merrin School. 
Our Kapa Haka group were amazing.
Here we are on our 1st day of school!
Ms Dillion-Roberts loves to come and visit us to hear about all the new activities that we are trying.
 We planted some herb seeds in a special seedling box.
 These herbs will go into our Whetu Gardens.
We also have some tadpoles that we are watching carefully to see how long it will be before they get their back legs.
 At cafe time we made popcorn for the letter 'p'.
 Tessa showed us the money envelopes that she was given as part of her Chinese New Year celebrations. We have more of her photos in our class 'News Book.'
 Here is the amazing Kylie putting our NEW JELLY BEAN TABLE together. Look at those muscles!
 We enjoyed hosting 1st Year Students from the University of Canterbury who came to see what we do in Room 1. They enjoyed reading to us. Thanks!
 Oliver made this fantastic robot at our first Discovery Time of the year.
Here we are dancing to 'Alice the Camel.'
 We are lucky that Vicky is spending 4 weeks with us. She is a teacher trainee from Korea.

We are looking forward to having so much fun this year!