Monday, August 27, 2012

Newsletter 28 August 2012

28 August 2012 Term 3 Week 7 12/26

Dear Parents & Caregivers
Kia ora koutou katoa

Facebook Advice
One of our local community constables has provided us with a useful resource book “A Parents’ Guide to Facebook”. The following is an excerpt from this publication. There is a copy available at the office if you would like to read it, or alternately email office@nevn.school.nz and Mrs Lindsay will email it to you.

What are the risks involved in social networking?
Youth-risk research has made five key findings:
1. Young people who behave aggressively online are more than twice as likely to be victimized online, so children’s own behaviour on Facebook or any social space online or on phones is key to their well-being there.

2. The most common risk young people face online is peer harassment or aggression – in other words hurtful, harassing, or defamatory behaviour.

3. A child’s psychosocial makeup and physical environment (e.g. home and school) are better predictors of risk than any technology the child uses, so...

4. Not all children are equally at risk online, and the children who are most at risk online are those who are most at risk in “real life,” or offline.

5. Although, for the vast majority of youth, online social networking is largely a reflection of offline life, it can also amplify, perpetuate and widely distribute real-life problems or conflicts – very quickly. Something posted in anger or on impulse is extremely difficult to take back, so it has never been more important for users (of any age) to think before they “speak,” post, or send a text message.

Specific social networking risks include...
● Harassment or online bullying (“cyberbullying”) on the part of your children or others.

● Posting information about themselves that: a) could be used to embarrass or manipulate them; b) could cause psychological harm; c) could be used by criminals to steal their identity or property or – though very rare – determine their physical location to cause physical harm.

● Damage to reputation or future prospects because of young people’s own behaviour or that of their peers – unkind or angry posts, compromising photos or videos, or group conflict depicted in text and imagery.

● Spending too much time online, losing a sense of balance in their activities (“too much” is subjective, which is why parents need to be engaged).

● Exposure to inappropriate content (this too is subjective) – although, typically, worse content can be found out on the Web at large than on Facebook or other responsible social networking sites.

● Potential for inappropriate contact with adults (parents need to ensure that social networking does not lead to offline contact unapproved by them and other caring adults in their children's lives).
Children under 13 should not be allowed to sign up and there are special protections for people under 18.

Kia kaha tatou katoa ki te tautoko o tatou tamariki, mokopuna hoki.

John McKenzie
Principal

Welcome
We welcome Abby who has started in R11. Welcome to her family to our school community.

School Photos
School photo order forms with money need to be into the office by this Wednesday 29 August.

Scholastic Book Club
Leaflets for Issue 6 have been sent home. Orders with money need to be into the office by Friday 7 September. If paying by cheque please make payable to Scholastic NZ.

Rainbow Class
Our transition to school class for 4 year olds will be held this Thursday 30 August from 1.15-2.45pm in R11.

Wheels Days
This Friday lunchtime is the turn of the senior classes to ride their bikes, scooters, skateboards etc at school. Children who bring their bikes will need to wear a helmet. It is recommended that children wear a helmet when riding their scooters or skateboards.

Assembly
Assembly will be held in the hall this Friday at 2.20pm. It will be led by R5 with items by Rooms 11 & 13. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Daffodil Day
We have everlasting daffodils available at the office for a gold coin donation in support of the Cancer
Society. Children can bring their money to school any time this week to donate to this worthy cause.

NEV Community Quilt
We are selling raffle tickets at the office for $2 to be in to win a quilt made by the Art and Fibre group.

Wanted
Does anyone have a car seat or booster seat that they no longer use? We are wanting a supply for use by the younger children when we are using the community vans. Please leave at the office.

Learning Power Tip of the Week

Harold says “Eat well and get plenty of sleep”

Netball

It was the final game of the junior competition last Monday. The Silver team drew 3 goals each against Warrington. Well done to all the players and many thanks to coach Sacha Turnbull and the parents who have assisted with taking children to the Edgar Centre.

Dates to Note

August
30  Polyfest Edgar Centre
30  Rainbow Class 1.15pm R11

September
3  R13 Trip to the Art Gallery 12.30-2.30pm
4  R10 Trip to the Art Gallery 10.15am-12.15pm
4  R8 Trip to the Art Gallery 12.15pm-2.15pm
5  Vision and Hearing Testing 9am
5  R11 Trip to the Art Gallery 12.30-2pm
7  PTA Maths-a-thon Basic Facts Test
10 BOT Meeting 6pm
13  Rainbow Class 1.15pm R11
20  PTA Meeting 3.20pm
28 End of Term 3

Smart Food School Lunches
Cold lunches are available on Mondays & Thursdays.
The lunches consist of 2 sandwiches/pizza bun, fruit, a cookie or muffin and a dessert. The cost is $3.50 or $4.50 for a larger lunch with two extra sandwiches.

Hot lunches are available on Tuesdays.
The menu is: Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti Bolognese, Shepherds Pie, or Mince Chow Mein. The cost is $4.50.

PTA Hot Lunches
This Friday the menu is fish fingers with chips for $2.00, and a cup of Milo for .50c. Please bring a cup for Milo.

Orders and money in a envelope with your child’s name and room number to the office by 9am please.

PTA News
Maths-a-thon
Sponsorship forms for the Maths-a-thon need to back to class by Thursday 6th September.

Donation of Dinner Buns
Thank you very much to the Salvation Army for donating a large quantity of dinner buns to the school. A lot of children enjoyed them last Friday for their Hot Lunch. Yum, yum!!

Playground upgrade
The PTA decided at the last meeting to help cover the costs involved in upgrading the current playground
areas (re-painting, re-barking, etc) before we tackle the new play area.

PTA Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 20th September at 3.20pm in the teaching room (in the College Block next to the Library). Everyone is welcome to attend.

Otago Early Childhood and Schools’ Maori and Pacific Island Festival at the Edgar Centre
Opens tonight at 6.30pm and continues Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Entry fee $2 for each session.
The NEV Normal Kapa Haka group will be performing on Thursday between 11.30am and 12.30pm.


Community News
Weight Loss: Don't lose weight and put all back on. Lose it and keep it off! Affordable weight loss that really works. Free Wellness Evaluation and sample. PH Kathy 0800 401 828 or go to wwwsupershapeupnz.com

Our People, Our Health, Our Community: Café Hauora Free Public Seminar: “Why the Early Years Matter So Much for How Life Turns Out”: findings from the Dunedin Longitudinal Study presented by Professor Ritchie Poulton to be held at DNI on Wednesday 29 August at 7pm.

North East Valley Junior Cricket Club: registrations will be held on Sat 15th September 10-12 and on Tues 18th September 4-6pm., at the North Ground clubhouse at the Gardens. Come along and join your local friendly cricket club!

IHC Advocacy are offering a seminar for parents of disabled children. This will take place on Thursday 13
September at the Edgar Centre from 9.30am to 2.00pm.
Registration forms are available at the office.

Port Chalmers Golf Club Junior Golf: Coaching for junior golf begins this Sunday 2nd September at 10.00am. All returning and new juniors welcome. Clubs supplied. For more information please phone Nga Matapo 4727611.



Sunday, August 19, 2012

Newsletter 20 August 2012

20 August 2012  Term 3  Week 6  12/25

Dear Parents & Caregivers

Kia ora koutou katoa
Last week my newsletter comment was about National Standards. This week I would like to talk about competencies.

The NEV Normal School curriculum is not based on National Standards - it is based on competencies.
Recent research from the NZ Council for Education Research points to the need to teach both attitudinal competencies and cognitive competencies.

Evidently NZ schools are good at the cognitive stuff - knowing how to engage children’s brains; we are not so good at developing attitudes.

So back to us. We base our teaching on the following competencies which are a mixture of cognitive and attitudinal:
  • Relating to Others
  •  Managing Self
  • Participating and Contributing
  • Communication
  • Thinking
When we assess our performance as a school we do so with these competencies in mind. Similarly when we assess our pupils we consider their progress in relation to these competencies.

School Links
Thank you to those parents/caregivers who have advised us of changes to their contact details and email addresses. If you have not returned your form please do so as soon as possible as we wish to activate the School Links programme which will be used for reporting absences.

Kia kaha tatou katoa ki te tautoko o tatou tamariki, mokopuna hoki.

John McKenzie
Principal

Welcome
Welcome to Jacksen who has stared in R2. We welcome his family to our school community.

School Photos
School photo order forms were sent home last week. Orders with money need to be into the office by next Wednesday 29 August.

Scholastic Book Club
Leaflets for Issue 6 will be sent home this week. Orders with money need to be into the office by Friday 7 September. If paying by cheque please make payable to Scholastic NZ.

Wheels Days
This Friday lunchtime is the turn of the junior classes to ride their bikes, scooters, skateboards etc at school. Children who bring their bikes will need to wear a helmet. It is recommended that children wear a helmet when riding their scooters or skateboards.

Assembly
Assembly will be held in the hall this Friday at 2.20pm. It will be led by R11 with items by Rooms 2 & 10. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Life Education Trust
We are due to have a visit from Harold the giraffe and Richard Trow from the Otago Life Education Trust. Each class will visit Harold’s trailer and Richard will be talking about Body Systems.

Learning Power Tip of the Week
“Healthy Body, Healthy Mind”

Sports Results
Netball
It was the final game of the senior competition last Tuesday. Both teams played off for 3rd and 4th. The Gold team drew 7 goals each against Opoho and the Bronze team lost 5 goals to 12 against Carisbrook.
Well done to all the players and many thanks to Mrs Hesson and the parents who have assisted with transporting the teams to the Edgar Centre.

School of Dentistry Dental Check Ups
Please ensure your child has the necessary completed consent forms for their Dental School visits or they may not be able to attend the clinic. If necessary send these forms to the school office.

The contact at the Dental School is Donna van der Hurk. Her contact number is 479 7189 and is available
between 8.30am and 2pm during the school term. There is an answer phone if you wish to leave a message.

2012 Term Dates
Term 3 Monday 16 July - Friday 28 September
Term 4 Monday 15 October - Friday 14 December

Statutory Holidays During Term Time
Labour Day Monday 22 October

Dates to Note
August
22  O’Mathalon 1.30-2.30pm Edgar Centre
23  PTA Meeting 3.20pm
23  Life Education Visit
24  Life Education Visit
27  Life Education Visit
30  Polyfest Edgar Centre
30  Rainbow Class 1.15pm R11

September
3  BOT Meeting 6pm
7  PTA Maths-a-thon Basic Facts Test
13  Rainbow Class 1.15pm R11
14  Otago X country Championship 11-12
20  PTA Meeting 3.20pm
28  End of Term 3

Smart Food School Lunches
Cold lunches are available on Mondays & Thursdays.
The lunches consist of 2 sandwiches/pizza bun, fruit, a cookie or muffin and a dessert. The cost is $3.50 or $4.50 for a larger lunch with two extra sandwiches.

Hot lunches are available on Tuesdays.
The menu is: Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti Bolognese, Shepherds Pie, or Mince Chow Mein. The cost is $4.50.

PTA Hot Lunches
This Friday the menu is 2 mini hamburgers filled with a meat pattie, coleslaw and cheese for $2.00, and a cup of Milo for .50c. Please bring a cup for Milo.

Orders and money in a envelope with your child’s name and room number to the office by 9am please.

PTA News
Maths-a-thon
Sponsorship cards have been sent home. Children will be receiving a selection of basic facts to learn in the next few days. Please help your children to learn their basic facts by testing them at home.

PTA Meeting
The next meeting will be held on this Thursday 23 August at 3.20pm in the teaching room (in the College Block). Everyone is welcome to attend.

Community News
Weight Loss: Don't lose weight and put all back on. Lose it and keep it off! Affordable weight loss that really works. Free Wellness Evaluation and sample. PH Kathy 0800 401 828 or go to wwwsupershapeupnz.com

Our People, Our Health, Our Community: Café Hauora Free Public Seminar: “Why the Early Years Matter So Much for How Life Turns Out”: findings from the Dunedin Longitudinal Study presented by Professor Ritchie Poulton to be held at DNI on Wednesday 29 August at 7pm.

Dog Rescue Dunedin: invites you to a Gala screening of Madagascar 3 in 3D to be held on Sunday 2 September at the Rialto Cinema at 3.30 for 4pm. Cost: adult $20, child $12.50 (U13) which includes a goodie bag. 3D glasses are $1 at the Box Office or bring your own. All proceeds go to Dog Rescue Dunedin. Book at www.dogrescuedunedin.co.nz or phone 486 2311.

Dog Rescue Dunedin Fundraising Raffle: $2 a ticket to win 2 x tickets (child or adult) to Madagascar 3 movie premier. Please fill in the raffle form and pay at the office.

North East Valley Junior Cricket Club: registrations will be held on Sat 15th September 10-12 and on Tues 18th September 4-6pm., at the North Ground clubhouse at the Gardens. Come along and join your local friendly cricket club!

NEV Normal School Banking
is Proudly Sponsored by Credit Union South
NZCU SOUTH
26 Filleul Street
Dunedin 9059
Ph 03 4771473
www.nzcusouth.co.nz

Remember School Banking Day is Wednesday
Application forms are available at the school office

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

14 August 2012    Term 3   Week 5     12/24


Dear Parents & Caregivers
Kia ora koutou katoa

Latest Announcement from the Minister
The Minister of Education has released a schedule of changes to the way schools report achievement of students.

The Government is going to publish schools’ achievement data for all to see. There has been no indication when this will happen. I am publishing our 2011 National Standards data so you see it first!

I am not a fan of this type of data reporting as it does not show how far children have moved; it also does not point out that data for a “well below” child is often a reference to a child with special learning needs.

I hope that parents look at their child’s achievement in the context of all his or her uniqueness, considering the obstacles and advantages he or she has. You, as parents, know your child best.

I also hope that the communication you have with your child’s classroom teacher is rich enough and regular enough to make you feel you are always up with the play about his or her achievement.

Anyway, and for what it is worth, the National Standards data does look pretty good for our school. As the reviewers from the Education Review Office said to us during their last visit, the children at NEV Normal get a really good deal.

School Links
Included with this newsletter are your contact details to be updated. We plan to use the School Links system to send out text and email messages. This system was developed after the Christchurch earthquakes which emphasised the need for immediate communication between home and school. Please check your details and return the form to school by this Friday.

Parent/Teacher/Child Goal Setting
Thank you to all the parents/caregivers who attended the 3 way teacher/child/parent conferences last week. If you missed your meeting please contact your child’s class teacher to make an alternate time and date.

Kia kaha tatou katoa ki te tautoko o tatou tamariki, mokopuna hoki.

John McKenzie
Principal

Welcome
Welcome to Jade (R5), Grace (R2) and Trent (R10)who started at NEV Normal today.

Rainbow Class
Our transition to school class for 4 year olds will be held this Thursday from 1.15-2.45pm in R11. If you have a child who would like to join this group please contact Mrs Will or the office.
Wheels Days
This Friday lunchtime is the turn of the senior classes to ride their bikes, scooters, skateboards etc at school. Children who bring their bikes will need to wear a helmet. It is recommended that children wear a helmet when riding their scooters or skateboards.

Assembly
Assembly will be held in the hall this Friday at 2.20pm. It will be led by R13 with items by Rooms 3 & 8. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Learning Power Tip of the Week
“Feedback is the Breakfast of Champions”


 Dates to Note
August
16   Rainbow Class 1.15pm R11
21   North Zone X Country Y5 & 6
22   O’Mathalon 1.30-2.30pm Edgar Centre
23   PTA Meeting 3.20pm
23  Life Education Visit
24  Life Education Visit
24  Life Education Visit
30  Polyfest Edgar Centre
30  Rainbow Class 1.15pm R11

September
3   BOT Meeting 6pm
5   Extra Current Affairs Quiz 3.30pm
7  PTA Maths-a-thon Basic Facts Test
13  Rainbow Class 1.15pm R11
14  Otago X country Championship 11-12
20  PTA Meeting 3.20pm
28  End of Term 3

Smart Food School Lunches
Cold lunches are available on Mondays &; Thursdays.
The lunches consist of 2 sandwiches/pizza bun, fruit, a cookie or muffin and a dessert. The cost is $3.50 or $4.50 for a larger lunch with two extra sandwiches.

Hot lunches are available on Tuesdays.
The menu is: Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti Bolognese, Shepherds Pie, or Mince Chow Mein. The cost is $4.50.

PTA Hot Lunches
This Friday the menu is 1 sausage roll and a slice of pizza for $2.00 each, and a cup of Milo for .50c. Please bring a cup for Milo.

Orders and money in a envelope with your child’s name and room number to the office by 9am please.

Sports Results
Netball
Both senior teams lost last week.

The junior Silver team played last Monday and won 3 goals to 0 against Brockville, and played George Street yesterday and lost 3 goals to 15.

PTA News
Focus Groups
Thank you very much to all of those lovely mums who gave their time to come along to the recent university focus groups. I think we all found these groups interesting and had a good time. Along with raising $480 for the PTA we each received a jar of honey. Yum!

Maths-a-thon
This term the PTA will be using the upcoming Maths-a-thon as one of our fundraisers. Maths-a-thon information and Sponsor cards will be coming home on Wednesday – so keep an eye out.

PTA Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 23 August at 3.20pm in the teaching room (in the College Block). Everyone is welcome to attend.

Community News Weight Loss: Don't lose weight and put all back on. Lose it and keep it off! Affordable weight loss that really works. Free Wellness Evaluation and sample. PH Kathy 0800 401 828 or go to wwwsupershapeupnz.com

Our People, Our Health, Our Community: Café Hauora Free Public Seminar: “Why the Early Years Matter So Much for How Life Turns Out”: findings from the Dunedin Longitudinal Study presented by Professor Ritchie Poulton to be held at DNI on Wednesday 29 August at 7pm.

Home Energy Advise Trial
The Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust & Otago University’s Energy Cultures have teamed up to deliver and study how households respond to receiving expert, independent energy advice about how energy is used in their home.

The objective of the trial is to find effective ways to deliver expert advice about how energy can be used more efficiently in people’s homes.

Three Dunedin suburbs will be participating in the trial: Blueskin Bay, North East Valley, and Brockville. The Energy Cultures team has already collected baseline information about the energy cultural norms in these areas.

The Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust will trial several different approaches, in these different communities including: home audits, information evenings and telephone help lines.

The objective of the Energy Cultures research, which will wrap around the trial program is to assess the effectiveness of the different approaches. The comparison will look at the differences in energy related changes, energy literacy, and energy networking.

If you wish to know more about the trail and to register your interest visit us at: www.blueskinpower.co.nz



Sunday, August 5, 2012

Newsletter 6 August 2012

6 August 2012 Term 3 Week 4 12/23


Dear Parents & Caregivers

Kia ora koutou katoa
Last Monday I had a thought-provoking day listening to a number of speakers talk about how children best learn. The message is one not just for teachers but for parents as well.

Children will learn least if the adult uses:
punishment;
withdrawal of love;
inconsistent strategies;

Children will learn well with:
rewards;
inducing-seeking, co-operation;
making a personal connection;

and in the school environment, children learn when they have regular:
physical exercise;
laughter;
singing.

Simple and predictable but worthy of revisiting!

Warning of a Man Around Schools
I draw your attention to an article in the ODT last Wednesday reporting strange behaviour of a middle aged man driving slowly around primary school most mornings before 9am. He has been described as grey-headed Caucasian in his 50s who wore glasses and often a leather jacket. He drives a green car.

It was reported that he had not approached any children but the Police recommended that parents should take the opportunity to reiterate the message of safety to their children and to report any suspicious activity to the Police.

Parent/Teacher/Child Goal Setting
The 3 way teacher/child/parent conferences begin today and continue on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you are uncertain of the time of your interview please ring the office. It is important that your child attends the meeting so they can be involved in the goal setting and feedback.

Kia kaha tatou katoa ki te tautoko o tatou tamariki, mokopuna hoki.

John McKenzie
Principal

Wheels Days
This Friday lunchtime is the turn of the junior classes to ride their bikes, scooters, skateboards etc at school. Children who bring their bikes will need to wear a helmet. It is recommended that children wear a helmet when riding their scooters or skateboards.

Assembly
Assembly will be held in the hall this Friday at 2.20pm. It will be led by R8 with items by Rooms 5 & 11. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Learning Power Tip of the Week
Risk Taking
‘Don’t be afraid to take a risk’


Dates to Note

August
6-8 3 Way Conferences
15  PTA Maths-a-thon starts
16  Rainbow Class 1.15pm R11
21 North Zone X Country Y5 & 6
22  O’Mathalon 1.30-2.30pm Edgar Centre
23  PTA Meeting 3.20pm
23  Life Education Visit
24  Life Education Visit
27  Life Education Visit
30  Polyfest Edgar Centre
30  Rainbow Class 1.15pm R11

September
3 BOT Meeting 6pm
5  Extra Current Affairs Quiz 3.30pm
7 PTA Maths-a-thon Basic Facts Test
13  Rainbow Class 1.15pm R11
14  Otago X country Championship 11-12
20  PTA Meeting 3.20pm
28 End of Term 3

Sports Results
Netball
Both senior teams won by default last week.

The junior Silver team played last Monday and lost 2 goals to 4 against Maori Hill.

BOT News
Last Monday the Board of Trustees sought feedback from school parents and caregivers about the school’s vision and values and behaviour management scheme. It was a positive discussion and the Board thanks those who attended for their feedback and support.


At the meeting the Board appointed Amanda-Jane Woodhouse as a parent representative member until the next elections next year. Congratulations AJ.

Chairperson Steve O’Connor reported back on the NZ School Trustees Association Annual conference which he attended in July.

A SunSmart Policy was approved for sun safety.

Smart Food School Lunches
Cold lunches are available on Mondays & Thursdays.

The lunches consist of 2 sandwiches/pizza bun, fruit, a cookie or muffin and a dessert. The cost is $3.50 or $4.50 for a larger lunch with two extra sandwiches.

Hot lunches are available on Tuesdays.

The menu is: Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti Bolognese, Shepherds Pie, or Mince Chow Mein. The cost is $4.50.

PTA Hot Lunches
This Friday the menu is 1 sausage in bread with optional onions for $2.00 each, and a cup of Milo for .50c. Please bring a cup for Milo.

Orders and money in a envelope with your child’s name and room number to the office by 9am please.

PTA News
PTA Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 23 August at 3.20pm in the teaching room (in the College Block). Everyone is welcome to attend.

Public Health Nurse Information
Coughs and Colds
Coughs and colds are common for children and adults throughout the year, but particularly during the winter months. Children starting at school for the first time will be exposed to new bugs or germs and may develop
frequent illness or colds for the first year. These are often also passed onto other family members.

As these minor illnesses can make school activities difficult for children, they should:
Be kept at home
Given rest and quiet activities
Have plenty of drinks and fluids
Given Paracetamol, as per instructions, to relieve aches and pains
Seen by a doctor if their symptoms do not improve or they get worse.

Did you know that viruses travel about 6 meters when you sneeze, and 3 meters when you cough. These days, as one way of preventing the spread of viruses we are teaching children to cough and sneeze into their
elbows. This is a good practice to get into.

The Public Health Nurse for our school is:
Catherine Moir, Phone 4769748.

Community NewsWeight Loss: Don't lose weight and put all back on. Lose it and keep it off! Affordable weight loss that really works. Free Wellness Evaluation and sample. PH Kathy 0800 401 828 or go to wwwsupershapeupnz.com

Zumba Fitness Classes: Mondays and Wednesdays 6-7pm at the Alhambra Rugby Union rooms (595 Great King St). The classes are lots of fun and suitable for all ages and abilities. Cost $6 per class. Come and join in!

Our People, Our Health, Our Community: Café Hauora Free Public Seminar:  “Why the Early Years Matter So Much for How Life Turns Out”: findings from the Dunedin Longitudinal Study presented by Professor Ritchie Poulton to be held at DNI on Wednesday 29 August at 7pm.

Sri Lankan Cultural Showcase: Ranga rhythm of a nation evening of song and dance, 7.00-9.00pm Saturday August 11 at the Dunedin College of Education Auditorium, 143 Union St East. $10.00 entry children under 10 years old are free.

Beyblades Tournament: to be held on Sunday 12 August at the Green Island School hall at 2pm. Admission is $2. Contact 488 0202 to register.

NEV Normal School Banking is Proudly Sponsored by Credit Union South

NZCU SOUTH
26 Filleul Street
Dunedin 9059
Ph 03 4771473
www.nzcusouth.co.nz
email enquiries@nzcusouth.co.nz

Remember School Banking Day is Wednesday

Application forms are available at the school office





Thursday, August 2, 2012

Fiona Will Sabbatical Writing 2012

Our new entrant teacher, Fiona Will, took a well deserved sabbatical during Term 2 2012. The following is Fiona's research paper.

Sabbatical 2012

Introduction
My passion for teaching, specifically new entrant teaching and the acquisition of literacy in English, has been a career journey. During my sabbatical I have been given the opportunity to focus on how we as teachers can motivate, inspire, model and “teach” children how to be successful writers.

Teaching new entrant students to write is closely linked to reading and oral language. As students learn to recognise words and read simple sentences, many realise that they can also write these simple sentences. The problem however is that these chatty little people who arrive at school with five years of experiences to draw on then simplistically write, “I went to the shop.” The teacher and family rightly celebrate this newly acquired skill, and the student then thinks that this is all that is required of them. Prior to starting school the student would more likely have said, “My Nanny took me to the Jumbo Dairy and I got a huge ice cream and it ……” not just, “I went to the shop.”

I believe there are many things that contribute to rich writing and have focused my study on these. I want to tap into the rich unique potential of each student.

I decided to look closely at shared writing, oral language and poetic writing and how to get rich language from students while participating in these learning experiences. Often the poems used with new entrant students rely heavily on rhythm and are often nonsensical poems with limited meaning. I decided to build an anthology of simple poems with rich meaning and language believing that young students need to hear quality poetry that they can relate to, in order to express their ideas poetically. They need to be inspired by writers of poetry.

The Teacher Scribing Student’s Ideas
Recently I reflected on my role of scribing for students during a seminar on writing delivered by Barbara Watson. Barbara suggested that not only do we need to record the student’s ideas during shared whole class writing sessions but teachers also needed to at times record individual student’s ideas into their writing as they talked with the teacher, even up until ten years of age. Writing is not just about learning the skills of writing but more importantly it is the individual expression of student’s ideas. When student’s ideas are only gathered during shared writing time often the students think these are the best ideas and when writing they believe that is what they should be recording. I began to look more closely at ways to get individual ideas from the students at writing time. I began to explore how to capture each student’s individual and unique language. I started recording ideas not only for the students who are at the pre writing stage but also recording extra ideas for students capable of writing by themselves. This can only be done for a few students each day as it is labour intensive and the teacher’s role at this time is to teach students “how to write.” The language I recorded was not instead of the student’s writing, it was adding to the ideas in their writing. When doing this we can often help students move from simply writing about something that has happened to actually revealing something of themselves and expressing what it means for them. Two useful questions at this stage are, “What were you feeling?” and “What were you thinking?”

This co-construction between teacher and students has the potential to bring the student’s oral language into their writing and personalise the writing. By celebrating the uniqueness of their individual ideas students will not be drawn into recording the ideas shared in the group situation, believing these to be the best.

Recently our class made rice bubble slice with gooey marshmallows in it. As the children ate the slice we talked and enjoyed the experience. I took photos and had these ready for the children to look at the next day as we recorded interesting words about the experience. We really focused in on the marshmallow and what happened to it as they ate the slice. Children said things such as…..“It was like a spider’s web and it was stretchy like chewing gum.” The children and I made their ideas into a delightful poem and then the next day the children wrote about the experience individually.

Rice Bubble Slice
crunch crunch crunch
rice bubbles stuck on
looking like clouds
sticky and gooey
like a marshmallow spider web
warm and buttery
stretching like chewing gum
munch munch munch
I like it

by Room 11

One child during the writing time had written “I made rice bubble slice, I liked it.” She said to me, “The rice bubble slice looked like a broken bridge in my hands.” She usually records 1-2 simple sentences a day at writing time so was not capable of writing this complex sentence. I recorded it for her and then her writing said….

“I made rice bubble slice. It looked like a broken bridge in my hands. I liked it.” We were then able to celebrate her own unique idea that she had ownership of.

When I return to the classroom I intend to further pursue scribing students oral language.

Celebrating Interesting Words
Each day my aim is to read 4-5 picture books to my class. As I read I unpack the meaning of words to enhance the student’s understanding of the story. At the end we often discuss words we’ve enjoyed and on many days we will add an interesting word to our Interesting Words Chart. At this time the other words already on the chart will be briefly discussed and meanings explained again. Over time these words then slowly become a part of the student’s vocabulary. On one Interesting Word Chart we had recorded fled, fierce, beady and elusive along with other words. There had been some thought put into the selection of these words as later that term we made a study of the seagulls outside our classroom and many of these words were used by the students as they talked about what the seagulls were doing. By focusing on interesting words the student’s imagery and vocabulary can be extended.

As an extension to this I am now interested in not only recording interesting words but interesting phrases and descriptions from books and poems read to the students in the belief that by drawing the student’s attention to the author’s excellent sentence structures and descriptions this will over time improve the student’s writing eg A window open like a mouth….His arms as long as rakes….The leaves sat poised to fall…..

Professional Reading
I am always keen to read any available material about students learning to write, and in particular young students learning to write, but I especially wanted to read on this topic as part of my professional development during my sabbatical. I was delighted when my sister, who is also a teacher recommended “I’ve got something to say” by Gail Loane with Sally Muir, Aries Publishing 2010. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is exciting to read a book and really feel connected to what the author has to say and find yourself saying, “Yes.” I would thoroughly recommend this book. It talks about the teaching progressions when teaching writing and also gives examples of student’s writing at various stages.

After I had read the book and re read it again I came across a review of it by Kelvin Smythe in, “Developmental Publications Ltd” -neworkonnet.co .nz. Kelvin also highly recommends this book and I certainly agree with him.

The last section of my writing has ideas that I have gathered during my sabbatical and want to use when I return to the classroom. Some of these ideas are from “I’ve got something to say” by Gail Loane.

Shared Writing.
I regularly write with my students. Sometimes my focus is to record their ideas. Sometimes it is to model how to write and at other times it is to teach new learning about their writing. In our daily programme we regularly participate in things that we can write about. I believe that when the students have had the opportunity to participate in an experience and discuss it before they write you will rarely hear the words, “I don’t know what to write.” When students have had the opportunity to find the words to express themselves and have shared these ideas orally before writing it is unusual for them to feel that they don’t know what to write. This can be done quite simply by saying, “Turn to the person beside you and tell each other what you are going to write about.” This will put what is in their heads into words ready to be written. This oral storytelling is their preparation for writing as they are choosing the words they need to tell their story.

This led me to compiling a list of simple easily accessible experiences commonly found around the school and grounds for junior students to participate in. The students then have a common experience from which to draw expressive language.

“I love Poetry” by Wendy Clarke
These books were published in 2009 and our school purchased the four titles. Our junior syndicate enjoyed the ideas in them and we incorporated these into our teaching program. As part of my research into new entrant writing I wanted to meet with Wendy to discuss her ideas and find new directions for my teaching. One weekend in February I made the trek to Arrowtown and had a most enjoyable afternoon discussing the writing of poetry with Wendy. It was exciting to be in the company of someone as passionate about writing with young children as I am. Wendy talked me through many ideas, her beliefs about poetry and ways to support children’s poetry writing. I had taken some poetry and accompanying artwork with me that our new entrant students and year one/ two class had produced. Wendy was very positive about the poetry we were getting from our young students. Lovely as this was, the exciting thing was she was able to give us clear ideas about the next teaching step with each of these poems. I returned to Dunedin excited about my meeting with Wendy and keen to put these ideas into practice. The junior syndicate were very enthusiastic.

Wendy has published two more books titled, “Make Poetry come alive!” Essential Resources Educational Publishers Limited, 2011. Book 1 Ages 5-6 and Book 2 Ages 7-8. I found I connected strongly with Wendy’s message in the introduction to Book 1.

Poetry Anthology for New Entrants
As part of my research I have been a regular visitor to the Dunedin Public Library. Over the last six months I have slowly worked my way through the entire children’s poetry section and selected many poems for young students that were short, but were strong on meaning, imagery and vocabulary. My initial intention was to build just one anthology of short meaningful poems suitable for young students but during my afternoon with Wendy Clarke I began to realise that I also needed to build a collection of slightly longer poems, still strong on imagery and vocabulary, but poems that could be read aloud. I now realise that students need to hear good quality poetry for it to slowly become a part of their language and imagery. I have now built two anthologies, one of poems to read to the students and one of poems suitable for them to have in their individual poetry books. Much of what we learn as writers comes from reading and responding to written texts. When listening to poetry students become aware of how the author has put words together and the significance of carefully selected words. Over time this exposure to rich vocabulary rubs off on them and will influence their writing, and their everyday spoken vocabulary. Children love experimenting with language.

Writing Ideas
I believe when teaching students to write we need to teach them to closely observe their environment and bring their lives into the classroom. Helping them to look and see things that they might not have seen before raises their sensitivity and quality of response. We need to teach students to be careful observers. One technique that supports this is to give students a cardboard photo frame or a hoop. Students can observe more closely through a frame or look at what is inside a hoop. Without the distractions that a larger area provides young students will find it easier to be more observant. If students are encouraged to use their senses at this time they will come up with a greater range of ideas.

“We can’t give children rich lives, but we can give them the lens to appreciate the richness that is already there.” –Lucy Calkins

“Writing is living work rather than desk work.” – Lucy Calkins

I have spent time considering experiences suitable for young writers within the school setting that may stimulate their oral language and elicit rich expressive writing. Some of these could be….

The drinking fountain, seagulls, sunflowers, hedgehogs, apples, puddles, leaves, huts, clouds, traffic, daffodils, machinery, jelly, dressing up, kites, bikes, cars, lunchboxes, chairs and the slide.

Ideas for Poetry Writing

An idea I am keen to try on my return to the classroom from page 135 of “I’ve got something to say” by Gail Loane with Sally Muir (2010) is to suggest that the students notice four things in their immediate environment and jot these down. Next the students are encouraged to extend their ideas relating to each thing listed. The teacher then directs them to record what each thing looked like or was doing.

Below is an example of a poem written in this form.

Pine cones –scattered around
Sand – with wrinkles
Shells – all different colours
Sticks – washed up

Stacey –Year 3
Alliteration
When I met with Wendy Clarke author of the “I love Poetry” books she impressed upon me the importance of young children recognising and knowing what alliteration is, as stated in the introduction of Book 1. I began by drawing the student’s attention to alliteration in picture books and the students would experiment with alliteration. I came across poems in “Young Kiwi Voices” that used repetition and I could see how this idea could be used with alliteration.

Waves
Crashing waves
White crashing waves
Big white crashing waves
Deep big white crashing waves

Ryan Y
Hautapu School

Around this time our classroom caterpillars had turned into beautiful monarch butterflies and we had visited the Otago Museum’s Butterfly house. The children brainstormed all the descriptive words that started with Bbbb. The children then tried combining these into clusters of two and three words eg beautiful blue butterfly, brave battered butterfly.

The children then built an alliteration poem that used repetition.

butterfly
blue butterfly
beautiful blue butterfly
bold beautiful blue butterfly.

by Room 11

In “I love Poetry” Book One, Wendy talks about skinny poems and how to get the students’ to write these. She also suggests having skinny pieces of paper available at the class writing table to encourage independent writing of skinny poems. I want to use this skinny poem idea with alliteration. I think it would be interesting to take the list of Bbbb words that the students compiled and encourage them to produce skinny poems about the butterflies.

Four Main Poetry Features
Wendy suggests that teachers of junior students need to unpack the four main poetry features that she believes are best suited to young students –alliteration, repetition, similes and onomatopoeia. I will now plan to share examples of poetry that use these features and help students notice them in picture books. I intend to build a visual word display of onomatopoeia from story reading that we will continually add to. I will separate these into the four poetry features and specifically teach one at a time so that the students develop a deeper understanding of each and will in turn be able to use them in their own writing.

I am keen to trial another teaching idea that comes from page 146 of “I’ve got something to say.” by Gail Loane.

The students select nouns e.g.

blossom
ducklings
willow
sun

Once the students have selected their nouns they look closely to see what each noun does.

The willow sprouts
The sun warms
The blossom covers
The ducklings waddle

Next the teacher asks questions to activate the noun eg “The willow sprouts what? Where does the duck waddle?”

The willow sprouts a new green leaf
The sun warms the porch, inviting us for lunch
The blossom covers the tree like a new dress
The ducklings waddle across the grass behind their mother

Using the Senses
I have discovered that when you are planning a classroom visit with puppies, hedgehogs or other captivating creatures, it is often best if you can plan for two visits or a longer visit so that the students can make more thorough observations. Initially I find the students needed time to ask questions such as, “Where did you get it?” and “What does it eat?”

When given the extra time the children will slowly settle into really looking and making more accurate observations and using more rich expressive language. Wendy suggested during our meeting that students can be encouraged to use their senses if ever there is a pause in the flow of ideas. This also gives the teacher another means to prompt students with questions that will elicit expressive ideas. The teacher can help young students use their senses to look more closely and share exactly what they see, hear, feel and smell. At this time the teacher really needs to challenge the children to be specific in their observations and eventually over time the students will do this independently. On my return to the classroom I want to help the children in a shared session or individually to group their ideas into those that they saw, heard, smelt and felt to build this awareness of using their senses.

Wendy’s Poetry Suggestions
When Wendy looked at the poems our students had written she encouraged me to challenge the students to be more specific in their ideas to get stronger imagery. In one poem they had said, “Beautiful flowers.” Wendy said that you needed to ask, “What is beautiful?” When you write “beautiful flowers” it doesn’t actually help you imagine anything specific. You need something concrete such as summery flowers to give the reader an image of summery flowers in their head. She gave me a further example. If a student says, “A singing bird” you could challenge the students to be more specific and they might say, “A singing tui.” This helps the reader identify more strongly with the writer’s meaning.

Wendy also encouraged us to think about the layout of our poems. She suggested we look at the layout of poems that we read to children and think about the different ways poems can be presented. I have usually typed and chosen the layout of class poems but I now intend to get the students ideas on the layout.

Wendy also drew my attention to poems that start and finish with the same word and poems that have a strong last line. I will look for poems that show this and share it with my students.

Wendy also talked about when she had a group of students writing about autumn. She challenged them to “show” her it was autumn, not to” tell” her it was autumn. Before getting the students to write about autumn Wendy read autumn poems that didn’t use the word autumn and she asked them, “How did you know it was autumn?”

Recently I found a poem in a Junior Journal about hedgehogs. I didn’t say hedgehog in the poem but my class of 5 year olds knew the poem was about a hedgehog and they could explain how they knew. I plan to source and read more poems to my students that are strong on imagery and don’t name the subject in it.

Conclusion

My sabbatical this term has given me the opportunity to focus on all aspects of new entrant writing, including poetry. The teaching of writing appears to be a complex area but key elements in the writing process will ensure children move from writing simple sentences to being able to express their thoughts, observations and opinions in rich, expressive language. The teachers’ role is to communicate with individuals and the class, to draw out oral language, to read stories, to model the writing process and celebrate successes. I look forward to returning to my class refreshed and keen to implement many new ideas. My Poetry Anthologies will provide quality literature to model features whilst motivating and entertaining the students.

Finally I would like to thank my Principal John McKenzie, the Board of Trustees and colleagues for supporting me during this sabbatical.

References

Clarke, Wendy (2009). We love poetry. Books 1, 2, 3 and 4 Essential Resources Educational Publishers Ltd.

Clarke, Wendy (2011). Make poetry come alive. Books 1 and 2 Essential Resources Educational Publishers Ltd.

Loane, Gail –with Sally Muir (2010). “I’ve got something to say.” Aries Publishing LTD

Book Review –Kelvin Smythe, Developmental Publications Ltd –neworkonnet.co .nz

Dixon, Tracy and Wilson, Nigel (2004) “Young Kiwi Voices –Poems Vol 1: ages 5-11” Tanzy Press


“I am still learning.”

-Michelangelo


Fiona Will
North East Valley Normal School
Dunedin