Something to look at...

Moving on from cricket, well done to the Black Caps, onto the rugby...

http://www.ruggerland.co.nz/

Just a little fun...

Hi all,

I have introduced the kids to Comic Life. This is a fantastic programme that allows kids, or adults, to present their 'stuff' in really unique and funky ways. You can do SOOO much with it! 
I've suggested to the kids that they (you) download the free 30 day trial (it's not a gimmick, I promise!) and have a go with it. You'll find the link here:

 http://plasq.com/downloads/comic-life-desktop/

Apart from that, thanks for all the research and information you're finding out at home about your family history etc, the kids are really enjoying it! We've even got someone emailing their great-aunt!  
Have fun on Comic Life. The kids can export the comics to PDF then email them to me if they'd like to. Always great to see how creative they can be at home!

B.

Choir song...

Check out the youtube link to  'Paradise'
Please practice!

Maths Maths Maths

I've been looking for helpful maths sites... Please find links below.

http://resources.oswego.org/games/mathmagician/maths1.html

Cross the Swamp

Math Playground

NZ Maths Centre

Free Rice

Cool Maths Games

Multiplication dot com

Primary Maths Games

Reading...

Hi all,
As I work my way through the class running records, checking the reading ages of all your kids, I am finding that comprehension is something that the majority of the class will be working on in some way throughout the year. I've looked for some tips for helping out at home and so thought I'd share them here. I hope they're helpful! 
(This is from www.readingrockets.org)

Firstly, what exactly is comprehension? 

Comprehension is the understanding and interpretation of what is read. To be able to
accurately understand written material, children need to be able to 
(1) decode what they read; 
(2) make connections between what they read and what they already know; and 
(3) think deeply about what they have read. 
One big part of comprehension is having a sufficient vocabulary, or knowing the meanings of enough words. 

So...

Readers who have strong comprehension are able to draw conclusions about what they read – what is important, what is a fact, what caused an event to happen, which characters are funny. Thus comprehension involves combining reading with thinking and reasoning.

What parents can do to help at home

• ·    Hold a conversation and discuss what your child has read. Ask your child probing questions about the book and connect the events to his or her own life. For example, say "I wonder why that girl did that?" or "How do you think he felt? Why?" and "So, what lesson can we learn here?”
• ·    Help your child make connections between what he or she reads and similar experiences he has felt, saw in a movie, or read in another book.
• ·    Help your child monitor his or her understanding. Teach her to continually ask herself whether she understands what she's reading.
• ·    Help your child go back to the text to support his or her answers.
• ·    Discuss the meanings of unknown words, both those he reads and those he hears.
• ·    Read material in short sections, making sure your child understands each step of the way.
• ·    Discuss what your child has learned from reading non-fiction/informational text.

Home Learning Expectations

This is just a copy of the expectations that are glued in the front of your child's home learning book...

	Room 9 ‘The Beehive’ Home Learning Expectations

Reading

It is vital for all children to be reading for at least 15 minutes a night to keep up their fluency and for pure reading mileage. We need them to get as many ‘words in front of their eyes’ as possible. Most children will bring home reading from school in the form of a journal or PM book. If they forget then you can find the link to Sunshine Reading Online on our blog site. The user name is: Marty and the password is: learning

Maths

Basic Facts are the foundation of all maths and these should be practised each night. All students at Stage 4 have been supplied with an ‘ideas to help your child at home’ packet which suggests fun ways of helping your child build a strong foundation from which to build his/her mathematical knowledge. Please have a look at this. Some resources need to be made up – cereal boxes are ideal for making up the cards etc.

Spelling

We have glued in the essential spelling lists into our home learning books. There are links to activities in order to practise and learn these words on our blog – www.2015beehive.blogspot.co.nz

Spelling words will begin to come home – mostly selected from your child’s writing as they try to use bigger and better words throughout the year. If you require extra spelling, then the essential lists are a perfect place to start!

Home Learning books will be taken home on Mondays and are expected back 

on Fridays.

Any questions or concerns can be emailed to Ms B. at: anna.ballantyne@martinborough.school.nz 

or phoned through to the office: 06 306 9602

Welcome to a new year!

The Beehive is already buzzing with learning energy!
Watch this space for students' work, updates, notices and general information as we gear up for an action-packed year!!

Homework is always at hand - here are some links to helpful sites:

Maths practice

Spelling City

Reading - Sunshine online - login: Marty password: learning