Two posts in a week...a record!!!

Hi Readers,

After a few weeks where I looked like i had gone into hibernation I have now cranked out two posts in a week. That must be something to celebrate!!

Actually, it is bucketing rain here in Bendigo after a few days of glorious sunshine, and I'm housebound and can't just sit around as I always find I need to be doing something.

So, why not add to the blog? I also have a fair bit of schoolwork to do, but that can wait a bit!!

In a week where we lost the great Leonard Cohen, I came across this clip where 1 500 people came together to form a mass choir in a shed and sing 'Hallelujah'. It is totally amazing, and what captures me most is seeing the passion in the faces of the people singing it. Maybe the camera people just nailed it, but I get the impression that these people are singing with true passion, regardless of their singing ability. How good is that!!

Go to:

https://powerofhumans.com/2016/07/inspiration-powerful-moment-1500-people-sing-hallelujah-together/

Now I just have to decide who does the best version. KD Lang rips out a classic version...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE

But then again, Jeff Buckley does an outstanding version...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKnxmkOAj88

Let's end the discussion with the man himself. You be the judge...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q

Exciting lessons this week at school...

For those readers who do not know me, but just enjoy reading my ravings, I am a school teacher in a large primary school in Bendigo.

For the past few years I have been more in an administrative role and do not have a classroom, although I do spend time in various classes providing support.

One thing I do with our Grade 2 classes each week is to do a demonstration lesson with one class, and then that teacher explains it to the other 3 teachers in their team during their planning time together later in the day. We rotate the classes each week so that each teacher has a crack at explaining what has been done to their colleagues in the unit.

I love going into these classes because not only are the kids excited and receptive, so are their teachers.

So last week I went into one class and we began by trying to make 3 digit numbers in different ways.

We started rolling dice, and every time we got ten ones, we created a ten, and then ten 10's created a hundred and so on. We call this 'Bundling' and it is a fantastic way to understand and comprehend our place value system. 

My focus is to use a range of materials for bundling so that they don't see materials as only being useful for certain activities.

If I had my act together I could have brought in a box of rice bubbles or Fruit Loops and used them, or Smarties, Skittles or dried pasta. Anything that enables counting and grouping.

Here the kids are using popsticks and blocks.

These boys are using more formal ones, tens and hundreds blocks.

This boy is organising his groups into hundreds and tens and ones very neatly.

The highlight was this girl who often struggles with maths being able to really demonstrate her understanding of the value of her numbers.

So what do we do with the numbers?

Their class teacher and I then created a large grid on the floor using masking tape.

It was important that they saw the grid being made, rather than having it all made up beforehand, as it created a context for using their numbers.

Maybe we could use my growing bald patches as a launching place for some activities on area and perimeter???

We then discussed what the grid looked like, and how we might be using it.

So many fantastic suggestions were put forward.

I then had one child put her number on the grid, and told the class this was now a counting chart.

Another child was asked to put his number on the grid, based on the one that was first put on.

We now had a reference point for our numbers, so now everyone could try and see where their number could go.

There was much discussion, shifting of numbers and debate.

After checking out our result, they collected their numbers for another go, but this time I got the first girl to put her number down, but in an entirely different place. This changed the layout of the grid dramatically.

Since then, the grid has remained on the floor and is used in a number of ways.

For instance, I went in there before school the other day and placed two numbers in specific spots. The plan is for the kids to investigate what the counting pattern is, and then complete it.

I love this activity as it is so open ended and enables all children to work together at the same time. There can always be a multitude of answers and all children can contribute and participate regardless of their ability.

Olympic visitors to our school...

Last Friday our school hosted a Leadership Day for Grade 5 children from all of the Bendigo Catholic schools. There would have been a few hundred children in attendance.

The kids were treated to a number of activities that were conducted by some of our current and past Olympians.

For the life of me I cannot remember their names except for one, who I remember well as he was in an event that I followed closely in the past.

From left to right we have the organiser, a gymnast from the Rio Olympics, Kyle Vander Kuyp (Australian Hurdles record holder and dual Olympian from the 80's and 90's), a soccer player from the 80's, a gymnast from Rio and a swimmer from Rio.

Just some of the many children in attendance.

The Olympians addressing the kids.

Remembrance Day 2016

As our main assembly area was being used for the Leadership Day , we conducted our Remembrance Day commemoration over the PA.
Massive credit to these kids for the way they did it and also to the teacher who guided them.
Extremely reverent and well received throughout the school.

So readers, who nows when my next post might eventuate?

We are quickly heading towards the end of the year and so much needs to be done between now and then.

Tomorrow I am off to a maths PD day in Shepparton which I am really looking forward to as the presenter is brilliant, and is also the one who introduced me to the activity that I did with the class last week.

The rain has started to abate and there is even a glimpse of sunlight coming through, so it looks like it's off the couch for me and into something more energetic!!

Until my next post...

Cheers!!