Going back through tens!

We've started making some movies to help us (and others) learn how to add and subtract with some clever strategies. Here's a great first effort from the 'Stars' group on how to 'count back through the tens.' Well done, team! - Thanks to Mr Kemp's class for the inspiration =)

Being a Questioner!

Today we focused on what it means to be a questioner. We brainstormed what it means and the skills involved. Here's our map with the levels of the skills next to them.


Next we got into groups and took a photo that showed people doing those skills at each level. We will make them into some cool posters to help us remember!
The skill they're showing to be a great questioner is, 'listening to others'. We thought this is a beginner level skill.

Internet Safety

Staying safe online is becoming a VERY important skill. This video helps us understand that there are some things to watch for!

The Haka Actions

This video will help you practise the Haka at home for our skype with our Aussie friends.

This Week's Media Challenge

Jibbo Week 3

Here are some photos of today's Jibboo market place. We spend 30 minutes every Thursday selling and buying and running our businesses.

First we advertise our businesses.

Next we need to take 'Snidges' out of our bank accounts. Here's a pic of the bank in hot demand.


Then we can start selling. You can see a hairdressing business, a team selling Sushi and one selling iceblocks and fruit sticks. Watch out for the sugar tax!

Efolio Trial

This week we're starting a trial using edublogs as our efolio platform. The class already have blogger blogs that they can continue using as a personal blog for whatever they like - games seem to be the flavour of choice at the mo.



I've started one for myself - have a read of the reasons WHY we're going to trial Edublogs. They will have a learning focus and the main advantage we see at the moment is that we can password specific posts and leave others open to view for everyone.

What do you think?

fotobabble for your Problem Solving Hero

Once you've written and seen me or Mrs Wilcox you can record your problem solving hero story on this - fotobabble. Make your hero, take a screen shot, upload the pic into fotobabble and record your story as audio with the picture.

Then you can upload your fotobabble of the hero to your new blog!

Problem Solving!

Solve this problem in threes - observe what you do, think, say, feel, and where you go for help.

The Problem Solving Hero!

GE TV First recordings!

Here are the links to our first recordings for GE TV News. Watch your group's news together and fill out the self assessment sheets. This will help you work on your next steps before we have another go on Thursday!

Ruby and Josh
Simone, Kaitlyn, Olivia
Kees, Tim, Andrew
Ben, Travis, Liam, Jack
Gabby, Karen, Jaidene
Cam, Benjamin, Robbie, Zach
Bruce, Mac, Sean
Sophie, Emma, Sophie

Explain yourself!

We're going to start learning how to write an explanation using this website...

In groups of 4, read the piece of writing. Then, as a class, we'll be trying to find the parts that make it a good explanation.

Next we'll be writing about this question

- 'What makes a Kiwi?'

Another First - G.E TV!

In case you missed the live viewing, here is an example of our first G.E. TV news shows. Being our first attempt we realise that there is some work for us to do! Next week we'll be reviewing our shows and working out our next steps according to our criteria.

Here is one group's show. The topic is, 'What makes our school cool?' and each group had a different category. Not a bad first effort, boys!

Our First Jibboo

Today we had our first business day for Jibbo. We had 6 businesses open - they had to fill in a business application and have it approved with a range of details included (including safety). After we advertised our businesses we had 25 minutes for sales.

The photos below show some of the action
- Mr Lovelock as a client at the 'Narly Nails' stand,
- Sophie's 'Pony Ride' business
- Benjamin learning what it takes to be a bank manager! - 'Phew, that's hard work...'

Here are some things we learnt from our first market day for Jibboo

- We need to charge a bit more for our product.
- We need to bring MORE product so our fruit sticks are longer.
- Always go to Kaitlyn's store - they have 'mean' hats to sell.
- The gambling tax is annoying - we need more stuf to sell so we don't get that tax.
- The bank needs to have the tellers on duty to help me. The people need to stand in a line.
- Next time I should be at my stand half the time and with the bank as a teller half the time.
- I need to make sure people get paid for their weekly jobs - Olivia.
- We need to ask people what they'd like to buy and we're going to do that. - That's called market research.

Our first Hui Whanau.

Today we had our first Senior Team Assembly - which we've decide to call 'Hui Whanau!' It means 'a family meeting' and will be a great chance to get Rooms 5-8 all together to share our learning and celebrate our successes.

Can you see the way we're sitting? It's like having an imaginary 'campfire' in the middle.

Ryan's Thinkers Keys!

Today for Pow Wow Pals we started using Tony Ryan's thinkers keys. You can see the PDF of them on our 'Thinkers Tools' page. Here are a few ideas we came up for the 'Different uses' key.

Red nose
- a top secret spy disguise
- a light bulb shade
- a pin cushion
- a sponge -the foam ones
- a pet ant boat
- a car wheel
- a reindeers nose

A yellow raincoat
- a kite
- a whip
- a parachute
- a blow up ball, stitched together
- a big yellow blob monster!
- a safety jacket for a pony on the road.

Homework Notes Wk2 T2

Successful Job Applicants!

Congratulations to the following successful applicants! I was very impressed with the high standard of emails and it made my decisions very difficult.

Remember - if you've missed out on the job you wanted there are still lots of opportunities to build a business and work with others in the class. There are also jobs left vacant so you can apply for these by email at anytime and I may appoint people on the spot!

First Market Day - This Thursday, 12pm! You'd better see Ruby about applying for a business...

1. Bank Manager -$30 Snidges
Benjamin M
- organise and manage the bank and bank tellers.
- co-ordinate salary payments with Payroll Officer
- c-ordinate tax payments with Tax Officer

2. Bank Tellers (4) - $15 Snidges
Aleisha, Gabby, Andrew
- work for the Bank Manager and provide services for GE Bank

3. Business Manager $25 Snidges
Ruby
- create and collect business applications
- manage property allocation for businesses
- solve potential business disputes

4. Tax Collector $20 Snidges
Kaitlyn
- Observe businesses and collect tax revenue
- Make tax payments to the GE Bank account

5. Payroll Officer $20 Snidges
Olivia
- Co-ordinate week pay for GE staff with Bank Manager

6. Refuse Controller (2) $10 Snidges
- Empty rubbish bins daily
- co-ordinate future recycling projects

7. Librarian (2) $15 Snidges
- Collect, manage and return school Library books and Literature Circle books

8. Tool Kit Manager $15 Snidges
- Distribute, collect and maintain thinking tools in the tool box.
Ben
9. Sports Gear Co-ordinator (2) $15
- manage all classroom PE Gear
Travis, Kaitlyn
10. Messenger $15 Snidges
Emma
- distribute all messages around the school

11. Classroom IT Technitians (3) $20 Snidges
Andrew,
- Start and close all computers each day
- Manage and maintain all classroom technology

The beginnings of GE TV News

Today we started looking at what makes a great TV News show. Here's our first success criteria to help us plan our show for next week. Each group of 3 or 4 is planning to present a news presentation on the topic - 'What makes our school cool!'

There are two parts to our criteria - the planning phase and the presenting phase. Over the next few days we're hoping to use the criteria to make a fantastic first screening.

It will be broadcast live over the net, using ustream, and also recorded for our blogs...in case you miss the broadcast time. Watch this space!

Jibboo News

We have the following jobs to be appointed. Please email your Prime Minister at markherringnz@gmail.com with your application letter. You should include a brief description why you consider yourself a worthy candidate.

* Salaries indicated are weekly payments

1. Bank Manager -$30 Snidges
- organise and manage the bank and bank tellers.
- co-ordinate salary payments with Payroll Officer
- c-ordinate tax payments with Tax Officer

2. Bank Tellers (4) - $15 Snidges
- work for the Bank Manager and provide services for GE Bank

3. Business Manager $25 Snidges
- create and collect business applications
- manage property allocation for businesses
- solve potential business disputes

4. Tax Collector $20 Snidges
- Observe businesses and collect tax revenue
- Make tax payments to the GE Bank account

5. Payroll Officer $20 Snidges
- Co-ordinate week pay for GE staff with Bank Manager

6. Refuse Controller (2) $10 Snidges
- Empty rubbish bins daily
- co-ordinate future recycling projects

7. Librarian (2) $15 Snidges
- Collect, manage and return school Library books and Literature Circle books

8. Tool Kit Manager $15 Snidges
- Distribute, collect and maintain thinking tools in the tool box.

9. Sports Gear Co-ordinator (2) $15
- manage all classroom PE Gear

10. Messenger $15 Snidges
- distribute all messages around the school

11. Classroom IT Technitians (3) $20 Snidges
- Start and close all computers each day
- Manage and maintain all classroom technology

Applications close - Sunday 8th May, 9pm.

Successful applicants posted on this blog - Monday, 9th May.

Homework Notes - Wk1 T2

First Day Challenge!

This is a huge hello to the 'Great Eight' extended family! Today was the first day of term 2 and our first day together. It was a 'getting to know each other' day and learning about how things will work. We've also spent some time talking about how the homework can happen for the year so please visit our 'homework' page for more information.

One of our activities today was to explore the things we'll need to do to have a successful year. We talked about listening more than we speak, thinking outside the square and helping each other. The second challenge, the photo below, proved to be quite difficult! We're going to have to persevere and have another go later in the week. We're also aiming to be a little more independent and to take the initiative without the teacher's direction! These are some great lessons to actually experience today.

Here's looking forward to a fantastic year!