Back in the swing of things

I had to do work for the Department of Education interviewing student teachers who were seeking employment with the Department, so my apologies for not attending Open Day yesterday.  It was booked in February so I didn't know the dates would clash.  I have a few more later in the term as well.

The standard of the Science projects brought in on Monday was outstanding.  Each students was allowed to speak about what they'd made, how they made it and what they enjoyed about the process or challenges they faced.  Thank you for supporting your child to do this.  All students spoke of enjoying the time they spent with you helping and supporting them, it was really nice to see.

A note went home today or yesterday (some other classes won't get theirs til Monday so don't worry if siblings didn't get it) about the NED show.  This is a fun and energetic performance put on by "The NED Show"  that combines a positive message with humour, storytelling and audience participation with the emphasis for us being on our core values, bullying and optimism.  There is no cost for the show and you only need to return a permission note if you DO NOT want your child to attend.  It will be a great show and Im sure everyone will attend.

The way they fund the show is by selling yo-yos (remember those?).  They do a few tricks with yo-yos as part of the show.  Starting Monday 11 August Mrs Graham will sell the yo-yos that you order via the order form on the note and the students will be allowed to play with them at lunchtime in the area outside the hall for the 2 weeks she will be selling them (if we have too many students we will look at another area!).  There are 3 different ones and cost $9, $15 or $20. I already told 3/4G they will have to do extra jobs around the house to earn some money if they would like to buy one...hope that helps!  IT IS NOT COMPULSORY TO BUY A YOYO!

We have been doing a lot of work on decimals at the moment, particularly the link between tenths and hundredths.  Soon we will be adding and subtracting them so you may like to quiz your child to check they can convert from tenths to hundredths quickly!

A note went home on Monday (in a BIG white envelope) seeking your permission for our students to participate in an online survey to help gather data which will be used as base line data for 2 different social skills programs.  We are very fortunate to be offered these programs, FREE of charge, but need to get at least 90% response to be eligible, so please send the forms back ASAP.  Mrs Bryan is offering Freddo Frogs as incentive ;-)

Remember to come see me or give me a ring if your child is having any difficulties with any aspect of school life.  It is my job, with you, to help them navigate the complex world of having to work with and next to 27 very different people, let alone all the other adults and changes that go on here all the time.  Some of them are looking a bit sleepy at the moment so if there is an opportunity for an early night, that may help them focus a bit more during the day.  Some are getting teary because they are having problems with friends or are finding the work hard.  This is the time to build their resilience and reassure them they are wonderful and can do things and that help is not too far away.

Term 3

It has been a long time between posts.  Taking leave and being sick has meant I haven't kept up with photographing class happenings and sharing information.

Here is the Week 3 homework

A great day was had by all at our excursion last week.  It was very warming to hear the children's disappointment at the graffiti on Lennox Bridge.  The beauty and history of this bridge is obvious and the fact that it is spoilt by some selfish people was a hot topic of discussion.

The children enjoyed drawing Victoria bridge and discussing what the bridge was made of and how important it was to the development of NSW.

Penrith Lakes Education Centre is always a fun place to visit.  The teachers there make sure we have fun and find lots of interesting things.  The mini beast that were found in the water were fascinating.  Everyone liked seeing them on the big screen microscope/ camera.  We learned that the lake is in good condition and our little creatures are doing a good job feeding our bigger creatures.

Keep an eye out for Science Fair projects.

Term 2

Welcome back after what was a lovely holiday.  I read a few books, caught up with some friends and attended the TEDx Sydney event on the last Saturday of the holidays.  There were many interesting speakers and entertainers.  The author of The Book Thief spoke about how that story came about and about being an international best seller.  A friend has now loaned me the book which I am really looking forward to.

The only speakers to get a standing ovation on the day were a mother and son called Tim and Judy Sharp.  Judy shared her family's story of discovering Tim had autism.  He did not communicate and she was told to put him in a home and forget about him. She did not!  One day she decided to draw the things her and her son were to do that day.  By her own admission she was not a very good drawer but the drawings did what she wanted them to.  When she put the pencil down her son, for the first time ever, grabbed her hand and indicated for her to keep drawing.  His first communication came through drawing.

Tim developed his own unique artistic flare and is now a well sort after artist with pieces around the world.  I shared Tim's story with 3/4G last week and we drew our own superheroes (Tim's was Laserbeak Man!) and our own funny pics.  One really stood out and that was Keri's.  She drew Laserbeak Girl.  It was beautiful so I sent Tim an email and this is what I got.

Hi Tim

I met you and your mum after your fabulous speech @ TEDx Sydney last Saturday.  The artwork you showed was brilliant and I was so honoured to meet you and your mum.

I am a teacher of 29 Year 3 and 4 students.  On Tuesday I showed them your website and we discussed all sorts of things like autism, colourful art, humour in art and taking words literally.  They loved “Laserbeak man tells the Wiggles to shut up” and “Red hot mumma”  the best.

Inspired by your art the students either copied Laserbeak Man or came up with their own superheroes.  One student whose parents are both deaf came up with “Deafman”- he could speak but not hear.  Another drew Laserbeak man in a meteor shower and drew a bath with a shower head and a meteor inside.

One girl, Keri Muhlmann, who is a fabulous artist loved your artwork so much and was so inspired by your story that she wanted to make Laserbeak Girl.  I have attached a copy of Laserbeak girl.

Thank you for sharing your story at TEDx.  I have taught many autistic kids and just hope I can continue to do a good job at seeing their amazing strengths while supporting them in a system that sometimes doesn’t have room for ‘different’

Hello Jo,

 thank you for your very kind words and for sharing Tim's story with your students. Tim is really happy that they enjoyed his artwork and that they are making their own super heroes, their ideas sound really great.

It is wonderful to hear that Tim's TEDx talk has inspired someone to try some art, it really is a very special thing and we are very happy to hear that you as a teacher are introducing your students to new ideas like super hero art.

Thank you for sharing this with us.  We wish you and all the students in your Year 3/4 class super hero days and hope that they keep on drawing. They are lucky to have a teacher like you.

Best wishes

Judy and Tim

To keri from tim, i really like your drawing of Laserbeak girl, I think her shoes are very beautiful and i like her flying cape.  You are a very good artist don't stop drawing from Tim. 

Happy Easter

Thanks to those who gave me Easter presents :-)

Have a very happy Easter and fun filled holiday.  See you on the 29th April.

Enjoy this lovely Easter artwork by 3/4G

Last Week of term

The cheers rang out as the children read that there was no homework in the last week of term!  I think we are all ready for a break as many children are tired, a bit cranky and quite sensitive to things that would not normally bother them.  Friendships are being tested as children grow and change and renegotiate the very complex world they find themselves in with people they spend most of their days.  Mostly though there are still lots of smiles and lots of hard work going on.

We have been working very hard on complex letter blends (digraphs) that make up our bigger words. We started with 'ai, ay and a_e' that make the long a sound.  Also 'ee and ea' for the long e sound. This week the focus has been on 'ie, y, igh and i_e' for the long i sound.  The fun thing about learning the rules of our english language is of course learning that we can almost always break them so sometimes we just have to learn how to spell a word.  3/4G are becoming very familiar with verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions and prepositions.  Here is a brief rundown of what they are in case mums or dads have forgotten.

COMMON NOUNS- naming words: chair, table, computer
PROPER NOUNS - names of people and places: Mrs Glazebrook, Opera House
PRONOUNS- replace proper nouns: he, she, they
VERBS- doing words: run, walk, play
ADVERBS- add meaning to the verb: quickly, happily
ADJECTIVES- add meaning to nouns: red, beautiful, big
CONJUNCTIONS-joins parts of sentences: but, and, or, yet
PREPOSITIONS- relates other words in sentences: before, beneath, beside

By knowing these parts of speech it is hoped students will become better communicators and more creative and persuasive writers.

As well as reviewing basic number work we have been learning about area, perimeter and time.  Students are encouraged to wear a watch everyday so they pay attention to what is going on and at what time of day.  This is a very new concept to many students so it is important to keep drawing their attention to time and what it means.

Year 3 have been reading Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.  We are up to the part where Charlie finds the 50 pence and has just bought himself a chocolate bar and eaten the whole thing.  A very interesting discussion took place as I put to the students that Charlie is very selfish!  We all love Charlie so the idea that he could be anything but wonderful was a foreign concept but once I pointed out how bad his family's situation was and how no one else in the family benefited from the money he wasted on chocolate they did take time to think and discuss.  We all know he gets the golden ticket but don't you wonder......what if he didn't?

A local Blue Mountains theatre group are showing the musical of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Here is a link to find out more information

http://brooktheatre.net/whats-on/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory/

Looks like it could be a bit of fun.

Year 4 are reading a book called I Hate Fridays.  This is a fun and interesting collection of diary entries by a group of Year 4 students at Koala Bay Public School.  The students in this class are certainly and interesting bunch.

Well this wonderful term has been a lot of fun.  Next term Year 3 head into NAPLAN and we have another fun filled time ahead.

Happy Easter to all.

Week 8 Homework

Well the weeks are flying by and things are humming in 3/4G.  They did a test on 2D shapes today and the results are mixed.  I was surprised so few of them remembered a 5 sided shape is called a pentagon! I guess it's just one of those things you have to do over and over again so it sticks in.

Here is Week 8 homework.  I forgot to put my email address at the bottom so here it is

jo.glazebrook@det.nsw.edu.au

Week 7 Homework

Something I hope will make you think for homework in Week 7