3D shapes

We have been revising 3D shapes in Year 5/6 and today was about showing what you know.

We have explored nets, labels and parts of shapes.

We have these great nets to explore - they fold out, bend and are very hands on.

We can use them to help us work out nets and the name of the shapes that fit together. 

Some students have been working on drawing these shapes to show what they know.

Then the extension group have been using Mathletics and google Sketch Up to show what they know.

How many 3D shapes you can see here?

A walk as Curriculum Leader

Today I got to walk in and out of classrooms wearing my 'Curriculum Leader' hat.

It is such a privilege to do this and be treated like a rock star in the One/Two building. I have taught most of these kids and they love showing me what they are up to and how much they have learnt since we have worked together. 

We are using Daily 5 from P-6 and this was an opportunity to see our Preps (they have been at school for 8 weeks or 35 days) - they are all over 'read to self' and 'read to someone'.

They have been learning how to use their take home books as best fit books. 

During this time I saw teachers working with a student one on one and tracking their progress. 

Such a powerful way to work. 

They can do this as these students are already showing great stamina and independent work habits. 

'Read to Someone' is happening very well - a credit to our amazing teachers.

EEKK - eye tracking - one book at a time........asking questions, helping each other.......

Read the room - addition and subtraction

This 'Read the Room - Addition and Subtraction' pack has been great for consolidating and checking concepts about addition and subtraction this week. 

Our kids have had fun while learning about addition an subtraction. 

Senior Constable Des

We are lucky to have access to Senior Constable Des. 

He is a Policeman here in our town and is able to come and talk to schools about a variety of things.

Today he came to speak to our Year 3-6 students about being safe in our community. 

A discussion around Stranger Danger and some strategies to assist when we don't feel safe.

We watched a short film and our kids got to ask lots of questions. 

A great session.

Sunshine Award x 3

What do all these bloggers have in common?

Kimberley from Fullbright Hugs 

Kayla from Texas Teaching Fanatic

Jane from Learning in the Little Apple

They have all nominated me for a a "SUNSHINE BLOGGER AWARD" this week

It is about bringing sunshine through blogging - what a cute idea.

So first here are 11 random facts about me

1. I regularly have manicures and pedicures

2. I never drink instant coffee - life is too short

3. I do not like cat or dogs, but can handle a snake

4. I am addicted to Melonheadz clipart

5. I hate cooking, my husband cooks more than I do. But I love cooking complicated things on the weekend

6. My love of music is eclectic and I love musicals. My daughter and I go to many in Melbourne

7. You can never have enough shoes or handbags

8. I am a little OCD about how things are done in my classroom like my notes, planning and my stuff

9. I love anything Clinique

10. I have finally come to terms with my curly hair

11. I cannot have enough stationary

So please stay with me while I answer the questions I have been asked............

 I need to answer 11 questions from Kimberley - so here they are

1.  If you were the principal of your school, what is one change you would make and why? This is a tough one for me, as I am part of leadership and our Principal works as part of a team. So on this on – I wouldn't change anything. Maybe some of our teachers might think differently.

2. What is your favorite teaching tool in your classroom? This would have to be my Daily 5 drawers and the drawers I use for Maths. I think you call them core drawers.

3. Tell about one student that holds a special place in your heart (I know we love them all, but choose one). 

A long time ago I taught a boy called Mark. He was my first severe asthmatic and allergy kid. My first epipen student and he was an absolute delight to work with and had his ‘illnesses’ in perspective.

4. What is your hobby? What – apart from blogging, creating for TPT and Pinterest surfing??????

Okay then it would have to be overseas travel.

5. What do you feel is your strength in the classroom? I have had extensive training in Maths and I often get boxed into this – but my real strength is teaching reading and writing.

6. What do you feel is your weakest area in the classroom? Physical Education – I am not built for speed!

7. What would be your one piece of advice for a beginning teacher? Be kind to yourself and take on one thing at a time and get it right, then take on something else.

8. Why did you become a teacher? I had four teachers in Year 6 and didn't want others to have a crappy year at school. I have wanted to be a teacher ever since then.

9.  What is one thing you would change about the educational system today?  Funding!!!!!!!!

10. What do you hope to accomplish this coming summer? Here in Australia over our winter break (because we are opposite to the USA) I want to complete some TPT projects and spend time in our neglected garden.

11. What is something you have too much/many of (in other words, what do you hoard)? Stationary and clipart (from Melonheadz)

Kayla's questions are 

1.     Where are you from? Australia - Victoria – Ballarat

2.     What is your favorite animal? Giraffes, I know this will make some people think differently about me, but I am not a pet person

3.     What is your favorite thing about teaching? Seeing that ah-hah moment when a child gets it

4.     What is your favorite children’s book? Possum Magic by Mem Fox

5.     Why do you blog? Initially to record what I do, now it is about sharing what I do and getting feedback to make me a better teacher 

6.     Who do you look up to? My younger sister - she has had to deal with things that no one should have to and she just keeps going everyday and has a smile on her face everyday

7.     When did you become a teacher? This one dates me - 1985 (shh I am fifty next month)

8.     Would you rather: Have a side soup or a side salad? A no brainer, def soup

9.     If you could click your heels together and be anywhere, where would it be? Back in Fiji

10. What is your favorite quote? You don't know what you don't know

11. If you could read minds, whose mind would you love to read? My 18 year old son's

Jane's questions are 

     1. What's your favorite snack food? Dip and bagel chips

    2.What was your favorite class in college? Art

    3. Is anyone else in your family a teacher? My husband is a Principal

    4. Would you change the length of the school day if you could? How? Not in primary, secondary maybe starting later to cater for teenagers better

    5. Do you eat lunch in the teacher's lounge or somewhere else? Most times at my desk while correcting or on the run or after school!

    6. What's your favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning? Replying to blog comments while my teenagers sleep

    7.Do you have a nickname? No not really, my parents call me Poll - short for Paula I suppose

    8. What's the last thing you bought at a store? Baby clothes for friends who have just had babies

    9.Have you ever met a celebrity? Who? Last month I met three other Aussie bloggers and they are super stars in my mind

    10. Would you change your birthday month? If so, to what? No, I love April - here it is neither hot or cold, just right

    11. What is the most important tip you would provide to others who blog? Plan out your blogs and don't just self-promote products. Develop a philosophy and stick to it - your readers will appreciate you more

Now I am nominating 11 bloggers

1. Laughter and Learning

2. Fun in First

3. Lifelong Learning in Prep

4. Books, Bugs and Boxes

5. Magic Mistakes and Mayhem
6. Coffee. Kids and Compulsive Lists
7. Ladybugs Teacher Files
8. The tattooed teacher
9. Mrs Laffin's Laughings
10. A Teeny Tiny Teacher
11. I'm Lovin Lit

Their 11 questions are.....
1. What is the best part of your day?
2. Is their a child who you remember most? Why?
3. Have you taught at the same school or moved around?
4. Your fav thing to teach is......?
5. A teacher you had that stuck in your head and why?
6. What has been the most important PD you have ever gone to?
7. What is challenging about what we do?
8. Do you have a blog plan?
9. What started you blogging?
10. What is your fav time of the year? Why?
11. Do you cart things home only to cart them back without looking at them?

Phew - done!

Area and Perimeter

In our shared teaching space we have been working on area and perimeter. 

To create a real task to solve, our students had been preparing presentations, so we asked them to plan out how much space each group would need in our atrium. 

They had to measure and work out how many in each group and how much space they need in terms of area and perimeter. The groups were different sizes and had different requirements due to size of presentations. 

A great task and it also enabled us to work with children who needed support to create the map.

We talked about scale, keys and pathways to ensure movement around the displays. 

Here are some of their efforts.

A pink surprise

Last week, I got my special 'pink' gift in the mail. 

I am a proud Melonheadz addict and one of the many upsides of this is the extra love Nikki sends our way! 

Each addict has access to a special blog and facebook page - so we can keep up with all that is Melonheadz as well as discount on sets we buy.

This wonderful graphic artist produces amazing clipart and I probably own all her sets.

My lovely bookmark is already in a book waiting for me to read.

Oh the places you go

I spent the day in a Year 1/2 grade today. 

I read them this book.

We then talked about where we wanted to go and whether it is was fiction or fact.

We drew a background, added our balloon to travel there in and then wrote about our picture.

How amazing are they?

Sochi Inquiries and a winner

Below is a collection of photos from our Year 5/6's.

The photos are of the finished inquiries on a sport or athlete from the Sochi games. 

Our focus was note taking and sharing the information in an Information Report.

But before you view the photos, the winner of my rafflecopter is Alison H. 

Congratulations and watch out for an email from me.

Thanks for entering.