Term+2+Whanau+Links

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 * Kia ora, Talofa lava, Konnichiwa, Bula, Kia Orana, Malo e lelei, Salaam, Ni hao**


 * Welcome to Term 2**


 * This page has been set up in response to parents looking for more information on what is happening in class and how they can better support their children at home. Below are the topics we are covering and what is happening over the Term. There are a collection of links to readings and websites that will help you to support your child at home and continue the learning!**

=Mathematics= In Mathematics we look at two sections of the Number Framework as part of the Numeracy Project. Strategy - the way we solve mathematical problems. Knowledge - what we understand and know about number e.g. basic facts, place value.

We aim to arm students with a range of strategies that allow students to have different ways of solving mathematical problems. This means that if students cannot solve a problem using one strategy, they will be able to call upon other strategies to solve problems in the most efficient way.

More information from the NZ Maths site: What is the Number Framework - more about Knowledge & Strategies How can I help my child? Glossary of terms we use for the Numeracy Framework

Week 1-3: Geometry - 2D and 3D shapes Week 4-6: Fractions, Percentages & Decimals Week 7-11: Addition & Subtraction Strategies
 * Term 2 Focus:**

Weeks 1-11 - Basic Facts Each week students complete a basic facts test. This is to support a strong knowledge of the basics necessary to help make completing strategies and faster and easier task. The focus with basic facts is an instant recall of these facts i.e. fast! Students have a basic facts sheet in the back of their homework book that they can practice from. Anytime is a good time to practice these and you can help your child in a range of ways:
 * When cooking the dinner give a few basic facts for them to solve.
 * Sing the basic facts to well known tunes.
 * Pass a ball back and forth sharing basic facts.
 * Go one for one - ask a basic fact and then your child asks you one... who's the fastest?

The students also have an array of links to games and websites that they use as part of their class learning everyday. Down the left hand side are a range of keywords. Click on any of these words to see links to websites that will support that keyword area.
 * Delicious Account**

NZ Maths provides a great chart for websites and ideas to support knowledge development - Click on the chart to head there:
 * Home Support**



=Written Language=

Week 1-5: Recount Writing Week 6-9: Instructional Writing Week 10-11: Descriptive Writing
 * Term 2 Focus:**

=Reading= During Reading we are experimenting with and learning a range of skills and strategies to help us become better readers. Good readers use all these skills and strategies well to make reading a more enjoyable and interesting experience! When we read we have to read or decode the words - to do this we need to know lots of things like the sounds of the letters and clusters (phonics), how to use illustrations to give us information and how to use skills like 'reading on' to understand what words we don't know could be. While we read we also have to understand or comprehend the words that we are reading. It is VERY important that we understand what we are reading!

Even though we have a main focus, during Reading we are using a lot of different strategies and skills every time we read.

These are the strategies good readers use when they read: Predicting, Connecting, Comparing, Inferring, Synthesising, Creating Images, Self-Questioning, Skimming, Scanning, Determining Importance, Summarising and Paraphrasing

Word Identification Strategies: Re-reading, Reading on, Adjusting reading rate (or pace), Sounding out, Chunking, Using Analogy (e.g. knowing beak and using it to help read peak), Consulting a reference (dictionaries etc)

Into the Book is a great site to help you learn more about each of these strategies and see how they are used when reading.

This is also another great site that gives you some questions starters to help ask clear comprehension questions during and after reading with your child. Reading to Schools Bloom Comprehension Question Stems

Week 4-7: Inferring (Inference) Week 8-9: Connection recap & Comparing Week 10-11: Creating Images
 * Term 2 Focus:**

Goals: Every student has created a goal based on their last Reading test on an area that they would like to develop and work on.

=Theme/Topic= Out of the Ordinary: Extraordinary! Each pod has taken the theme in a different direction. Our focus for this theme is looking at Toys. The students will be working through the Design Process to create their own extraordinary toys out of ordinary objects. The aim of this is to be able to create toys that children in areas like Haiti could create to play with from few objects.

You will see more of this process come alive through visiting the blog and the wiki. The Design Process that we will be following can be seen here.

As part of this we are off to MOTAT on May 31st to investigate their amazing toy room. The aims of this visit it to investigate:
 * How toys have changed over time.
 * What they are made from, what drives toys and makes them work.

Check out their website here - it's also good to know that MOTAT has free entry for Waitakere City residents until the 31st May!

=Blog= As you will know we have a http://twelve2010.blogspot.com/class blog. This is an amazing portal for the students to share their work with a global audience. The students have been learning about what a blog is and how people can comment on their work.

They would really appreciate if you would leave them comments on the blog!


 * How to leave a Comment**

At the bottom of the work you will see a panel that looks like this: Click on the word '**comments'**

A pop up window will display this image - there are 3 things to do!
 * 1) Type your comment in the big box at the top.
 * 2) Then type in the words shown - this is to make sure you aren't a robot!
 * 3) Then type your name.



Then click **Publish Your Comment**

Then you will see a box that says this: Miss Signal moderates all the comments to make sure that they are safe for us to read.

Congratulations - you have left us a comment!! Thank you so much!!

=Visual Arts= This term we learnt about the extraordinary artist Piet Mondrian. At first the students thought that his artwork was rather ordinary. But the more they have explored and re-created his artwork they have found that it is quite extraordinary! Keep an eye on our blog for our final Mondrians.

Want to learn more about Mondrian like we did? Check out our wiki learning page about Mondrian.

=Handwriting/Typing= Students have 1 handwriting session and 1 typing session each week. Handwriting time allows students to have a specific time that they can practice and receive feedback on their handwriting style. Every student has a specific goal relating to their own handwriting needs.

Alongside handwriting, typing is becoming a core skill that students need to develop to create a range of digital objects. During this time students use a range of websites to help them develop knowledge of where keys are on the keyboard and correct typing skills.

=Te Reo Maori= To compliment the Geometry unit students learnt the names of 2D and 3D shapes.

Week 6-11: Commands Students will be learning a range of questions and commands that they can use every day. This website is a great site that will help you and your child with Te Reo Maori pronounciation.

Questions Commands