Rutherford 4 are back refreshed and ready to make the most of their learning opportunities. We begin a new maths unit based on Statistics in week 3. This will involve students using the statistical process of hypothesising, designing a survey, collecting data, analysing and writing statements. R4 will also use this blog to capture a community survey so keep your eyes peeled we need you to participate.
On Wednesday of this week R4 sat an EASTTLE reading assessment. The data gathered from this assessment plus class assessments and observations will be the basis for the final reporting in week 6 of this term. We have been focusing on inference (reading between the lines) and comparing and contrasting ideas and information, skills that are valuable for making sense of what we read and see.
Last Friday groups presented their mascots for reflective thinking, the next step is to take the mascots they have created and use them in a comic. We are very fortunate in Rutherford to have available the COMIC LIFE software. Another tool to allow our students to be creative and use their learning in another context. The comic and the mascots will be showcased through the blog over the coming weeks.
The 9 HOUR RELAY is coming up in week 3 and it is great that most of R4 have gained some form of sponsorship or donation for this event. Parents and family are welcome so if you can make it please pop in. It promises to be a fun and vibrant event.
THANK YOU to all of the parents and caregivers who came to our progress discussions on Tuesday. The vibe was great and the learning conversations showcased the effort and progress every student in R4 has made so far.
Remember if you need to contact me please do so through the office or email me at karinh@rotorua-intermediate.org.nz
Kind regards
Karin
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Monday, 26 March 2012
WEEK 9 Rutherford 4
Our maths unit for proportional thinking is almost complete and every student in Rutherford 4 has improved in their understanding and use of fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios and integers. This is probably the trickiest unit to get your head around as well the most important. Most mathematical problems involve having to think proportionally and it is a strategy that we use in real life contexts. Every week students will have set maths homework that is to be completed and in some cases extra revision will be required if they have an assessment. It is the responisibility of the student to make sure that homework is done on time and completed to a high standard.
Student engagement against other houses is in full swing now and already Rutherford have had some good wins. It is an expectation that every student in R4 participates in student engagement, PE, and fitness. This is why it is important that they come everyday prepared with their PE uniform.
A reminder that ICAS external exams are to be paid for prior to the cut off dates. It is an expectation that all Rutherford House students sit the English and Maths exams. A letter has been sent home giving information on the dates and cost. If you have not received this please have your child get another.
Monday marked our 3rd team building session with Matua Shane. These sessions strengthen collaborative strategies and they are FUN! A wee snippet of one of the tasks R4 had to complete is included in this blog.
Kind regards
Karin
Student engagement against other houses is in full swing now and already Rutherford have had some good wins. It is an expectation that every student in R4 participates in student engagement, PE, and fitness. This is why it is important that they come everyday prepared with their PE uniform.
A reminder that ICAS external exams are to be paid for prior to the cut off dates. It is an expectation that all Rutherford House students sit the English and Maths exams. A letter has been sent home giving information on the dates and cost. If you have not received this please have your child get another.
Monday marked our 3rd team building session with Matua Shane. These sessions strengthen collaborative strategies and they are FUN! A wee snippet of one of the tasks R4 had to complete is included in this blog.
Kind regards
Karin
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Week 8 in RUTHERFORD 4
Just 3 more weeks until the end of the term! Our learning block topic for this term and the next is MASCOTS. Students have been using the inquiry process to research a sporting mascot of their choice specifically looking at their attributes, behaviour and purpose. This research helps reinforce the skills the students have learnt when writing their reports on creepy crawlies. Next step in our learning block will be for the students to research past and present OLYMPIC mascots, use a prediction map to find the country they think will host the 2020 Olympics and then design an appropriate mascot for this country. Next term we will take what we have learnt about mascots, their purpose and attributes and set about designing four mascots for RUTHERFORD HOUSE! Each mascot will represent the four fundamental skills that build personal and academic achievement. These are known as the RUTHERFORD 4 R's and they are as follows:
Resilience: being ready, willing and able to lock onto learning
Resourcefulness:being ready, willing and able to to learn in different ways
Rflection: being ready, willing and able to become more strategic about learning
Relationships: being ready, willing and able to learn independently and in collaboration with others
Just 3 more weeks until the end of the term! Our learning block topic for this term and the next is MASCOTS. Students have been using the inquiry process to research a sporting mascot of their choice specifically looking at their attributes, behaviour and purpose. This research helps reinforce the skills the students have learnt when writing their reports on creepy crawlies. Next step in our learning block will be for the students to research past and present OLYMPIC mascots, use a prediction map to find the country they think will host the 2020 Olympics and then design an appropriate mascot for this country. Next term we will take what we have learnt about mascots, their purpose and attributes and set about designing four mascots for RUTHERFORD HOUSE! Each mascot will represent the four fundamental skills that build personal and academic achievement. These are known as the RUTHERFORD 4 R's and they are as follows:
Resilience: being ready, willing and able to lock onto learning
Resourcefulness:being ready, willing and able to to learn in different ways
Rflection: being ready, willing and able to become more strategic about learning
Relationships: being ready, willing and able to learn independently and in collaboration with others
EXCITING STUFF!!!
Have popped in a video of R4 busy at PE. ENJOY!
Kind regards
Whaea Karin
Monday, 12 March 2012
Week 7 in Rutherford 4
Another busy week! We are fully involved in writing reports specifically focusing on the attributes, function and behaviour of creepy crawlies. Soon it will be time for each student to choose an independent topic to research and write a report on. Maths is ticking along nicely with the focus on proportional thinking! This involves solving problems with fractions, decimals, percentages and ratios - really designed to get the brain working.
In reading we are analysing the stories from SHAUN TAN. Shaun Tan is an amazing storyteller and illustrator. He is very quirky and likes to leave the interpretation up to the reader. The students are having fun using their creative thinking skills when discussing what they think the message is.
Since the completion of the HAKA competition Rutherford 4 is fully involved in student engagement competing against other houses. We have had some wins and are looking forward to gaining a lot of points - hopefully RUTHERFORD will win the house cup this term. With the points gained from 3rd place in HAKA and our overall win at SWIMMING SPORTS we have a definite chance.
Our PE Co-ordinator Shane Stephens has begun a team building programme run in our PE gym time. Students are given a clear set of instructions and a problem to solve COLLABORATIVELY. RUTHERFORD 4 ROCKED. They used creative thinking and reflective thinking - two skills that are integral to success.
I would like to acknowlege the excellent effort that the students in Rutherford 4 are putting in. Since coming back from camp we have been so busy in and out of the class and everyone is stepping up to the challenge to achieve. Principal Praise Postcards are one way that effort is recognised as well as citizenship and academic badges. Congratulations to William Thomas and Yasmin Beizlle who received an academic badge and Caleb Huston who received a citizenship badge. Everyone who receives a badge is acknowledged at the Thursday assembly.
Remember should you wish to contact me directly please do so through email at karinh@rotorua-intermediate.org.nz
Kind regards
Whaea Karin
Another busy week! We are fully involved in writing reports specifically focusing on the attributes, function and behaviour of creepy crawlies. Soon it will be time for each student to choose an independent topic to research and write a report on. Maths is ticking along nicely with the focus on proportional thinking! This involves solving problems with fractions, decimals, percentages and ratios - really designed to get the brain working.
In reading we are analysing the stories from SHAUN TAN. Shaun Tan is an amazing storyteller and illustrator. He is very quirky and likes to leave the interpretation up to the reader. The students are having fun using their creative thinking skills when discussing what they think the message is.
Our PE Co-ordinator Shane Stephens has begun a team building programme run in our PE gym time. Students are given a clear set of instructions and a problem to solve COLLABORATIVELY. RUTHERFORD 4 ROCKED. They used creative thinking and reflective thinking - two skills that are integral to success.
I would like to acknowlege the excellent effort that the students in Rutherford 4 are putting in. Since coming back from camp we have been so busy in and out of the class and everyone is stepping up to the challenge to achieve. Principal Praise Postcards are one way that effort is recognised as well as citizenship and academic badges. Congratulations to William Thomas and Yasmin Beizlle who received an academic badge and Caleb Huston who received a citizenship badge. Everyone who receives a badge is acknowledged at the Thursday assembly.
Remember should you wish to contact me directly please do so through email at karinh@rotorua-intermediate.org.nz
Kind regards
Whaea Karin
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Week 5
Rutherford 4 together with the rest of Rutherford House spent last week at Tarawera camp. Unfortunately the weather wasn't great and we had to come back a day earlier than planned. However, even though the weather was not on our side we did manage to make the most of the facilties and activities on offer. I am so proud of every student who participated and 'just got on with it' despite the rain. This spirit of resilience and resourcefulness is what makes Rutherford House so special. These are just a few of the photos we have taken we hope you enjoy them.
Thank you to all the parents who supported the camp with their time, transport to and from and their equipment. Without supportive parents, camps such as Tarawera are not a feasible option.
Thank you to all the parents who supported the camp with their time, transport to and from and their equipment. Without supportive parents, camps such as Tarawera are not a feasible option.
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Welcome to Rutherford 4 class blog
Welcome to Rutherford 4 class blog.
The term has begun in a positive way with all students enthusiastic and motivated to make the most of their year 8 'Rutherford Experience'. I have high expectations for all of the students in R4 and believe that the class programme will extend and challenge everyone. Homework will consist of maths, learning block and where applicable work that hasn't been completed in class. This isn't designed to be onerous but rather a means for each student to practice what has been covered in class or in the case of learning block complete independent projects. A maths homework book has been ordered and will arrive in week 3. I will send a notice regarding the cost of this home and it is expected that everyone will have purchased one by the end of week 5.
Hard materials begin Thursday of this week, ICT the following week and of course we have school swimming on Friday 10th February. Camp is week 4 and we notices regarding the gear list and health forms will come home on Friday of this week.
Should you have any queries regarding the class programme or need to contact me for any reason please do so through the office or email me direct on karinh@rotorua-intermediate.org.nz.
Kind regards
Whaea Karin
The term has begun in a positive way with all students enthusiastic and motivated to make the most of their year 8 'Rutherford Experience'. I have high expectations for all of the students in R4 and believe that the class programme will extend and challenge everyone. Homework will consist of maths, learning block and where applicable work that hasn't been completed in class. This isn't designed to be onerous but rather a means for each student to practice what has been covered in class or in the case of learning block complete independent projects. A maths homework book has been ordered and will arrive in week 3. I will send a notice regarding the cost of this home and it is expected that everyone will have purchased one by the end of week 5.
Hard materials begin Thursday of this week, ICT the following week and of course we have school swimming on Friday 10th February. Camp is week 4 and we notices regarding the gear list and health forms will come home on Friday of this week.
Should you have any queries regarding the class programme or need to contact me for any reason please do so through the office or email me direct on karinh@rotorua-intermediate.org.nz.
Kind regards
Whaea Karin
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