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

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

EXCITING STUFF!!!

Have popped in a video of R4 busy at PE.  ENJOY!

Kind regards

Whaea Karin 

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