Last Week of Term One

The last week of Term One is here. Our Graduate students Miss Kerr and Mr Matheson have finished their first posting and on Friday they gave everyone a packet of stickers, including me. Their help has been very much appreciated over the past few weeks, we will miss them when they go back to university.

The Junior Team Teachers have a release day on Monday and will be working hard to plan the Term Two programme. Teachers are also working individually with each child so see how they are getting on with their reading.

Here are some pictures of the things Kindle Two children have been getting up to on the last two Fridays.





















































The Ministry of Education Early Childhood Curriculum Document - Te Whariki (1996) states on p.9: "Children learn through collaboration with adults and peers, through guided participation and observation of others, as well as through individual exploration and reflection."

Children need opportunities to:

• display curiosity
• co-operate
• be creative
• learn new skills
• use their imaginations
• observe
• explore new possibilities
• learn how to ask
• follow interests
• develop ideas
• pose questions
• talk
• listen
• play
• be challenged
• experiment
• negotiate
• find solutions
• interpret instructions
• persevere
• cope with frustration
• be organised
• succeed
• develop confidence
• concentrate
• experience diversity
• complete tasks
• discover strengths
• perform
• share ideas
• help others
• include others
• plan
• construct
• discover
• take pride in achievements
• take turns
• participate
• contibute
• think
• use language symbols and text
• manage themselves
• relate to others
• reflect on learning
  

"Teachers need opportunities to:

• observe children in a range of different situations
• spend time with children 1:1
• meet children's individual needs
• model and extend oral language
• meet curriculum requirements
• provide fun learning experiences"1

1 Brenda Martin and Gay Hay(2008) Discovery Time: Developing Key Competencies through activity-based, child-directed learning. Wellington, Page Break Ltd p.8

Our Fun Friday Choice Time provides the perfect environment for these things to happen. It also helps to make the transition from an Early Childhood Education setting to School much smoother.