Enjoy your blogging, Room3

Thanks for having me as a reliever for a whole week, Room3. You are a lovely class and I enjoyed working with you.
I also really enjoyed getting to know the staff of St Andrews and the student teachers who showed up.
Perhaps some of our blogging may rub off on a few of them too.

Your task is to:
1. make a blog
2. make settings including email notification and word verification
3. make a post about something you enjoy, including a picture.
4. leave someone else a comment on one of their posts
5. follow your classmate's blogs
6. get the code for a clustrmap and embed it in your 'layout'
7. keep in touch with me via my blog :-)

Hows school?

How are you Woodmonstas doing with your new yr 7's and new teacher?
Please keep in touch. I want to hear from Jordan please... and Ishtak... and all of you!
Mr Arcus - what is going on?
Queenbead, LittleMissRm18, etc, spread the word and I hope to hear from eveyone soon :-)
I bet it's much calmer in there now that the rowdy yr 8's from last year have gone.
[don't worry - listing those names won't get anyone abducted.]
Cheers from Mr Woody [currently in a digital class at St Andrews]

What do National Standards mean for kids in Kiwi schools?

So who knows what national standards are? They kick in this year and the concept now influences how teaching and learning are developed in this country, despite warnings from abroad that the idea doesn't work. Opinion is divided.
Here is an interesting article on the Ministry of Ed's website comparing the idea of National Standards and it's "Evil Twin".
In reading the comparisons, I can see that the intentions in this country are firmly set on the positive potential of the concept and hopefully we Kiwis will take the noble path. However, if you line teachers and/or schools up and compare them based on test data certain behaviours, such as teaching to tests, may occur. I guess it will come down to how talented our school leaders are at managing it all.
I think NZ students are very fortunate to be learning in one of the world's most caring and enlightened educational systems... by comparison to others at least. 
Enjoy learning, kidlets! You are very fortunate to be living and learning in this great country of ours at the bottom [or is it the top?] of the world. Let's hope we don't stuff it up too much for you.
:-)

National Standards Road Trip about trialling standards before trialling them on kids      

NZEI website re standards being implemented

NZCurriculum online info about standards

prepping for filming

While my poor former colleagues had to suffer through a painfully tedious teacher only day today i was out getting my hands on a new, signed, Manfrotto Fig Rig - a very cool simple solution to steadycam for the non-rich n famous.
I will be using it this week to film doco style footage of a homeless guy as he survives on the streets of Hamilheaven. The footage is for a mental health training video. A cool project.
:-)

Good luck to the former Woodmonstas who will hopefully get the chance to use the TVFI studio this year, despite my absence. You squiddlers are capable of great things if you think creatively and apply yourselves. Don't let anyone hold you back. You have many great resources available to you at FIS, so try to convince your controllers to let you use them in creative ways. I know Mr Noble is keen to let people be innovative.
You could make a programme about your worm farming.

Hi Kids - Bye Kids

I have news - I won't be coming back to Fairfield this year. I have taken a chance to try working with Sasha running our own business as it is taking off. This is good news, as I needed a change after ten years of teaching. The stink part is I won't get to see you guys much this year. I will really miss you, but I will visit!

As for your programme for 2010, please keep running the worm farm. The success or failure of the first bit of enviro learning for Fairfield is in your hands. No teachers are interested so it's up to you guys! The PTA has invested time and money in the project and it would be a great shame if one of NZ's supposedly "most progressive schools" was one of the only ones in the country seemingly unaware of the fact that there is a global environmental crisis precisely because not enough of us care about making a difference.
You know you can do it. With Isaac, Jordan, Kieran and Sean already trained up you can keep the project going if you have the courage and determination. I suggest you only give bins to classes after you have trained them in how and why to use it and then get studetn monitors for each class.
Another thing to help Mr Noble like the project is if you could make the big worm bins [baths] look more attractive somehow. It is very important that no mess or extra work gets made for teachers. So go on - make a difference to your world!
Remember hwo shokced you all were that no enviro schools stuff happens at FIS? No paper, plastic, food or ANY recycling! Unbelievable in today's world. Everyone recycles at home don't they?
See what you can do. Make it fun and solve any problems.

So enjoy 2010 young squiddlers. You can start afresh and be a good example to your new yr 7's.
Keep blogging also - I have kids from years ago at Peachgrove still using their blog so you can too. It's a great way to stay in touch.

Ciao for now :-)

What's happening?

I haven't heard from you for a while - Room5ians have been yacking away, but no Woodmonstas...
My summer is going well - very relaxing. I will be going to Kawhia for a week next week - it's great there - endless beach, panoramic views from the bach we stay in. We are very lucky :-)

Remember to drop food into the worm bin if you're passing - the back gates are open these days and you may go in to feed them.

I am learning to edit film today with Sasha.

Woodmonstas are so cool!

Well done all of you who did such an amazing job of your Matainui work this term. Congratulations. Keep an eye on your blogs for feedback.
Year Sevens - I will miss you over Summer :-(
Year Eights - I wish every one of you all the best for your bright bright futures :-)

Aroha Nui Room 18!!!

Survey Monkey

Here you go, Squiddlers. Complete this learning survey online for Mrs Morresey.
Answer sensibly and carefully - you are having a say in your own learning so don't waste the opportunity.
:-)

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FB7SG9Z

Last full week ...

This week you are required to complete and "hand in" your Matainui stories. I can't wait to read the rest of them!!! Some have already been completed and are amazingly, scintillatingly exciting :-)

Also, I hope to see all yr 8's attending the social tonight in our room at pm to toast each other and start the formal occasion in a fitting manner.

You might like to share some thoughtful words here about someone special from the class. Share specific thing someone has done to help you this year, or something you appreciated about a classmate or teacher at the school. It may be a teacher, sports coach or friend from class.

Let's share a fun, relaxed and productive last few days together :-)

Our Arsenal Supporter loves to Blog

By being given an opportunity to blog to a worldwide audience, our great friend, who has now left us for the Western Penal Colonies, enjoyed writing online to have his opinions and passions 'heard'.

Bloggers Rule the World

MysteryMan tells us why he loves blogging and how it helps him develop his writing skills.

Uh oH ...

Some of you are uncovering conspiracy theories relating to Matainui.
Some of you have discovered major powers that can save the day!
Some of you have written amazing narratives to share with the whole world!!!
Has anyone received feedback from anyone outside our class yet?
Leave your promo one liners here so people can click on your names to link to your brilliant writing blogs :-)

And more WOodmonstas have been transformed...

Who do you think these characters might be?

Leaving quality writing comments

When leaving comments on your peers' [new word for Mr Lyttle] blogs you should evaluate the writing by comparing it to the achievement objectives on this teacher website

The best comments will win a trip to Uzbekistan where you can mingle with fabulous cultural dancers, drink fresh yak milk and dig for fossilized mastodons.




[prize may in fact be fictional]

New characters...

You may also meet characters like this and see artifacts like these.... [clues for art comp too]