Peer Teaching in Action

I look forward to the days that I am in the classroom. It reminds me how much I love my job, working alongside teachers and students with learning at the heart of all we do. Today was no different. I captured the above moment between two five year boys where one was teaching the other how to make a helicopter rotor from K'NEX. The language of learning was so constructive and a successful helicopter rotor was made. 

Learning from our peers makes sense as often we are at a similar stage in our development. The learning is fresh in our minds and that gives us an insight into how to frame it in a way that is relevant. Children are no different, they learn successfully from each other all the time, they speak the same language and feel comfortable to ask questions of each other if they don't understand. 

Peer teaching is a model we value here at Puketaha School and deliberately develop in our children. Often this is scaffolded by the teacher but often, because of the way we have designed our environments and curriculum, this happens naturally between learners. 

  

The Promise of Things to Come

It's that time of year again, brand new stationery! The promise of things to come. Empty pages waiting to be filled with ideas.  "...I love decorating the cover pages, writing stories, solving problems and creating artistic masterpieces...". Traditional stationery combined with digital tools provide our students with a range of ways to think and communicate. 

Purposeful Spaces for Learning

In the same way that our homes support and often shape the way we live, the way we live can shape our home. So to can our school environment support and shape the way we learn, and the way we learn can shape the way we design our classrooms and wider school environment.

Today's 'photo' of the day shows how the Ropu Mahuri teachers have organised their space into zones for authentic and engaging learning. There is the Meeting Zone, Collaborative Zone, Cave Zone and a new Zone for learning this year, called the Buddy Zone. A lot of thought has gone into the design of these zones to ensure that our students have a place that suits the type of learning they are doing as well as cater for the type of learner they are. 

These spaces allow  for a range of different learning experiences, such as reading, group work, project space, wet areas, reflection, and presenting. As well as for the learner who likes to work independently, with a buddy or in a collaborative situation.

We encourage you to come and see for yourself how learning happens in these spaces. 

Hiding Behind The Rose Garden

Do you recognise the classroom behind our gorgeous rose garden? The building of our new Ropu Kakano space is well under way. It will be exciting to watch it take shape over the first few weeks back at school. See you Wednesday. 

You are Devine Mr Devine!

As you know we have the coolest caretaker in the whole world. Our caretaker does just as his name suggests, he cares! He cares so much about our school he makes sure that it is immaculate at all times. He comes every morning to make sure our Puketaha School is ready for us and then at the end of the day to make sure it is left tidy. In the holidays he has been water blasting our grounds, shampooing the carpets, mowing the lawns, trimming the edges, getting rid of spiderwebs.... You may have noticed his handy work from last year, the train hedge outside the staffroom, purpose built furniture, lost property pick up and the tidy up and maintenance of the pool just to name a few things. A big thank you Mr Devine, we really do think you are devine!

Puketaha School feels empty without you!

What is wrong with this picture? Puketaha School feels very empty without the happy sounds of children playing with each other. We are looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday. We have lots of exciting things planned for Term One and we can't wait to share these with you. Enjoy your last couple of days with your families, get lots of sleep and get your bag and school gear ready.