It Comes From Within

Devon and I learning te rakau at Tikanga today.

"...You can learn the kupu (words) and know the actions, but the real power comes from within..." 

These were the words spoken by Inia Maxwell, the kapa haka leader and composer who wrote the haka performed by the All Blacks before each game. Today we found out more about the inspiration and message behind the haka written especially for Ritchie McCaw and his team. We are going to write our own haka with the support of Whaea Rose and hope to perform it to you later this year.

On reflection, I connect this sense of passion seen when people perfom the haka with teaching and learning. Powerful teaching comes from within. We can learn the theory and know our children's needs but it's the desire to make a real difference for our children that makes us powerful. I am so lucky to work with a group of dedicated professionals who everyday want to make a difference for the students they teach.

Discovery Time

This week the students in Kakano 2 are discovering the wonders of space. I captured them reading independently, a range of texts, with the idea of finding interesting facts and writing these onto 'fact cards' to put up on the wall. They were also making constellations and telescopes. There were also children writing stories about space, taking part in their guided reading group with a teacher as well as a number of other learning experiences about space. 

There was so much to celebrate about the learning that was on display today but one thing that I enjoyed observing was the confidence of the students who were reading quite challenging texts and the reading strategies that they could apply when challenged with difficult vocabulary. 

Kakano 2 have been scientists this week investigating kitchen chemicals that fizz and foam. They are getting very clever at making observations of the changes that happen when you combine different kinds of substances. Check out more photos at www.puketaha.school.nz.

First Ever Puketaha Basketball Team

We have a basketball team for the first time at Puketaha School instigated by a parent at our school who offered to be the coach. The team play at the YMCA on Tuesday nights and even though they have only played two games to date, the consensus is that the students love it. We are looking forward to our basketball hoops with backboards arriving so we can practice our shooting, especially our 3 pointers!!

Puketaha Basketball Team

Where would we be without our parent helpers? The Puketaha basketball team are getting ready for next term!! 

Student Led Conferences - Children In The Drivers Seat

Student Led Conferences are a special time in our calendar when our children get to talk about what they are learning and how they learn with their parents and caregivers. 

When children lead a conference about their learning they see it as something that they are very much a part of and can take responsibility for. They are in the driving seat. 

Parents, caregivers and teachers learn a lot from observing and being part of these conversations. If children can talk about what they are learning and why this shows how engaged they are in the learning process and how aware they are of themselves as learners. 

I was lucky enough to attend one of these conferences with my son last night. I was very proud of the way that he could talk (for nearly 45 minutes) about his learning, and the insight I gained into his knowledge of himself as a learner. 

I am very grateful for the enormous energy that his teachers, throughout his time at Puketaha School, have put into him and his learning. Last night has given me a quiet confidence that the skills he demonstrated as being a learner has set him up for success and happiness in this complicated world that we live in. 

Sharing Success

It's always exciting to hear a knock at the door from children who want to share their success with Mr Booth. Today we listened to Nick share his story about his cat. There were some great discussions about cats and the things they get up to. Knowing that their stories are important and interesting for others to read and or hear creates the motivation for our young writers to want to keep sharing what they observe and what matters to them.