Week 3 update

Some teams were away at overnighters this week, as the rest will be this week.  Great to see many students auditioning for Rock Band and Sports Teams.  Keep watching the Announcements for all the opportunities that are available at Raroa.

Mathletes: Mathletes groups this week focused on developing strategies for solving complex, multi-step maths word problems...

First, unpack the problem: 

• READ and REREAD as many times as needed
• IDENTIFY the question being asked and highlight
• IDENTIFY the information given that is relevant
• CHOOSE a strategy that best fits
• e.g. guess and check, working backwards, find a pattern, draw a visualisation, draw a table, etc.

Then, double check by using estimation or reworking.

The focus ended up moving to when and how to use tables for solving problems as this was a new area of learning for all.

Some teams also looked at the difference between errors and mistakes as often some mathematicians do not differentiate between the two which can affect confidence and well-being. 

Ext(reme) Writers: We welcomed Holly F to the group this week. Our focus continues to be exploring how imagery can be used effectively to create meaningful free verse.  

Roxy5 Film Groups Have finalised their storylines and after exploring effective ways to storyboard, have started their own.

Kapowai: Great to see everyone together again this week - rubber bands were front and centre - how are we like rubber bands?

 

Parent Info Survey

If you haven't had a chance to fill in this short survey with any information you would like to share about your child, please do so. This is so I can gain a wider view of your child, beyond the school context.   

No-one knows your child better than you!  

(Thanks to those who have already - much appreciated!)

First Week of classes behind us...

It was great to see the returning Year 8 students and new Yr 7 and 8 faces join us this week.  And also great to meet the many parents on Thursday night who dropped in to say hello. 

Mathletes Update:

The focus this week was on exploring activities that required use of a number of skills that mathematicians use, regardless of the content or context:

• asking questions
• communicating understandings using mathematical language
• thinking creatively - more than one way or one solution
• thinking critically - double checking responses
• working together to solve problems

The students also discovered that an activity could lead to different new learnings for each student, in addition to the intended goals.  For example, the use of 4 fours to creatively create the numbers 1 to 20 also resulted in learnings about factorials, BEDMAS, cube roots and fourth roots.

Ext(reme) Writing Update:

A focus on poetic writing started off with 'Poetry Poker" followed by the use of metaphors to create imagery about a colour.  Substitutions of the colour were then made to create a new context for the poem.  (photo to follow).

Roxy5 Film Group

Ideation is well underway after identifying the audience and criteria for a successful movie.  The 'Film in a Can' group explored using a decision making matrix to critique their shortlist.  And, of course, we watched more short films (!).

Kapowai

Great get-together to see how things are going in new rooms and new teams.  A new name for the group was decided on...Kapowai (dragonfly).  Our next focus will be on supporting new members to the group, especially the Year 7s.

Bike Track Opening

Welcome to the 2019 GATE blog!

Welcome back to our regular blog parents and students and

a special welcome to our new students and parents!

The aims of this blog are to:

• celebrate the learning of the students
• updates on programmes and events (past, present and upcoming)
• provide a place to revisit resources used
• easy access to the GATE calendar
• celebrate successes and achievements
• a place to find inspiration, information and guidance.

Please feel free to comment and send any information or links that you think would be great to share with our Raroa GATE community.