Picture Prompts - writing

 Picture Prompts - Motivating to Write and stimulating thinking

A good way of getting children to write is by using picture (usually photo) prompts. Big pictures are best and they can be electronic or in paper form, as long as the children are able to look at them closely from the place from where they are writing.

Children can be guided to describe the setting or a character in the setting by using looks like, feels like, smells like and sounds like, or they can use the scene to begin a story using who, what where and when.

 The children may have to be encouraged to choose a prompt as procrastination in making a choice is common.

 Room 6 children have chosen their prompts in this picture and are now orgainising their books and other writing equipment.

Some children are very happy and motivated writers - others may need support and encouragement to write.

 Enterprise Flytying Class Trip to Utuhina Stream

On the second to last week of term 3 Mr Bach took his enterprise flytying class to the Utuhina Stream for a field trip. The aim was to try and identify likely spots to find trout and talk about the times and places that are best for catching trout in small streams. We were hoping to test out a couple of the flies we designed, but unfortunately although we saw trout we were unable to catch any. Maybe having 30 children bounding around on the bank didn't help. 

Tom's mum came along as a parent helper. We were lucky to have many parents who were willing to lend a hand.

The children look towards the stream, where we managed to see a number of trout, a couple of them big. We scared them unfortunately - and trout are very hard to catch once disturbed.

Mr Bach explains a few of his secrets about how to catch trout in the Utuhina Stream.

    Mr Bach tries to catch a trout by some miracle under an overhanging tree.

 Mr Bach shows some of the different flies he has tied over the years.

In deep pools, under banks and behind or under snags are some of the favourite places that trout like to rest and hide.

  Hemi enjoying himself by the stream.

  Mr Bach negotiating two hazards - streamside vegetation and excited children.

Hili was proud to carry the first aid kit for our class.

Room 6 Assembly Term 3

 Room 6 Assembly Term 3

Last Friday at the end of week 9, Room 6 students ran the school assembly. This was the second assembly that Room 6 have run this year. A new group of students got the chance to participate and practice reading clearly in front of an audience. All the children learned their words perfectly and spoke clearly to the assembled audience.

The assembly was opened by Joseph who welcomed everyone to the hall. 

Josh introduced the prayer which was Hail Mary or Awe e Maria in Maori. He did the sign of the cross in French and then Maori.

Tae'o asked the school to stand for the singing of the National Anthem.

Claire and Anna played us a beautiful piece of music on their ukeleles.

All of Claire's guitar students played us a couple of pieces together with some musical accompaniment.

Willem asked Mr Macmillan to present the Principal's Awards to some worthy students.
He wore his Dad's tie especially for the occasion.

Mr Macmillan presented the Principal's Awards.

Teachers and pupils admire the wonderful assembly put on by the marvellous students of Room 6.

Enterprise - Children's Designs turned into flies.

Enterprising - Dream Big and Make it Happen 

Last week during flytying Mr Bach tied the fly designs of about 16 children in our fly tying class. We had been trying to design a fly that would catch more trout, or catch anglers as a top seller to fly fishermen. In order to design such a fly we looked at what trout eat and the various colours, shapes, movements, sounds and smells that they are attracted to, because trout associate them with prey and food. We have also looked at trout fishing techniques, trout behaviour and likely places in rivers and lakes to catch trout. Mr Bach has tied everybody else's flies at home from the children's designs to the best of his abilities given the details in the designs. This week we are going on a trip to the Utuhina Stream and will have fly fisherman Gary coming to talk to us about his techniques.

Enterprise - Dream Big and Make it Happen.

 Fly Tying - Enterprise

Children from throughout the middle school have been coming to room 6 twice a week this term to learn about fly tying, fly fishing and how to design a customised fly, that will hopefully catch more trout. The children have been looking at what to do if you have a dream to become a better fly tier and fisherman and even make some money out of it. The children are posing with Mr Bach's 16lb (7.25kg) brown trout he caught in 2005 after over 30 years of trying to catch such a huge trout. Mr Bach caught his fish on a standard fly customised to his own design after lots of testing and designing.

Children's author - Terri Rose Baynton

 Children's author - Terri Rose Baynton

A couple of weeks ago Room 6 children were lucky enough to go to the hall to see visiting children's author Terri Rose Baynton. She talked to us a little about how she became an author and about the latest book she has just had published. Terri then gave an interesting lesson on how to get ideas for your story writing and drew some very funny illustrations on the whiteboard. Thank you Terri.

Sustainability -Term 2 Concept

 Our concept this term at St Mary's is ‘Sustainability’. Children will learn what difference they can make to their immediate environment. We will focus on sustainable gardens and recycling will also be part of the programme. Middle School children will be using the school gardens, looking after the chickens, recycling scraps, running a worm farm and trying very hard to persuade others to do the same.

 The middle school has exclusive access to the school garden's this term and room 6's day in the garden is Wednesday. In class we will be talking about sustainable practices and why sustainability is important but on Wednesday's we are allowed to get our hands dirty weeding the gardens, getting the scraps from the chickens and keeping an eye on the worm farm.

 The children enjoyed their first afternoon in the garden and found lots of fascinating things to talk about. Tae'o and Misty in particular seem really keen to share something with Mr. Bach.







The children were not scared to get stuck in weeding the gardens and looking for insect pests on the leaves.

 Some caterpillars were found on some of the cabbage leaves but with autumn upon us there should be no more butterflies laying eggs.

 This week Poppy also shared something very interesting for news. She brought a large abandoned nest from last summer, probably made by a larger bird like a blackbird or starling. Interestingly among the twigs and leaves used to build the nest was a piece of plastic rubbish.

Koby was also lucky enough this week to receive a special prize at assembly for his holiday reading. He won one of the main prizes - a book voucher. Well done Koby.