2008 Summary!!

Well done to our staff here at Poroutawhao School. Thank you all for your dedication to the process of inquiry! Check back here early 2009 for our goals and where we are headed for 2009.

Room One Inquiry Journey

I have introduced the Learning Intersection this term, which really helped me and my children totally embrace the Inquiry process. Everything seemed to just click together. We used Solo taxanomy with our speech writing which then clicked into place with the inquiry process. As a class we kept referring back to the stages we were at on the Inquiry intersection for both our speeches and inquiry topic - Crunch 'n' Munch. Children were reflecting on these stages and self assessing what was happening. It was great to see! The one thing that stuck out for the children is that we needed to apply our inquiry in a better way.

Goal for Room 3 2009

To introduce the intersection again to individuals, especially the newcomers. Talk with the children more about the Understanding aspect as they tended to want to move round before they had truly grasped found information.

2009 Goals for Room 4

1. Continue working with small ability groups rather than whole class
2. Give more time to apply learning at the end of term.

Room 3s Inquiry Journey

It took awhile to get it set up but the children have now grasped the intersecion concept and really enjoyed having cars to move around. Some even went around the intersection twice having reflected on their question and the need for nmore indepth question/answer research. All in all a success and ready to follow up again with next year. Yeh!

Room 4s Inquiry Journey

Wow!! this term we introduced our new inquiry model. The children really enjoyed the concept of moving around the intersection and grasped the idea quickly. I chose to flag the whole class inquiry this term and focus on group questions that contributed to a whole class task. I flet that this worked so much better. The children really enjoyed watching their symbol (in this case a food picture) travel around the intersection and were able to talk about it freely.

Yay...the cars are parked and I'm ready for a holiday!!!

ICT Cluster Day 4th Dec

Another great cluster day! It was great to hear and be able to relate to other school's inquiry processes. It was very nerve racking presenting myself, but I got there in the end.
I have really enjoyed being a part of the ICT cluster this half year. I have learnt so much, and there are so many different ideas to take hold of that I want to try myself!
Also another very productive meeting with Jan yesterday, setting some next steps for next year, and outlining some things to do to help staff start the new year with a bang. Thanks Jan, for all your help and support. You rock!