Week 8 Term 1

Talk about Covid 19 is EVERYWHERE.  Our kids are trying to make sense of everything they are seeing and hearing and they are watching us for clues about how to behave, feel and react. We have to remember that they are only 5-6 years old, their “Bulldust detectors” aren’t well developed, so we need to make sure they hear calm, child friendly and accurate information. The Covid-19 web page and the Ministry of Education site have some really good advice for teachers and parents and are your best source for credible and up-to-date information. 

We are doing our part to keep our kids safe at school, too. Over the last few weeks we have worked on nose blowing, hand washing, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, more hand washing… Our classroom surfaces and door handles are cleaned regularly through the day and, while trying to keep things as normal as possible, we are avoiding sitting in large groups. We have heard a lot of chatter about Covid-19 from our kids and they have many, many, many questions. This week we will be sharing these videos. The first is from Nanogirl - it’s a really great way to explain viruses and how to keep ourselves healthy.

The second is a handwashing song from Andrew Chinn. We’d like to apologise now as this is likely to get stuck in your head and you’ll find yourself humming ‘These hands’ all day.

So, on to the business of Week 8

We are swimming this week!!! (Mr Macmillan has done the research - coronavirus is not transmitted by water and the pool chlorine will likely inactivate the virus) 

Mon: 

Tues: Library - Kakano 2 (Miss Ryan’s class)

Wed: Library - Kakano 1 (Mrs Dobson’s class)

Thurs:Library - Kakano 3 (Mrs Tabuteau’s class)

Fri: Golden Time

Literacy Goals:  We are working on vocabulary. In reading, we have noticed that many kids are becoming very good at sounding words out so they sound right BUT they have no idea what they mean. In writing, they are sticking to safe, simple sentences and many kids are ready to start using more interesting words to make their writing exciting.

Numeracy Goals: We are going to be playing around with statistical investigations. Kids will be collecting, sorting and displaying simple data. They will be using words like because, bigger, more, less to explain their findings.

Have a great week!