The laughter, learning conversations, and shared excitement were evident across the team.
Students and teachers created and adapted a variety of different games across all of the classrooms. Overheard conversations included:
“Hey, this looks like a similar game I used to play at uni.”
“Oh, I didn’t realise the forces that were involved.”
“My plane went further than yours!”
“I got cookie dust in my eyes!”
Alongside this, excited students were saying
I did it! It was hard, but I kept trying.
I bet my goal and improved.
One parent from Room 11 spoke about how much she enjoyed the atmosphere in the classroom. Sarah loved watching her son explain his thinking and describe where he had used the forces of push and pull. She said it was awesome to see Nathaniel in his learning element, especially as, at home, when they ask what he learnt that day, his response is often, “I don’t know,” or he chooses not to say anything.
Sarah also noticed that at home he will now randomly say, “I am using push and pull.”
She shared that Nathaniel was excited to bring home his invitations, not just for Mum and Dad, but also for his three grandparents. They all came along, and Nathaniel proudly showed them each of the “Minute to Win It” challenges.
Sarah mentioned that Nathaniel was so excited that he initially forgot what forces he was using and why. With gentle prompting, he was able to explain his thinking to his whānau.
Sarah reiterated how much she enjoyed the experience and highly recommended that other parents come along and celebrate the learning with their child.
I made invitations to invite my family to our Celebration of Learning.
I enjoyed telling Mum, Dad, my little brother, Grandad, Grandma, and Poppa about how to play each game. My Nana couldn’t come because she was working.
I had to think about what forces I was using. I sometimes got stuck and Mum helped me.
In the game Ping Pong Points, I had to use a soft force to push the ping pong ball across the table into the cups. If I used a hard force, it would slip out of my hand and wouldn’t go into the cup.
My favourite activity was Straw Suck because we had to suck up the M&M’s and move them from one plate to another. Then we got to eat them! I can’t remember who got the most M&M’s out of me, Dad, Mum, Grandma, and my little brother. We all ate a lot of M&M’s!
“It costs nothing to be kind” is a philosophy I live by, both in and out of the classroom. Students are encouraged to adopt this mindset, embracing kindness in all aspects of their lives.
Reading for enjoyment is just as important as reading with purpose. Sharing my passion for books with students is one of the highlights of my teaching, seeing them discover the magic of stories and imagination.
While my love for reading runs deep, my true passion lies in solving mathematical problems. The clarity that maths gives—it’s either right or wrong, and students can immediately identify where they’ve gone astray. This passion for numbers translates into a dynamic classroom where students tackle problems with confidence and curiosity.
Every child deserves a safe space where they feel empowered to take risks in their learning, even when they’re unsure of the answer. There’s nothing more rewarding than witnessing the “lightbulb” moments when students grasp new concepts and exclaim, “Oh, that’s easy now!”
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is important to me, and I encourage my students to value their well-being, both physically and mentally. This balance nurtures resilience and a positive outlook.
Just as I admire the beauty of a sunset at the end of a long day, I deeply value the growth in every student. Watching them evolve, gain confidence, and thrive in their learning journey is one of my greatest joys in teaching.
Comments
No one has commented on this post yet.