Mr Eames Blog

A bit of fun - Draw a stickman

2011-09-25T20:50:00.003+13:00

Draw a Stickman

I feel really lucky. Teaching is a great job!

2011-06-28T12:23:00.001+12:00

Wow interactive books on the way

2011-05-18T08:32:00.001+12:00

Creative writing using wonderful artworks

2011-03-30T21:44:00.004+13:00

This excellent website is brilliant at motivating writers. Using the pictures you can construct some fantastic illustrated stories.

It's so easy.

Start a story...

Select the artist
Select your pictures and start writing.

Take a Story bird tour

Music composition website. Have fun!

2011-02-13T08:30:00.003+13:00

Make music on the isle of tune!

http://isleoftune.com/

I pod touch translator

2011-02-13T08:03:00.001+13:00

Think of the potential here. When the words convert to sound after translation.

Shaun Tan 'The lost Thing Trailer'

2011-01-19T07:28:00.002+13:00

One of my favourite picture books has been made into a short film. 'Awesome!'
A couple of years ago I got the chance to do a day workshop with Shaun Tan. I love his artwork and amazing books.

Importance of creativity

2010-09-11T14:26:00.002+12:00

I really enjoyed this clip. It made me feel good about what students at Muritai get from a day, week or year at school. The opportunities, the activities the inquiries which excite and motivate rather than push.

It highlights the importance of creative approaches to teaching and how important it is to encourage creativity.

Speeches /Oral language – Making speeches purposeful and relevant.

2010-09-08T10:19:00.003+12:00

Speeches – confident students love them and the less confident hate them. Interestingly, it is with speeches we are trying to build confidence. They can become a chance for the confident kids to achieve/shine (which is good) and unfortunately others will stress and often we find that speeches have a negative affect on confidence.

So why do we continue to put students through speeches when oral language is covered through discussion, sharing of work, current events, reading, presentation of inquiries, reporting back on group and individual work and daily class work. What we have done in the Senior School is take a creative and practical approach to speeches.

Speeches are integrated into our current unit of work, making each speech purposeful and of value to the whole class, each 3-5 minute speech has a message for the class. This year we have had same wonderful speeches giving advice and guidance on topics like: coping with bullying, success at school, peer pressure, role modelling, media images, avoiding smoking and a range of other informative topics. It is extremely powerful have students speak and give advice to their peers and the whole speech process becomes very successful.

This term the big idea is: ‘The Power of the Word’

Students had to create, write a speech which delivers a message of support or guidance to their peer group. (this is the inquiry for the term) The speech could include advice on how to make friends, on self image, confidence, consequences, differences, difficulties Or it could be on an aspect about themselves. They could to talk about their heritage, their nationality, a learning difficultly, a family member. The key is that students become role models and provide useful information for others.

Also the writing of the speech was be carefully planned and carefully constructed. We made links to learning in literacy, exploring writing styles, speech writing and historical speeches. We will encourage high level writing techniques and the use of language devices and skills such as: rhetorical questions, exaggeration, quotations, alliteration, metaphors, similes, personification, personal stories and possible rhyming. We will also encourage the use of ICT and creativity.

collaborative writing on a shared document

2010-08-24T19:34:00.005+12:00

Collaborative writing is a great way to improve student writing. Also it is great for encouraging continual editing and improving. A great website for this is
EtherPad. - Check out Room 23s Shared story.

Room23EtherPad

This website has so much potential. class editing, collaborative planning, networking, gaining ideas, global communication.

Visuwords - Improving student wrtiting.

2010-08-15T13:26:00.006+12:00

Whilst continuing with my pursuit to find new ways of getting students to improve the quality of their writing. I stumbled upon a fantastic website. An online Thesaurus and dictionary. It is seriously cool and the uses are extensive. Visuwords

Cutting edge teaching of literacy

2010-07-31T12:11:00.005+12:00

Reading, Writing and Effective Feedback

Our story starters are now available to read on the class writing blog.

(Read, or listen to them using the listen now button)

Students have been working on creating descriptive passages as well as giving effective feedback. (As written in previous posts)

Now they will be reading the writing of their classmates and giving feedback (click on comments under each piece of writing to see comments.)

Wow - Reading, analysing, critiquing, developing an awareness of quality writing, learning new words from others, as well as developing an understanding the ‘Power of the Word’ and supporting others.

Listening to their work out loud makes them aware of errors, feedback from others gives them reassurance, and confidence. Reading the work of others gives them ideas. Feedback from the teacher gives them advice!

After a week of feedback students will print off their stories and comments.

This has been an extremely exciting process, with huge benefits to student leaning as well as have the class involved in a range of fabulous 'learning conversations'

Live train map for the London Underground

2010-06-23T20:15:00.003+12:00

I thought this site is really cool. I can just imagine someone standing on the train platform with their i phone looking at where the trains are. Unbelievable!
Click on the link to see in real time. -

Live train map for the London Underground

World Cup - Awesome Website

2010-06-08T21:55:00.003+12:00

World Cup Website

Games are really taking over the world

2010-06-07T10:06:00.000+12:00

Digital Dossier - Who's keeping track of you?

2010-06-01T21:23:00.000+12:00

Future laptop? - Animated film

2010-05-19T21:05:00.001+12:00

No Excuses!

2010-04-21T08:22:00.002+12:00

Fun Theory

2010-04-20T22:28:00.003+12:00

From Homer Simpson

2010-04-08T18:01:00.002+12:00

'How is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides anytime I learn something new it pushes old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that course on home winemaking and I forgot how to drive.’

Creativity or standardisation - the choice we face.

Leadership

2010-03-31T20:51:00.001+13:00

2010-03-23T20:54:00.001+13:00

The T-Shirt War from Ibrahim Nergiz on Vimeo.

Article in the marlborough-express

2010-01-11T13:50:00.001+13:00

Online Article

Bring on 2010 with blogging.

2009-12-21T17:45:00.004+13:00

"Today, in a world of social networks young people have never written or read so much. And now, a new more robust survey in the UK shows conclusively that social networking, blogging and generally publishing writing online does improve students' attitudes to writing by about a sixth. I'd add that, in the hands of a good teacher's structured approach, the quality of that writing itself should be seen to improve, too. " - from an article written by Ewan McIntosh
Link - Ewan McIntosh on Blogging

Starting the year with motivated, active, engaged students will hopefully lead to success for all of our 2010 student body.

I have utilised student swaps and orientation session to set up ever 2010 Year 7 and 8 Student with a learning progress blog which they can work on as little or as much as they like over the holiday break.

Just the process was inspiring to watch with students teaching students, communicating, working together, problem solving and developing ideas to enhance their blog.

Students were highly engaged, skill levels were impressive and motivation extremely high. ' What a way to lead into a new year.

Visualization methods

2009-11-30T19:39:00.002+13:00

This website gives a multitude of approaches to visual mind mappping of ideas and concepts. Huge potential for higher order thinking.

Check it out: Visualization methods
Make sure you explore my moving the mouse onto the different squares.

The challenge of changing behaviours

2009-11-28T11:15:00.001+13:00

A found this lovely example of a positive approach to changing behaviours.

2009-10-07T22:57:00.003+13:00

This is one of the coolest sites I have discovered in a long time:

http://www.incredibox.fr/

EnviroSchools Achievement

2009-08-30T12:59:00.000+12:00

On Friday 14^th August, teachers, community members, parents, students and regional and national Enviroschool representatives listened to Enviroschools Ambassadors (student leaders) presenting their case for Muritai School to become a Green/Gold school.

After being welcomed by a powerful powhiri, the speeches on learning for sustainability, community sustainability, empowering students, Maori perspectives and celebrating diversity were delivered with such passion and pride. I believe this sealed our success before we even started evaluating our accomplishments. By the end of the day the decision was made to make Muritai a Green/Gold School.

It has been an on-going project for me, the students, teachers and community for the last four years, since achieving the Silver Enviroschools Award. I am thrilled that Muritai School has achieved recognition as a Green / Gold School, and yet the journey still continues and new challenges face us. I believe that now we have the title of Green/Gold, we have to rise up beyond the title; not only continuing to place environmental sustainability at the top of our priorities, but to also grow and respond to new environmental challenges and be a model for others to follow.

Being an enviroschool has added huge value to Muritai School and is continually being recognized and celebrated, within the school, the local community, the Wellington Region and nationally. The learning benefits, student involvement, purposeful inquiry and action projects that have been the main drive for integrating environmental sustainability learning and practices into our programmes are now part of who we are and what we stand for at Muritai.

Environmental education at Muritai provides the platform to encourage and model new creative approaches to learning which embraces the content of the new curriculum. Ecological sustainability (which includes environmental sustainability) is one of the values of the new New Zealand Curriculum. In keeping with this and other key areas of the New Curriculum we will continue to move forward, Examples of this includes fostering innovative approaches to learning, cooperative learning, inquiry-based learning, higher order thinking & problem solving, experiential learning through real-world contexts, rich discussion, debates, exploration, thought provoking challenges and links the our global community (The concept of global communities is penciled down for the Senior School for 2010)

Well done everyone involved, it’s been a real time effort over the years!

I am really pleased with the result and look forward to the celebrations!

Virtual Knee Surgery

2009-08-26T19:53:00.002+12:00

This is cool, I am now trained in knee surgery. Anyone keen?

Click here to this game

Creativity a fun view -check it out

2009-08-21T19:24:00.000+12:00

Speeches /Oral language

2009-07-28T16:34:00.002+12:00

Speeches /Oral language – Making speeches purposeful and relevant.

Speeches – confident students love them and the less confident hate them. Interestingly, it is with speeches we are trying to build confidence. They can become a chance for the confident kids to achieve/shine (which is good) and unfortunately others will stress and often we find that speeches have a negative affect on confidence.

So why do we continue to put students through speeches when oral language is covered through discussion, sharing of work, current events, reading, presentation of inquiries, reporting back on group and individual work and daily class work. What we have done in the Senior School is take a creative and practical approach to speeches.

Speeches are integrated into our current unit of work, making each speech purposeful and of value to the whole class, each 3-4 minute speech has a message for the class. Last year we had same wonderful speeches giving advice and guidance on topics like: coping with bullying, success at school, peer pressure, role modelling, media images, avoiding smoking and a range of other informative topics. It is extremely powerful have students speak and give advice to their peers and the whole speech process becomes very successful. Sorry students you can’t do your speech on chocolate, farts, bogies or dolls.

This term the big idea is: Who am I and what do I want to be seen as? Mana Tangata The power of the person.

Students must create, write a speech or make a movie about themselves.(this will be the inquiry for the term) The speech could include interests, family information , special qualities, differences, difficulties, attributes. Or it could be on an aspect about themselves. Maybe about a food allergy, a talent, a strength. They may want to talk about their heritage, their nationality, a learning difficultly, a family member. The key is that students share who they are and become role models. Encouraging their peers to accept others, understand that everyone is unique and special, celebrate diversity, embrace difference and develop confidence in themselves, particularly in the writing of the speech. They don’t need to reveal personal secrets.

Also the writing of the speech will be carefully planned and carefully constructed. We will be making links to learning in literacy, exploring writing styles, speech writing and historical speeches. We will encourage high level writing techniques and the use of language devices and skills such as: rhetorical questions, exaggeration, quotations, alliteration, metaphors, similes, personification, personal stories and possible rhyming. We will also encourage the use of ICT and creativity.

Alternative, creative approaches and ideas for students:

Create a video news article about yourself
Create a documentary on yourself
A week in the life.
A photo diary accompanied by a spoken explanation
A blog – accompanied by a spoken explanation
A music video.
Positive you tube message

Amazing

2009-07-14T22:17:00.001+12:00

This is an amazing site - Check it out http://soytuaire.labuat.com/

Give it time to load. Play around with the mouse and button.

The Planning process.

2009-06-27T15:31:00.002+12:00

To understand the whole planning processes, we go right back to last year when we sat down and started thinking about what we wanted to achieve in 2009. It is important to make sure that we have a clear direction and that learning is valued, purposeful and is a journey of both discovery and achievement, whereby each term adds value and feeds onto the next.
This year we have an umbrella statement ‘ Making a difference’ all units of work fit under this learning umbrella. We also have a range of other opportunities which fit under this umbrella included Enviroschool and the leadership programme.

In Term One, in the Senior School, we started learning about rights and responsibility, tolerance, understanding and friendship, we included a focus on the Treaty of Waitangi. As well as setting classroom treaties and establishing rules and expectations we also set up a platform for the year’s leaning pathway.
Term Two we looked at ‘Making a difference’ from an environmental prospective taking Term Ones learning and focusing on being ‘Kaitiaki’ (Guardians) for the environment.
Within these units we were also looking at developing a huge range of skills and attitudes, approaches to learning, goal setting, styles and approaches to thinking, skills for working with others, time management, inquiry development and preparation for high school as well as creating a leadership model and sense of pride in ones self.

Now lets look at unit development.

Next term is our term for focusing on health / personal identity Mana Tangata

In order to make every activity purposeful and meaningful we create a big idea. This also helps our planning by keeping all activities focussed and always relevant.

Big Idea: Who am I and what do I want to be seen as?
Mana Tangata, The power of the person.

We then started to discuss what we want to achieve. We also used a mind map, creating questions and discussion points in relationship to our current group of students. We identified a range of emotional, physical, intellectual needs with in the group. We also discussed trends and patterns of behaviour of the group and a range of relevant incidents.

We then created some key Concepts
• Making a difference by being ourselves (positive influence) and letting others be themselves.
• Making sure people view us in a positive light.
• Mana Tangata – Is the power acquired by an individual according to his or her ability and effort to develop skills and to gain knowledge in particular areas (Self Pride)

We than started to create some focuses questions, which direct inquiry and provide exploration, thought and meaning to students.

Some questions:
How do other influence who we are?
How do we influence others?
How are we perceived?
Do we make a conscious choice about who we are?
Is image who we are?
Can we really be ourselves? Be the best we can be?
How do we have different roles?
Are we true to ourselves (integrity)
How do we stay true to ourselves in different situations?
How does puberty affect our choices and who we are?

From here we seek advice, guidance and training. For this we got in a facilitator from Family Planning. She was fantastic. We got to discuss approaches, ask questions, look at research and gain a wealth of knowledge.

We than sat down with all our resources, kits, ideas, brainstorms, concepts and started to create a unit of work which fits into the Muritai Inquiry model We constructed a timeframe and an approach. We also looked at how we tie in ICT, speeches (which will be integrated as this team inquiry), literacy, key competencies and wearable arts.

We will also discuss and brainstorm needs with students next week and send a notice home consulting parents, before finalising the unit.

After creation of the unit we self assess and revise using an inquiry rubric looking at:
Authenticity
Academic Rigor
Assessment
Scope beyond the School
Uses of Technology
Active Exploration
Expertise
Communication.

It should be a great unit.

Portfolios going out

2009-06-18T19:44:00.000+12:00

Portfolios go out next week. The portfolio is an important tool for sharing and promoting quality work, providing an incentive to take up opportunities we provide and to foster self-motivation in taking up challenges that arise in preparation for high school and future career pathways.

They are set up to celebrate success and encourage quality work. The students are asked to put a lot of effort into the creation and presentation of their portfolio

It is important to note that Portfolios are still a small selection of the enormous amount of work done at school. We must not forget to acknowledge and recognise the huge amount of unwritten work, the discussions, debates, questions, exploration, higher order thinking and day to day interaction with in the classroom.

Often we celebrate ‘student work’ not ‘student voice’ and it is student voice that is so important with in a classroom and in a child’s development. Classrooms are an exciting place where talk and discussion about learning is essential.

Guy Claxton has written ,'The classroom should be a place where talk about the process of learning, the nature of oneself as a learner, and ones improvement and intentions for oneself as a learner, is continual and natural, Claxton sees the NZ Curriculum's key competencies as providing 'learning power'.

Parents, when receiving portfolios please take in to account that it is just a snap shot. LISTEN to your child talk about their learning, the process and successes and celebrate the whole learning experience. Look at the evaluations and self assessment. Be proud of your child!

Leadership in the Senior School.

2009-06-07T14:08:00.003+12:00

Leadership plays a huge part in the Senior School Programme. Year 8 students take on a range of opportunities around the school. The students become role models for other senior school students as well as the rest of the school. The leadership programme develops confidences, provides opportunities for extension, gives students mana and respect with in the school, provides support for teachers and the leaders provide guidance for other students. They are also involved in school wide decision making, empowering students to be the best they can be.

Some of the exciting leadership opportunities.

I have been meeting weekly with the class and school ambassadors, discussing student welfare, positive role modelling, conflict resolution and a range of topics
The Envio-leaders have been evaluating the school environmental commitment. As well as organising and running existing programmes.The house captains did an exceptional job at the School Cross-Country.
The house points collectors have been busy collecting house points and keeping track of each house’s progress.
The Kapa Haka leaders have stepped up and are leading by example. They will have another opportunity to shine next week, when teachers, principals and parents visit Muritai for an Enviroschools cluster meeting, which will start with a Powhiri preformed by students.
The charity organisers have been involved in a whole range of events, including Forty hour famine and Mayhem Day. They are working on VSA friendship bracelets at the moment.
The Assembly organisers have been doing a great job running school assemblies.

And the list goes on…

Accuracy for Writing Programme

2009-05-17T10:57:00.001+12:00

The New Zealand Curriculum (Ministry of Education 08)
Stipulates that at Level 4 Students should:
• Demonstrate a good understanding of spelling patterns in written English, with few intrusive errors; (Function)
• Use a wide range of strategies to self-monitor correct spelling; (Process)
• Use a range of text conventions, including grammatical conventions, appropriately, effectively and with increased accuracy. (Function)

Literacy Learning Progressions (Ministry of Education 08)
By the end of year 8 Students will:
• Have a knowledge of common spelling patterns and morphemes; (Function)
• Review text to identify and address any problems, proofreading consistently and independently to correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation, using appropriate print or computer-based tools. (Process)

• Accurately use complex punctuation, such as semicolons, colons, and parentheses (Function)

• Use increasingly complex sentences (eg sentences with dependent clauses) that are grammatically correct. (Function)

The challenge that we have been faced with is the debate around accuracy verses content, specifically vocabulary and language resources which are encouraged in writing but the use may affect accuracy. Also whether assessment used should include the editing process.
To cater for this we have separated the process and the function (result) and when teaching we will be focusing on either the process or the end product.

Also we will define the purpose of the writing and the need to be accurate for the propose of the writing. Clearly defined criteria and learning intentions used.

Inquiry Evaluations.

2009-03-31T16:30:00.003+13:00

Today we are started evaluating our inquiries.
This is a very important part of the inquiry process. By reflecting on what we have learnt, the skills we used and assessing what we have created, we can start looking at what our next learning steps are for future inquiries.

We started by discussing in groups the various stages of this inquiry, answering some discussion prompts. Then we evaluated our inquiry progress. Inquiry are due on Thursday so there is still time to make final changes and adaption.

We also learnt how to bind our work and conclude our inquiries.

Clean your screen from the inside.

2009-03-20T16:56:00.000+13:00

Click here

I love this Blog!

2009-02-18T20:48:00.003+13:00

Leading and Learning - Bruce Hammonds Blog

Beyond rationalty into creativity

"Schools need to escape from the bounded rationality of a failing era and move into more flexible style of learning for a new creative age" Bruce Hammond

Teaching needs to be seen as a creative act

Thanks Bruce

SE

WOW - world simulation

2009-02-02T14:19:00.001+13:00

Real time simulation - Check it out AMAZING!

Newspapers from around the world.

2009-01-13T11:49:00.003+13:00

This is a great site for getting news from a variety of sources. Thousands of different newspapers from around the world.

Online Newspapers

An example using time lapse software

2009-01-11T21:21:00.000+13:00

Origami Butterfly - video powered by Metacafe

School Interview -Rowan Atkinson

2009-01-08T14:29:00.000+13:00

On line Dictionary

2009-01-08T14:23:00.003+13:00

Try this new on line dictionary format. There are same cool video definitions.

http://www.wordia.com/

Brainstorming and thinking skills website

2008-12-01T21:59:00.000+13:00

http://fosenabling.wetpaint.com/

Sort of Dunno Nothing

2008-12-01T21:51:00.003+13:00

This is a great clip. I believe a lot of teenage boys are a bit like this. The great thing about learning blogs is that parents can look and read about what is going on in class and provide more directed questions. eg. The beach poetry you are doing looks fun?

Smart tables

2008-12-01T21:45:00.000+13:00

Grand Central Freeze

2008-12-01T21:35:00.000+13:00

I enjoyed this clip. I thought it would be fun to do a school freeze at playtime.

World War One in colour

2008-12-01T21:32:00.001+13:00

This is quite an interesting site. World War One in Colour.

2008-07-18T10:44:00.001+12:00

Check out the 'Learning Log'

http://rm23learninglog.blogspot.com/

Term Three - 'The Power of One'

2008-07-18T10:37:00.003+12:00

Big Idea:

• Making positive decisions and finding positive support.

Big Questions:

• How can we be in control of the choices we make?
• How can we equip ourselves to face the challenges ahead of us?
• How can we help others to make the right choices?
• What barriers are there in making the right choices?

2008-05-05T20:17:00.002+12:00

Take Action For Energy - Term Two 2008

Big Idea: ”To understand the need to protect and preserve our local environment and action decisions”

We are learning to:
Protect our environment. We are learning to reduce carbon emissions conserve energy and reduce green gases

This is Because:
We need to rethink the way we produce energy and the way we use it in order to sustain our environment as this is essential for life on our planet.

Welcome to 2008

2008-01-17T12:26:00.000+13:00

Term One 2008

‘Diversity’
E koekoe te tui,e ketekete te kaka e kuku te kereru

The tui sings, the kaka chatters, the pigeon coos.

Big Idea: To value diversity and encourage difference.

We have the power to accept, make a difference, support and encourage each other.

The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect.
It means understanding that each individual is unique,
and recognising our individual differences.
It is about understanding each other and moving beyond
simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the
rich dimensions of diversity contained within New Zealand.

Through this unit students will:
• Show an understanding that diversity is something to be celebrated.
• Appreciate diversity.
• Develop strategies which will strengthen relationships and provide the basis for a supportive environment, celebrating diversity.
• Show an appreciation of New Zealand’s culturally diverse nature.
• Create an inquiry report on a special group of people with in New Zealand.

Senior School Triathlon

2007-12-03T20:49:00.001+13:00

Term 4 Consumer Awareness

2007-08-26T16:13:00.000+12:00

Big Idea: Understanding the challenges and consequences of a wasteful society.

Outline.
The increasing pace of change is becoming unimaginable and consumers are struggling to keep up.
A product’s life can be from only one use to a couple of years, very rarely do products we purchase today last a lifetime. Everything from houses to pot scrubs are becoming deposable. Electronic equipment is developing so quickly that the latest trends only last a month before there is an updated item available.

During this unit of work we will:
Explore the challenges we are facing in a changing technological world?
Discuss what we need to be aware of?
Examine the techniques companies use to sell a product?
Investigate some of the consumer pitfalls?
Explore and discuss the concept of planned obsolescence
Investigate and explore product quality.
Explore student questions and discuss student findings.
Use higher order thinking tools to explore a variety of concepts.
Use new knowledge and creative ideas to design and create a product and it’s packaging.

Speech Writing.

2007-06-27T18:15:00.000+12:00

It is time to start writing your speech. Need help?
Click the link to view my speech wiki. Let me know how you are getting on.

http://homeworkroom23.wikispaces.com/Speech+Support

Science Fair.

2007-05-13T20:07:00.000+12:00

I hope everything is going well with your science fair projects. Remember the key to success is time management. Use my Wiki for support.

http://homeworkroom23.wikispaces.com/Science+Fair+Help

How are you getting on?

Changing New Zealand

2007-02-19T10:06:00.000+13:00

Hi class,

How are you going?

What are you finding interesting?

Ideas and Opinion

2006-11-03T12:49:00.000+13:00

The feedback that you are giving me is amazing. Keep it up! Now I would like to hear your opinions on futuristic ideas.

Artificial Intelligence

2006-10-20T14:46:00.000+13:00

Well done team. Thank you for your wonderful feedback. I am amazed at what you are finding out. Now investigate artificial intelligence and then let me know how you get on. Remember to take part in the discussion on my wiki

Feedback.

2006-10-10T15:13:00.000+13:00

Great work team,

Thank you, for your feedback. I see that you are getting the hang of entering comments. Continue to give me your comments on what you are doing and how you are getting on. If you are very clever you can enter the discussion on my Wiki.

Keep up the huge effort.

Mr Eames.