Room 7 are New Entrant children, Years 1-3 whose ages range from 5.4-6.9 years. The language of communication in our class is English through the NZC and basic Te Reo Maori as a Medium Maori School. We commenced the year with a roll of 10 and now have 15. Four children had enrolled in Term 2.
What Literacy will look like in Room 7?
Korero A Waha Oral Language- At this age, oral language is so important. I use simple sentence structures with clear instructions in Maori and English. The intention is to extend their general knowledge and thinking by using … What do I notice? What do I think? and What do I wonder? I use the Ataarangi Method with cuisenaire rods to assist with simple Maori language structures.
Korero Tuhituhi Written Language- I use the Gaye Byers programme, some of the wordwork strategies and basic literacy methods in my programmes. For spelling, I follow the suggested strategies in the Joy Allcock Spelling Programme and suggested activities. I use dance and music to assist with audio and visual senses to attain and retain language structures and vocabulary. All children are on Gaye Byers Set A Word List.
Reading Korero Pukapuka Instructional Reading is done every day. Each pupil read in their ability group under my guidance. They take their readers home and read it to a whanau member who signs their booklet. Accompanying their readers to take home is a notebook with basic Set A Lists 1,2,3,4,5 words. They are required to learn these at home. There are four Reading Groups in our class. The majority of tamariki are at Emergent level 1, progressing to Red 1 and to Green level. The goal is to reach Green Reading Level by the time they reach their sixth birthday. Children take their covers home from Mondays to Thursdays and their Poem Book on Fridays.
Mathematics: Pangarau There are three basic Maths groups in Room 7. Tamariki are all Level 1. The majority are Stage 0-1 and the emphasis is on numeration this term is to reach Stage 3 by the time they have had one year at school. We use the BSM and ENP Maths resources for our Maths Program.
Hangarau (Technology) Putaiao (Science) These subjects will be taught as part of our integrated language programme.
Kori Tinana / Hakinakina (Sport and Fitness Te Oranga Health and Well-Being, In Term 1 children participated in swimming sports. The Opotiki District Netball Open Day for netball started last weekend at Memorial Park. Our coaches and managers guide our netball team on Saturday mornings. At 2.00pm every afternoon, the juniors participate in sport and PE skills.
Mahi Toi (The Arts) These topics are covered as part of our reading, writing, science, technology programmes. At the end of Term 3, children will be participating in the Delamere Cup Kapahaka.
