Thursday 27 September 2012

Class Newsletter ~


This term we had a lot of fun with our 'Farmyard Frolics' unit. A highlight of this unit was our visit to Paradise Country where we watched sheep being shorn, working dogs round up sheep and stockmen with their whip cracking skills. Feeding and petting the baby animals brought squeals of delight and great photo moments. Throughout the term we learnt how a farmer looks after his animals and what products come from the farm. We even churned butter into cream, shaking it up in a jar, right in the classroom. Exploring animal habitats in other regions like the arctic, rainforest and the ocean opened our eyes to the vastness of the world around us and the plethora of living things that roam the earth.

As part of this unit we investigated a micro habitat and set up an ant farm in the classroom.
Ants are fascinating little creatures and provided hours of fun exploration as we learnt a variety of ant facts.

Below are a few drawings of farm animals from our amazing little artists.


Thursday 20 September 2012

Educating the next generation ~

A teacher's job is to take a bunch of live wires and see that they are well-grounded.  
~ D. Martin

Education in its broadest sense is about nurturing and cultivating the next generation of young people. Formally it is the process of imparting knowledge, developing skills and dispensing values in academic disciplines ... informally it is the harnessing and shaping of limitless potential. This is what I get to do every day of the school week (The awe of this role does not escape me). Yes, in the day to day craziness of a week, it can seem chaotic (very chaotic!! ... I currently teach Grade One ... patience is indeed a virtue!). However, there are moments in the day (priceless moments) that centre me, moments that bring me back to the very reason I chose this profession - a desire to educate small minds and inspire little people to believe that anything truly is possible!

'Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools.  The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task.'  ~ Haim G. Ginott

Welcome to 'Tales from the Classroom' ... with Ms Ed.ju.kayt ~ Ms Educate, in case you didn't already guess ...
 ~ an ordinary teacher who tries to keep extra ordinary live wires well grounded!!

'A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.'  
~ Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, translated from Turkish