How Simple Ideas Lead to Scientific Discoveries

Here's a wee starter to work towards our inquiry this term.  This is your first 'official' look at what 'Flipping the Classroom' really means for us as teachers and learners.

You've had a taste for it through the change from a 'Homework' focus to a 'Prep for Learning' focus.

This is a very basic Flipped Lesson from TED Ed - a fantastic site you may want to explore more.  I've added the link to it on the side bar of our class blog.


http://ed.ted.com/on/DAcvezdB#watch

CONSIDERATION

Each week we have a Syndicate Assembly where the focus is on sharing and celebrating our successes, visiting and revisiting values and sharing our ideas in an open forum.  It's a valuable and enjoyable time.

The students and I will post informtion every week about what we've discussed and the Value that we're working on.  These always combine with our school-wide values / philosophy of R2P2GC (Respectful, Responsible, Proud, Prepared Learners and Teachers who are Global Citizens).

This week's value is.....

CONSIDERATION

SIGNS OF SUCCESS - (The Virtues Project, Inc, 2000, 2004) - How we will know if we're considerate teachers and learners - and human beings!

• Respect other people's needs and feelings
• Consider others' needs as important as your own
• Stop and think how your actions will affect others
• Put yourself in other people's shoes (empathy)
• Give tender attention
• Think of little things to bring others happiness

Where do our school values of R2P2GC fit in here? 
What are the ways that you show and live these values in your daily lives - both in and out of school?

Reflecting on the Marshmallow Challenge

It was fantastic to see the team work that went on in all the groups yesterday!  Have you checked out the photos yet? 

I need some bloggers to add captions to the photos - see me if you're keen.  :-)

REFLECTING ON OUR LEARNING

• Think about what you accomplished yesterday.
• Discuss what the challenges were.
• What worked well, what didn't work so well?
• What would you change if you could do the challenge again today?
• Is it easier working in the groups I chose or having the freedom to choose your own groups?  Why?

Post your comments / thoughts and let the discussion begin!  (Keep in mind Reader Courtesy too).

The Marshmallow Challenge

Or...How to REALLY encourage Habits of Mind including Thinking Flexibly, Persistence, Using Humour, etc!!

We challenged our abilities to work cooperatively with people we don't usually work with - Miss H chose the cooperative groups this time.  We're reflecting on the challenges this provided and how easy / hard it is to work with people whose learning styles, etc may be very different to our own.  (This will also tie in with Multiple Intelligences learning as well as Habits of Mind).

Terrific Tessellations

Here are some examples of our learning around tessellations.  We're starting to use the vocabulary of this part of geometry by talking about rotations, (turns), translations, (slides), etc.  This will also tie into our learning about symmetry this term.

We'd love your feedback on what we've been up to so far.  Let us know what you think.  The students had to use many of the Habits of Mind to complete these tessellations as so many of them were quite challenging.  Ask them about the challenges and have a look on their blogs for their self-reflections.

If you'd like more information about tessellations and how they are created from a single geometric shape, please check out our individual blogs where we've research Escher and told you about our learning in this area.

If you're fascinated by what Escher achieved in maths and art, check out this website:
http://www.mcescher.com/

Focusing On Being Organised, Self-Managing and Ready For Learning

Hi everyone!  Hope you're having a great week.  Here's a question for you (a few questions, actually):

• How organised are you each day and are you always ready for learning?
• What does 'Ready for learning mean to you?'
• How could you self-manage this more effectively and efficiently so that you are taking responsibility for being ready for learning?

Add your thoughts below and then challenge yourselves to make a change.

You might find the following link helpful at school and at home.  Check it out and let me know your thoughts on it - get the discussion started!

 http://www.internet4classrooms.com/links_grades_kindergarten_12/parents_time_management_help.htm