Reflection on Term 3

Term 3 had its challenges - I tried a new kind of taskboard for my reading with a must do/may do system, but it became very chaotic.  I went back to my usual taskboard but decided to have my big book in between two of the rotations, separating them.  Apparently that is what they do at Koru School so that the children can pack up fully in between tasks.  I still feel that I need to hone my reading rotation system at guided reading time, perhaps for next year I will look into doing Daily 5.
I have been getting the children to read aloud to their reading buddies and this is having a positive effect on some of the lower readers.  It gives an extra chance to practise reading for the children who go to Reading Recovery.
For writing we focused on narrative and the children enjoyed using some story starters Shabnam gave me - they had different characters and settings and we did some shared writing together.
They are getting good at identifying the characters, setting, problem and solution in a story - I have noticed they need work on taking this from a plan to a coherent narrative.
For maths Karen S. gave me some scrapbooks for my maths groups to work in and some suggestions about the maths routine.  I have found this has been really helpful, particularly for my children who are lower in maths.   Working in the scrapbook is quite motivating and a good way to collect evidence of their work.
I got some children to do a simple pepeha for Maori Language Week and they did really well on stage.  Getting them to practise it in different settings like in front of the team and in front of the librarian worked well.
Term 4 will be busy with cultural group practice, planting some potatoes in the school garden, drawing patterns and end of year organisation.