Term 4 Week 4

We didn't have many children at Boost this week, because Room 9 was away at enrich.  We just continued playing chess and getting comfortable with how each piece can move.  We also talked about how important it is to make sure that your chess pieces are covered as much as possible to stop your opponent taking them.  In the armed forces, you would never send your man out to fight all on his own, he would be killed too easily.  The same applies in chess - your pieces should have cover, which means that they are somewhat protected from your opponent.

The children also learned that once your pawn reaches the other side of the board, it can be turned into what ever piece you like (usually a queen).

Term 4 Week 1

Today we focused on interpersonal skills (group work) and taking responsible risks.  We did a lot of work on how we can tell if a group is working well together - what it looks and sounds like.  We talked about some encouraging things that we could say to make others feel included in a group, and also discussed making sure that each person has a say in what the group is doing.  We need to listen to each other and ensure that each person is heard.

We did a Habits of Mind jigsaw as groups and the children reflected throughout the process -
Am I looking at my group?
Am I listening to other's ideas?
Am I encouraging my group members?
Am I using positive language?

During the Habits of Mind jigsaw activity, we learned what "Taking a responsible risk" is, and we discussed how this means that sometimes we feel uncomfortable to do something (like talk to someone or participate in a group), and there are signs to show we are uncomfortable (like looking away, avoiding a crowd etc.).  Taking a responsible risk means that we might feel uncomfortable in this situation but we persist and talk to someone/participate anyway.  After a while we don't feel uncomfortable any more.

We played some games to help the children persist past the 'not wanting to participate' stage and we also learned how to encourage someone who is obviously nervous/shy.

We finished off with another technology challenge - all teams failed miserably at the challenge, but succeeded beautifully in all actively participating in the group work.  Well done kids!

Term 3 Week 9

We finished our photography lessons today, and worked at using some new techniques - macro, repeating patterns, rule of thirds, and long shot.  I was impressed with the quality of the photos that the children took, they are thinking more creatively every week.

You can see more of our favourite photos outside the office at school.

Term 3 Week 8

Today we continued working with our creative thinking and learned about using the digital camera.  We learned about making sure that the camera was focussed on the subject, turning the flash on and off, and using the macro function.  We also learned some new photography techniques - taking photos from a birds eye and worms eye view, filling the frame with the subject and using the rule of odds.  Chidren also practised working with others, by sharing a camera between to people.  They had to negotiate for the use of the camera and make sure that each child had a fair turn.  They also spent lots of time planning and discussing their proposed photo shots with their partner.

Term 3 Week 7

This week we were learning about the importance of working with others, and to practise this the children completed a technology challenge.  The challenge was to make some kind of contraption that would extend a marble as far as possible from a desk.  It had to be freestanding and there was only a select number of materials that could be used.  It was interesting to see the dynamics of the groups, and the way that each group managed themselves.  We learned that although the contraption they were trying to make was really interesting, what we were really learning was to relate to others.  Did each person get a fair input in the challenge?  Was everybody heard?  Did you try more than one person's idea?  Did you build on ideas?

Although many of us prefer to work on our own, we still need to be able to relate to others and learn about effective group interaction.