A Mindset for Learning

We are continuing to learn about different mindsets.  We have looked at brains grow, empathy, persistence and optimism.  We will be looking at resilience and flexibility next.  We are writing about some of our learning.  Below are some examples of when we are learning about the different mindsets.

Brains grow and we learn from our mistakes

Empathy - we can say or show we care

Persistence  - Try, try, try and then you'll fly

We first tried to draw a bird flying.  I said we had to be quick!  There were some grumbles around the class.  Afterwards the children wrote down what they were saying to themselves.  For example, that was hard, that was quick, I'll do my best.  Afterwards we were sharing what we could be saying to ourselves that would be helpful.  We also learned our persistence phrase to help remind us - try, try, try and then you'll fly.  

Optimism

First we answered a couple of questions.  If you were given an ice-cream but not your favourite, how would you feel?  If you did not get to play the math game you wanted at math time, how would you feel?  We had a variety of feelings.  

We then learned about being optimistic and being pessimistic.  We are learning that we can have a choice in how we feel or react to a situation.  We are also learning there might be different ways at looking at something. 

 

 

Partner work

  We are teaching the children how to learn and help each other.  The children will have different partners in math, reading, writing and word work.  Also these partners will change throughout the year.  Below we were learning different things reading partners could do together.  This included doing a book introduction, reading together, rereading smoothly, taking turns to read, doing a retell and sharing what was important about the book.

Lunch Bunch

We had a great group of parents for lunch bunch - it was lovely to see you all.    I just took a few photos and sorry if I caught you in the middle of eating!

Reading Just Right books

This week we have been learning about how to choose a Just Right Book. We teach the children there are 3 ways we can tell if the book is a just right book.  These rules are adapted a little depending on the child's reading level.  We are encouraging the children to begin to recognise for themselves if a book they are reading is too hard or too easy.

1.  This is the five finger rule.  The children count the tricky words they find it hard to read or cannot read.  If they cannot read 5 words then this is not a just right book for them.


2.  Read smoothly.  We ask the children to listen to their reading and to try and make it smooth.  In the photos below the children are taking turns using the headphones to help them listen to their own voices as they read. If they are sounding out most of the words and not reading smoothly then this is not a just right book for them.

3. Does it make sense?  This is the most important rule for the children to notice.  If they get to the end of the page or book and they do not know what is happening, or it does not make sense, this book is not a just right book for them.  We do not want the children to be reading the words  without  understanding.  If children read the words with little or no understanding they can lose their reading enjoyment.

Religion

We have started a new religion unit.  Today we started with a very tricky question.  Who is God?  I shared that even many parents cannot answer this question.  Oh my goodness I adored their answers and drawings.