@Seesaw The new kid on the block.

This is one of those times when everything just came together. I found out about the release of this great looking App called @Seesaw +Seesaw & Shadow Puppet and looked into it. I loved its ease of use and what I could see from the beginning was going to be fun and simple classroom application. I introduced it to a group of kids in my class and we began to use it. They loved it and started discussing how else we could use it in class. They automatically loved the simple layout and features, friendly clean look and the fact that adding work was so simple compared to other Apps and Web sites that we were currently using such as Blogger. I got a bit scared as we had spent a good chunk of time getting the class blog set up and schooling all the students how to upload and edit etc. Seeing the students use Seesaw though, I could instantly see that this was going to be hard to beat. We are now a few weeks into using it and the kids have just blown me away with their enthusiasm, passion and ability to add thier work for others to see. My favourite part of the App has to be its simplicity but also the fact that Students voice has never been stronger. Anytime they add work they can write, draw or record info about their work and give it real purpose and meaning.

This is going to be an App that sticks around and continues to grow so check it out now and get on board now. I look closely at a lot of Apps and this one just ticks so many boxes. Teachers best friend and Parents will love the work piling up for them to check out and explore too.

I am lucky enough to be a Seesaw ambassador now and I am thrilled to promote @Seesaw with everyone I know but in particular with teachers. Lets make life easy, use Seesaw and it will happen for you and your students.

Science - Term 2 Experiments

We are having a heap of fun exploring science and trying out different experiments and tasks. Kids love it.

I do...
I notice...
I think...
I wonder...

This was our first experiment and we loved it. Generated lots of discussion and plenty of wonderings.

Oil & Water 

Aotearoa - Our Land

Great Website on all of our Volcanoes and how and what they are. Great Info...

NZ Volcanoes

Minecraft - If I run it they will play it...

We have just completed another brilliant Minecraft competition at school. The time the focus was not on construction or building but about SURVIVAL.

Teams of 4 players this time were given Day 1 to work together to find resources, build shelters and improve their lives before the opposing team on Day 2 could begin to eliminate and destroy until just 1 team remained.

We began with 20 teams of 4 players, so roughly 80 kids. The initial battles lasted 2 to 3 days as weaker less experienced teams fell quickly. Experts or serious gamers shone through quickly and it was very easy to see who had the skill set and knowledge to quickly find the right resources that would mean longevity.

The teams continued over the next few weeks with battles lasting longer and becoming closer. Some teams got through to the next round due to the a solitary team member who was able to survive and outwit an entire team. 

The discussion and collaboration was great to see over these weeks as teams developed battle plans and ideas of how to stay safe and where to build. 

 No team was safe and we got down, finally to the last two teams.

It was a battle of experienced seniors v passionate middle school students. In the end the experience and skill set of the seniors prevailed and they were victorious. 

The students just loved the competition with absolute passion and we have already started to dream up our next Minecraft experience. 

Engagement, cooperation, collaboration, discussion were just a few of the real world skills that the students showed through this competition and if nothing else these are the positive reasons to allow students to explore this great app and have fun with it. 

Stay tuned for the next epic Minecraft update. 

Parent Portal - Education.govt.nz Should we be worried ?

Parent Portal - Is this a way for parents to be more connected and better informed about the education system or about what their child should be doing at school OR is it a government conspiracy ?!? 

Parent Portal

What I like on the face value of the site which is still in Beta stages is the ease of access to information without the hassle of searching for what I may need. Everything is there in front of you i.e Term dates, the level of education that I need to know about etc etc.

I also like that there are ideas to help your child at home, how you can be involved. Because at the heart of the matter we must remember that educational achievement comes down to the partnership that is formed between the school and with home. It is ensuring that the home link i.e parents, grandparents are aware and understand what it is that they should be doing and what that should look like.

Lets just hold our breathe though and pause to ensure that this site is set up and will continue to support teachers as opposed to becoming a site that puts more pressure back on the teachers and schools to fix all of societies problems.

Stay tuned ...

Real iPad fun - OSMO

https://www.playosmo.com/?r=4941552744923136

Can't wait for my OSMO set to arrive.

Get Thinking

http://ictevangelist.com/technological-pedagogical-and-content-knowledge/