Number Talks Workshop

During the holiday break we ran a workshop on Number Talks. This was attended by 30 teachers and principals from 10 schools as well as Maths advisors from the Wellington region. We wanted to share what we have been doing at Worser Bay because it has a big impact on student engagement and achievement. 

What does developing a Mathematical Community of Inquiry mean to us? 

• Mathematics is a creative and challenging real world activity.

• Positive beliefs about mathematical ability are essential.

• Maths has to be visual and collaborative; with time and strategies to investigate, discuss, explore concepts and reflect.

At Worser Bay School, we have been inspired by the work of Jo Boaler who is a professor at Stanford University. She provides resources and ideas to help students get excited about Maths. 

"You have probably heard people say they are just bad at math, or perhaps you yourself feel like you are not “a math person.” Not so, says Stanford mathematics education professor Jo Boaler, who shares the brain research showing that with the right teaching and messages, we can all be good at math. Not only that, our brains operate differently when we believe in ourselves. Boaler gives hope to the the mathematically fearful or challenged, shows a pathway to success, and brings into question the very basics of how our teachers approach what should be a rewarding experience for all children and adults."

For a Number Talk to be successful, students need to be respectful in discussion. We have co-constructed (with our students) the rights and responsibilities for discussion in a Number Talk. 

This is how a Number Talk works...

We asked the students about Number Talks...

Matamata Intermediate Mystery Skype

Today we did a Mystery Skype with Matamata Intermediate School. We are getting better at asking questions to find out where the school is. 

International Friendship Day Logo Design

In October, Nicola visited Singapore as part of an Asia NZ Foundation delegation. Nicola visited Bukit Timah School. Worser Bay School have continued to connect and collaborate with Bukit Timah.

Inspired by the way that Bukit Timah School celebrate culture and diversity, Worser Bay are going to celebrate International Friendship Day next year.

"International Friendship Day" is celebrated in Singapore. This day is dedicated to the understanding of Singapore’s relations with its neighbours and aims to nurture the spirit of friendship and collaboration among different people.

International Friendship Day is celebrated in schools in Singapore in April.

Worser Bay School will celebrate International Friendship Day in 2017 and have started a project for 2017. Schools around the world will make short movie about their country and culture. Schools have signed up from across the globe.

The schools that have signed up are from: Ireland, England, USA, Canada, Moldova, Trinidad, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Canada, Luxembourg, Australia, Philippines, China, Romania, Taiwan, Gambia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Morocco, United Arab Emirates and Japan.

Our students have been designing logos for international Friendship Day. Students from Auroa School in Taranaki have also been working on logos. If you are a classroom or a teacher you can sign up here.

Watch this space...

Online Manners: Connecting with Lincoln Primary

Today we were learning about making positive comments on blogs. We know that when we are online we need to use our "online manners."  We are connecting with Team 3 Green Class at Lincoln Primary School in Canterbury. You can check out their blog: 

http://team3greenlincolnprimary.blogspot.co.nz/

Best Digital Resource – Finalist: Nicola Stevenson, Tautoru Blog

We got an award that said we are in the finals of a competition for the best digital resource by Interface. This is because we have an awesome blog. We got excited when we heard about it [Nic especially]. We have had so much fun making the blog.   

By Eva

From the newsletter: 

WE ARE SO PROUD OF NICOLA - CONGRATULATIONS!!
INTERFACE is a magazine for ICT educators and our committed Nicola is a finalist in the ‘Best Digital Resource’ category. 

"....The standard of entries was very high and you have done extremely well to reach the final five. You should be very proud of this and the work you are doing.

We’ll be officially announcing the finalists on our website this morning (https://interfaceonline.co.nz/meet-this-years-finalists-and-vote-for-your-winners/) and in the November issue of the magazine, which comes out early next week. I’ve also attached a ‘Finalist’ logo that you are welcome to use. INTERFACE readers will be invited to review the finalists’ entries and vote for their favourite (and, yes, you can vote for yourself). These results will go towards determining the final placings....." 
(From the editor)

SO PLEASE CHECK IT OUT, SUPPORT NIC and VOTE!!!!

Blakey Movie

Blakey is from Tauranga Intermediate School. He was gifted to us by Mr Carlin. Blakey has been helping us to learn how to make a movie. We had lots of fun putting this movie together.

Thank you Mr Carlin and Tauranga Intermediate School!

Quadblogging: This week students show us around International School of Luxembourg

We have permission to post this video clip on our blog.

It's such an exciting time! We've started Quadblogging. We are connected with schools in England, Luxembourg and Canada. 

Here are the participating schools. Please take time to have a look at their blogs and leave a comment on their posts. Don't forget to say who you are and where you are from (Worser Bay School, NZ)

St. Augustine’s School, England	http://holly2016-17.sasblogs.net
International School of Luxembourg	https://blog.seesaw.me/islk2jb
Caroline School, Canada	mrsrutschke.weebly.com
Worser Bay, New Zealand	http://tautoruandautahi.blogspot.co.nz/

This week we will be getting to know Mr Bevan's Class Blog at the International School of Luxembourg.

Created with Padlet

Quadblogging: Favourite Books

We are very excited to be involved in a project called "Quadblogging". We have connected with schools in Luxembourg, England and Canada and will be commenting on each other's blog posts and working on different projects together.

Week 1: 

We will be focusing on Holly Blog from St. Augustines School in Nottingham, UK: http://holly2016-17.sasblogs.net

They have asked us...

"Hello to all our quadblogging friends. We hope that you enjoy looking at everything we have been up to over the past week and what we get up to this week.

We are reading a book called FUNNYBONES by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Have you read it?

What is your classes favourite book?" 

Created with Padlet

Mystery Skype with Auroa School

Today we did a Mystery Skype with Auroa School. They found out that we were in Wellington and we found out that their school was in South Taranaki. It was lots of fun!

Our next steps are to learn how to search the web to get the information that we need. 

Mystery Skype with Fergusson Intermediate

Today we did a Mystery Skype.We talked with a school.We were trying to guess which school it was by asking questions. It was an intermediate school. We figured out that it was in Upper Hutt. They figured out where was our school first. It was awesome!

Fergusson was really, really clever school.

By Leola and Charlotte

Today at school we did a Mystery Skype and we had to guess what the other school were.
We found out that they were in New Zealand.
They were in Upper Hutt.
They were an intermediate school. They are Year 7 and 8. 
They are in the south of the north island. 
We are learning how to ask good questions. We had to ask good questions to find out their location.
We figured that they were Fergusson Intermediate school. 
By Cruz and Will

Today we did a Mystery Skype with a school. At first we did not know who it was but then we did. You want us to tell you how we did it? We guessed where the other school was and asked them questions to find out.  It was Fergusson Intermediate School. We prepared questions beforehand. We had to answer yes or no and then we did a video chat it was fun.
By Greta and Georgina

When we did mystery skype we first asked if they were in New Zealand they said "yes".
They found out that we were Worser Bay first.
They were Fergusson Intermediate School.
By Matilda

We skyped a different school and guessed where their school was. The other school was in Upper Hutt guessed the name of our school first.  We guessed some of the things near their school.      

We liked skyping with their school in Upper Hutt. That  school was very clever. Their school was different to our school and we still liked skypeing them.

By Molly and Violeta

Today we made contact with another school and tried to guess which school they guessed ours we lost but it was still awesome! We looked on google maps and we were so close to winning but unfortunately a very clever kid looked at nicola’s name and looked 

it up and found out what school we were. It was really fun! I want to win next time.

By Nela and Phillipa

We had a Killer whale mystery skype today with Fergusson Intermediate School. We learnt that they live in Wellington, Upper Hutt. They are one of the two intermediate schools in Upper Hutt. The time went fast.We took turns asking yes or no questions. They were clever and searched Nicola's name and found Worser Bay school :( It was awesome.

By Dylan and Jupiter