The power of concentration

We all know that we need to practice a skill in order to get better. However it is important to remember that practice isn't just doing something again and again, it requires you to focus on the task at hand. To be concentrating on getting better.

Have a look at this video.

What does it teach you about the power of concentration?

How has your concentration been in school this week?

Can you think of the last time you concentrated? When was it? What were you doing? What did it feel like?

Writing test using computers

Room 15 is amongst the first students at Tawa Intermediate to do their once-a-term writing assessment via computer. Our teacher used a google doc script to send out assessments and is now busy marking the assessments.

What did you think think about doing your writing assessment online?

What were some things you found easier?

What were some things you found trickier?

Would you recommend other classes start using google docs for writing assessments? If so why?

Welcome to Room 15

This term Room 15 is taking part in Quadblogging. We would like to welcome students from Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School and Shireland Collegiate Academy from the UK to our blog. Here's our welcome back to school video to give you an idea about our class and what we like to get up to at school. 

We are looking forward to visiting your class blogs as part of the class journey.

In the mean time, perhaps you could leave a comment letting us know where in the UK you are from and some questions about New Zealand for Room 15's students to answer.

Assembly Time again

Hi Room 15 Our class is on assembly again. Our class doesn't just host an assembly, we host the assembly. To give Year 7s an idea of the things our class has done in the past, check out this video.

Has anyone got any ideas for assembly? What theme could we have? Are the any ideas from activities in class we could showcase at assembly. Who do you think would be a good host?

Huia syndicate - I am eleven

Our class was very lucky to go the first screening of I Am Eleven at Wellington's documentary festival. We had a bit of time early in the morning so went to Te Papa before the movie. 

Next, we went to see the movie. The reason we went to see I am eleven is because the movie follows the story of 11 year olds from different countries around the world. Our syndicate was the first group to see the film and were excited to have our picture taken for the directors of the movie.

 Our trip home was a bit of a rush as we had to make the train. Unfortunately our train was cancelled so we had to take the bus.

What was your highlight of our trip into Wellington?

If money and time wasn't a problem, which child from the movie would you like to meet and why?

Did any of the kids from the movie remind you of kids from the class? Who were they and why?

Room 15's teacher goes to Google!

I was very luck to be selected to go the Google Teacher Academy in Sydney. The first thing I did when I arrived was to have a pie from Harry's Cafe du Wheels. Harry's has been making pies since 1938 and the tiger pie is a speciality. It's got gravy, mushy peas and potato on top of a meat pie. Why do you think it's called the tiger pie?

One of the highlights of going to the academy was meeting teachers from around the world. Here I am with a group of teachers who teach in Singapore and America at Bronte Beach. One of the teachers lives a long way from the ocean so he was amazed at all the surf. Sometimes we forget how lucky we are in New Zealand to live close to the beach!

The google offices were pretty cool.  A personal favourite was the library. What do you think? Do you think Tawa Intermediate kids might like our new library to look like this? 

Most of the time I spent learning about google products but here I am playing a minute to win it game called the chocolate unicorn. Can you guess what I had to do? Do you think I won? Would you like to have a go at some of these games in Room 15?

Welcome back to term 2

Hi Room 15

I hope you all had a splendid holiday. I’ve spent a fair bit of time on planes this holiday. First I flew up to Auckland to go to a conference and see my parents. They are building a house in Mangawhai, which is about 90 minutes drive north of Auckland. 

My parents' new house!

Next, I flew back to Wellington to do some marking and school work before going on another plane this time to Australia. This plane ride was really bumpy because of the strong winds. We were almost 30 minutes late into Melbourne.

Leaving Wellington for Australia

First I went to Melbourne where I visited a lovely Year 7 class. I learned some things about teaching inquiry and then I talked to the class about our passion projects as this class is doing the same thing. I really loved the old buildings in Melbourne. The trams were lots of fun to ride as well. 

Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne

Then it was on yet another plane... can you guess what city I am in now?

Where is your teacher?

How was your holiday?

What did you do?

What are you looking forward to this term?

Highlights for the term

I can't believe the term is over and done with! My highlight was seeing the passion projects in action. I think we should do more of them next term.


What have been your highlights?

What is something you want to do better next term?

100 Word Challenge

Hi students

Here's your writing prompt for the 100 word challenge, it's the picture below. As usual, you have just 100 words. Please really think about the vocabulary you are using.

I Am Eleven

This week the teachers announced a Huia syndicate trip to Wellington to see the movie I Am Eleven.  It follows the story of 15 eleven year olds from countries across the world.

From the trailer have a go at answer these questions:

I was interested in learning girls from India who talked about caring for kids in the orphanage. Do you remember any of the kids from the trailer? What made them memorable for you?

What would you do if you could change the world?

Why do you think the film maker decided to talk to 11 year olds? 

How do you think this movie fits with our school topic of globalisation?