Week 1 or Term 4 bites the dust!

We are up and running again, with week 1 of Term 4 gone!   Time to reflect with others about the Lane Clark course and of course, lots of interest shown by some of the teachers.   We planned a meeting to start to "unpack" the stages in her process of thinking and learning.   Isn`t it fantastic that the excitement in teaching and learning is alive and kicking amongst us?    Along with new interest and curiosity, my groups started up and I involved Gever Tulley`s Tinkering Time in the kids options.   For my action research as part of our ICT cluster`s final year, I am doing a study on how oral language can be best be developed in the classroom situations.   The Tinkering Time works well for my obs in oral language of the kids, especially with the year 5 groups members, because they related well to each other and so they don`t get caught up in the behaviour issues scarring the learning opportunities of so many children.   The small motors that I have available for the kids are no longer made...Grrr!   You are so right Sir Ken Robinson.   Creativity needs a helping hand!   All I could get from Dick Smith were pre-packaged kitsets.   I wanted on-off switches...sorry, don`t make them anymore.   However, the Tinkering Time has thrown up challenges to make boats to race in Waitawa Stream next to the school.   Friday`s first race was hillarious...2 of the motors got wet, but we resurrected them and hopefully, they`ll be up and running for next week`s round.   I have to find some more propellers from somewhere so that we can have more effective propulsion.   Watch this space!