Welcome to the Jpod blog 2016!!!
What a fantastic start to the year we have had. The students have settled effortlessly into the routines and expectations of life in the Jpod.
The focus for the last week has been on students feeling happy and settled at school. There have been many opportunities planned by the teachers for students to get to know their new home group friends, to get to know other students in the Jpod and to get to know the teachers.
Students have been encouraged to use each other’s names, look at each other and smile when they are working with new friends, and to really work hard to build the positive relationships which are so important for learning.
Routines
The Jpod teachers have been so impressed at how quickly the students have settled into their daily routines. It’s been amazing to watch the students starting their days with diaries out, changing their readers independently and being ready to learn. The consistency with the prep routines has been clear to see and the transisition activities last term also seem to have helped prepare the students for life in the Jpod.
Reading
Our reading program is up and running with students refreshing the routines involved in CAFE reading, practicing reading to a partner, reading to self and checking for understanding as they read. We have also introduced word work routines. Look out for some videos which will appear on the blog soon, helping to explain some of the reading routines and strategies that the students are taught in class.

Next week will see small guided reading groups starting up so that students can receive more explicit and precise teaching of the next steps they need to focus on with their reading.
Writing
In writing the students have written letters to their new home group teachers telling them about themselves, their holidays, their families and their interest. It’s been great to read the fantastic writing produced by the students.
Maths
Numeracy sessions have been very hand on and fun, with students using quick mental maths strategies in games such as maths bingo, solve the number pattern, number snap with playing cards and exploring our numicons and numeracy iPad apps.



Discovery
Our discovery activities have focused on relationships and creating the right learning environment for the Jpod.
Students have been involved in devising a monitor system for each home group to help the Jpod run smoothly. Posters will be appearing in each learning area made by the students.

Our school beliefs
The students have discussed our school beliefs and thought about what a positive learning environment would look like, sound like and feel like. They then worked together to make large Y chart posters to display their ideas in the Jpod.

Collaboration and creativity
The end of the week has seen the students developing their collaborative and creative skills, working in groups with specific design briefs.
All students are having the opportunity to create shared models using Make Do, creative structures using our Green Hat Blocks and short multi media films using our iPads to get used to using IMovie to combine photos, music and sound.
The collaborative and creative skills on show in the room have been amazing to see and we hope you enjoy some photos of the learning.

As the year progresses we will use the blog to showcase what is happening in the room and also to communicate general learning topics and to share ideas and videos that might help with continued learning at home.
Don’t forget to post some comments too!!
The blog is shared regularly with the students in class and we will be teaching them how to post a comment on the blog.
Please feel free to pout a comment on the blog, it can be as simple as ‘great learning kids’. Or can comment on something more specific, or can relate to a photo of something that you’ve enjoyed. Remember we don’t use surnames on the blog so first names only pls whe you post a comment eg sign of your blog comment….from James (Banjo’s Dad).
If you click on the comment box below the post your comment will not appear on the blog until it has been moderated and approved by the Jpod staff.
All comments will get shared in class and helps to build the connection between the school, home and the students.
We are so excited about the year ahead and enjoying the learning journeys with each and every one of the Jpod students.
Finally, look out for homework books and our Jpod newsletter and timetables which are coming home with the students today.
