Final Blog

The best thing about Corinna School is that they are always desperate on being your friend, they allow you to join in their games and activities. They take care of you when are feeling down, they’ll say friendly jokes and make sure you are feeling positive.

Another good thing about Corinna School is that your friends will never back stab you, they’ll be honest with you at all times, they will help you solve your problems. Students here in Corinna School are very welcoming, once you have come to Corinna School you’ll feel welcomed, like you belong and that Corinna School is your home.

The first time I was came to Corinna School, I was nervous and scared, I stood frozen not knowing what to do, I saw people running towards me, allowing others to join in their games.

Haiku's

21st Century Learning Speech

                                  21st Century Learning

What do you think of “I learn best at a desk”, I strongly disagree with this statement. According to the latest research, 21st century learning is the most effective way to learn, considering the accessibility to online resources. This style of learning prepares kids for life. It’s when we are able to use technology, instead of just using books, pencils and pens to help us access our learning tools and  resources, share our learning, connect with experts and learn 24/7.

In my opinion, technology has helped us students succeed in our learning. We have lots of opportunities to use different types of  technology like Chromebooks, Imacs, Ipads, Iphones, go pros and much more to do our work. There are lots of online websites that can help us students with our reading such as kiwi kids news and stuff.com.

Let's go back to the old days when the teachers were very strict, they’d tell you what to do, they will yell at you just for getting an answer wrong. Students had a limited time of writing down what the teacher had written on the board. We’d all be learning the same odd things as the others.

In truth, I think that technology has helped all students with their learning, helped us improve in all subjects especially spelling due to using spell check. Nowadays we are able to access our learning, anytime and anywhere, you can share your work to others, teachers and the global world.

Sharing your work is much faster, you get instant feedback and advice from experts, teachers and classmates instead of just having to wait in line for the teacher to mark your work.

We have the freedom of choice to design our school, environment and community how ever we want. You get to choose what type of things you want to add to our school grounds, what changes we could make to the environment and what differences we could make to the learning we do here at Corinna School. This will help us develop skills that we will need in the future.

Just think for a minute…Wouldn’t it be hard, just having to write down what the teacher had written down with a limited time? and don’t you think this is an old school way of learning! I’m sure that you said “yes” to all of these questions. This is why 21st Century Learning is now considered to be the most appropriate way to learn NOT working on your own at a desk!

Thank you for listening to my speech!

Explanation Writing

How I shone at Polyfest

A moment where I shone was at Polyfest, on Wednesday 5th of August. All the students, teachers & whanau of Corinna School gathered together as a family to perform at Hosanna Church of Cannons Creek.

The group I participated in was one of the biggest cultural groups in Corinna School, the senior Samoan pasifika group.

One of my biggest shining moments during this event was stepping out of my comfort zone, walking up onto the stage, feeling terrified & nervous, my heart beating 100% fast, like I was getting chased by 3 lions, trying to hunt me down.

During our performances, I shone by using my best self managing skills when I didn’t getting distracted from the audience, keeping my head held high & staying focused on our performance.

Another way I shone was when I was being respectful during the performance so I don’t get others distracted & being the best role model I can be.

As I walked off the stage, I felt very jubilant that my nightmare was over. It felt quite good when I was stepping out of my comfort zone because I was experiencing how it feels to be up on stage. I can hardly wait for the next polyfest.

Polyfest Learning Story

On Wednesday the 5th of August Corinna School gathered together as a whanau to perform at one of a kind churches Hosanna Church. 

The self managing skill I used was being respectful to others including the tutors so I could be able to listen to the instructions of what to do first, second and last.

The Polyfest group I was in was the Senior Samoan group which was the largest of the school.

We walked up on the stage feeling proud and confident.

We started off with a lovely song called "E Mua Mua" the K.C. skill I used was just facing one direction, only smiling at one direction.

The one thing I hated in the song was the chattering because it looked so ugly and they are also presenting our school in the wrong way.

Kapo Kapo Learning Story

On Tuesday the 23rd of June, all Kapo Kapo performers from Corinna School gathered together as a whanau at the Te Rauparaha Arena. 

At Kapo Kapo I was learning to relate well to others for e.g. working as a team, supporting others to learn the songs and actions, being respectful to other cultures.

I can use is listen respectfully to others when they are talking and sharing ideas also waiting for the other groups that were performing.

Finally it was our turn, the Corinna School Pasifika group, walking onto the stage safely, orderly and respectfully. 

As I walked below on the chairs, I could see and hear my friends & family cheering "Go Corinna!" That made me feel brave & confident.


Evidence: 

Girls: Siva Samoa Together: Sa Sa

My next steps is the same as Good Friday, to explain or tell my group if I agree or disagree with an idea/opinion they have said or come up with and be able explain and justify it.

I enjoyed Kapo Kapo it was a lot of fun.

Here is a link to the vid of Corinna School at Kapo Kapo (Te Rauparaha Arena).

Good Friday Learning Story

During good Friday we were learning to create a sports video for Netball and Kio'rahi. 

The purpose was to show others the video to teach them new skills and sports drills to help them get prepared for any upcoming sports events and tournaments.

Eijah told us what jobs we can do.
Sophie,Claudia:Script Writing
Tavoi,John,AJ: Comedians.
Tawha,Eijah, Hina: Speakers
Prestigious,Treselle,Isabel: Presenters.


                            

I used the K.C. skill participating and contributing. My evidence is that I can get involved, step up to be a role model to help younger kids on what they need to work on.

My next steps is to explain or tell my group if I agree or disagree with an idea/opinion they have said or come up with. 

For the past few days participating and contributing has helped me to learn new skills in any sorts of sports and learn new leadership skills

Chromebook Ambassador Learning Story

During last year (2014) and this year (2015) I have been a Chromebook Ambassador with a few buddies Sophie & Aggie. I chose to apply for this job because I love helping others learn on Chromebooks.

First of all we had to introduce ourselves in a very loud voice for e.g. we had a script that we had to practise off by heart so we wont be like "uhhh uhhh um". If I forget while the visitors are here that would be really embarrassing. 

We got help from a few seniors Daniella, Takiwa and E.J, that is what made me confident.

I can use the Key competency skills self managing and thinking to push myself out of my comfort zone, take a risk and try new things. My evidence is that I can get in front of an audience and present my learning in a confident voice so the visitors will be able to hear it clearly.

Another K.C. skill I use is appropriate body language (face the speaker, nod, positive facial expressions, open gestures and eye contact) so when I need to add on to what ever they are saying I can already think of what to say.

The purpose was to teach the visitors how to use Chromebooks and the different tools we use in our learning, so they see want their students to can use on Chromebooks.

Once we have presented our work, we have to think of an answer that will answer any of the visitors questions. That's the part when we need to use the skill of working as a team and thinking to support each other to answer the questions and respond appropriately.

My next steps is to especially have some answers about Chromebooks so I can get prepared for any questions.

Being a Chromebook Ambassador helped me to step out of my comfort zone for e.g. speaking in front of an audience.

Chromebook Presentation 

Chromebook Ambassador Speech 

Writing Learning Story

In my writing I was learning to write a Narrative - fictional story about me as a 18 year old boy who's name was drawn out of the ballot to go and fight in World War 1.

I have also been learning to use descriptive language to describe the character so I can paint a picture in the readers head so the reader can understand and visualise the story clearly.

When I write I have to make sure my ideas in order of what is happening, so that the reader doesn't get confused. For e.g. I need to group my ideas in paragraphs and make sure my paragraphs are connected. 

In my conscription story I was learning to use speech marks to show when the characters are talking. I learnt that this is a good way to show the reader what is happening rather than just telling them. It makes my writing more entertaining.

I can use what I have learnt from my reading to help me describe, explain in my own writing

“Mum I have to do this. Its the only choice I have right now otherwise I’ll be in prison, probably forever!”. “OK son. It's your choice, but promise me you’ll take care of yourself.” “I promise mother”.

War day: The next morning I woke up unexpectedly feeling sore and strange.

I don’t know why? Bruises all over my legs, hands going sloppy. ‘PHEW’ that stopped.

I can also use similes, verbs and adverbs for times when my writing is boring e.g. I gently grabbed the letter off him as if I was being awarded something really nice.

My Next Steps are to start including facts and the 5WS so it could sound more interesting and like it is written in real life, like back in the old days.

Evidence: Unexpectedly Drawn Out Of The Ballot 

Reading Learning Story

In reading I have been learning to search the library to find useful, helpful books that can be used to find information about N.Z's involvement in War for e.g. Vietnam war, WW1, WW2.

We couldn't find all the answers to our questions, so we thought if we could use the internet to find more information.

We needed to discuss and decide with our learning team what information was right or wrong. To do that we used our thinking of what knowledge we already knew about war, to decide if the information was right.

Another skill I used was skimming and scanning to read and find answers to my questions quickly.

I can Summarise the key information into my own words from the internet, to change a few things to change the sentence.

My next steps is to ask others in my learning team wondering questions and share my opinions about the information or ideas they have put down in case I don't agree with it.

Here is a link to my work I have done with my learning team about War
EVIDENCE:World War 1 (WW1) Fact Jigsaw Puzzle 5 



           This is a video of me reading the journal story lest we forget. 
                                This is a level 4 text yr 8 book.

                                     Running Record Summary

Maths Learning Story

In maths I have been learning to work collaboratively with others to find and use the right strategy to solve problems. I have also been learning to explain why I have chosen to use this strategy. 

I can be confident, take risks, explain and justify my ideas into 
my own words for e.g. 13 x 17. How to work out this problem

I think the strategy to use is by breaking both numbers 
into tens and ones 

Evidence: (10 x 10) + ( 10 x 7) + (3 x 10) + (3 x 7) 
= 100 + 70 + 30 + 21 
= 170 + 30 + 21
= 200 + 21
= 221   

This is a maths technique we learned to use while working with Taiki.

I can also work with lots of different people. I use my relating to other skills to do this. I can share my ideas and listen respectfully to others. If I don't agree, I use friendly arguing so explain my thinking.

My next steps in maths is to start using other strategies instead of using repeated addition.