Which sports do you play?

All the Woodcock's in my family originated from England about six generations ago - they arrived in Northland on a creaky old ship and ended up farming and so forth around places like Warkworth. I am thrilled that there is a Woody in the AB's. It's very exciting. I suspect he's my second cousin or something but we've never met. There is also a Woodcock playing state shield cricket now too.

[The article i posted the other day was from the internet and i forgot to include the reference, so i have removed it. Remeber when using other people's material to acknowledge the source. infact, in some cases it's probably not okay to use it at all. we must investigate it as a learning experience.]

In my fantasy world, I would like to play flanker or mid field for the AB's - sadly being an old unfit, short, weak, teacher doesn't increase my chances... Mr Cocks wants to play hooker. Which position would you play? Whaea Debs said she'd like to play wing or fullback.
Or, which sport would you like to represent NZ in? Netball? Rowing? Table tennis? Running? Cycling?
Which sports do you play? I play golf sometimes and used to play soccer, cricket, inline hockey, do various martial arts. I now coach soccer for the school.

things to remember

1. set up your blog so i can access it to give feedback on your work.
2. don't share personal information that could allow strangers to identify you. no photos of you, no address or numbers given out, etc.
3. know who you are dealing with.
4. use the blog for educational purposes - blogs are not like chat rooms - they are for expressing opinions, sharing resources, giving and receiving feedback, etc.
5. enjoy it sensibly and be creative

8>)

6. use word verification
7. use correct grammar, spelling and appropriate language - please use capitals for names
8. set up your blog to send you an email notification when someone comments on your blog. - you can even have comment moderation turned on so no one's post gets onto your blog without your permission.
9. SHOW YOUR PARENTS - they should be impressed by your skills and creativity
10. post useful links to information for others to use - we can work collaboratively
11. be positive - don't let the negative people get you down
12. remember books, dvds, librarians, teachers, family, friends, radio, podcasts and many more sources of information exist out there - the internet is not the only source and it is not always reliable.
13. bring flies for the frogs please

Swimming Sports on Friday

This Friday is the school swimming sports - after lunch - remember orange clothes...
8>)

blogging skills and security

blog security is very important. all room5ians must follow cybersafety rules.
you must also write respectfully at all times. remember - all of what you write is going to be read by someone else at some stage - it may not even be this year - one day it will be read - so be polite, respectful and say sensible interesting things.
if you are not sensible, you will make it difficult for any of us to enjoy the interactive world of blogging.

make the title of your posts eye catching.

please post comments about:

1. what you think "netiquette" might be.

2. any cybersafety rules you know

3. what the purpose of our blogs are or could be - [remember - this blog is for learning]

we will be completing a survey soon to investigate your internet usage and anything your parents do to help keep you cybersafe.

each of you will also sit with me in class to investigate your blog, check for cybersafety, and answer any questions you have regarding the set up of your blog.
for example, i would like yo uto have word verification turned on and disallow anonymous posts. if you are smart, you will have email notification turned on too. this means that when a post is made on your blog, you will be sent an email with the message and a link to it in your blog. this makes it easy to keep track of all posts.

and PLEASE remember - this blog is for school and i encourage you to use it - BUT, if your parents don't want you too, you must respect their wishes. all important school related material will be given out in class as handouts as i have already done with the kakepuku activities.
if your parents have concerns, please have them contact me directly.

p.s. if you read this all the way through, tell me the secret password at school - "the blue blog is bluer than the red blog..."

p.p.s. i know that at least one of you is not being cybersafe...

patience and persistence pay

thank you for your patience, squiddlers - i have had my computer in 'the shop'.

to answer a few questions... [and to the right is a....?]

bring stuff for staffs. or make them at home. but do it. and make them coooool.....

gather info on kakepuku, axolotls, pH level measuring, whistling tree frogs, mythical creatures, how to make shelters, start fires, prepare and cook an animal...[since you keep saying you will just "eat some more sheep", with out explaining how. or you may have stated, "we made a shelter", without giving any detailed about techniques, materials, design, etc. the lockley twins from last year know how. ask them. they're cool - in their own special ways. and they're reeeally smart.

of course, being smart isnt enough. you have to think, question, wonder, research, design, produce, share, evaluate.

oh, and remind me to start a class wiki for our knowledge building. and to contact wikipedia to stop them from blocking us. or find out if its the watchdog thingy blocking our editing of it.

and to show you what a spatchcock is, since you had it in your word study list...

see the photo above? apologies to vegetarians, vegans, and quail empaths.

EVALUATION TIME

Pease tell me what you think of the blog as a teaching tool. Explain how it helps you enjoy school or helps with homework or assignments. If there are problems, state them here also. Remember that we will use ICT time to get you started properly and teach you how to use the blog effectively once you have signed your internet safety agreements.
So far there have been some amazing success stories.
See you next week, young bloggeroonies, but keep posting as I will access it at the "Learning at Schools" conference to see how you are going.
Mr Woody 8>)

Kakepuku class tasks....

Kakepuku Catastrophe! Activities and due dates

[please note - i expect you to look up any words you do not understand. Room5ians work hard on developing their vocabulary so they can communicate effectively.]

Activity 1: Survival skills

§ Compile a list of survival strategies or skills – write it in your topic book. There are at least four important things to know about…
Write down the title and author of any books you used or the url of any website.

Due Tuesday 3pm 20th Feb.


Activity 2: Mythological creatures

§ Research mythical creatures and describe in your own words several that interest you. Do at least three. Include one that can fly and one that lives in the ocean as this may help you when disaster strikes on Kakepuku. Include images for extra credit. Write the info in your writing book.
Due Friday 23rd Feb. 3pm

§ Research taniwha and manaia – Maori mythological creatures – draw and describe one in your topic book. Write down the Title and author of any books you used or the url of any website. Include images for extra credit.
Due Wednesday 28th Feb. 3pm

§ Create a poster, A4 size, with a border, using colour, including a title. Design your own mythical creature. This should have features that could be useful in assisting you in your plight on Kakepuku. Draw the creature. Name it. Write a brief description of it, its attributes and abilities.
Due Friday 2nd March 3pm [is this a real date? I should check my calendar...]

Activity 3: Creative writing

§ Write the introductory description of the disaster on Kakepuku in your topic or writing book.
Due Friday 16th Feb. 12:30pm

§ Daily diary writing describing the activities of your group, written from your point of view.
o Entries need to be well written, using emotive and descriptive language. Correct punctuation and spelling must be used. Use paragraphing accurately.
o The entries do not need to be very long. Between half a page to a page. Include what happens to you and your group, how you feel and how you cope with daily survival needs must be included. Describe your surroundings.
This will be drafted and either completed in class or to be completed for homework several days each week until the adventure ends later in term one.
For extra credit, post your diary entries on your blog.


Activity 4: magic staff

§ Find a suitable stick to make a wand or staff out of. Gather resources to decorate it. Bring this all to school to work on.
Be prepared to design a staff that suits a specific purpose – e.g. if you want to have the power of fire design symbols and attach materials that make you think of fire. If you want to control birds, have feathers. If you want to see into the future, add a crystal ball…
Due anytime week 5