Hi Guys,
I have been so impressed with our cookbook sales! Please post your ideas for keeping the momento going. Also ideas to help those people who are finding the “selling” part difficult, would be really good.
Please also let me know if you are available to help with the selling over the long weekend, or your ideas for what you will be doing to sell more over the long weekend – if you are away that is!!
Caio

Today I heard two very sad things – the first is that it is the anniversary of September 11th…  I remember the day so clearly, as it was the day we took over our home (where we are now).  I had to work, and Rob was coming out to clean the house so we could move in.  The news was what woke us up on the radio – it was our alarm.  We both sat up, in shock and jumped out of bed to turn on Sky News.  We watched as the whole thing was shown over and over again.  I was so shocked, and it felt so odd to go to work, where everything was normal and know that for thousands of people it was never going to be normal again.  I always remember that day very clearly.

The second sad news was that a New Zealand policeman was shot last night in the line of duty, in South Auckland.  I think that is tragic for his family, and for our country.  I hope that they make a big deal about him, like they did about Derek Lovell the firefighter.  These are everyday heros – people that put their lives on the line to keep the rest of us safe.  

I have decided that it is important to discuss current events, as it keeps us interested, interesting and connected to our world.  Therefore I have created a Current Events page on the Wiki.  The reason for it being on the wiki, and not on the blog is so that you are able to have more input into the page, and not just comment about my thoughts.  Remember that there is a link to the Wiki on this blog.

Bye for now (11.09.08) 

Hi Guys,

Well there are some more New Zealanders who are displaying lots of the PRIDE values at the moment.  That is right – our special Olympians.  I loved your interest and enthusiasm when we discussed this as a class, although it was only briefly talking about the opening ceremony.  I think it was amazing how that Chinese athlete was hoisted up into the air to light the olympic flag, and also the hearing impaired ballerinas (did I get that right?)  It was again an amazing production, with lots of coordinating huge amounts of people, and of course lots of fireworks.  I think no one does fireworks like the Chinese do!  Please comment on hear when you hear of highlights from the Special Olympics……  as I will.

video people

This is the first video that Room 4 watched. It introduced the idea that people who have achieved extraordinary things, have not always succeeded – they have had their challenges, but they have gone on to believe in themselves, and then accomplished great things. It also lay the foundations that very often these people just see themselves are ordinary people.

Then we did a study into New Zealanders who we considered had made a difference to the world – big or small! We had three guiding questions, so that we would have to really think about the people we have chosen – we could not just repeat other people’s research.
These questions were:
How has their achievements made a difference to the world?
What inspired them to do what they have done?
What are the “ripples” of their achievements?

Along the way we had some “ups” and “downs” – but we learnt a lot about our research skills, meeting targets, and our people.

“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it, than we do from learning the answer itself”. Lloyd Alexander.

We compounded our learning about our New Zealander through having to write speeches about our person. For those of us that struggled at this stage, we found out it was that we either didn’t have enough research or we didn’t know our information well enough.
(I always say students learn more when they have to do something with their information)

During this process we have discuss a lot about the fact that there are lots of people out there who are making a difference to the world without being famous. As if by coincidence Mrs. I got sent this video in an email.

Who I am Makes A Difference

Then we decided that this is a project that we wanted to take on too. This will be launched tonight 29th August at our homework fair……

Please add comments on our blog if you are a person who receives a blue ribbon. We want to know who gave you the ribbon, how you felt about receiving it and who you passed yours on to. All you have to do is click on add a comment on this post. For the username just place your name (our students only use first names), and you need to put in an email address (this will not be seen by anyone). Thanks from Room 4 – you truly do “Make a Difference”!!!

*****Sorry I forgot to mention that if you do add a comment, if won’t show up until I approve it. Sorry about that however it is a great measure to keep our blog free of anything inappropriate.******

Hey Guys,

Michael Phelps from the USA is amazing…..  Tell me why – in detail!!! 

1. Also which sport is looking good for New Zealand, with quite a few crews making their finals? 
2. Which is the most unusual sport that you can think of that is included in the Olympics? 
3. If you could be famous for achieving excellence in any of the Olympic sports what would your favourite be?
4. Tonight when I got home I was watching the ladies team gymnastics – the whole place was absolutely thundering with cheerine etc. for the Chinese team.  How would you feeling if you were in the Chinese team?  How would you feel if you were in the opposing team?
5. Which person in our class would be the most likely to get into an Olympic event, and why?  What about the whole school?

Lots to think about and to comment on…………………  Mrs. I

After the Olympics…. Sunday 30th August

I have just watched an interview with a man who used to be a well known comedian in New Zealand – he was known as Fred Dag, his real name is John Clarke and he now lives in Australia.  Anyway interestingly enough he was saying that he thought that the Olympics were not really important? His comments were that at the time that the Olympics was on there were a lot of important things happening in the world, but that because of the Olympics we didn’t get to hear about them.

I don’t know if I agree with him, let me know what you think – do you think the Olympics is important? Why/why not???  

Hi all,

Well here we are 08/08/08 – and you know what that means!!  It is the beginning of the Olympics – the opening ceremony is on tonight at 9.30 pm.  Have you heard who will be carrying the New Zealand flag?   And what their event is?   All news and views can be commented on here…..

Tag – Mrs. I

Hi Everyone,

This part of the blog (this post), is for our students who are either far and away, on holiday that is or who have been part of Room 4, and have now left.  We can keep in touch, and share information.

Remember to give us good quality chatting, not just random comments.

Extraordinary People

Hi guys – well trust me when I tell you I am a life long learner too!  I think I have embedded the video that we watched in class for you to share with your parents.  I would watch it through yourselves first, so that all the buffering is done, and it is not so frustrating for you.  Enjoy and I would love to see your thoughts and feelings on here!

I have managed to set a link into the title of this post – so if you click on the title you will go straight to “Extraordinary People” video.

Mrs. I

I 

Hi again – I don’t think my link worked! I’ll keep trying.  Anyway if you have any thoughts or questions about the homework then ask away!!

Mrs I

Hi Guys,

I am feeling on “Top of the World” because I have been trying to teach myself how to blog, and here we are!  I was struggling with the “How” to make it fabulous, when in actual fact I really should have been JUST focussed on getting started…………..  Anyway here is the start of something new.  Learn with me – I’ll share what I know, and you can too – and hopefully by the end of this year we will definitely be Web 2.0 people.  (Don’t be fooled – I don’t really know what that actually means! Tehehe!!!)

TTFN – Mrs. I

Here’s an idea – Challenge yourself to have a go – at your first blog!  Hit the edit button and add to this one, just make sure you put your autograph at the end.  We should have and be using usernames.  I will know who CC, Banana, Smiley & HeyHey are!   I rest I might be rusty on.

Auvoir!  Caio! Tag!