Day 4 and 5

Day 3

Today was another great day, in the space that is Room 4! We began creating our presentation of our "problem" today. These vary from comic strips, digistories, iMovies, puppet shows... etc. We're aiming to present on Friday, before we exit the space.

We spent the afternoon looking at the cause and effects of problems we might have. We used the SOLO model to show higher order thinking.

Each group of 3 came up with a problem kids our age have.
We then came up with 3 causes (and a because statement)
and 3 effects (also with a because statement)

The engagement has been fantastic to watch! We wondered whether it might peter out as the week went on and the novelty wore off a little... but it hasn't! If anything, it's grown and built!

Today's reflection's:

What was better than yesterday?

• I got to work with more people and communicate with people that i normally don’t work with.
• The noise level wasn't as bad as yesterday.
• I was on task more and I got to work with different people.
• i liked how the independent area was more quiet.

How is being in this room making my learning better?

• WE ARE COLLABORATING AND AND KIDS GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND THE OTHER WAYS SO THAT OTHERS DO NOT HAVE TO ASK OR INTERRUPT THE TEACHER.
• Because I can create new ideas in my mind with others as well as myself.
• We were a lot more focused.
• Its really good because if one of the teachers are unavailable then you can ask  the other teacher who is going around helping out and they have different ideas to what you need to ask.
• Its cool because you get to be with other kids and collaborate.
• 
  

Day 2

We have been story boarding to plan
our scenario of a problem that kids have.

We have been utilising the space that we have:

Junior tables, repurposed for seniors
by cutting the legs shorter.

Coffee tables...

The amphitheatre seating is a hit.

A quiet space for independent learning.
If we need to talk or discuss, we need
to step out.

Group teaching space.

Multi-purpose: is it a bench to sit on,
or something to  kneel at and work?

Our work is pinned to the wall,
to be taken down to work on!

One of the glitches we faced today, was that a huge proportion of our group go out for Kapa Haka in the afternoon. This meant adjusting what we were doing to cater for the group, without having to catch everyone else up with what they missed.

Here is a snapshot of some of our reflections today:

Good things about being in room 4 today

• The cubby holes were good for independent work. Two teachers in the class means more group work.
• I got to spend more time with people and I got to know more about them.
• I think that it's cool working together and calibrating with room 15.
• More work done and I was more focused than yesterday.
• You can work together and work independently easily.

Bad things about being in Room 4 today

• A lot of people being in one space, means less room for group workers.
• There were people mucking around in the independent room and not working alone!!!
• I could not find my reading book so I was having LOTS of trouble doing my work.

Here we go...

What a way to kick off the term! We're starting the last term of the year, outside our comfort zone... Rooms 15 & 16 are transforming into Room 4 for one week only. We're doing everything together... reading, writing, collaborating...

Two become one!

During the next week, or so, we'll keep you posted on what's happening... our frustrations (and there will be some!)... and our exciting success stories.

Here is a snapshot of Day 1:

We did a lot of thinking today!

We collaborated, using SOLO hexagon's to discuss some of the problems kids have.

We utilised the amphitheatre seating to gather around, to hear each other.

Some of our idea's were similar... we were able to tessellate (connect) them!

We transferred our ideas onto the wall, to document our initial thinking... 

The whiteboards weren't big enough... we started to brainstorm on the walls!
Luckily they're whiteboard surfaces!

It gave us a greater space to sit back and discuss our ideas together.

Independent Spaces are available...

We can learn anywhere, anytime, in lots of ways!
We're not tied to a desk and chair!

Groups teaching still happens, just like in our old classroom...

We're working with people we have never worked with before.

We can spread out, throughout the rooms.

This was Day one. We got through a huge workload, considering what a change this was, from our usual timetable. We showed resilience in our ability to step out of our comfort zone! I wonder how far we can soar this week?

Reflections from Day 1:
What were the good things about being in room 4 today?
- Being able to collaborate with other classrooms.
- You can communicate with other people about work, and bounce ideas off each other.

We looked at the flip-side too...

What were the bad points about being in room 4 today?

- It was loud, and having room 15 and 16 friends together is bad, because you don't know if they are supposed to be together.

Leave us your thoughts. We'd love to hear them!