The Inverse Power of Praise

Every parent and teacher needs to read this article (link below). Let me know what you think. Which camp do you sit in? I will share my views after I hear from some of you out there. My advice, connect what the research is saying and what you know from your own personal experience. This makes us wiser parents and teachers.

How Not to Talk to Your Kids

North Canterbury Basketball Reps

Well done to Kate (R10), Sarah (R10), Jordan (R1) and Barclay (R10) for making the North Canterbury U11 rep team. Go hard and do our school proud!

National Standards

The national standards are in the news today and are a hot topic with leaders in the education sector. I urge you all to think about what is important for your children. Coming to school should be much more than just reading, writing and mathematics. Providing a rich, creative and stimulating school is what I believe will make a difference to your child's learning and more importantly their lives. Literacy and numeracy will be a focus in our school as it already is. Literacy is the springboard to most other learning. I am committed to teachers collecting evidence of achievement and assessing how effective they are being when they analyse this information. I am also committed to giving parents honest, accurate and useful information in regard to their child's achievement.

One of the reasons that schools are so wary of the standards is the negative impact they have had in countries overseas. Please post a comment, but before you do you have to read these articles they puts things into context nicely:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/the-riches-of-learning-20090320-93zi.html?page=-1

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/oct/16/schools-report-critical-of-labour

Also, ask yourself these questions;

Why are the government doing this? Is it for the children or is it for votes?

There is no doubt that very few people would say no to whether we want to lift standards in education. But will the hasty introduction of standards do this?

Year 7/8 at Technology

I went to spend some time with the Year 7 and 8 students today at technology. They visit Rangiora Borough every Wednesday for the day to do a variety of interesting and fun things.

Pet Day 2009

What great day we had last Thursday. The sun came out so did the pets and the local families. Thanks everyone for a great first day. Check out the photo-movie I have put together.

Welcome to Term 4

This term promises to be a super busy one! It is great to see everyone around school again, I have heard about all sorts of holidays from the Disneyland to the stay at home.

Remember to check the website for the fortnightly newsletter and the calendar of events.

Tomorrow I will hold the Wednesday Coffee group. Come along at 2.20pm for a chat in the library. I really want to know if there is anything special you want me to do on these afternoons over the coming weeks.

Have a great term, keep checking my blog for more of the happenings here at school.

Athletics Practice

What a beautiful day to be enjoying the North Canterbury sunshine! Some pictures for you to enjoy.