Bayfield School Newsletter - Wednesday 2nd of June
Bayfield School Newsletter - Wednesday 2nd of June
Inspired Today-Prepared for Tomorrow
Dates to remember
Friday 4th of June - Teacher Only Day - school closed
Monday 7th of June - School closed for Queen's Birthday
A word from Kerri
Mathematics at Bayfield School
When we are learning to count as small children, we often learn to count to 10, 20, 100 and beyond quite quickly and little children are often very proud of their ability to count to the highest number possible.
Unfortunately most of the time numbers and counting is such an abstract concept that there is often no relationship between 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 and 10 objects. You may find that when you ask a 5 year old, how many items there are they will start right back at 1 and count to 10, you ask them again and they count again, instead of saying “there are 10”
This is why using their fingers, touching counters or moving objects into groups is such an important part of a child’s mathematical development.
At Bayfield we use materials in all aspects of mathematical teaching, even after children are able to use “imaging” (calculating in their heads) as the ability to make these connections aids in cementing concepts.
In the past there was always a push to get children to move to solving sums in their heads, some teachers even getting kids to sit on their hands to stop using their fingers to count! I challenge you to not use your fingers when counting simple things out! We all do it.
Whilst it is important to ensure that children are able to recall formulas, strategies and concepts in their head, the ability to use counters or even draw out mathematical thinking should not be restricted by the age/stage a child is at.
Targeted teaching at Bayfield
As part of our assessment and teaching processes, we assess the needs of the children and target the areas of need that every individual child requires.
This means that some teams will run 15 or more different maths groups where children with similar needs are grouped and taught concepts by a teacher. These groups can be quite fluid, as all children will gain understanding of a concept at differing rates.
There has been some confusion around how we teach mathematics at Bayfield, with some parents thinking that we mix all the kids up and just do problem solving. This confusion has led to the belief that a child working at a Year 7 ( Level 4 of the curriculum) could be doing maths with someone at a Year 4 ( level 2 of the curriculum level ). Parents worry that the child with the higher ability will be bored answering all the questions, and that the child at the lower level will find things too difficult.
The problem solving trios (what we call maths inquiry) are not grouped this way - they are mostly grouped with someone who is perhaps working within the same level, but has a different knowledge set e.g. one child may have an understanding of fractions, two children fractions and decimals.
The maths problem that they may be given could be based around using fractions and decimals e.g. John had 0.66 of pie left over to share with two friends. What fraction can he give his friends? What percentage of the pie did John and his two friends get?
During the week all three children would attend a session to learn about percentages to prepare them to work together to work out the problem.
Maths inquiry is just a portion of our mathematics teaching at Bayfield.
Contextual experience and links
Making mathematics real to our children and making connections to their everyday world has become a major focus of mathematics teaching in recent years. We do this by creating examples and drawing attention to how maths is used in everyday contexts e.g. Donna has to make sure that every player in her basketball team has the same amount of game time each game. The games are 20 minutes long and she has 7 players, how can she distribute the time evenly?
Interesting reads for your information
New staff starting this term
We welcome Ursula Hall to our Year 2 (Kowhai team)
Ursula will be the leader in Year 2 and is taking over from Kate Chatterley and starts on Monday the 14th of June.
Ursula is an experienced junior teacher, who has worked at Kohia Terrace,
Massey Primary & Richmond Road.
She is a talented and dedicated teacher.
We know the community and our children will make her feel very welcome.
Inner City Cross Country
A huge congratulations to the Inner City Team who all ran fantastic races on Thursday 27th at Grey Lynn Park. The team had put in a great effort with their training this year (including our dedicated reserves) and all gave it 100%. They were also congratulated multiple times by other schools on their sportsmanship and support of other runners. Congratulations to
Grace Larsen (1st place 10+yr girls),
Maisie Morrison (2nd place 10+yr girls)
Thomas Victor (2nd place 10+ yr boys)
The team placed
2nd in the 10+ year Girls Team
2nd in the 10+ year Boys Team
And Overall Team - 2nd Place
BAYFIELD AT THE MOVIES
Yr 1 - Yr 3
Tom And Jerry
Sunday, June 6, 3pm
Capitol Cinema (610, Dominion Rd - above Clip N Climb)
(trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgqEyC19538)
PLEASE USE THIS LINK TO BUY TICKETS:
https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/156865620293
Please note: this link is ONLY for the JUNE 6 session.
Tickets available on a first in first served basis until they sell out or 2pm June 6.
Max tickets per session 130.
Yr 4 - Yr 6
Raya And The Last Dragon
Sunday, June 20, 3pm
Capitol Cinema (610, Dominion Rd, above Clip N Climb)
(trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VIZ89FEjYI)
Pre-register with Chaitali via email: chaitaligthakkar@gmail.com until June 11.
Max tickets per session 130.
Payment information coming after the long weekend!
GENERAL INFORMATION
All tickets $12 per person (includes choice of popcorn or ice cream).
Non-allocated seating. Children can sit with their friends.
Older siblings welcome to attend the June 6 session.
Please see trailer before booking younger siblings for the June 20 session.
Parents/caregivers welcome to wait at the bar whilst the kids enjoy the movie
($8 per drink: beer/ glass of wine)
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