Year 7 & 8 2017: 8IS

Term 4 Week 4

Well exams are over and the boys have all received their marks for each subject. The process of the exams is the most important thing to remember as we prepare them for what lies ahead at high school. From my point of view I was very pleased with the boys' results where it was obvious they revised the material that was given to them in each subject. Some boys chose to just revise "a" particular subject so were a bit disappointed with results in the others. A good learning curve for them in the overall scheme of things. It was also great to see many go over their answers before handing in their papers and making corrections or filling in gaps. Please remember the exam is just part of the process and while some boys may not have done as well as hoped for in the exams they may have done well in our class assessments throughout this half year which will have a bearing on their overall result.
For the next few weeks as a major part of their prep the boys have been asked to concentrate on their speeches which as a class come up in early week 7. From our class speech I will choose any I judge as good enough for the syndicate final. From these we will choose those good enough for the Year 7/8 finals in week 8. A number of boys have chosen their topic but the others need to get on to it. The speech is minimum of 2 minutes and maximum 5 (We will be asleep by then). I have encouraged the boys to choose a topic they know something about already rather than have to do too much research.
I have also been reminding the boys that school finishes on December 15 at around 7pm and not before. This is obviously in reference to staying on task as far as work and behaviour is concerned.

Any questions please get in touch.

Prep: Speech, On going Spelling and Action English
Reading: As usual

Term 4 Week 3

Exams and the boys all seem to be ready. They have had a lot of help in the various subjects with guidance on what they should have been revising. Here is the time table for exams.Tuesday: 10:30 until 11:55- Literacy
Tuesday: 1pm until 2pm- Languages (Open Book)
Wednesday: 8:40 until 10:10- Maths
Thursday: 8:10 until 9:40-Science

We have encouraged the boys to get extra rest and to bed nice and early.

Term 4 Week 2

I will send an exam timetable once we have finalised working around internal processes. The boys have been encouraged to ask for help in all areas whether that be at home or at school. If you want to know anything please get in touch. The exams are to test what the boys know, not what they don't know, being mindful that there will be questions to "test" them.
Revision, Revision, Revision
As usual

Term 4 Week 1

Hi everyone

Well the last term is upon us and we have a very excited group of boys who "think" they are ready to move on now. I will be reminding them frequently that we don't finish until Friday 15 December.
A great finish to Term 3 with "Oliver" and Sandy Lane. The boys were amazing in both events, truly amazing.

The initial focus for Term 4 is exams in week 3. The boys will be virtually going straight into revision with some finishing work from last term just to complete tasks. We will be advising the boys of what to study in the subjects to be tested and helping them complete a revision timetable. Exams start on the Tuesday of week 3.

Please keep an eye on the calendar for upcoming events as Term 4 is very very busy. Please make sure your young man attends his at least 2 chapel services this term. A few of them struggled to make it last term and as I reminded them, if it was a sports fixture they would have got there.

After exams we will be going straight into speeches. All boys will be required to complete at two and a half minute speech on their own topic. More about that later.

Any questions please get in touch

Prep: Complete tasks and revision.
Reading as always.

Term 3 Week 1

I hope you all had a good break with your young men and are enjoying the daylight hours break from them. Thanks to those who were able to make the interviews. If you have some feedback in regards to the new report format can you please email me and let me know.
The term has started very well with a very busy 9 weeks ahead. The boys will be incredibly busy and undoubtedly they will get tired and scratchy so extra rest might help with some early nights especially closer to performance time. They will need extra rest. I have outlined to the class some on going work for the term. We have gone over it in class.
The formal dance is at the end of week 4 and we will chat to the boys in regards to expectations etc closer to the time. Lessons start next week. As far as clothes are concerned, if their gear from last year still fits that is fine again otherwise similar clothing is acceptable. Any doubts please get in touch. Please keep in touch.

Please find below the email I sent to the boys:

8IS Term 3 on going work

Hi boys

Below is work that will be worked on through Term 3. This will be on going so that when you are not involved in the production you will have work to carry on with. Remember to make sure all work is completed to as high a standard as possible.

At times this term I will be required to help in the hall. If you are not in the hall there will always be a teacher for you to be with, usually either Mrs. Unger or Mr. Ball.

There will be no set prep as apart from the Novel Study the other work can be worked on at home. Be mindful that I would like you to keep reading as well at home, just not your Novel Study book.

This is an amazingly busy term make sure you keep yourselves working and be in the right place at the right time. The production is something you will never forget having been a part of.

If at any time you need help “ask”.

Work for Term 3

Novel Study- As per sheet. Set timelines for completing tasks. We talked about this in class. 1 Compulsory task and 3 optional tasks every 3 weeks. Don’t leave it until the last week.

Reading Cards- As we have already started. You are completing these very well.

Spelling- Book work. Complete a page, get it marked and move on to the next page. Outlined in class.

S.S. - World geography work. These will be given in class to complete.

Action English- (Not all to complete but do in order please)

· Pages 24, 25 (A,B), 26, 27, 32 (A, B), 33 (A), 36 (A), 37 (A), 38, 39 (E)

· Pages 43, 44 (A,B), 45, 46, 47, 48, 51 (B, C, D, E), 52 (F)

· Pages 54, 55, 58, 63 (A,B), 64, 65 (A, B, C)

This should keep you going for a while. I will always be there to help as will the other teachers. Your other subjects will keep on going as normal so be aware of the requirements for them. I will say it again, if you are having any problems just come and “ask”.

You will get very tired so make sure you get to bed a bit earlier and sleep well.

Term 2 Week 8

The children's books are coming along very nicely and many are already in the process of proof reading and looking at layouts etc. They are looking very good. Final couple of weeks are full steam ahead.

Prep: Treaty of Waitangi worksheets. These are relatively self explanatory. Discussions in class accompany these in the following weeks.
Action English- Boys know which pages
Reading-Same as usual

Term 2 Week 7

The boys are in the process of rewriting their own children's book. They are very focused and enjoying the chance to become authors. The aim is to complete the books by the end of the term.
Prep from tomorrow will be in line with a focus on The Treaty of Waitangi. This will take the form of some work sheets which will be preempted and followed up with discussions in class.

Reading is still a big focus with prep as well.

Term 2 Week 5

Exam week is over and the boys handled the whole process very well. It was great to see the effort that most put into revision and then they realised with their results that it was all worth it. Some boys were a bit disappointed but more with making silly errors rather than anything else.

This week is a big week with the trip to Wellington tomorrow. All the best to the teams travelling. The boys staying at school will be working on an alternative programme which I am sure they will all enjoy.

We will be back in to a normal prep programme from next Tuesday.

Congratulations to Jak Wildbore on being elected as our class representative for the School Council. He was very closely followed in the vote by Angus Ross who will step in if and when required.

Term 2 Week 4

Exam week: Timetable is:

Tuesday - Literacy
Wednesday - Science
Thursday - Maths

Literacy is from 10:30 until 12 while Science and Maths are from 8:10 until 9:40.

The boys seem well prepared and looking forward to the process.

I am very happy with class attitude to work and around the school overall. A few areas to tidy up on but massive improvement.

Term 2 Week 2

Great first week back. Prep until after exams is revision. The boys are to have completed a revision timetable by tomorrow morning. Their is a page on the blog with the details of what is to be revised. Any questions from yourselves or the boys are welcome.
I would still like the boys to read each night please.

Term 2 Week 1

Welcome back to term 2. Is there ever a non busy term at Hereworth, not in all my time here that I can recall.
A very good first couple of days here in class. The beginning of this terms focus is on exams in week 4. As a Year 8 syndicate we spoke to the boys yesterday about exams and what they can expect in the next few weeks. While we will touch on aspects of the exams in some class time the expectation will be that the boys themselves do the majority of the revision etc at home. So prep through until exams are finished will be revision. The boys will make their own revision timetable and it will be up to them to follow it as best they can. We spoke about taking breaks when revising and doing lots of movement in between stretches of "study". No more than an hour a night for now but closer to the time more may be needed.
There are 3 exams: Science, Maths and Literacy. They will be completed as best we can in the morning sessions. The boys will be given an outline of what to study in each subject by the teacher/teachers in charge.
We have emphasised that the exam process is preparation for the future. The process of revision and how to sit exams etc. so while the exams are very important we are also wanting to make them as user friendly as possible. Any questions on this please get in touch.

There is a big sporting exchange in week 3 against Southwell from Hamilton, if you can help out with billets it would very much appreciated .

Keep an eye on the calendar regularly and check on chapel services.

Take care

Prep:

Reading- 15 minutes minimum a night. This can be in bed and will be a standard for the whole year

Term 1 Week 9:

Rather wet here today but winter sport is starting so perfect weather for it. A reminder that the boys need to bring a towel to shower after sport. 2 weeks to go.
Prep:
NZ quiz- Sport (20 questions)
English- Starting Word Classes (Parts of speech) this week. Looking at nouns. Pages 7 and 8 plus a stapled sheet on Abstract Nouns.

Reading- 15 minutes minimum a night. This can be in bed and will be a standard for the whole year

Science: Design your own investigations - Fair test assessment and investigation design. Due 3 April - please check Google Classroom for instructions.

Term 1 Week 7/8:

Hi everyone. Great to get the sports completed yesterday and even better with Rickard coming out on top. With Prep trips tomorrow and next Thursday and Friday the work is to be completed by Wednesday of Week 8, 22 March.
Prep:
NZ quiz- Arts and Entertainment (20 questions)
English- Up to the end of Page 80. Boys will get class time as well. It is a spelling exercise so the boys need to be careful
Reading- 15 minutes minimum a night. This can be in bed and will be a standard for the whole year

Term 1 Week 5:

Lovely to get a weekend of sport in. I know the boys loved getting out and about running around.

Prep:
NZ quiz- Geography (20 questions) Some interesting answers as the boys know all the answers relate to NZ but I am getting some "worldly" ones
English- Pages 69 to 73. Boys will get class time as well. It is a spelling exercise so the boys need to be careful
Reading- 15 minutes minimum a night. This can be in bed and will be a standard for the whole year

Term 1 Week 4:

Hi everyone. The term is ticking along very quickly and we are all adjusting to the classroom and each other. The class is working well as a whole but we are making necessary adjustments to seating arrangements and them getting used to my way of running things. While it is "in" to be collaborative it has to be a good learning environment for all. A number of boys are very chatty so we could have some time together in "their" time to sort this. Overall though I am very happy.

Prep:
NZ quiz- Mixed facts (20 questions) Great results last week with a few getting 20
Reading- 15 minutes minimum a night. This can be in bed and will be a standard for the whole year

From next week the boys will also get additional work. Can you please check with the boys about other work required. Any problems in regards to prep just get in touch. Enjoy your son's at home do not battle.