Kawakawa Writing

For us here at WBS, cultural and environmental sustainability go hand in hand. This week we have been learning more about kawakawa - the endemic plant species well-known for its use in rongoā, traditional Māori medicine. Some students have been writing comprehensive explanations, others have been getting out into the ngahere/forest to learn how to forage and make kawakawa tea. 

                                                                                                           - Nye W

                                                                                                                         - Charlotte C

                                                                                                                                   - Ella M

We say this karakia before collecting kawakawa leaves, to show respect to the domain of Tāne Māhuta and Papatuānuku. 

You can read more about kawakawa and rongoā here. 

Whole Literacy & Reading Comprehension

Our rich and varied literacy programme is humming along. We want to be a community of readers, authors and critical thinkers. We are.

We are having some great conversations about reading comprehension. We know there are a range of strategies we can call upon before, during and after reading.

We have been working in small groups to unpack and practice using these strategies.

In their independent time, one group have been completing role cards that encourage deeper thinking around their personal reading.

Another group have been expanding their minds with wonderings about the strange and mysterious story The Watertower by Gary Crew. Our library has some fantastic, thought-provoking picture books. But, you know that already because John regularly shouts it from the rooftops!

Once a Panther by Victor Rodger, from the School Journal Story Library has been the subject of analysis by another group. The story of the Polynesian Panthers has students growing more curious about New Zealand's history and the lessons we might learn from it.

Our explanation writing muscle has been getting a work out explaining, among other things, the wonders of our Arts Celebration. Now we're aggressively sharpening up our pencils in preparation for persuasive writing - get ready to hear an argument or two!

Technical words

This week we are starting our explanation writing unit.

Today in Nicola's Literacy class we watched a movie about a man who makes shirts. From the movie we brainstormed some technical words about the shirt machine. Tomorrow we will use these in our writing.