Celebrating Writing in the Māhutonga Matariki Whānau

We have a wonderful positive literary culture in our Whānau. The Library is running full steam ahead, the reader's noses buried in books and our writers too are fully engaged, creating amazing stories and poems. Beth recently surveyed our students to see how they felt about writing and whether or not they see themselves as writers. Overwhelmingly the responses were positive. We work hard at Writing and do it multiple times a day. We write for many purposes, sometimes to inform, sometimes to entertain, sometimes to convice or persuade others to think about an issue in a different way. Sometimes we write for the joy of it, seeing something of oursleves, our thoughts, feelings and sense of humour emerging on the page. This term we have written stories based on personal experiences, retellings of myths, and many poems. The poems below invite a comparison between a chosen animal and some of the kid's attributes and behaviours. A good challenge which involve the students thinking creatively, choosing the best words and arranging them in the best order and working with a set form. Enjoy!

Writing about Camp

When we are working through the Writing Process we seek feedback from our peers, in the form of the Helping Circle. 

What is a helping circle?
The idea is that we share our work with someone else and we are given specific actionable feedback. We aim to focus on the content of the Writing and how it can be improved. Sometimes, students are asked to give '2 stars and a wish' or two things they like about the piece (and why) as well as a wish for improvement.

An important part of any Helping Circle, is listening. This is a skill we cannot practise enough! We encourage students to sit "knee to knee and eye to eye" so their body language says "yes I am present and I am listening to you". We take turns when sharing making sure to respect each others share time.

Poetry - That was Camp

We have been been writing poetry about camp. We used this poem by Marci Ridlon as a model. 

That was Camp by Marcia

Remember that bumpy bus ride
With the big heavy bags too?
You should remember that,
With all the wet weather
Sure you do!
That was camp!

Remember the sticky weather
With lots of drama too?

Sure you do!

Remember when our
Shoes got all muddy?
That was camp!

Remember the wobble of crates
As you stack them high,
And the big shake you
Get in the kayak?
That was camp!

Remember when we had
To step in Shrek's poo

Joined up with
Rocks, sticks and a
Lot more,

That was camp!

That was Camp by Kyran

Remember that time when you were zooming on the super fox? 

Remember when you’re looking down when you’re about to go? 

Remember when you want to go again once you have finished? 

Remember you look up and see kids zooming above when you’re in the forest? 

That was camp. 

Remember the crates start to wobble when you are high up when crate stacking? 

Remember when you are just waiting and waiting? 

Remember that time when you fall off and the belays lower you down? 

Remember when you feel like you are going to fall off? 

That was camp. 

Remember when you feel like you can’t go any further when rock climbing? 

Remember your hands start to slip off? 

Remember when you are walking backwards down the wall? 

Remember you are so proud of yourself for rock climbing? 

That was camp. Remember you are getting soaked by the rain? 

Remember sleeping in the cabin and you are so tired? 

Remember the food you ate at camp? 

Remember you are so proud of yourself for doing camp? 

That was camp.

Moment in Time Writing

Raising a Reader - Visual Literacy Inquiry

Our Visual Inquiry learning/ reading has inspired us to create our own zines. 

This is us planning what we will include. 

We have stumbled across a great article in the New York Times, By Pamela Paul and Maria Russo, "How to Raise a Reader." This article has tips for parents about how to raise a reader at every age and stage.  

Some key points:

• Read throughout the day 
• When reading with kids, introduce your own preferences
• Respect the child's preferences
• Choose a range of books/ texts
• Don't make reading work, reading is fun!
• Format does not matter- comics can help students become avid readers
• A book about a computer game is still reading
• Some kids prefer non-fiction

We are all very excited about our ongoing Visual Literacy Inquiry. We have been reading a range of texts that have visual images or diagrams. 

We’ve been working on our reading comprehension skills, using some exciting comic and graphic novels stories. We are being reading detectives and learning to read both the words and the pictures to gather information. We are making predictions about what characters will do next, and inferring the reasons for their actions from the information we have. We are practising saying why we think these things by referring to the text for evidence.

Helping Circle - Writing

 When we are working through the Writing Process we seek feedback from our peers, in the form of the Helping Circle. 

What is a helping circle?
The idea is that we share our work with someone else and we are given specific actionable feedback. We aim to focus on the content of the Writing and how it can be improved. Sometimes, students are asked to give '2 stars and a wish' or two things they like about the piece (and why) as well as a wish for improvement.

An important part of any Helping Circle, is listening. This is a skill we cannot practice enough! We encourage students to sit "knee to knee and eye to eye" so their body language says "yes I am present and I am listening to you". We take turns when sharing making sure to respect each others share time.

Sarah Laing Visit

Our Inquiry is called ‘Words and Pictures, Igniting the imagination’.

This Inquiry links to our school-wide Writing and Inquiry focus, creating a Zine which we can share with the Worser Bay community and beyond! We are beginning to work on different form of Visual Literacy and are learning more about magazines in general to generate inspiration.

To give us some inspiration, Sarah Laing came to visit us. She is an author/ illustrator. 

Isabella: Sarah Laing came to school. She is an author and she does comic and non-fiction books and today she showed us how to be free in art, let it flow. She inspired me to do a comic myself.

Lachlan: we learnt to draw stuff like eyes for a human. It was very fun we made comics as well. We learnt how to draw a face.

Scarlett: Sarah asked us if we like comics. Lots of people liked Dog Man. She made me what to do more art than I do. I think she needs to use a lot of bravery, hope, teamwork and kindness in her job. We made a comic. Mine was about Tui's birthday. It was very cool that she came to our school.

Freddie: Sarah is an amazing artist and her style is like a dictionary comic. She is a very good drawer. She proved that simple can be better. Sarah uses perseverance, bravery and leadership. I think that she uses bravery because she has to show her work to people that she does not know.

Tommy: I liked when Sarah came to visit. I was inspired by her comics and novels. I am more inspired than ever before.

Monty: We learnt about distances/ perspective in drawing. Sarah drew emotions behind wearing a mask. I'm inspired by how she can draw like her style and how she is inspired by anything. The strengths I used was creativity because I am proud of the mini comic that I made.

Leo M: Sarah uses creativity in her work. We got to make our own comics. I loved it. It was so much fun!

Violet: Sarah is a great drawer she writes awesome comics. She is also very creative with her work. She likes telling people what she is up to and makes her self very clear. When she came to visit she helped us write a comic and it was very fun.

Lisa: Sarah Laing came to show us some of her work. She makes comics and illustrated some pictures in 'Go Girl'. One of her books was about lockdown. She said that her comics are like diaries. She uses a lot of creativity and perseverance to make her comics. We are inspired by her and we made our own comics.

Nikita: Sarah Laing is a very talented artist. She writes books and comics. She is inspired by all these different people with different talents. She shows lots of character strengths like creativity, bravery and humour. She also has grit. She inspires me because of all the cool books and comics she writes.

Nikita's comic, inspired by Sarah Laing

 

WBS News Board

There has been quite a buzz around the new Worser Bay NEWS Board, or is that a purrrrr.....? The story of the week has definitely been about the 'school' cat. In inverted commas because nobody really knows who it belongs to. Maybe we should flip that around and call it the cat's school; it certainly seems to think that it's in charge of the place! There are other stories too; Aotearoa or New Zealand? A report on the Maori Battalion, some jokes and some findings from our statistical investigations about whether being fit is good for mental wellbeing. It's interesting stuff and so ITS COMPULSORY READING! The NEWS board is being updated regularly so check it out.

The cat has! Can you see it in the picture, lying down after all of that reading?

Wellington is a...

 We've been playing with metaphor! Inspired by Denis Glover's Wellington Harbour is a Laundry, we've re-imagined our city in all different ways. We discussed the difference between simile and metaphor. We wondered how we could extend the metaphor, taking it even further to help describe the unique qualities of Wellington. 

By Billy & Fynn

By Will J

By Cleo

By Sabine

By Anneke

By Addison

By Olive

Why do Writers Write?

Why do writers write? I don’t know! Actually, why does anyone write? How do people know when to write? Maybe it is to cheer people up or calm you down or to maybe to get you excited about turning the page?! Or maybe writers write just for the money or fame. But what if I told you that writers don’t just have one reason to write their stories, they don't just have cheerfulness, they also have adventure and sadness, excitement and joy! Writer's books are fun to read so read a writer's book one day!

By Charlotte C

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. 

Publishing Our Writing

In Māhutonga Matariki, our students have been publishing pieces of writing that they are proud of. This is the final stage of the "writing process." Students have been publishing these pieces to share with you as part of the Arts Celebration. 

It is really important that students have an authentic audience for their writing. This engages writers and gives them a purpose to write. When students have an audience, they learn that their ideas and opinions are interesting and meaningful to others. This is engaging and develops enthusiastic writers who want to edit and improve their work.

We are learning to see ourselves as writers with something interesting to say!

 

Being Connected: Travelling Tales

During lockdown, some of our students were involved in Travelling Tales. Students were allocated a section of the story to write and illustrate. After they finished their part, it was passed on to the next student. What a great way to demonstrate our learner attribute of "being connected." 

In the past, we have been involved in Travelling Tales with other schools across the globe created by Joel Bevans. 

Story Mountain Planner:

Discourse in the Classroom

We are reflecting in our learning groups and are talking about our narrative story writing. 

Our discourse focus this week: 

• have quiet thumbs (no hands up so we don’t distract others from their thinking)  
• showing respect for each others ideas because mistakes are a learning opportunity 
• moving our head and body to look at the speaker.

Tigerlily: This week I have listened really well. I have listened to my learning group when we were doing Positive Purpose groups and thinking of new ideas. 

Stella: This week I have been focussed on our goals. I have been looking at the person talking. An example of a time that I did that was in Neil's Science rotation. We were learning about fair tests.

Zac: This week I have been focused on sitting down and looking at the person talking. An example of when I have listened well is when Neil was talking about planning the day.

Luca: An example of my good listening this week was in a helping circle. We were discussing our story writing.

Olivia: This week I was super focused when Hayley was talking about Positive Purpose Groups. My goal was to turn my body to the person talking.

Kura: I used my quiet thumb and tried to be patient.

Travelling Tales

Our first Worser Bay Travelling Tale is ready!

Well done to Sitara, Taiga, Jenny, Amelia and Solly. 

5 students used the mountain story planner to create the story!

Story Mountain Planner:



If you are keen to take part in a Travelling Tale, you can sign up on this Google Form.

Pikachu is in his bubble, too!

In case you didn't already know, Pokémon are also isolated within a bubble - a Pokéball!

We were asked to write a story about Pikachu’s day in the Pokéball that ends with him being sent out by his trainer, Ash.

Of course, many of us took inspiration from our current experience. This must be what those Pokémon feel like huh...

Pikachu is famous for not wanting to be confined to his bubble!

Check out some excerpts of our clever and creative writing below:

Pikachu slowly opened his eyes to see the slightly lit ceiling.
He just lay there for a while wondering what was going on in the outside world to make him need to stay at home so much.

- Solly Y

One day Pikachu was sitting on his tiny armchair in his pokeball watching TV, He was BORED, and he didn’t even want to play with his favourite plush toy of Munchax or play with his Lego model of ratata.
He didn’t even want a Bunnelby shaped sandwich. He just wanted to get OUT of his Pokeball and play in the fresh fallen leaves of Autumn.

- Will J

Kablooey! An explosion came from from outside. ¨Not another Pokemon battle. Ash really needs to stop with these...¨

- Billy B

“PIKA PIKA CHU PIKACHU” (translate mode: Pikachu is saying “NOOOO I HATE MY POKEBALL”)
“Hope you have a great day Pikachu” says Nicolas
*throws pokeball at pikachu*
*pikachu goes in the pokeball* 
“Guess I’m gonna stay in my Pokeball today...”

- Nicolas M

"I can't wait to train with Ash!" He headed over to the door. “Sorry Pikachu, we can’t train today. We're in lockdown. Humans in homes and Pokemon in Pokeballs.” 
"Nooo!”

- Greta L

“12:47 pm April 17, Days go by like shooting stars, it feels like an eternity now, no battles, no winning or losing,”
“Hey Pikachu buddy are you in there?” 
“Yes I’m in here” 
“Well you better not be drinking sugary drinks!!!” 
“Yeah ummmmm about that..."

- Cameron J

I am Pikachu and this Covid 19 thing has kept me from traveling. Ash and I were going to go to China for a battle yesterday, but I am stuck in my Pokeball all day and all night. I haven't seen the daylight in 7 days, well that's what my Dad's dairy sign says.

 - Chris G

One day, Pikachu was feeling a bit lonely 😔, so he decided to throw a friendship 👫 party 🎉!!! With drinks 🍹 and food 🍗. He invited all his friends 👫, except the humans (they can’t fit inside his pokeball). Every one came! “great 👍 party Pikachu!!!” said Dedenne. “Thanks!” said Pikachu. 

- Caleb W

Before opening the bottle he looked up at the ceiling where the whisky was. It was empty. Everyday it was the same, as if he thought it was going to magically refill. Then he sat down on his couch and drank his soda while playing video games. And hours later he was asleep. When he woke up, he was on the floor with Ash looking at him with a long beard and long hair with short legs. With a soda in his hand. They had both found their way of the lockdown.

- Eloi B

Pick a Path Story

Chris has taught himself how to make a Pick a path story. He used Google Slides to create, "The Door."

Chris has put together some instructions of how to make your own "Pick a Path" story:

   

We love the determination, creativity and perseverance with this Chris!

That was Camp: Poetry

That was Camp by Leo

Remember the wind rushing inside you ears,
The feel of WANTING to vomit but nothing comes out? Putting the harness on,
waiting for excitement but getting scared instead.
That was camp.

Remember the walk in the bush following the fatal wire,

having a system running to get the harness 

running back to a person giving it to them 

then they run to the teacher and give it to her? 

That was camp 

Remember the zoo-break and being as silent as a statue to get a rat back? 

Singing the Jurassic park theme song to get the hedgehog? 

and the monkey going out of bounds and climbing a tree 

That was camp

That was Camp by Fülöp

Have you ever experienced Camp?

The long, comfortable ride on the bus? 

The green grass, and the river bank, all damp? 

Remember how the students made such a fuss? 

That was Camp. 

Remember the building that welcomed you, 

When you step out onto the fresh, crunchy grass? 

The excitement seemed to overflow in your stomach, 

The territory of Camp, so big and so vast? 

That was Camp. 

Remember as you stumbled to your cabin, 

On that first and dreadful night? 

Tired, sleepy, nervous, Your face so stark. 

That was Camp. 

Remember when the teacher yelled, “Lights out! Go to bed!” 

When with the Camp food you were fed? 

When you wriggled in your sleeping bag? 

That was Camp. 

Remember when you heard the light switch flick? 

The kids started to chat straight away, “I cannot go to sleep.” 

“Don’t worry, neither can I. Let’s talk!” 

“Oh great.” 

That was Camp. 

Remember when you lined up on the deck, 

Desperate to fill your tummy? 

When you stuffed your face, With that food? 

That was Camp.

Poetry and Song Night

To wrap up our year of Creativity in Writing, we put on an Evening of Poetry Performance and Music. We have written some amazing poems; some thought provoking, some emotional and some downright silly. Thank you to everyone who came to listen.

Here are some of the poems that we pre-recorded:

 

Some music to begin. Thank you to The Bandits:

Here are some more of our poems: