New York New York (:

Hey you guys (: I'm in New York at the moment. We arrived around 6am this morning but could only check into our motel at 2pm so we walked around this MASSIVE city for awhile. The buildings are ENORMOUS. Seriously I can't even describe the vastness (that means really big) of this city.

We flew from San Francisco (probably my favourite city I've been to so far - famous for cable cars and having the worlds most crookedest (sp??) street. Think of the letter M <-- see how thats crooked the street was like that and cars have to slowly go down the hill making really sharp turns.

That picture up there is of New York city at night. This city has a population (number of people) of 8 million people, just under twice the population of NZ, and in a HEAPS smaller land area. Lotsa crazy people on the subway, and just lotsa people in general.

I hope you all had a really good last week of term AND you made sure the class was ORGANISED or you might get a grumpy teacher on the first day back (grrr! you know how i feel about keeping our learning environment organised) I haven't had a chance to look at all your blogs but I look forward to coming home and checking it out - internet over is kinda expensive and well your teacher would rather shop :P

Hi from San Diego!

Hey you guys (: I'm currently in San Diego. Spent the day at the zoo. Saw some really weird animals and heaps of ones I've never seen before. Got to see polar bears and gorillas, a python and tigers, some crazy fighting monkeys and heaps, heaps more!

We're off to Phoenix Arizona tomorrow, where I'll get to see one of the seven natural wonders of the world - The Grand Canyon. We're going to do a helicopter ride while we're there so it should be heaps of fun!

Hope you're all getting along and working as a team while I'm away and practicing being independent learners (: (:

Haven't had a chance to read your blogs yet but really looking forward to hearing whats going on back there. I heard that the Warriors made the semi- finals?!? CRAZY! (:

USA!

Hey you guys! (: this is my second day in California. It's kinda summery here at the moment. The plane ride was looooong and the food wasn't too good. Really nice here, lotsa friendly people. Went to the mall today and bought some tops and a ring.

Hope you guys are being good and learning heaps while I'm away.

Miss ya heaps. Say hey to everyone for me and let them know I haven't gotten married to Justin Timberlake juuuuust yet (:

xoxox

BLOGGER ASSIGNMENTS

BLOGGER ASSIGNMENTS

These are the following things you need to complete BEFORE the end of the term... make sure you check them all off...

1. Introduce yourself – what do you like/dislike? What kind of family do you have?

see Miss Wright’s blog for an example of this…

2. Publish a poem you wrote during our POETIC WRITING learning…

Explain what message you were trying to get across when you wrote this poem… (i.e. what is the POETS message?)

3. Write an essay style answer to this question:

“What are the three most important characteristics I will need next year? JUSTIFY WHY!

An essay has – introduction, body (one characteristic per paragraph) and a conclusion with a summary statement… check your notes from last term to revise how you write a good essay!

4. Research then write an essay style answer to this question:

“In your opinion who is the most important/influential leader in our world… JUSTIFY why YOU THINK they are the MOST IMPORTANT leader”

An essay has – introduction, body (one characteristic per paragraph) and a conclusion with a summary statement… check your notes from last term to revise how you write a good essay!


5. THIS CAN ONLY BE COMPLETED after YOU FINISH READING THE BIG BOOK "Jack and the Beanstalk" FOR SHARED READING!

In the story Jack and the Beanstalk who do you think is the HERO and who do you think is the VILLIAN JUSTIFY YOUR THINKING WITH EVIDENCE!

We did something similar with the Gingerbread man earlier this year where we had a class debate… this time I want you to write your debate on your blogger and comment your rebuttal (your come back to what they wrote)

6. Publish your TERM 4 goals and TERM 3 reflection on Blogger What did you enjoy?
What did you find difficult?
What do you still need to improve?
Etc etc

ROLL CALL!

Room 29

your mission you must

complete before 11am tomorrow

(05/09/08)

is to write

the comment

"present"

or

"here"


..................................................................*>

Read the article about RIHANNA and CHRIS BROWN and then tell me who you think the AUDIENCE is? Justify why!

Rihanna, Chris Brown due in NZ
Sep 4, 2008 7:29 AM
Two of the world's most popular R&B performers will play two shows together in the North Island next month.
Rihanna, 20, a multi-platinum, MTV and Grammy Award winning artist will visit New Zealand for the first time along with her rumoured boyfriend Chris Brown, 19, who was here two years ago. Her hits include Don't Stop the Music and Umbrella.
Brown is also a Grammy nominated singer, as well as a singer-songwriter, dancer and music video director. He made his recording debut in late 2005 with Run It on his self-titled album at the age of 16
Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, is one of the most successful artist of this decade, tying with Mariah Carey and Beyonce for the most number one hits. In New Zealand, Rihanna has topped the charts with various singles, including Umbrella, Take A Bow and the current number one, Disturbia.
Rihanna and Chris Brown will appear at Auckland's Vector Arena on October 27, and at Wellington's TSB Arena on October 29.
Tickets are available from September 15.

Introduction

I'm a teacher at Viscount School located in Mangere, Auckland, NZ. I teach 22 (-2 Harmony and Tame) year 8 kids who range in age from 12 - 13 years. They're pretty good at maths and reading, and they're getting better at inquiry and understanding all the thinking and problem solving that goes along with it. At the moment we're reading two books - "The Fat Man" by Maurice Gee and "The Outsiders" by S.E Hinton.

I enjoy a coffee in the morning and eating my porridge and yoghurt at school with the other teachers. I enjoy coaching the UNBEATABLE Open Primary Girls Rugby Team who are through the Williaments Rounds and will play at Eden Park later this term. I'm not a big fan of ants or brussel sprouts.

I have two older brothers, and a mum and a dad. My oldest brother has three kids, the oldest is a girl - who just started school this term - and the other two are twins - a boy and a girl. He spent like 10 years at university and was awarded a doctorate in biochemistry. He works in a labratory in Parnell and likes to cook. My other brother works with my father and is a storeman. He likes to play soccer, and touch and recently did a bungee jump down in Queenstown.

I live in One Tree Hill with two other flatmates. One of my flatmates works at sky city where she fixes computers, a lot like Mr Stevens job, and the other works at a library. I like playing squash, and indoor netball if Mrs. Iosefo is my defence partner, and walking around One Tree Hill looking at sheep.

I'm going to America in two weeks time and will be missing the last two weeks of the school term. Mrs Johnstone will be taking over while I'm away. I'll be looking forward to reading your blogs and I'll be sure to comment on your posts.

Well done ALL OF YOU on all your hard work so far this year. ALL of you have moved up in your reading. ALL of you have moved up in your maths or are at stage 8. ALL of you have improved your writing. And ALL of you are much better thinkers :) :)