BYOD Information Report

BYOD Information Report

Wairakei School has 13 classrooms. One of these classes is a BYOD, Bring Your Own Device class and it caters for year 5/6 learners. All of the students in this class have their own iPad's which they bring to school each day. This is a great class for children who love to learn digitally.

At this stage the BYOD class is a trial and is being tested with the Apple iPad. iPad Minis are permitted for use as well as iPad 2 and iPad Air. A list of required apps was given to each student accepted in this class at the beginning of the year. The children's iPads were expected to have the required apps which help to assist their learning. On top of this, some good educational learning apps were recommended. 

There are many benefits for the children in this class. Students now have the ability to communicate with their classmates using their school email addresses. They also have their own blogs which they are expected to update weekly. These blogs are used to share their learning and ideas with the world. They were more restricted from doing this in other classes. Having their work on their iPads also allows them to extend their learning and do extra practice at home. This is especially good for children who feel they need that extra little bit of practice or extension. 

It was agreed that the pupils in this class would be responsible for their own devices. At break times the iPads are locked away in tote trays and are not to be used unless permission is given. Cases needed to be provided to protect their devices. Other accessories like keyboards are optional. Students also agreed to be responsible for their digital footprint and to make sure everything they put on the internet is appropriate. Any inappropriate posts on their blogs or the like, would be removed by the class teacher.

The BYOD class is proving to be an enjoyable way for children to learn. As stated earlier it is currently on trial but the school will look at creating more BYOD classes if it shows to improve the way children learn.

Samoan Language Week

Talofa lava! La manuia le vaiaso o le gagana Samoa. Hello! This week is Samoan language week. Samoan language week is an official celebration of the Samoan culture. It is a great chance to learn how to speak a bit of Samoan. Also, it is a good chance to find out some facts about Samoa. This year's theme for this special week is; Taofi mau i au Measina: Hold fast to your cultural treasures.


You can find out more information here: Samoan Language Week

The Sun and The Cloud

Last week in our class at school we started a new thing; the sun and cloud! Everyone in the class has a name tag. A sun and a cloud is drawn on the whiteboard. Each person starts in the sky but if they do something really good they move into the sun. On the other hand if they do something not so good they move to the cloud. If you are in the cloud when it comes to break time there may be consequences such as staying in for five minutes but the people who stay in the sun for a long time are rewarded. In the sky, well that's just average. The people flying in the sky haven't done anything bad but they haven't done anything outstanding either. If you stay in the sun for a really long time the colour of your name tag will change. This means that person with a different colour tag will have privileges such as being able to work anywhere in the school or going places without having to have permission from Mrs F. I have been in the sun for the whole time since last week so my name tag colour should change soon! Once people are in the cloud they can earn themselves out very quickly if they prove they deserve to change place by doing things such as staying on task and keeping the noise level low. This is really good because it means only those who deserve to be rewarded are rewarded and those who should have consequences are punished. 

Red Pandas

I think it's time we thought about the amazing creatures in this world. My favourite animal is the Red Panda. Do you want to know why I like Red Pandas? How about some fun facts to explain exactly why I think they are so cool!

The Red Panda's scientific name is Ailurus Fulgens.
Red Pandas live in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces of China, Himalayas, Myanmar (Burma) and Nepal.
Red Pandas were classified in the Procyonidae (raccoon) and Ursidae (bear) families but are now classified in their own family called Ailuridae.
Red Pandas are reddish-brown in color with busy tails.
They are 20-23 inches long. Their tails are 11-23 inches long.
They weigh between 12-20 pounds.
Red Pandas are arboreal (they spend most of their time in trees) mammals.
Red Pandas are herbivores meaning they do not eat meat.
There are two sub-species: Western Red Panda and Styan’s Red Panda.
Red Pandas are nocturnal meaning they sleep during the day.
Red Pandas are crepuscular meaning they are most active during dusk and dawn.
Red Pandas mostly stay to themselves except during mating time.
Red Pandas mostly eat bamboo however they will also eat berries, blossoms and bird eggs).
Red Pandas spend 13 hours a day eating!
Snow Leopards and Wild Dogs are predators to the Red Panda.
 A mother Red Panda gives birth to her cub after 134 days.
Babies are usually born in holes inside trees.
The mother’s den is usually high up in the trees to protect them from predators.
Red Pandas are endangered mostly due to deforestation meaning their habitat is disappearing.
There are approximately 2,500 adult Red Pandas left in the wild.


Thanks http://www.kidsplayandcreate.com for helping me out with all of these facts about my favourite animal!

How to Personalise Your Shoes

I had so much fun on Friday night jazzing up these $3 shoes from The Warehouse! It's amazing what you can do with a plain white pair of canvas shoes. I just used fabric markers to decorate mine but you could use anything you like. How about some glitter or sequins? I wrote my name all over mine in different styles and colours but you could doodle anything. Make them YOUR shoes! So grab some shoes and get creative. Have your own personalised shoes!

Future Inventions Challenge

Our challenge for the last week has been to invent a future invention, create a diagram of it and write and information report. Check out my invention which. I invented with my friend Madisyn!

Ink-Spider 2025

 

All those people who love the look of handwriting but are too lazy to be bothered writing by hand, not very neat at hand writing or just simply can't do it because of a physical disability well, the Ink-Spider is the perfect solution. The Ink-Spider is a highly technical, pen-like, robotic device invented by Sophie and Madisyn during the year of 2025. Speak to the Ink-Spider and it will write what you say. There is more to it than that though and it is definitely not just a toy!

What makes the Ink-Spider move? It has eight legs, like a spider! At the end of each leg is a wheel. These wheels help it to move around the page but guess what? The legs aren't just any old legs. Each leg has 

its own special job such as colour, size, font, picture etcetera. When you pull one of the Ink-Spider's legs the screen turns on. You then keep pulling the leg until you have customised that particular part of the Ink-Spider's writing to the way you want it. Once you are done, pressing the select button finalises that customisation. 

This useful invention is controlled by battery power. The battery socket is fitted for the So7 battery. The So7 is highly energy efficient as it is averagely replaced only once a year based on five hours a day usage. However, this will depend on the user. If the user never turns their Ink-Spider off or uses it lots the battery will expire much faster. Some people end up having to replace this highly energy efficient battery up to five times a year due to simply not turning their Ink-Spider off. As much as this can be a pain to those who experience this the So7 battery is extremely cheap. If the Ink-Spider is well looked after it will only cost approximately $5.00 a year to run. So for what the Ink-Spider is, that is a really good deal.

Now it is time to talk about what really goes on inside the Ink-Spider whilst it is in use. This invention has an amazingly clever sensor. The sensor will hear your voice and write what you say. When the Ink-Spider reaches the edge of the page it will crawl across to the other side of the paper and continue to write what you say. This means that it is programmed so it will only write on paper and not on your desk! The Ink-Spider also has a flow pipe which the ink runs through, right to the pen tip. When a different colour is selected the current colour will get sucked back up into the ink bag and the new colour will flow out and into the pipe. There is also a pipe that is used for refilling the ink bag. Last of all, it has lights that look like eyes. These will shine when it is writing so it is easy to see what the Ink-Spider is writing.

Ink-Spider. The popular, highly technical machine which everyone has. It is clever, helpful, bright and colourful so what are you waiting for? Get yours today!

The Revolution Tour

Last night I went to The Revolution Tour with my Mum and my brother. The Revolution Tour, also known as The Revo Tour is a christian based show for youth which tours New Zealand each year. There were heaps of people there at the CBS Arena. LZ7, a band from the UK played. Then one of the guys from LZ7 came and sat three seats away from me! Wow! Reggie Dabbs was also there. He played his saxophone and boy, was he amazing! He is so good at playing it! Lots of other singers and dancers also performed. It was such a good night and it is definitely well worth going to The Revolution Tour in the future!

Cycle Safety Day 1

I can already tell that this week is going to be a busy but fun, full on week with Cycle Safety at school. The Cycle Safe team go around schools and teach children how to ride safely on the road. The year 6's get to part take this week! That's me!!! Today everyones bike and helmet got checked to make sure they are safe to use. My helmet is all good and so is my bike, well, except for one minor issue but it is safe to ride which is the main thing! People who don't have a bike or a helmet get to borrow but only under one condition - that they wear the provided hair net under the helmet. I guess that is to prevent nits from spreading. Today we also learnt about signalling and checking for cars. After our lesson on that we got tested to see if we are ready to ride on the road. I passed! Yay! So, tomorrow I will get to ride on the road. I will update you later in the week but that's all I have to say for now. Have an awesome week!

Holiday Activity Description: Dance Comp

This week we have been working on crafting (and re-crafting) sentences that make our writing really interesting.  Check out my writing below.  We used Book Creator and Explain Everything to turn them digital.  Enjoy and please leave me some feedback.

Outer Space Jokes

If you enjoy learning about outer space then you're going to absolutely love these outer space jokes! 

Outer Space Jokes

Q: What is a spaceman’s favorite chocolate?

A: A marsbar!

Q: Why did the sun go to school?

A: To get brighter!

Q: How do you know when the moon has had enough to eat?

A: When it’s full!

Q: Why did the cow go in the spaceship?

A: It wanted to see the mooooooon!

Q: What do planets like to read?

A: Comet books!

Q: What is an astronauts favorite key on the keyboard?

A: The space bar!

Q: Why did the cow go to outer space?

A: To visit the Milky Way!

Q: Where would an astronaut park his space ship?

A: A parking meteor!

Q: What was the first animal in space?

A: The cow that jumped over the moon!

Q: Why did Venus have to get an air conditioner?

A: Because Mercury moved in!

Q: What did the alien say when he was out of room?

A: I’m all spaced out!

Thanks funology.com for all of these jokes. They are totally awesome! For more fun jokes and things to do check out funology.com. There's sure to be something for everyone to enjoy there!

Holiday Adventures

The holidays were so much fun! So, first things first. Over Easter we went to Invercargill to see my grandparents. While we were there we saw Rio 2 at the movies. I liked it better than the first Rio movie but for the sequel to make sense you would have had to seen the first one. On Easter Sunday we had an Easter egg hunt at my Grandma and Grandad's place. They live on a farm so it was really awesome being able to do it in a different, bigger environment than usual. Me and my brother got given a clue which lead to new clues. At the end we ended up at our bedrooms and guess what was on my bed.........??? A cute easter bunny bag with a chocolate chick and Easter eggs inside it!!! After going to Invercargill the rest of the holidays were basically spent practicing my dances for the dance competition that happened in the last weekend of the holidays. At the competitions I danced a total of eight times. I was awarded one 2nd, two 3rds and the rest were either VHC (Very Highly Commended), HC (Highly Commended) or C (Commended). On a whole I feel I did pretty well. So now the holidays are over and I'm back at school. The holidays always fly by so quickly, too quickly!