Darren Swims like a Fish

iExplore: Darren's in the Garden

Learner: Darren	Date: 4 May, 2017
Learning Area: iExperience (Science) Living World Level 1-2 Recognise that all living things have certain requirements so they can stay alive	Learning Coach: P.L
Learning Observed
During our morning iExplore sessions learners had the opportunity to choose what activity they would like to participate in. Darren chose to learn more about our habitat garden. He showed collaboration by working well with others around him to clean out the weeds from the garden and prepare the garden for a new lot of seeds to be planted. He was capable in using the gardening tools correctly and safely while others were around him. He made connections with his learning to the year prior in gardening and was able to apply this while he was outside in the garden. Darren was curious about what he would find in the garden and what could be planted in it this term.
Evidence of Learning
Next Learning Steps
Continue learning about what plants can be harvested during this season Continue helping to look after the Habitat Garden

Writing Narrative Assessment - 14 December 2016

Learner:  Darren    Learning Coach: Megan Croll - LH2        Date:14 December 2016

Learning Area:  Writing

Learning Observed

Following our trip to the Auckland Zoo, we decided to learn how to write a letter so that we could thank the helpers.   Darren and his hapu group brainstormed the people that helped us and all the animals that they saw.  Darren chose to write to me.   He started his letter with the date and the name of the person that he was writing to.  Next, he wrote about the purpose for the letter and what he liked the most.    In Darren’s draft copy, he used capital letters for the beginning of his sentences, wrote high frequency words correctly and followed the structure for writing a letter.  With support from his Learning Coach, he corrected the spelling of more difficult words, e.g fantastic, tortoise.

Evidence of learning

This is Darren’s published piece of writing.

Key Competencies/Vision Principles

Darren is demonstrating that he is: Collaborative - sharing his ideas with his hapu group during a brainstorm session about what they liked the most about their trip to Auckland Zoo. Capable - independently choosing who he wished to write to and what he wanted to write about. Using Language, Symbols and Text - writing many high frequency words correctly and taking care to write the size and shape of most letters correctly.

Next Learning Steps

Use full stops at the end of every sentence Include more information about his ideas Practise writing letters at home

Narrative Assessment - Physical Education - 7 December 2016

Get Set Go!

Darren's next steps are:

• Further develop his Capabilities when pushing a ball with a noodle or hockey stick
• Include balancing games during iBreak
• Listen carefully to the rules when playing a game

Zoo Trip - iExperience Narrative Assessment - 18 November 2016

Learner:  Darren      Learning Coach: Megan Croll - LH2       Date: 18 November 2016

Learning Area: Zoo Trip

Learning Observed & Key Competencies/Vision Principles

Today Darren joined LH2 and LH4 learners to travel by bus to the Auckland Zoo.   This trip was organised as part of our learning about animals - how we can help them and how they can help us.   The learners were greeted by some zookeepers when we arrived at the zoo.  We had morning tea and then, with a zoo map in hand, began our journey around the zoo.   Darren used the map to help guide us around the zoo; using his map reading skills to identify where we were and where we should go next (Using Language, Symbols and Text). After visiting the tortoises and reptiles, we met up with John from Auckland Zoo.   John took us into the Discovery and Learning centre where Darren found out what the zoo does to look after the three Sumatran tigers that they have.  John had a large black plastic container and Darren learned that the tiger would be able to smell his scent if he touched it (Connected). John then took us to the Vet Centre Viewing Gallery.   Darren learned that sometimes visitors can watch an operation take place, but today the windows were covered with curtains.  Here we learned how humans can make life very difficult for some animals.   Our plastic bags can be very dangerous to sea animals if they are swallowed.    After lunch, it was time for more exploring (Curious).   Darren enjoyed walking through the Meerkat tunnels, watching the playful orangutan and observing how gracefully the giraffes walk.  Our day at the zoo went very quickly and there wasn’t even enough time to play on the playground!   I’m sure that Darren would love to come back again with his family to share his learning with them.

Next Learning Steps

Darren has learned about what Auckland Zoo do to look after the many animals that they have.  Some are even endangered.  His next step could be to research an endangered animal to find out why it is endangered and what people are doing to help keep its species alive.

Narrative Assessment - Writing - 22 September 2016

Learner: Darren       Learning Coach: Megan Croll - LH2         Date: 12 September 2016

Learning Area: Writing

Learning Observed

Language features, e.g. similes, are used to give our writing impact.  A simile is when a person or object is compared with another object by using the word ‘as’ or ‘like’.  Darren has been learning how to use a simile in his writing.  The Black Gibbons worked together to brainstorm some similes, then I invited them to use similes to describe the colours of the rainbow. Darren participated in the group brainstorm and discussion, then used some of the ideas from our brainstorm to create his own poetic piece about rainbows.   After writing his draft, he then proceeded to publish his writing and illustrate it; using the correct colours and sequencing as in a rainbow.

Evidence of learning

Key Competencies/Vision Principles

Darren is demonstrating that he is: Collaborative by sharing his ideas with his hapu group during a brainstorm session about rainbow colours. Capable of identifying the most suitable object to compare with each rainbow colour in his similes. Using Language, Symbols and Text by taking care to copy the information from his draft when publishing his work.  The size and shape of most letters are formed correctly. .

Next Learning Steps

Look for similes in the books that you are reading Help another Learner to understand how to use similes in their writing Share this learning at home

Narrative Assessment - iExplore - 1 June 2016

Learner:  Darren          Learning Coach:   Megan Croll - LH2             Date:   1 June 2016

Learning Area:  iExplore

Learning Observed

Today Darren decided to use the Zoom tool during iExplore.  Firstly, he was interested in finding out how the different coloured sticks attached themselves to the white ball.  Darren started to make a cube shape with short sticks and then extended the length by adding on some longer sticks.  He decided to add yellow sticks at the base so that it could stand.

Evidence of learning

Key Competencies/Vision Principles

Darren was demonstrating his Curiosity through his exploration of how the Zoom tool works, then proceeding to create his design.   He was Capable of using the equipment correctly and making sure that he had sufficient space to make his design (Managing Self).  Darren tried several times to get his design as he wanted it which required some Thinking through, reflection and figuring out what he needed to do to make improvements.

Next Learning Steps

Extend on his design with different sticks from the Zoom tool Work with a partner or in a small team to create something together Help another Learner to create their design

Narrative Assessment - Literacy - 2 Nov 2015

Learner: Darren                    Learning Coach: Miriam Kamsteeg             Date: 2 Nov 2015

Learning Area: Literacy - Writing

Learning Observed

Today Darren was writing with me. He sat down and drew his picture. In our group we had a discussion on how many wanted to write about Halloween, so I wrote it up for the Learners to copy, if they needed that word. Darren asked me for help sounding out “group” and “person”.

Evidence of learning

Darren was able to record down the many sounds he can hear in each word. I wonder if he is practising writing at home?

Key Competencies/Vision Principles

Darren is continuing to improve his Capabilities in Writing. He was able to create a story in his head and then record it (Thinking). Darren was able to settle quickly to write a story by himself (Managing Self). He was able to use many different letters to record sounds (Using Language, Symbols and Texts).

Next Learning Steps

Write 2, or more, sentences Continue to record down all the sounds he hears in his words Share learning with home.

Narrative Assessment - Literacy - 29 Oct 2015

Learner: Darren      Learning Coach: Miriam Kamsteeg             Date: 29 Oct 2015

Learning Area: Literacy - Reading Assessment

Learning Observed

Today Darren completed a Reading Assessment with me. He read a higher Blue level book called “Clever Little Dinosaur”. Darren read with 89% accuracy. This means he still needs to work at the same Yellow level for a bit longer to consolidate his word accuracy at this level. He was, however able to retell the story very well and answered most comprehension questions correctly.

Evidence of learning

Darren read and retold the story. I wonder if he is doing this at home each night?

Key Competencies/Vision Principles

Darren is developing his Capabilities in Reading. He is Reading many words with accuracy (Using Language, Symbols and Texts). Darren is making sense of what he reads (Thinking).

Next Learning Steps

Continue to learn more Basic sight words. Continue to explicitly teach sounding out tricky words. Share learning with home.

Narrative Assessment - Literacy: Writing Term 2

Learner: Darren                     Learning Coach: Abby Morgan              Date: 22 June 2015

Learning Area:  Literacy - Writing

Learning Observed

As part of our writing programme we have been exploring different forms of writing. This week we viewed a video of a baby bird hatching and had to describe what happened. We brainstormed ideas before watching and wrote down all the words that we thought would be useful for our writing. After watching the video we added new words to the list and then shared ideas. Darren was excited and engaged as he watched the video and was able to tell me about what had happened. Darren was able to write a sentence describing what happened in the video and used three of the words we had brainstormed. He was able to locate the words in the list and correctly spell these in his writing. Darren is making progress with his writing and is attempting more words and is able to identify the main sounds in these.

Evidence of learning

Two examples of Darren’s writing. I wonder if he enjoys writing at home?

Key Competencies/Vision Principles

Darren has displayed the Vision Principle of capable as he develops new learning skills and behaviours. He is also demonstrating his ability to use the key competency of using language, symbols and text as he shares his ideas and thoughts through written language. Darren applies his existing knowledge with new learning which demonstrates his ability to use the Key Competency of thinking.

Next Learning Steps

Assist in learning to correctly use full stops and capital letters Introduce Darren to the high frequency word games and activities Publish his favourite stories on his Blog to share with home

How Much does it Cost?

Learner:  Darren              Learning Coach: Luisa Maloni  Date: 17th February, 2015

Learning Area: iExplore: Baking Project

Learning Observed

After making countless play dough biscuits, a group of learners wanted to bake some biscuits for an iExplore project. As we planned for our baking project, we realised we needed to know how much it was all going to cost to buy the ingredients. A group of learners including Darren went on a supermarket website to research prices for each ingredient and record these on a ‘costing’ sheet. I observed that Darren really enjoyed this process and was able to support others in how to write the dollar symbol and to include the ‘dot’ or decimal point. I observed that he was very focussed and enthusiastic about this task and at times was able to wait for his turn to find and write the prices. Working together, this group was able to complete the task with little need for support from me!

Evidence of learning

These learners are finding prices for our ingredients from a supermarket website. I wonder if they help with the shopping at home? You can see the final costing in our proposal video to mr McNeil.

Key Competencies/Vision Principles

Darren is demonstrating his Capabilities in writing numbers and searching for items on a website (Using Language, Symbols and Text). His Collaborative skills are also showcased in his abilities to take turns and share his own expertise and enthusiasm with others in the group (Relating to Others/Participating and Contributing).

Next Learning Steps

Develop collaboration skills by continued experiences in small group -task based activities that require an outcome Extend understandings around money and the decimal point through an introduction to our ‘play money’