Bob and Ernie share a poem..

Bob and Ernie love looking at books together. Ernie loves to read and Bob likes to look at the pictures and make up his own ideas to go with what they are reading. 

Here they are reading a poem called "Fish" by Mary Ann Hoberman. Bob chose it because he loves to go fishing and thought the picture was cool. Here's the poem for you to read or listen to.... quick, before it swims away!

Fish

Look at them flit

Lickety-split

Wiggling

Swiggling

Swerving

Curving

Hurrying

Scurrying

Chasing

Racing

Whizzing

Whisking

Flying

Frisking

Tearing around

With a leap and a bound

But none of them making the tiniest

     tiniest   

         tiniest

             tiniest

                   sound

Keep an eye out for Bob and Ernie this week. They are hoping to sneak out of the Learning Den to have a look at the brand new poetry garden in the playground. It is full of poems written by students and put together by Mr Ray. They will let you know which poems were their favourites!

    

Giving Children the Tools to Thrive at School - Mind Mapping

Here at Muritai School we are passionate about and committed to giving all our students the chance to be the best that they can be. For some children, especially those who struggle with basic literacy skills, school can be a frustrating and draining place to be.


Muritai School has recently become the first 4D Best Practice school in New Zealand. This means that all our classrooms are dyslexia friendly and that teachers are presenting learning opportunities in a variety of ways that is inclusive to all.


Each term we have a different focus which supports Dyslexia Best Practice but at the same time offers something to all students. This term our focus is on teaching all students how to mind map. 

Mind mapping is a term coined by Tony Buzan, an author and educational consultant. Although it was Buzan who first used the term and set out his 'Laws of Mind Mapping', he himself was building on a lineage of using patterns, pictures, colour and association, that stretches back thousands of years. 


Mind mapping can offer children a different way of getting their ideas down onto paper. It can be used for any subject or concept and at any ability level or age. 
Taught properly, mind mapping can provide a lifeline to those children who really struggle at school.


Take a look at the video below to hear Tony Buzan explain more about this technique and the benefits that it can offer and don't forget to pop back into the Learning Den again soon to see some examples of Muritai mind mapping.

Bob and Ernie's Learning Journey!

Meet Bob and Ernie!

 Bob and Ernie have just moved into the Learning Den and can't wait to start their learning journey along with all of the other awesome kids that come here.

 Bob and Ernie were created by the very talented Mrs Chao in Room 11. They are made from socks, buttons and wool and are the perfect way to demonstrate what wonderful results can be achieved by making the best of what we have got!

 

This is Bob. Bob is small and cheeky and very creative. He has some fantastic ideas but often has a bit of trouble writing them down. Bob loves to chat and talks to his friend Ernie for ages about all his wonderful ideas for inventions and how he wants to be famous when he grows up.

Bob has a pet dog called Arthur and he is his second best friend after Ernie.

This is Ernie. Ernie is quite tall and people often think that he is older than Bob but they are the same age! Ernie finds it quite hard to come up with exciting ideas for stories and sometimes gets in a muddle but Bob often helps him out. Ernie is good at reading and writing so he gives Bob a hand when he gets stuck. Ernie is a bit quiet and shy but he shares all his dreams with Bob. One day Ernie wants to be a doctor.

Today Bob and Ernie have been learning all about using Mind Maps. Mind Maps are a great way to get your ideas down on paper without having to write too much. You can use lots of colour and pictures, they are fantastic!

Follow Bob and Ernie on their Learning Journey! They will be a regular feature on The Learning Den, sharing what we have been up to and some cool top tips!

www.storybird.com - what a great idea!

Storybirds are short, art-inspired stories that are curiously fun to make, share, and read. Teachers love them because they inspire their most reluctant writers and readers and reward their most adventurous. Kids adore them because they feel empowered by the tools and supported by the social feedback.

The short, visual nature of these stories make them a great tool for reluctant readers and will inspire reluctant writers to have a go!


Click "open" at the bottom right of the picture then click the full screen button to read properly. Press the escape button on the keyboard when you have finished to return to The Learning Den. 
Enjoy exploring!
READING OPENS             YOUR IMAGINATION on Storybird