Melville Intermediate - Narrative Writing from the UK

We're always looking for examples of work that we can use as energisers or to work into our class program. During the holidays we located a piece of writing from a Bolton Literacy conference where they called for classes and students to continue a particular piece of writing.

We thought that the writing would suit the students in Room Five and so two days ago in class we introduced our students to the piece of writing.  The session was orginally led by Pie Corbett

Our students were enthused by the writing and the boys in particular appeared to really enjoy the style of the writing.  The following montage of shots is the students from Room Five working on the piece of writing.

BoltonLiteracyConf - slideshow

Melville Intermediate - Rocky Mountain TIE

We're always very pleased when this site gets a mention around the world and we've started to have some visitors coming through "Rocky Mountain Technology in Education". A conference has just been held in Colorado in the United States of America where they've had a session on blogging. There are some suggested sites to look at for you before you create your own site and Melville Intermediate is one of them. The link to this page is here.

Melville Intermediate - Mr Lamsheds Haka

Mr Lamsheds Class in Adelaide, Australia is one of our favourite class blogs. The students at the moment are preparing for the Adelaide Arts Festival where they will be performing the Maori Haka 'Ka Mate'. We've been giving the Boys feedback as they prepare and helping as many different ways as they can. Cleveland and Kalem decided to film themselves discussing some tips for the video, which was filmed by Arahia this afternoon on Tuesday 12th May. If you haven't visited Mr Lamsheds site you must do so!

Melville Intermediate - A Package from Texas 2

A more detailed description of this will be provided later but in the meantime we were just so overwhelmed by what we found in the box from Texas! It was filled to the brim with 'Peeps!'
Now in New Zealand we don't have 'Peeps' but the students were able to taste these and were very excited. I can't thank Mrs Cransford, her class and the wonderful students and staff Mossy Oaks Intermediate for this wonderful opportunity and learning experience.

Melville Intermediate - Thai Students Exchange 4

As part of the International Cultural Exchanges that take place at Melville Intermediate School we have students from around the world attend our school to experience the New Zealand education system. Already this term we've had students from Makuhari College in Japan stay and for the second half of the term we had students from Thailand. In Room 8 we had Tae and Bell who were with the class for two weeks. Just before they left as special guest contributors to the blog Room 8 got them to write their thoughts down!

" I like this school very much, its different from my school. This school is very quiet and students in this school are less than in my school in Thailand. When I study in class my classmates are very friendly and nice - I like studying very much! Yesterday we went to Room 2, the teacher in Room 2 is very kind [Whaea Hayley]. We played and exercised in the Gym. It's very fun. After that we came back to the classroom and studied Maori language. I think Maori Language is not too hard! I like this school very much, everybody in this school is very kind and friendly - I am very happy :)" [Tae]

"First day that I went to this school I thought that this school is so quiet. When I came into the class I felt that everybody was friendly and I have so many friends. When we went to Room 2 we went to the gym and exercised. I played jackstones with my friend. When we got back to Room 2 we learnt Maori Language, then we sang a Maori Song. It was so fun. It's so fun at this school" [Bell]

Melville Intermediate - Help An Australian

Mr Lamshed's class are in need of help New Zealand. As part of his work in his classroom this term (studying New Zealand and Maori) he has student's studying the Treaty of Waitangi and they've put a request for help with research, information and ideas! Just click on the link and leave them a comment on their wonderful blog.

Make sure you take the time and follow the link to their blog as its an opportunity for students to help another school across the Tasman Sea!

We're also preparing some additional work on this topic, as its been our topic for the start of the term as well!

Melville Intermediate - ICT Interaction in Action

We're always very pleased to be networking with students and classrooms from other countries. Although our blog has been going for less than one week we've already had a special educational moment, our first of 2009!

1 . As part of our 'Getting to know Each Other' students have to learn a Mihi, a Maori introduction. We published Liam's slideshare using slideshare.net online for everyone to view,
2. Mr Lamshed's classroom Hackham East Schools in Adelaide, South Australaia who are learning about Maori Culture for Term One saw the post, and as a result two students from their class created their own Mihi based on Liams instructions. You can find out more about Mr Lamsheds special Boys only classroom by visiting their fantastic website, through our class links.
3. The students, Sam and Ashton published the Mihi on their website
4. We're going to be viewing thier work as a class in our room this week and give them feedback.
5. We're going to help Mr Lamshed's class with their unit as much as possible, learning about the Maori culture involving other students at our school and answer any questions they may have.

Technology can be a powerful tool for students to share their learning with others and this is fantastic example! If you haven't check out any of the work involed in this process - Liam's orignal Slideshare about the Mihi, Mr Lamsheds Boys Blog in Australia, the students work then do so!