This week the students have settled into the routines of Hub 2. We have started a new way to greet the students each morning as they come into Ripo. Being able to greet the students each morning is an important way to set them up for learning and check to see how they are feeling.

In Reading, we have been looking at the different activities they can do when they are not reading with the teacher. It has been great to see the students looking after each other, exploring new activities and games and sharing their knowledge. We have been really impressed with the students, listening to them attempt new words using some of the strategies they know, preserve and share their knowledge of experiences with their group.

In Writing, the students are learning how to write in their journals and their guided books. Oral language is an important skill to being a good writer. We have been sharing about what makes us who we are, our families, our hobbies and favourite activities. When they have an idea about what we can write, the students have been able to put their ideas and experiences into their Journals. We can’t wait to see the stories develop over the term!

In Maths, we have been looking at what our favourite ice-creams are. We have been using this information to create a pictograph and compare which flavour is the least and most favourite. The students are continuing to develop their skills to ask questions, gather data and compare the findings, these are skills they will be able to use outside of the classroom.

In Swimming, we have been building on our water confidence. The Hub 2 students are able to show each other how we safely get into and out of the pool. They are developing their awareness of each other when in the pool, trying hard not to splash each other as they show us their skills. We have seen them eagerly collect rings from the bottom of the pool, swimming with a float board and without, practising their breathing, blowing bubbles and kicking. We will continue to develop these skills each week.

During Integrated Topic, we have been talking about our feelings, looking at the names of feelings and how they make us feel on the inside and out. This year we are going to show the teachers in Hub 2 how we are feeling throughout the day by moving our faces on the rollercoaster. This will allow the teachers to monitor what is happening and check in with us to help us solve any problems or feelings as they arise. We will continue to work on developing strategies to deal with different emotions throughout the term.

We have begun learning about how to be safe when using technology through Hectors World. Together we talked about the importance of why we do not share our personal information with others not only online but when we are out and about. We identified who are the safe people we can tell our name, address and phone number to.

On Friday, we had Hugh and Felicity from Kelly Sports come to run a session with us. The students got to practise a range of skills from balancing an egg (ball) on a tennis racket, pretending to pop popcorn on the tennis racket, throwing a basketball to a buddy using wide hands to catch, playing golf and hitting the ball into a hula hoop.

Jessica - “I liked doing tennis.”

Ruby N - “I liked doing fun activities.”

Sophia - “You got to bounce the ball.”

William - “I liked throwing the ball like Basketball.”

Check out our photos below: