Ancient Greeks

This term, children in Years 5 & 6 have been learning about the Ancient Greeks.  As part of this unit of work, children have created their own Ancient Greek board games to demonstrate their learning of the era.  The results are excellent!

Excellent Mental Maths

This academic year, in my role as Maths leader, I am keeping track of the progress children make with their mental maths, in particular their rapid recall of times tables.  Children in Years 3 - 6 (and those in Year 2, who are ready) complete a weekly times table grid in 4 minutes.  Their score is recorded and we celebrate the following mile-stones:

2x, 5x and 10x tables completed within 4 minutes
50% of the grid completed within 4 minutes
75% of the grid completed within 4 minutes
100% of the grid completed withing 4 minutes

It has been fantastic to see children applying and challenging themselves to beat their last score. 

Max and Willow are now able to complete the grid within 4 minutes, so have a new 'time challenge': they now  have to complete the grid in the fastest time possible.  (Miss Williams and I are joining them for this part of the challenge!)

Well done to both Max and Willow for their continued application with their mental maths.

Marvellous Maths!

This week, Kaia and Eleanor were sent to me for some truly marvellous Maths!  Years 3 and 4 have been developing their understanding of division and both Kaia and Eleanor have made excellent progress this week in their understanding of the 'bus stop method'.  Division can be the trickiest of the four operations, however Kaia and Eleanor have applied themselves well with excellent results.

In addition to this, we have been increasing the expectations of presentation in books and these two have risen to the challenge.  Excellent work!

World Book Day ...

In our continuous drive to promote a love of literature, one of the activities children took part in last week was 'Buddy Reading'.  Children, of mixed ages, shared a range of texts together.

Growth Mind Set

This week, during our Collective Worship on our 'Ambition' value we discussed what it means to have a 'Fixed Mind Set' vs a 'Growth Mind Set'.  We looked at a range of famous people (including David Beckham, Mother Teresa, Walt Disney and Einstein) who had to work hard to overcome obstacles in their lives to achieve their ambitions.  We discussed that having a 'Growth Mind Set' means embracing challenges and "Persevering when we can't do something straight away."  (Excellent definition Jayden!)

This term, we have added an agenda item to our staff meetings:

Teachers as Learners

Each week, a different member of staff chooses a video clip to entertain, excite, enthuse, interest the rest of us. 

So far, we have seen the following:

Previously, we have watched some excellent clips by Sir Ken Robinson:

It is really exciting to continue our own learning into what great learning looks like. 

New Nursery Children

A very warm welcome to Hannah, Holly, Leo, Mylo, Jack and their families.

All five children have made an excellent start to their year, coming into school calmly and sensibly. They are currently enjoying everything the Early Years has to offer!

Well done to each of you!

Happy New Year!

We have a new display in the hall this term with quotes from some of the most brilliant minds ever to have existed - including some from our very own school!  The focus of our thinking has been:

  

What is learning and how do we get better at it?

A selection are below:

"Learning is step one of life and every step that follows." 

Oscar Frost

"Any fool can know.  The point is to understand."

Albert Einstein

"Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel."

Socrates

"Learning is when you get taught something and you take it with you."

Corey Pethard

As the academic year progresses, we are continuing to focus on Writing and Science.  

Under-pinning all that we do at Great Gaddesden, is our pursuit of excellence both in and out of the classroom.