A visit to the Suter Gallery

11th    June 2014  .  We headed out into our community to visit The Suter Art Gallery.  On arrival we were greeted by Esther who showed us around the gallery and talked to us about the artwork on display.  We began by looking for repeating patterns in the paintings, then using our bodies to make the patterns.  Then turning on some music, Esther encouraged us to use our bodies to make repeating patterns in time to the music.  Next we looked closely at the paintings, finding shapes which we made our bodies into….we became trees, birds, mountains and rivers.  After that it was time to get creative, we each chose a favourite painting,  and then set to work creating our own interpretation of the original artwork using pastels.  What a beautiful collection of pictures were created to display on our wall back at Kindergarten.   Kaiako Lynette.

Afternoon kindergarten - end of term excursion to Play Dayz.

As an end of term excursion for the afternoon children we planned a trip to Play Days (Action Indoor Sports Centre). For several children in this group this was their very first ever bus trip so that was exciting all in itself. Play days provides bouncy castles, play equipment, ride ons and toys.  The children were all delighted to discover all the wonderful things available to them.  I think the parents enjoyed time to play but also the fact that while their children were in a safe fenced area they could nip off and buy a coffee and bring it back to enjoy while watching the children play.  Thanks to the parents who were able to join us on this afternoon out.

The morning children head to the gym.

This term we planned a visit to Nelson Intermediate Gym  for our end of term excursion.  We set off on  the bus and stopped at the Botanics for morning tea and to celebrate  a 5th  Birthday.  From here we set off for the Gym.  This was a new experience for many of the children but a chance to revisit an old favourite for many and of course an opportunity to showcase the amazing physical skills of many of the children.  Sessions at the gym never fail to provide new challenges and opportunities to test limits, and naturally then  discover new skills and abilities.
What a wonderful morning we all had.  Thanks to all the parents who helped support us on the day and specials thanks to Kyle and Linda for supporting this excursion. The morning passed quickly , and soon we were back on the bus, hot, sweaty , tired and  ready for a two  week break.

Daltons Sunflower Competition.

We have joined in a nationwide competition, growing Skyscraper Sunflowers.
Daltons kindly sent us pots, seeds, seed trays, seed raising mix and compost. During the past week many children have been busy helping to plant out our seeds.  We have also bought a mini greenhouse to germinate the seeds in.  Children will help to water and care for these, and I am sure they will watch their progress with great interest.  Taking part in this competition is another way of providing children with hands on experiences in learning about kaitiakitanga - caring for our environment.  The excitement so far has been fabulous and several children already check the pots daily to see if anything has happened.  Come and take a look for yourselves next time you drop off your child, and of course you can check their  progress right here on the blog. Ka kite ano.

An Amazing Opportunity

We are very excited to be presenting a workshop at the Educational Leadership Conference in Hamilton in October 2014.  Read our brief, we are privileged to celebrate our boys.

Lynne Paul & Margie Meleisea - Front Framing Boys For Success!

Keeping boys in the front frame!!!!   Using dispositional learning to support boys to be successful as they navigate the complexity of learning.

Learning Stories provide a vehicle for teachers to unpack the importance of play for boys in an environment that affords them the places, spaces and time to develop an understanding of themselves as successful learners.  The teachers at Nayland Kindergarten encourage boys to move to learn, to struggle with difficulty, to set themselves goals and negotiate the complex web of social relationships.

To afford boys an environment that supports them to be successful learners demands a strong ethos of reflective teamwork and an environment that invites, stimulates and challenges boys to engage and lock onto learning.

This is our story at Nayland Kindergarten about keeping boys in the front frame.... keeping learning real, relevant and responsive.

About Lynne & Margie

Margie and I have worked together for over 8 years at Nayland Kindergarten, we both share a passion for “boys as successful learners”.  During this time we have engaged in a 3 year research project with Core Education and the Ministry of Education which highlighted the role of ICT in children’s creativity through the visual arts.  This amazing opportunity highlighted boys passions for technology as a tool for learning and boys as literate visual artists.  Further research 2 years later with Core Education highlighted boys as being highly successful literate and e-literate learners.  

Together we have presented our research a number of times at Ulearn conferences, at a Wintec Arts Conference and at a Reggio Emilio Conference.

We are excited to be able to celebrate boys as successful learners and we are always out there looking for opportunities to further our learning and to share our passions, interests and spirits with who ever wants to listen.

We are all artists here!

During the term break the teachers took time out to explore encaustic art with Lyn @ LynNZart on Golf Road Nelson.  She also has a gallery of all her beautiful work.  Check out our efforts, we were all feeling very artistic at the end of the 1 hour session and left with our masterpieces in hand.  Our artwork is now up on display for others to see.

I am heading back to pick up a kit, can see this being a new hobby.

The Carving Project

We want to thank Stuart Kere for the beautiful carved panels that now sit proudly in our entrance way.  The teachers/kaiako have been talking to children and families over the past 3 years about  what could be on the panels and we gave our brief to Stuart, who symbolised it with so much aroha/love and thought.  He initially started from the children’s ideas and then he has woven the teachers and whanau ideas through it, so that it is all embracing of us all.  Stuart blessed the panels on the first day back of Term 3, and we had a wonderful turnout of people to be part of the blessing. We want to thank Enviro Schools for part of the funding towards the panels, also the Family Liaison Group and the teachers who contributed towards it as well.
We encourage tamariki and whanau to touch the carved panels and enjoy them as this builds up the mauri (life spirit).  There is a small space at the end of one panel, which Stuart has left for us to add something later.

 

Celebrating Mātāriki.

Mātāriki , Maōri New Year is an important part of Māori culture and we wanted to plan a celebration that tamariki, whanau and ngā kaiako could share together. Children were invited to bring a vegetable from home to contribute to the soup  for  shared kai. During kindergarten session times  we chopped the vegetables for the soup and made star cookies for dessert.
At mat time we practiced songs Mātāriki  so  we could sing it to their families . On the night children came excitedly through the gate, ready to eat together and then share their waiata with their whānau.  How exciting to be able to share not only the kai we had all made together but also the songs we had been learning .
Once it was dark enough we all went for a hikoi to see if we could spot the "Mātāriki Stars".  Sadly it was a cloudy night but everyone was still very excited to be out walking in the dark.  After our walk we returned to kindergarten for dessert and hot chocolate.Ka rawe, it was awesome to have  so many families join us for our celebration.

Get set go!

Jenny Dravitski from Sports Tasman is supporting the teachers to up skill their physical knowledge by implementing a programme called Get Set Go.  There are resource books, physical sessions for teachers and children and bins of extra equipment.   Jenny sessions with the morning and afternoon children has been about Balance this term.  How many different ways can we balance our bodies???

Out the gate and onto the reserve

We are often heading out the kindergarten gate to visit children's homes.  This is a great way for children and families to share something about themselves with friends.

 

 It is important to visit teachers homes too, so that children can learn more about us.  It is not uncommon for children to think that the teachers live at kindergarten as we spend long hours there at times.

Sometimes we visit other kindergartens that children may have transitioned from, to maintain the links between teachers, children and families.  

We are very lucky to have The Railway reserve walkway which takes us on many adventures. It has now been enhanced with physical challenges and beautiful plantings.

Bigger paper leads to thinking on a bigger scale

We have been lucky to source some ends of large heavy quality paper from a clothing design company and it has been exciting to watch how the children are exploring their thinking on a much bigger scale.  The provocation was the large piece of paper and the ideas came independently from the children.
The first picture was done with coloured felt pens, it is a city with high rise buildings, a tower, a roading system with signs and buildings and a detailed sky above the city.  It is interesting to note that the painting was created by 4 children, who each brought their own thinking to the canvas.

The second painting is created by 6 children and is the story of Little Red Riding Hood.  This was one child's idea and others asked to help draw the scene.  We headed to the floor so that we could all access our piece of the paper.  The children all had a clear idea of what they were going to paint, and there was negotiation and debate about what was happening as it evolved.  A number of different painting techniques were being used, dabbing, smudging, sponging and wiping.   One of the children had created a very large wolf who was then superimposed on the top of the scene, creating an almost 3D image.  

The finished painting now hangs proudly on the wall awaiting the story to be told.

Polydron fun

Our new magnetic polydrons are proving to be very popular with the children, they are constructing vertically and horizontally.  The strong magnetic properties support children to have success with their building structures as they connect strongly.   What a great buy!

In the beginning.

A story we regularly explore at kindergarten is a Māori legend of how the world was created. In this particular story Ranginui and Papatuanuku were so close that their children had no room to move about and they lived in darkness. They decided to work together to separate their parents.  They were successful and light entered the world.  The children then became guardians /kaitiaki of different areas.  In response to this legend we invited children to help create the Ocean for Tangaroa, a forest for Tane Mahuta and the sky for Ranginui the sky father.  As we worked together we explored what things we would find in each of these areas and children drew them and added these to the scenes.   While working together on the project we also continued to explore the idea of us all being kaitiaki of the world we live in and what that might mean.  Children suggested things like "we look after all the animals " and "we can't leave our rubbish on the ground" .

Setting the stage

A couple of fabulous storytellers at kindergarten decided they wanted to put on a show at mat time.  We talked about needing to practice but the girls assured me that they had it sorted and it would be a surprise.  (Which indeed it was).
I suggested a possible location for the show and they were very excited about their venue and took upon themselves to paint the prop (puppet stand) on the side.  Some very creative and inspirational designs were created, and engaged a growing number of stage crew in the process.

The girls made a fabulous job and the show was a blend of storytelling, dramatic performance and comedy.  They had their audience in hysterics (and teachers too) and kept their audience captivated for 15 minutes.  A job well done girls.  Mat times are much more fun when the children are running them.