From: Ann.Trewern@p6.f505.n770.z3.fidonet.org (Ann Trewern)
Newsgroups: k12.chat.teacher
Subject: Hello from Dunedin, New Zealand.
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 92 15:53:12 PDT
Organization: FidoNet node 3:770/505.6 - Southern Vortex, Dunedin

Hello Phil,
           I was really delighted to receive your message. We have not been receiving mail from the states for about the last fortnight and I was going to post you a message saying that we were still in existence  when I saw your reply.
Something strange happened to our node in Sydney, Australia.
We could sent messages but we weren't receiving them except
on the local network.
           Thanks for your great info on your professional situation. We have a very strong link with a school in Sydney, Australia which has been very exciting for us. Our Contact there holds a position quite similiar to yours but without the librarian title. He works with the information technology over a couple of very large elementary schools. We have had a lot of fun with that link and a lot of professional exchanges. Children have individual computer pals and we have exchanged quite a quantity of sna






il mail material.
He is very keen on work with video and has sent us two great
videos of their school activities. We do not have a video camera
but we are working on a video with a borrowed camera at the
moment and should have it ready by the end of the week. Although this has been produced for our Australian Computer pals it would be simple to send you a copy. No need to post your address as I took it off a message you sent earlier to Aileen Hall.
       Our teaching situation with two teachers working together  is basically one of choice. We had worked together using a  syndicate approach for a couple of years but when we were
given the option of changing rooms we thought about combining the classes. We felt there were a lot of advantages for the children. We could combine our curriculum strengths and so improve the programme for the children. The information technology hardware was a huge financial cost for a school our size
and combined classes meant widening the access to the equipment for children.
In a school the size of ours, classes were frequently split, to even up
numbers, which was upsetting for parents and children who always felt
someone was being left behind no matter how well this was handled. We also felt that in a small school with small classes it widened childrens social contacts. Certainly close cross class friendships exist. The junior members of the class seem to increase in maturity and the senior members of the class have a greater leadership role than they would in a single class situation. We definitely enjoy teaching together and have never felt the occasion to throw anything at each other... at least not yet anyway!







There is a lot of strength in two people in a
classroom. Parents initially found it a little confusing that their children had two teachers but it never bothered the children. This is our second year  working this way.
Physically we work in two classrooms with a space cut out of the wall in between. For the first year we left the doors there but just folded open. At the beginning of this year we took the doors away.
     We do not celebrate Armistice Day as a holiday in New Zealand.
You may have picked up some messages on this echo about ANZAC
Day. It is on the 25th April each year. Basically it is a day of remeberence of all the fallen ANZACs ( Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) in both World Wars, Korea and Vietnam. It is a break if it falls on a week day.
      Some of the children are very keen to begin contacts and have written about themselves below. Some of your children may like to pick some one to reply to them or however you would like to do it. They follow......
Regards Ann.

Hi my name is Hayden Quinn I am 10 years old and in
standard 3 at St Mary's School Dunedin.I like playing
soccer,cricket and rugby.Please write back soon.


Hi my name is Shelley Quinn, I am 9 years old.I am
in std 2 at St Mary's School Dunedin.I like playing rugby
and tennis.
Please write back soon.


 Hi my name is Ben Macrow,I am 10 and I am in Std 3.
I go to St Mary's Dunedin. I like Motorsports, golf and Cricket and Basketball.

Hi my name is Caleb, I am 8 years old,
I go to Cubs and I like playing sports.

Hi my name is Daniel Wright I am 8 years old
I go to Cubs.


Hi my name is Colette Cropper I am 9 years old
hope you like my little letter from
                                   colette cropper

Hi my name is Louise Denton,
I am eight years old and I have 7 people in my family.
I like to play Rugby, Basketball and Cricket.

Hi My name is Matthew McLennan I am 8 years old I like playing cricket,rugby and soccer and I have got 6 people in my family.


Hi my name is Hayley Tempero I am 9 years old, I have
5 people in my family, I have two brothers and my
Mum and Dad and my hobby is swiming .



Hi my name is Craig Ellis I am 9 years old and I have 5 people in my family I play Rugby and softball and soccer. I have 1 brother and one sister.


--  
uucp: uunet!m2xenix!puddle!3!770!505.6!Ann.Trewern
Internet: Ann.Trewern@p6.f505.n770.z3.fidonet.org