Our learning today: Reciprocal Reading

As a class, we are preparing to decide on projects that we are interested in finding out more about as part of our study on sustainability.  The Omaru River is a river that is located only 2 minutes from our school and is a river that is badly polluted.  A group called 'Mad Ave' is going to tell the story of the river tomorrow, which our class is looking forward to seeing.

Jane, Lana, Rita and Fusi reading for understanding

Today we did a reciprocal reading activity where everyone was in groups of 3 or 4 to read an news article related to the river called 'My Auckland: Glen Innes'.  Each person in the group was given a job: there was the predictor who predicted what the story could be about, the clarifier who checked out any words or phrases that needed defining, the summariser who summarised the article into their own words and the questioner, who wrote questions for the group to check everyones understanding.  To help them remember their job, they were given little coloured cards with clear instructions on them.

Netane, Isacc, Bruno and Kahurangi working collaboratively

Promise is taking his job as predictor seriously

Most of the groups worked really well together and were able to collaborate and communicate how they were going to organise their jobs.   I was really happy to see how well people and groups got on with their task, encouraged and supported each other and used their time wisely.

Owen is eager to learn whilst Reon checks out his job as the questioner.

Andre is eager to share his work with me.

Most of the groups had completed their work when the fire alarm sounded and we evacuated our classroom for a whole school fire drill.  Students moved calmly out of the classroom and on to the field to assemble in the appropriate areas.  It was good to know what to do in a fire drill and having beautiful weather helped a lot.

Our first fire drill for the year!