Increasing ways to communicate appropriately.

31st July 2019. Written by Teacher Liz.

Julia, over the last few weeks I have noticed you are learning more ways to join in group games. On the 30th
July you played a card game with Teacher Jane and 2 others. You looked like you were listening as she explained
the rules of the game. I watched wait for your turn. You chose one card, then another. The 2 nd card didn’t
match the 1st so you put both cards back. You started to pick up another card, until Teacher Jane said “Julia,
your turn is finished because your cards didn’t match. It’s Garen’s turn now”. You put your cards back, but it
looked like you didn’t want to. You watched Garen pick 2 cards up. You saw his 2 cards didn’t match so he put
them back. Teacher Jane said “ It’s Bushra’s turn now”. You watched her pick up 2 cards that matched, then 2
more cards that didn’t match so she put them back. You smiled when Teacher Jane looked at you and said, “its
Julia’s turn”. You picked up 2 cards that didn’t match, so you put them back on the table. You stayed playing the
game until all the cards had been distributed. We all shared your joy when we saw you grin every time you found
2 cards that matched. Julia, ka nui ake tō mātauranga (your knowledge increases).

You saw Teacher Namea wearing a lion costume on the 31st July and went over to see her. Teacher Naema and I
both laughed when you said “Teacher Naema is a lion”. “Teacher Naema replied “Grr, I am a lion”, which made
you laugh. I asked “Julia, is teacher Naema a friendly lion or a scary lion”? You looked at me and said “Scary
lion” and turned to run away. You stopped and turned around when Teacher Namea told you “It’s okay Julia I am
a friendly lion”. You shook her head ‘no’ when Teacher Naema asked you if you would like to have a turn wearing
the lion costume.

What Learning Occurred?

Julia’s learning pathway for this term is expanding the ways she communicates appropriately. She is deepening
her understanding of rules of card games as a way of showing fairness to all playing the game. Julia is extending
her listening skills as she listened to Teacher Jane explain the rules. Her ability to have a sustained
conversation is increasing as she participates in discussions about her play such as the lion costume. Julia is
developing more ways to communicate appropriately in her play.

How can we extend this learning?

We will support Julia as she increases the ways she can communicate appropriately with others by explaining
the rules of games so she understands, and praise her efforts to use appropriate ways of communicating.