Master and Commander (New and improved) (WILLIAM D)

This term has gone by extremely fast except for my Independent Study which has been going quite slowly. Next term I am hoping it will be going like Usain Bolt rather than this term's tortoise. Come to think about it, I'm actually not very far behind most people. All I have left to start and finish is my S.O.L.O. taxonomy and I'm 'Green Lighted'.

One of my highlights of this term would be P list which enables us to do our weekly tasks anywhere in the school. P list is a.k.a. Priority list. Weekly tasks are not homework. They could be known as home/school work. This is because we do them in P list time. These are tasks that have to be done by Friday whether you do them at home or do them at school. Spelling sentences have to be handed in by 3pm on the Thursday of that week which is because we have the 'Spelling Challenge' on Friday.

My WNB has improved my writing significantly. I have made a lot of progress in my writing ever since I have been in 7/8T. If it weren't for Mr T, my writing would be like it was way back in the middle school! Mr T has given me, and other people for sure, lots of inspiration and confidence in my writing. I can't wait to see what next term's topics are going to be!

I have been relying on a 'cox' more than I probably should have been. I have had a bit of help but the thought of Mr T doing his 'Happy Dance' if 12/24 people in the class get 'Green Lighted' (1/2 of the class for those who struggle with maths) has kept me going (well actually, the thought of ME getting a 'Green Light' has kept me going.). Hopefully next term I won't have to rely on a 'cox' as much as I have this term.

To sum all of the above up, I ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY LOVE 7/8T!

This post has been written by Admirale Sir William D. If you want his autograph then come to 7/8T.

Master and Commander- Nicholas

My first term in 7/8T has been a good one. My writing has improved and I like the way we have p-list time in class, it makes homework a lot more manageable. My independent study is going along nicely and I have got my green light so now I need to do the main part of the independent study. I'm really looking forward to the holidays  and I am working on raising money for my West Coast trip.

Wally, Apple Rabbit Co-C.E.O.

Master and Commander Ben

The first term has been very different to all the others I have participated in. Even though it has been different and hard I have enjoyed it and am looking forward to term two.Since I am a year 7, I am new to the system and will use the "cox" more than others. Eventually I will become more independent and make my own choices. I feel like I am starting to slide into the routine of weekly tasks and other things. I feel confident about the rest of the year. Term 1 for me is partly just the tutorial but in terms 2,3 and 4 I will actually play "the Game".Once again it has been a tough first term and I will hope to do well in the future terms.

Master and Commander- Harry Williams

Term 1 in 7/8T has been great. You seem to get a lot more work done without a teacher breathing down your back every few seconds. WNB is really good considering we didn't get to do much writing last year. Art is also really fun and my artwork is coming along nicely. Most people would get carried away with their freedom and play games all of the time ( I know from experience) but then you learn that playing will get you nowhere the only place it will get you is really far behind in your work. My favourite piece of work would have to be my WNB from week 4 " X marks the spot" because it got me a highly commended and because I really liked that piece of writing. Overall it has been a first term and I can't wait till next term.    

Term 1 evaluation Campbell

I have enjoyed Term 1 a lot.  It is a really interesting expereince being a year 8.  I find it hard to beleive that the year 7s are as confused with the independent studies has we were last year because we are so used to it.  I think that Mr Tait helps me a lot in my work and it is really helpful to have someone to proofread your work and to nudge you in the right direction with independent studies and P List.  This year I have been really proud of my self where Writer's Notebook but it is hard trying to get it as good as possible and that is something that I am going to try and work towards for the rest of the year.  All in all it has been a really good Term and I hope that the rest of them will be as good as this Term was.

Master Commander Rob all the way

I think I would control most of my learning myself without help but sometimes I think I might rely on mr tait but not to much. I have accomplished so much this term with my independent study and homework so on. I am really far through my independent study already and am quite happy with it already. I am doing my my homework very well and am happy with it. I like learning to work independently and searching stuff up on the internet. I think the classroom is the ideal fit for me. I am not sure what traits I woyld like that other people have. I am extremely happy with my effort so far. I reckon my independent study will turn out exactly as planned and will look great. I think I could probably do a bit better in my wnb and I am trying. Let people talk and not just me.

Master and Commander Theo (SamTheSeeSaw)

Term One has been a great term, I have enjoyed 7/8t so far because we are more free with our work. I am also enjoying Writers Notebook because we didn't get to do much writing last year. Independent Study is coming along well, I just need to do my SOLO now. The most enjoyable subject so far would be Art because am very proud of my painting.

I'm really looking forward to the rest of the year.


Sam The See Saw
Co-C.E.O. of the Apple Bunny Rabbit Foundation

Master and commander George

I think that this term has been really good and I am looking forwards to my next two years in this classroom. Independent study sounds really interesting and I think I chose a really interesting topic which I am really interested in. Te most interesting subject so far has been art and I am really happy with my picture. This term has so far been excellent and if the year carries on in this fashion we are all in for a wild ride!

Master IN Command - ET

I personally feel, that we as children, should learn to take command of our learning (if not other things as well) so we can be better prepared for the time we are expected to take command of our life. To a certain extent we are all ready, but I still believe we need guidance to do this. I suppose that's almost how society works with a president at the top to give 'guidance' and all the people to 'follow' yet take command of their own affairs. The words 'master and command' if slightly changed, could read 'Master IN Command', which, while being practically the same thing, does make it sound a little more illustrative. (Authors note: from now on I will refer to 'Master IN Command' because it sounds cooler.) In this sense I feel that I can safely say that I do take on the 'master in command' approach to my own learning. That is is why I enjoy 7/8T because it lets you take that sort of approach to your learning. In that sense I feel I have accomplished a lot in the last term and on the whole, am extremely proud of my efforts. If every term could be like the one I'm just about through, I'd almost want to stay at primary school longer. Maybe. By Edward T

Master and Commander Matthew S

When Mr. Tait mentions "Master and Commander" it reminds me of the last two lines of a Poem by William Ernest Henley (Invictus) "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul", when basically it describes that no matter how hard life can be, he is determined to become in charge of what becomes of him and hurdle the many barriers in the race of life. Everyone is commanding their life, choosing which path to take. He wrote this in a two year break from the many operations he was having whilst in an infirmary.

 I definitely think I'm in charge of what I do and how I act. It's easy to get carried away and take for granted the amount of freedom and space Mr. Tait creates for us, but when I realise how privileged we are it's so much easier just to concentrate and respect that freedom. I don't really rely on a "cox" and tend to work well if I'm in the right environment. I frequently ask my parents about their views about schooling now and how it was, normally I get " Kids these days seem to be so much more confident around the teachers and as a result everyone seems  naughtier and back when I went to school everyone was so much more applied. We never went on school trips to the theatre or a musical performance either." 

But overall I'm very proud of this term, I've kicked my I.S. off the ground and have earnt my Green Light. I'm really enjoying the Maths in Mr. B's class. I think 78T is a perfect class for me to learn in and I think it really shows. I can imagine my Independent study really well which is helping for directions to take it. 

Master And Commander

 Master And Commander

This year so far has been my best at Wellesley. It is very nice being a Year 8.I  have lots of activities, one of my favourites is being  librarian. A con with being  a Year 8 is that there is so much work.  I have done well overall this term and am getting along with people better. How have you done?

Master and Commander - Louis

I would say that I am quite in charge of what I do at school when doing work, as I can work independently, even though I can get distracted. I rely on Mr Tait maily on getting drafts in and for checking, but otherwise I get along by myself. I have once talked to my parents about how schools have changed, but they only directed it to their parents, when teachers used to beat the kids with a ruler/strap.

I am proud of what I have done this term as I finished all my stages rather early, but I fear I won't be working as hard as I have before from now on. I am most pround of the progress, as I said, on my Independent Study, that I have gone far on the four stages. I feel this class is great for me as I am generally independent and the study has been great for me. Skills I would like from other wou;d be to keep calm at all times, as it generally makes you more kind.

I am very happy with my effort, as I said earlier, as I hope to keep my pace throughout the year. My vision on my IND is that it is alot more open than last year and I will do better. My vision on my WNB is that I won't put as much time into it as my IND, but I will still try. Some changes I would need to make to get citizenship would be to be nicer to people.

~Louis

Master and Commander - Hugh

I am so surprised about how fast this term has gone, ( I reckon time goes faster the older you get). I'm very happy with the way my writing is going, I am very proud of my writing this year, although a couple of pieces have been a little bit ish, I still really like most pieces. I am glad I'm in 7/8T this year because I think I work better when I have time to myself, not set times doing this and set times doing that. I still need some one to motivate me and steer me along though, otherwise I might get quite off task. I do think my Ind study is coming on quite slowly because it is very hard and slow to get final copy's of inspirations , Solo's and Tsm's.

Mater and Commander - Callum B (Foamy)

This term is going well, although I consider myself a little behind on my I.S., but I'm doing  OK in my writer's notebook.
I'm enjoying being in 7/8T, although it is very different from other classrooms, and there is alot more homework :(
The best work I have done this term is probably art, and I enjoyed refugee day.
But so far, as I have said...

              THIS TERM HAS BEEN AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Mr. Foamy.
Apple Bunny Foundation C.E.O.

Master and Commander (WILLIAM D)

Read 'Master and Commander (New and improved) (WILLIAM D)' for my blog post. This was posted my mistake.

Master and commander - Callum H

I think this term has gone extremely fast. I've had lots of fun this term sporting wise and academicaly.  I'm really enjoying the WNB even thoe I've just been elimanated from this week's, and it was the best piece of writing I've done this term. My I.S is going well I think I'm right on track. So overall this term has been pretty good.

Master and Commander - Jin

Sometimes I really rely on the cox but there are also days where I wake up with an urge and find that I can do everything by myself. I have never had that conversation although now I may 'throw in on the dinner table' tonight. So far this year I have done very well and accomplished many things. Earlier this year I posted that I was a bit behind for my independent study. Since then I have caught up and hope to finish my S.O.L.O in the next couple of days. This term has been very memorable. One recent highlight was sailing. It was very fun and we sailed out to solmes island. This classroom is the perfect fit for me as there is the right mix of fun, and competetiveness. I like to think of myself as a very good allrounder but there are some people in this classroom who have skills and traits that I would love to have. This is not to say that I am not happy with myself.

Master and Commander HarryC

My first term of being a year eight at wellesley was great. Being year eight in 7/8T is a lot easier than being year seven. Being in 7/8T Mr Tait tends to just guide people along and doesn't seem to controll the boys as much as some of the other teachers do, I think that this is a way better way to teach. The skills I have learn't in 7/8T are very good skills like being more independent and a lot of other skills. Overall this term has been great and I can't wait till next term.
HarryC

Master and Commander JD

I think that this class is a very good fit for me. It's fun and the work is hard, but not too hard. I really hope I get green lighted by the end of the term, so I can start actual work. It's frustrating not starting because last year, before I was in this class, I would probably think getting green lighted would be easy and take two seconds. My WNB is fun, and I can't wait to see the booklet at the end of the year. My term has been very fun, I can't complain about anything. We've got cross country coming up, and if I get green lighted, those will top of the start of what will be a great year.

Master and Commander - Marcus

This term has been awesome! I am whizzing through my independent study this year. I have already got my 'Green Light' and nearly completed my first activity. I am finding that this year's work is easier than last year's because I already have experience from my last independent study and WNBs. My independent study in my opinion, has a decent shot at getting highly commended. My presentation might need a bit of extra work so as not to bore the other peoples skulls off.

Master and Commander Jesse

I think this term has gone really fast and I can't believe it is April already. I am the first Yr 7 to get a green light which I am really happy about.7/8T is an awesome class and way more fun than my previous classes. I like how our teacher is more of a guide or a cox instead of a commander who tells us what to do. My vision for my independent study is a booklet which will give someone a thorough guide to what wind power is about.

Master And Commander (Noah)

7/8T has gone really for me... mostly. I am aiming to get green lighted by the end of the term, cause I'm so close to finishing my S.O.L.O. I am definite that I'm getting better at writing :).
I'm glad that I didn't have to write out any lines/spelling sentences. I'm disappointed that i didn't get more WNB of the week/highly commended :(. Over all I'm surprised that the term has gone so fast.

Commander Leader Thomas Watties

78T is a great way for kids to learn to become independent because at college there are far larger classrooms and more boys per class. Us kids are very much in charge of our own learning and it is our job to decide how we learn. My first term has been very cool. I have learnt about all types of things and see some dramatic improvments in some WNB's. I believe finally understanding how the class works, this year I will make a much better effort for my IND Study. Although it is about quality not quantity I believe that this year year my booklet will be more bulky.

Master and Commander Henry C

I think that 7/8T is good compared to other classes because Mr Tait, I think is there to guide the way instead of tell us what to do and when to do it instead of other classes I have been in. My I.S feels like it is going really slowly because it takes a while to get a final copy for the inspiration, introduction and S.O.L.O. I am amazed how much concentration people can have all the time even when they don't feel like doing work at that time. I wish I could work hard all the time.

Master and Commander - Mr T

Boys you could be forgiven for thinking that this week's blog title is a reference to how I see myself in this classroom but this was NOT my intention.  This week I would like you to reflect on your first term of 2013 but before you do that, to consider your role in your learning.  I consider myself a 'guide' or, to use a rowing analogy, a cox - someone who steers, encourages, praises, and occasionally shouts at, his charges (if they are straying from the team goal).  How much do you think you are Master and Commander of your own learning?  How much do you rely on the cox ie me, Mr T?  Have you ever had a conversation with your parents to understand just how much schools + teaching/learning have changed?  Think for a minute about your last 10 and a bit weeks.  What have you accomplished?  What specific skill are you most proud of learning?  Do you consider this classroom as being the ideal 'fit' for you?  What specific work/study skill traits have you noticed in others as being traits you would like?  Are you generally happy with your effort?
What is your vision for your I.S.? Your WNB?  What specific changes will you need to make in order to have a better shot at citizenship?

Too much information George

I can't tell if information has been dumbed down as I haven't been alive long enough but the details of the books haven't. I find the mechanical hound scary and think that Beaty is crazy.( I mean, books, evil?) but all in all it is a really good book. Without the internet my independent study would be really hard seeing as I couldn't just fly over to Mexico for some pictures!

Too Much Information Nicholas

Bradbury captured future technologies very well for his time. I think that children today would interpret the book differently than children 10 or more years ago due to the rapidly changing technology. I do agree that both kids and adults argue a lot and moan from time to time and I think today's type are the more 'glass half empty' because of whats on offer and the who gets what situation (we should be grateful for what we get).

Beatty said that "A fireman can only have a book for twenty four hours and then he can either burn it or the fire department can burn it for him." It was nice of Beatty to warn Montag as he probably doesn't hate him.

We aren't really dumbing down we are just shortening our things to make room for other things, eg: the NZ Herald has changed from broadsheet to tabloid format.

If we couldn't use computers to do our independent study it would not really affect me as most of the information I will be finding won't be from the Internet and I could do my TSM and other tasks on paper but I would have to get the spelling perfect!

By: Nicholas

Too much Info Matthew

Beatty was explaining all about how fireman all question burning books sometime in their life and how he has the job of explaining everything. He says that books all say the same thing and should be disregarded, but ever since Montag's encounter with Clarisse, he has different ideas for how he perceives the way that this grim futuristic world is run by oppressive laws. So much has changed since 1953 and I think Ray Bradbury has done incredibly well at estimating what would happen in the future. I hear so many adults complain about how it was "back in the day" but really I don't see the point - you just need to get used to everything. As for I.S. without a computer, I  personally  think I would cope really well as I hardly use the computer - it's all books and people.

Too much Information Henry B-W

I would have to say having to technology would be hard but it wouldn't take long to get used to, because we didn't always have the technology we have today but they were still able to find information, its not like they were all stupid. Someone would have had to discover and create all this information we have and plus we need to use all our resources not just rely on the Internet. Our school has an amazing library but we aren't using it as much as we should.

'The Age Of Information' Luke

I personally have never heard complaints about information getting dumbed down, though I think that could be that could be the case in America and not here. There may well be 'too much information' but this also means that there are so many sources for us to get our information from it is more like to be correct. People say we live in the Age Of Information and there is knowledge and info all around us. My point is that information in NZ is not getting 'dumbed down' and that too much information is not  bad thing. However, I can see how Beatty would think. From now, information could get dumbed down and there are signs of it. Info could begin to evaporate and the future of Fahrenheit 451 could become realty, though this is extremely implausible. Still, it could express the author's fears about such a future.

Too much Information - Louis

From what I know, If you tried your independent study without the internet, It would be near impossible, even though in the old days they never had the internet. For a start, The pages of the independent study would be a lot less, due to lack of information. If you had an open topic, however, in a decent library you could find lots of information.

For my last year's topic, I wouldve been stuffed without the internet. You dont exactly find lots of books on constellations. This year, however, as a historical figure, there would be many books on Captain Cook as it is a lot more open.

Also, You wouldnt be able to copy and paste from wikipedia *Looks at a few people in the classroom*

Too much information Callum H

In my view the internet is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I have no idea whatsoever how I would manage an I.S without the internet, but I suppose the standard wouldn't be as high, ten or so years ago (Looking at the I.S Booklets from ten years ago).

To Much Information- Campbell

My dad is always telling me about what a powerful tool the internet is, and he is right.  I think that the internet is such a valuable tool for the Independent Study and that without it I would be lost.  We can research a topic and read about it in the time it would take to find a book in the library.  This is why I would be lost without the internet to help my Independent Study.

Too Much Information (Theo)

Really I think that books can be a good source of information, but might not have all the information you need. I think the internet is good for more specific information and also for general information, so if there was no internet my independent study might not be as detailed.

TOO MUCH INFORMATION (NOAH)

It would be horror if we had no access to the library. I could do my I.S. without the internet but if we had no books/library what would you do. Your life would be boring and monotonous and you would have to rely on the TV what a pointless life.

Too Much Information HarryC

If we didn't have internet Independent Studys would be very very different. If we didn't have internet some Independent Studys would be very out of date because new information would take a long time to be put in a book and published. I also think that Independent Studys would be a lot shorter because there wouldn't be as much information out there.

If things have been dumbed down I haven't been around long unuff to realise it. I have never had a thought that things had ever been dumbed down or shortened.
HarryC

To Much Info-Hugh

To be honest with you, I would suffer without the internet to do my Ind Study because in the library it is so hard to find info quickly and the library can almost be inconvenient. As the Internet is just there you don't have to really search for info.

Too Much Information Jesse

Nowadays, information travels very fast. For example, I knew that the pope had been elected the day he had been elected and I am thousands of kilometres away from him. I saw this interesting youtube clip with a bunch of facts for example:

• The amount of information you find in a copy of New York Times is equivalent to the amount of information an average person would come across in a lifetime in the 19th century. 
• Technology is advancing so fast that if you are taking a 4 year course in ICT, by the time you have reached your final year, half of what you've learnt is now outdated.
• 99% of what you know has been discovered in the last 50 years.

I think that I would have great difficulty with my independent study if all I had was access to a library. I think it is good to have dumb-downed information and information the way it was written. A teenager recently made a fortune in an app which summarizes news stories. But it is good to have sites like Wikipedia which don't dumb it down at all.

Too Much Info JD

Beatty explained that books could offend people and people had TVs and fast cars so they don't need more entertainment. I could do my I.S. without internet, but it would be hard. I have two and 1/2 years of truck magazines and heaps of truck books at my disposal, and I could use my grandads books, but internet can give people lots of info and I could get crash statistics, but I could just cope.

Too Much Information Jin

Not really that much to say. How's everyone going with their I.S. Can not imagine an I.S without internet and computers - especially in the very advanced technological world we live in.

Too much information Rob

Beatty thought that if there were no books then everyone would be the same and no one would know anything important about the world. A lot has changed since 1953 when farenheit 451 was published. And yes we do still moan about the 'dumbing down' of information. I think it would probably be a bit harder with no internet but most of my information so far has been from books so I think I would be in good shape.

Too much information Henry C

I think that I would be very stuck with my independent study without the internet because it would take you too long searching through heaps of books trying to find one bit of information that you could just search up on the internet.

Too much information...Mr T

After reading such a dramatic passage from Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 to you last week, it got me thinking about information and how it has changed since I was your age (1982 ish...ahhh those were the days).  The information landscape was so very different.  Things were slower and getting relevant, up to date information took time.  Sources were fewer and we perhaps didn't question them so much.  The internet and communication technology has changed things dramatically.  What did Beatty say to Montag and Mildred when he came to check Montag (who was 'sick')?  What was his reason for the censorship of books?  Has anything changed from 1953 when F451 was published?  Do we still moan and whinge (mainly adults I suspect) about the 'dumbing down' of information?  How do you think you would go with your I.S. if you only had access to a library and no contact with the web?