Class on Air Observation

Class on Air Observation Notes

This week, I observed Kelsey from Pt England School teach a Year 5-6 reading lesson through Manaiakalani's Class on Air. The focus was on the text Journey on the Sea, with an emphasis on water safety and understanding the author’s purpose.

Lesson Highlights

• Before Reading: The class brainstormed water safety ideas after watching a video, connecting these to prior swimming lessons.
• Guided Reading: Students used Chromebooks to read the text, answer questions, and infer meaning.
• After Reading: They worked in groups to review the text, create water safety GIFs, and share their work on blogs.

The lesson connected to real-life experiences, making it engaging and meaningful. Students built on prior learning about the author’s purpose, and even quieter students felt encouraged to participate. Kelsey shared in her reflection that using Chromebooks instead of journals was a distraction for some students—a challenge I can relate to in my own teaching.

Takeaways : 

• Real-life connections keep students engaged.
• Being flexible is key when things don’t go to plan.
• Encouraging quiet students builds their confidence.
• Devices are great but need careful management to minimise distractions.

This lesson inspired me to use creative tasks and real-world links in my teaching while staying mindful of potential distractions.

If you would like to watch the Class on Air Lesson I have written about, click here.

Thank you Kelsey for sharing your mahi for us to learn from!