Happy Holidays!
Somehow the time has passed quickly in 2B since my last post. I hope your child has been filling you in with all the wonderful news from 2B. Thanks so much for the communications I'm receiving and the support you are giving your child. The next few weeks will be very busy for all of us. I can't help but get into the spirit when I'm surrounded by the excitement of this group of children.
*This month we are continuing to work on The Daily Five: Read to Yourself, Read to Someone, Work on Writing, Listen to Reading, and Word Work. I really believe that the students are more engaged in their reading and writing. It allows some choice while requiring some independent literacy habits and responsibility to the instructional routine. My hope is that the children transfer their habits to lifelong learning.
* Working with Words : We are continuing as well with the word families and sounds. This will strengthen the children's ability to "chunk" words for decoding. Please keep reviewing the End of Grade One sight words that were sent home. We will be playing Sight Word Bingo this week so I'm looking forward to seeing the children demonstrate recognition of those frequently used words. I am almost ready to launch an independent spelling program for your child. Students will start at various places on the high-frequency list so the spellings should be suitable for your child's individual needs.
*We have been practicing 3 addition atrategies: doubles, doubles + 1, and Adding on 1,2 or 3. Regular practice of these facts will help your child. We have worked on greater than and less than when comparing numbers, equal and unequal, even and odd and problem solving. We are also learning how to represent two-digit numbers in different ways. The class likes to make numbers with the manipulatives on the place value chart.
* A reminder to keep up with the recording of your child's nightly reading. Students were eager to see their totals on their reading certificates last month. This record is a great way to track the types of books your child is reading as well.
*Candy Cane Sale : Madame Laurie Ann’s Gr. 1 class is doing a fundraiser for the CBC turkey drive. There will be a place at the Christmas Concert for you to place your order ($0.25). The children will then receive the candy canes the next day.
*Guest Readers : Over the next few weeks, I would like to invite any parents or grandparents to read one or two favorite Christmas stories to our class. It will take about 10-15 minutes of your time. Students will be bringing home your invitation this week. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
Dec. 16 - Christmas Concert
Dec. 22 - Last day of school
Monday, November 8, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Today's snow was very exciting but there were lots of cold heads, fingers and toes. Please dress your child with the necessary gear to enjoy the outdoors. Layering might be helpful because our classroom temperature also fluctuates and an open window is good to keep the air circulating. If the sweater is available, your child has an option should he/she be warm or cold. I'd also like to suggest that your child have an extra pair of socks and mittens in his/her backpack.Labelling your child's clothing and belongings is always appreciated.
I'm noticing some children are exiting the room frequently for drinks at the fountain so I'm encouraging the children to bring a water bottle. Please send it empty to be filled at the fountain though as we've had a few wet homework bags and backpacks.
This month, our Home and School have planned a number of activities for the students to participate in and the money goes toward adopting families for Christmas.Our class also has 2 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child (www.samaritanspurse.ca). Students are invited to bring just one item (small toy, school supplies, hygiene item,etc) for a boy or girl and together we can brighten the life of a child in a developing country for Christmas. We will also write cheerful notes to the children. This is just another way to show the children that they can make a difference.
A big "Thank-you" to all the families who sent in snacks for Halloween. It was a fun day!
Important dates:
Nov. 9 - Parent-Teacher interviews (evening)
-Crazy Hat Day for Loonie Tuesdays
-Bake Sale
-Book Fair
Nov. 10 - Book Fair
Nov. 11 - Remembrance Day (no school)
Nov. 12 - Parent-Teacher interviews (no school for the children)
-Book Fair
Nov. 16 - Backwards Day for Loonie Tuesdays
Nov. 23 - Favorite Team/Jersey Day for Loonie Tuesdays
Nov. 26 - PD day (no school for the children)
Nov. 30 - Red & Green Day for Loonie Tuesdays
I'm noticing some children are exiting the room frequently for drinks at the fountain so I'm encouraging the children to bring a water bottle. Please send it empty to be filled at the fountain though as we've had a few wet homework bags and backpacks.
This month, our Home and School have planned a number of activities for the students to participate in and the money goes toward adopting families for Christmas.Our class also has 2 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child (www.samaritanspurse.ca). Students are invited to bring just one item (small toy, school supplies, hygiene item,etc) for a boy or girl and together we can brighten the life of a child in a developing country for Christmas. We will also write cheerful notes to the children. This is just another way to show the children that they can make a difference.
A big "Thank-you" to all the families who sent in snacks for Halloween. It was a fun day!
Important dates:
Nov. 9 - Parent-Teacher interviews (evening)
-Crazy Hat Day for Loonie Tuesdays
-Bake Sale
-Book Fair
Nov. 10 - Book Fair
Nov. 11 - Remembrance Day (no school)
Nov. 12 - Parent-Teacher interviews (no school for the children)
-Book Fair
Nov. 16 - Backwards Day for Loonie Tuesdays
Nov. 23 - Favorite Team/Jersey Day for Loonie Tuesdays
Nov. 26 - PD day (no school for the children)
Nov. 30 - Red & Green Day for Loonie Tuesdays
Monday, October 25, 2010
The students in 2B had a wonderful "Camp Wannaread" experience today. Together we had a total of 2010 minutes of reading. It was suggested by one student that, as Camp Director, I should have brought the ingredients for s'mores. Smiles.
With Halloween fast approaching, I thought I should review the plan for Friday. Students can wear their costumes to school in the morning but should bring regular clothes incase they want to take the costume off. The Halloween activities are in the afternoon so children may just want to put their costume on at noon. Masks and accessories that are weapon-like should be left at home. No make-up will be applied at school. Please explain to your child that those details are to be saved for Halloween night. The children will be playing outside at recess as usual so they need to dress appropriately for the weather. Students should not plan on changing into and out of costumes multiple times. A couple of children have asked about bringing treats and healthy snacks to share for recess (10:15 a.m.)Friday is Hotdog day. If you'd like to do so, a friendly reminder about NUT allergies. As well, there are 18 students in the class. Please let me know in your child's agenda if you can help out with this.
Next week and for as long as the treats last (smile), please limit your child's lunch box to one treat for recess snack and one for lunchtime. I'd appreciate your support with this.
Happy Halloween!
With Halloween fast approaching, I thought I should review the plan for Friday. Students can wear their costumes to school in the morning but should bring regular clothes incase they want to take the costume off. The Halloween activities are in the afternoon so children may just want to put their costume on at noon. Masks and accessories that are weapon-like should be left at home. No make-up will be applied at school. Please explain to your child that those details are to be saved for Halloween night. The children will be playing outside at recess as usual so they need to dress appropriately for the weather. Students should not plan on changing into and out of costumes multiple times. A couple of children have asked about bringing treats and healthy snacks to share for recess (10:15 a.m.)Friday is Hotdog day. If you'd like to do so, a friendly reminder about NUT allergies. As well, there are 18 students in the class. Please let me know in your child's agenda if you can help out with this.
Next week and for as long as the treats last (smile), please limit your child's lunch box to one treat for recess snack and one for lunchtime. I'd appreciate your support with this.
Happy Halloween!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Million Minute Challenge
Monday, October 25th is Million Minute Day at Greenfield and other participating Island Schools. Our class will be doing reading activities and recording our minutes toward a school total. It's all about promoting Literacy. Your child can bring a comfy pillow, one reading buddy and some books from home to read on Monday.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Hello folks,
A friendly reminder to please pack a hat and mittens in your child's backpack, as well as an extra sweater or warmer jacket to keep your child warm at this time of year.
Please ask your child to tell you about his/her H.W. reading book before you share it (retell, comprehension). Then let your child read it to you. If there is a challenging word in the text, he/she should be practicing the reading strategies on the bookmark. Reading aloud also builds fluency (smoothness vs bumpy reading).So far the assigned books should all be the easy level but I'd appreciate your feedback in your child's agenda. I have been working to assess each child to find their independent level. Please talk with your child and ask him/her questions about the story. Reading is getting meaning from print so understanding what he/she reads is key. We have been practicing our reading groups and learning that readers "think" when they read. Three ways to read a book are to read the pictures (supports the text), read the text and retell stories they have already read.
We have been "building" words each day using small card stock letters. This activity allows the children to explore their knowledge of sounds and to practice spelling patterns (like word families), beginning and ending sounds, etc. It's a neat problem solving activity for the children to take one letter from or add one letter or move just one letter, etc. to make a new word.
We are continuing to work with word families and are now using the H.W. read-aloud poems/songs for word study. Tonight the children had to look for rhyming words and plurals(words that mean more than one). In the future, we can also look at contractions, compound words, word ending, etc. in this way.
In math, we have explored the hundreds chart and patterns. We have worked on "even" and "odd" numbers and the children discovered the rules that even numbers end with a 0,2,4,6 or 8. Odd numbers end with a 1,3,5,7 or 9 digit. They demonstrated with beans that a chosen number was even (shared equally by 2 people) or odd. We still need practice with counting in different ways. Please spill out some nickels so your child can practice counting forward and backward by 5's, some dimes so he/she can count by 10's, etc. Try calling out a number less than 100 and having your child print it or touch it on the 100's chart. Collect a little baggie of things (buttons, cheerios, small toys, etc) and have your child group and count the items in different ways. Strategies for adding numbers are useful,more efficient and acceptable than using one's fingers. On Wed. I will be sending home supports for our first strategy: adding doubles.
This is just a hint of what we've been up to in 2B. I'm really pleased with the level of interest in learning most of the students are displaying. They are wonderful children.
* Watch for an office memo explaining our upcoming Halloween plans.
* I'd like to suggest that your child have a spot or basket at home to keep supports like flashcards (coming tomorrow). I'd like you to encourage and reuse these supports.
*Please return the "Sweets" game that was sent home last Wed. We'd like to continue to use it at school.
*If you have any question, just drop me a note in your child's agenda.
Thank-you!
A friendly reminder to please pack a hat and mittens in your child's backpack, as well as an extra sweater or warmer jacket to keep your child warm at this time of year.
Please ask your child to tell you about his/her H.W. reading book before you share it (retell, comprehension). Then let your child read it to you. If there is a challenging word in the text, he/she should be practicing the reading strategies on the bookmark. Reading aloud also builds fluency (smoothness vs bumpy reading).So far the assigned books should all be the easy level but I'd appreciate your feedback in your child's agenda. I have been working to assess each child to find their independent level. Please talk with your child and ask him/her questions about the story. Reading is getting meaning from print so understanding what he/she reads is key. We have been practicing our reading groups and learning that readers "think" when they read. Three ways to read a book are to read the pictures (supports the text), read the text and retell stories they have already read.
We have been "building" words each day using small card stock letters. This activity allows the children to explore their knowledge of sounds and to practice spelling patterns (like word families), beginning and ending sounds, etc. It's a neat problem solving activity for the children to take one letter from or add one letter or move just one letter, etc. to make a new word.
We are continuing to work with word families and are now using the H.W. read-aloud poems/songs for word study. Tonight the children had to look for rhyming words and plurals(words that mean more than one). In the future, we can also look at contractions, compound words, word ending, etc. in this way.
In math, we have explored the hundreds chart and patterns. We have worked on "even" and "odd" numbers and the children discovered the rules that even numbers end with a 0,2,4,6 or 8. Odd numbers end with a 1,3,5,7 or 9 digit. They demonstrated with beans that a chosen number was even (shared equally by 2 people) or odd. We still need practice with counting in different ways. Please spill out some nickels so your child can practice counting forward and backward by 5's, some dimes so he/she can count by 10's, etc. Try calling out a number less than 100 and having your child print it or touch it on the 100's chart. Collect a little baggie of things (buttons, cheerios, small toys, etc) and have your child group and count the items in different ways. Strategies for adding numbers are useful,more efficient and acceptable than using one's fingers. On Wed. I will be sending home supports for our first strategy: adding doubles.
This is just a hint of what we've been up to in 2B. I'm really pleased with the level of interest in learning most of the students are displaying. They are wonderful children.
* Watch for an office memo explaining our upcoming Halloween plans.
* I'd like to suggest that your child have a spot or basket at home to keep supports like flashcards (coming tomorrow). I'd like you to encourage and reuse these supports.
*Please return the "Sweets" game that was sent home last Wed. We'd like to continue to use it at school.
*If you have any question, just drop me a note in your child's agenda.
Thank-you!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Fall is here!
The students generated a great list of things they might see around them as the season changes. Our discussion talked about how animals and people might prepare for colder weather. They are encouraged to bring in pictures of fall things from old magazines, flyers, real photos, etc.
Sept. 30 is our Terry Fox Walk in support of the Marathon of Hope.
In math, we are continuing to work on Patterns and Number Sense. We have been creating, describing and extending patterns using attributes like color, shape and size. We have been reviewing counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's forward and backward. This is difficult for some children so please practice this often, orally and written. Students should be able to use ordinal numbers: first, second, third, etc. We have also been playing the Mystery Number game on the Hundreds Chart. This is a great way for the children to use the math vocabulary like even and odd numbers, greater than or less than, etc. A Hundreds Chart has been provided in the yellow homework duotang. Please use it to have your child identify a number, count in different ways, etc. Next week we will be starting addition strategies. I will send home flashcards and hints for helping your child learn the math facts.
Please continue to work on printing with your child. I have been stressing the proper way to form upper and lower case letters as well as proper spacing between words. The purpose of communicating in written form is so that someone else can understand it. Students are learning how to write in sentences using capital letters at the start and punctuation at the end. We have had a lot of fun with the word families. We were able to make over 50 words together with the letters in "Autumn is here!" Please have your child review the songs/poems in the yellow duotang.
I am excited about the skills the children used in completing the Clifford Stations. Please take the time to have your child show you their booklets.
We are almost ready to start our reading groups. When a school book is assigned for home reading, remember that it may need support but the book shouldn't be too difficult. I am working on getting to know each reader so watch for books (and bookmarks) next week.
Thanks for all the notes, healthy lunches and well rested children. They are a wonderful group of boys and girls!
The students generated a great list of things they might see around them as the season changes. Our discussion talked about how animals and people might prepare for colder weather. They are encouraged to bring in pictures of fall things from old magazines, flyers, real photos, etc.
Sept. 30 is our Terry Fox Walk in support of the Marathon of Hope.
In math, we are continuing to work on Patterns and Number Sense. We have been creating, describing and extending patterns using attributes like color, shape and size. We have been reviewing counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's forward and backward. This is difficult for some children so please practice this often, orally and written. Students should be able to use ordinal numbers: first, second, third, etc. We have also been playing the Mystery Number game on the Hundreds Chart. This is a great way for the children to use the math vocabulary like even and odd numbers, greater than or less than, etc. A Hundreds Chart has been provided in the yellow homework duotang. Please use it to have your child identify a number, count in different ways, etc. Next week we will be starting addition strategies. I will send home flashcards and hints for helping your child learn the math facts.
Please continue to work on printing with your child. I have been stressing the proper way to form upper and lower case letters as well as proper spacing between words. The purpose of communicating in written form is so that someone else can understand it. Students are learning how to write in sentences using capital letters at the start and punctuation at the end. We have had a lot of fun with the word families. We were able to make over 50 words together with the letters in "Autumn is here!" Please have your child review the songs/poems in the yellow duotang.
I am excited about the skills the children used in completing the Clifford Stations. Please take the time to have your child show you their booklets.
We are almost ready to start our reading groups. When a school book is assigned for home reading, remember that it may need support but the book shouldn't be too difficult. I am working on getting to know each reader so watch for books (and bookmarks) next week.
Thanks for all the notes, healthy lunches and well rested children. They are a wonderful group of boys and girls!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sept. 22
Today I introduced the class to www.starfall.com.
It is a wonderful educational site for many skills: letter recognition, distinguishing between uppercase/lowercase letters, sounds, word families, etc. I recommend you and your child use it regularily. Your child can also navigate it independently. It teaches skills, reinforces the skill and then has your child practice the skill. Enjoy!
It is a wonderful educational site for many skills: letter recognition, distinguishing between uppercase/lowercase letters, sounds, word families, etc. I recommend you and your child use it regularily. Your child can also navigate it independently. It teaches skills, reinforces the skill and then has your child practice the skill. Enjoy!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Week of Sept. 20
This morning we started "Clifford" learning stations in the library. Students worked in small groups to complete different tasks that support the Language Arts outcomes. The stations included working with the glossary and index of non-fiction books about dogs; searching the computer database for book info.; reading a poem and locating rhyming words, 2 syllable words, etc.; answering questions about the story; editing a paragraph about Clifford, etc. It was also intended to be a co-operative experience to foster teamwork and independence. The class seemed to enjoy it.
Tonight your child has brought home a homework duotang as well as the agenda.It should be returned each day. It will have supports for you and your child as well as a reading log sheet. Please record the title of the book you read with your child each night and sign the page. I will check these each Friday and award stickers to encourage nightly reading. I also included a page of suggestions to talk with your child about after the book is shared. We used some of these last week when the class brought books from home to share. Finally I have provided printing pages for you to review and use regularily to aid in your child's printing. We have a printing book in class as well. It's important that your child is forming the letters properly. The printing behaviours for Grade 2 include: holding a pencil corectly, writing on the lines with spaces between words, formation of each letter, left to right direction starting at the margin, use of upper and lower letters appropriately and legibility. Please provide your child with the necessary tools at home so that they can practice printing, make book, write a note,etc. We have discussed that writing is communication and that they each have great ideas to share. Not everyone will need regular practice but spend some time working on the letters to discover what your child may need help with. The large blank page is where your child is to practice tonight and bring tomorrow as homework. The pages in the duotang are a place for your child to trace with a finger or a model to look at. Please don't mark on the resource pages or remove any pages from the duotang.
Other:
Scholastic book orders due tomorrow as well as Highlights and Chickadee magazine offers.
Photo day is Wed.
School fund-raising due next Mon. Sept. 27
National Terry Fox School Run/Walk Sept. 30. $1 donation/child is appreciated.
Tonight your child has brought home a homework duotang as well as the agenda.It should be returned each day. It will have supports for you and your child as well as a reading log sheet. Please record the title of the book you read with your child each night and sign the page. I will check these each Friday and award stickers to encourage nightly reading. I also included a page of suggestions to talk with your child about after the book is shared. We used some of these last week when the class brought books from home to share. Finally I have provided printing pages for you to review and use regularily to aid in your child's printing. We have a printing book in class as well. It's important that your child is forming the letters properly. The printing behaviours for Grade 2 include: holding a pencil corectly, writing on the lines with spaces between words, formation of each letter, left to right direction starting at the margin, use of upper and lower letters appropriately and legibility. Please provide your child with the necessary tools at home so that they can practice printing, make book, write a note,etc. We have discussed that writing is communication and that they each have great ideas to share. Not everyone will need regular practice but spend some time working on the letters to discover what your child may need help with. The large blank page is where your child is to practice tonight and bring tomorrow as homework. The pages in the duotang are a place for your child to trace with a finger or a model to look at. Please don't mark on the resource pages or remove any pages from the duotang.
Other:
Scholastic book orders due tomorrow as well as Highlights and Chickadee magazine offers.
Photo day is Wed.
School fund-raising due next Mon. Sept. 27
National Terry Fox School Run/Walk Sept. 30. $1 donation/child is appreciated.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Welcome Back
2B - Grade 2 English
Welcome Back to school! I hope each and everyone had a wonderful summer vacation.
The first few weeks of Grade 2 will include activities that will help create a positive learning environment for everyone. Students will have an opportunity to get-to-know their classmates, celebrate similarities and differences and learn the importance of respect. We will work on being good citizens which I hope will last all year.
Our first literacy focus is learning about choosing just right books. Then the children will be taught to self-monitor: asking themselves who, what, when, where, why and how. Good readers are always thinking when reading and this is essential for comprehension. It is my hope that the girls and boys will get hooked on reading this year. The "Top Ten Ways" to become better readers are: 1.read, 2.read, 3.read, 4.read, 5.read, 6.read, 7.read, 8.read,9. read and 10. read. By reading at home, you are being a great role-model for your child.
We will be doing a review of the math outcomes from Gr. 1 and then launching into patterning as our first unit. Our new curriculum is very hands-on where the children learn by doing so I will be sending home math games/activites from time to time.
Your child has an agenda and a homework pouch which should come to school daily. Please use the agenda as a communication book with me. Check it nightly for any assignments or news. I will try my best to update this blog weekly. H.W. will mainly consist of nightly reading with your child and review of such things as math strategies, math facts, sight words, and "no excuse" words (spellings).
I'm looking forward to a great year with your children. I hope to meet you at Parent Night on Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Welcome Back to school! I hope each and everyone had a wonderful summer vacation.
The first few weeks of Grade 2 will include activities that will help create a positive learning environment for everyone. Students will have an opportunity to get-to-know their classmates, celebrate similarities and differences and learn the importance of respect. We will work on being good citizens which I hope will last all year.
Our first literacy focus is learning about choosing just right books. Then the children will be taught to self-monitor: asking themselves who, what, when, where, why and how. Good readers are always thinking when reading and this is essential for comprehension. It is my hope that the girls and boys will get hooked on reading this year. The "Top Ten Ways" to become better readers are: 1.read, 2.read, 3.read, 4.read, 5.read, 6.read, 7.read, 8.read,9. read and 10. read. By reading at home, you are being a great role-model for your child.
We will be doing a review of the math outcomes from Gr. 1 and then launching into patterning as our first unit. Our new curriculum is very hands-on where the children learn by doing so I will be sending home math games/activites from time to time.
Your child has an agenda and a homework pouch which should come to school daily. Please use the agenda as a communication book with me. Check it nightly for any assignments or news. I will try my best to update this blog weekly. H.W. will mainly consist of nightly reading with your child and review of such things as math strategies, math facts, sight words, and "no excuse" words (spellings).
I'm looking forward to a great year with your children. I hope to meet you at Parent Night on Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Grade Three Archives
How to Play Coordinates Math Game
(This works like the game of Battleships.)
*2 people sitting so you cannot see the others playing grid.
*Object of the game is to locate all your opponent's pennies by coordinates (ie: E4, A6, etc.
Each player places 4 pennies (can be more but less would be too difficult) on their own grid, one per box.
Players take turns guessing a location of your opponent's penny and recording the missed guesses on their own sheet.
Your opponent will record his/her guesses on his/her recording sheet. If the guess is accurate, he/she gets your penny. You get their penny if you "hit" the right location.
Take turns guessing, recording until someone has captures all their opponents pennies.
Enjoy!
(This works like the game of Battleships.)
*2 people sitting so you cannot see the others playing grid.
*Object of the game is to locate all your opponent's pennies by coordinates (ie: E4, A6, etc.
Each player places 4 pennies (can be more but less would be too difficult) on their own grid, one per box.
Players take turns guessing a location of your opponent's penny and recording the missed guesses on their own sheet.
Your opponent will record his/her guesses on his/her recording sheet. If the guess is accurate, he/she gets your penny. You get their penny if you "hit" the right location.
Take turns guessing, recording until someone has captures all their opponents pennies.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, Feb.23, 2010
*This week we've increased the challenge in our Spelling Program by including 6 Superwords for a total of 18 words/week. Some children were very keen to try these "harder" words. We will all "give it a go" for a few weeks but please let me know if you feel it is too much for your child. May I remind you that the weekly spelling tests are only one way to assess your child's spelling performance. Application of the words in daily writing is a desired goal but also use of the "making word" activities we do in class. This week we are learning 4 words with the "ight" pattern. Your child should be able to put other consonants or blends in front and attempt to read and write words they may never have studied, like "sight" or "flight", because they see the word family pattern. As well, they are learning about adding endings to base words and it's powerful for children to learn that if they know "start", they can spell "starts, started, starting and even, startling". What I am hoping is that when you work together to learn these words, you are noting the patterns, rhymes, ending, blends,etc and are "working with words" together.
* I sent home some web sites on Monday. Please review these to support your child's learning. Sometimes the interactiveness can have more appeal that the pencil/paper method to work on math concepts, sounds, etc.
*You should have all reviewed the project assignment for our novel Strange Lake Adventure. We have worked together in class to make predictions, infer, compare/contract, describe, explore new vocabulary, etc. as we've been reading. With just a few chapters left, your child should be thinking of some possible scenes in the book that he/she may want to recreate in the diorama. We will be done reading by Friday and then project work may begin. I would like the children to keep their book in backpacks to refer to as they work but it also needs to be available daily at school. Due date for the diorama will be Tuesday, March 11.
*Regular attendance and being on time for school is very important. Much of our daily work cannot be done at home so being present to participate in the learning is key for your child`s success.
*Report cards will be sent home on Tuesday. Interviews will be Thurs. March 4 after school and evening, also Friday, March 5. If you have a time preference, please let me know. We hope to follow the same schedule as last time to accomodate those who have more than one teacher to visit. Please let me know if you cannot attend. Thanks!
*This week we've increased the challenge in our Spelling Program by including 6 Superwords for a total of 18 words/week. Some children were very keen to try these "harder" words. We will all "give it a go" for a few weeks but please let me know if you feel it is too much for your child. May I remind you that the weekly spelling tests are only one way to assess your child's spelling performance. Application of the words in daily writing is a desired goal but also use of the "making word" activities we do in class. This week we are learning 4 words with the "ight" pattern. Your child should be able to put other consonants or blends in front and attempt to read and write words they may never have studied, like "sight" or "flight", because they see the word family pattern. As well, they are learning about adding endings to base words and it's powerful for children to learn that if they know "start", they can spell "starts, started, starting and even, startling". What I am hoping is that when you work together to learn these words, you are noting the patterns, rhymes, ending, blends,etc and are "working with words" together.
* I sent home some web sites on Monday. Please review these to support your child's learning. Sometimes the interactiveness can have more appeal that the pencil/paper method to work on math concepts, sounds, etc.
*You should have all reviewed the project assignment for our novel Strange Lake Adventure. We have worked together in class to make predictions, infer, compare/contract, describe, explore new vocabulary, etc. as we've been reading. With just a few chapters left, your child should be thinking of some possible scenes in the book that he/she may want to recreate in the diorama. We will be done reading by Friday and then project work may begin. I would like the children to keep their book in backpacks to refer to as they work but it also needs to be available daily at school. Due date for the diorama will be Tuesday, March 11.
*Regular attendance and being on time for school is very important. Much of our daily work cannot be done at home so being present to participate in the learning is key for your child`s success.
*Report cards will be sent home on Tuesday. Interviews will be Thurs. March 4 after school and evening, also Friday, March 5. If you have a time preference, please let me know. We hope to follow the same schedule as last time to accomodate those who have more than one teacher to visit. Please let me know if you cannot attend. Thanks!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Week of Feb. 8, 2010
It's a good thing this blog wasn't included in my New Year Resolutions as I have fallen out of the routine. We have been very busy in 3A. I hope your child has been telling you about his/her learning activities and school days. If not, please ask him/her.
* We are having a Flag Day assembly on Friday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. You are invited. Students are asked to wear red and white in honor of being Canadian. We will also be exchanging our "friendship" cards and celebrating Day 1 of the Olympics.
* In class we have been talking about our place in the global world; community,town, province, country,and finally continent. As well, we have been discussing current events in conjunction with the Olympics. Your child has been asked to bring in current events (newspaper clipping, internet articles, etc)about the Olympics, the countries participating, the althletes, the sporting events,our hometown heros... for the duration of the games.
* Our novel study (Strange Lake Adventures)should wrap up next week.I'll send home the "shoebox" project sheet when we are done. Next week, I hope we can go snowshoeing on the school grounds like the main characters have in our book.
* There's a 50 word spelling test on Friday.
* Some students are arriving at school without winter wear and I remind you that the children play outside twice everyday. Please plan ahead.
* A reminder to call the school/or write a note if your child is going to be absent otherwise the attendance will show as "unexcused".
* Islander Day, Feb. 19. No school.
* We are having a Flag Day assembly on Friday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. You are invited. Students are asked to wear red and white in honor of being Canadian. We will also be exchanging our "friendship" cards and celebrating Day 1 of the Olympics.
* In class we have been talking about our place in the global world; community,town, province, country,and finally continent. As well, we have been discussing current events in conjunction with the Olympics. Your child has been asked to bring in current events (newspaper clipping, internet articles, etc)about the Olympics, the countries participating, the althletes, the sporting events,our hometown heros... for the duration of the games.
* Our novel study (Strange Lake Adventures)should wrap up next week.I'll send home the "shoebox" project sheet when we are done. Next week, I hope we can go snowshoeing on the school grounds like the main characters have in our book.
* There's a 50 word spelling test on Friday.
* Some students are arriving at school without winter wear and I remind you that the children play outside twice everyday. Please plan ahead.
* A reminder to call the school/or write a note if your child is going to be absent otherwise the attendance will show as "unexcused".
* Islander Day, Feb. 19. No school.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
January 4 - 8, 2010
Happy New Year!
I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday season. The children and I would like to say "Thank you" to our guest readers before Christmas. It was joy to have you visit.
Now it's time to settle back into the routines of school life. Our regular homework (reading and spelling)has started up again. Please assist your child in completing the assignments and being organized. *Remember "spellingcity.com" at least once weekly for studying spelling list words. We have "look,say,cover,write,check" folders in our classroom now. Ask your child how it works as you may want to create one at home.
*We have a new "team" seating arrangement in 3A.
*We will be starting a class novel study soon. As well as our theme, "Magnetism".
*Your child will need an empty shoebox for another "home" project by the end of January. More info. to come.
*This is a request for your child to please bring in a box of kleenex as our shared supply is almost gone.
Thanks very much.
Ms.H
I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday season. The children and I would like to say "Thank you" to our guest readers before Christmas. It was joy to have you visit.
Now it's time to settle back into the routines of school life. Our regular homework (reading and spelling)has started up again. Please assist your child in completing the assignments and being organized. *Remember "spellingcity.com" at least once weekly for studying spelling list words. We have "look,say,cover,write,check" folders in our classroom now. Ask your child how it works as you may want to create one at home.
*We have a new "team" seating arrangement in 3A.
*We will be starting a class novel study soon. As well as our theme, "Magnetism".
*Your child will need an empty shoebox for another "home" project by the end of January. More info. to come.
*This is a request for your child to please bring in a box of kleenex as our shared supply is almost gone.
Thanks very much.
Ms.H
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