November 30

Can you believe that tomorrow is already December 1?  I cannot believe how fast time has flown by.

First thing this morning we had a practice fire drill.  The kids were great and knew exactly what to do.  They exited the building quickly and quietly.

This morning in my guided reading group I worked on an informational text writing response.  This group is working on a text about Coral Reefs.  

This morning we also had another Christmas Concert practice but this time only with Ms. Thomas' class.

As I prepare to write report cards I am collecting data about how each student is performing.  Today we did a writing task where the students looked at a picture and created a story.  They first had to plan out their ideas and I reminded them to use the skills taught in class.  Those skills are posted on the previous blog.  We will finish this task tomorrow.

Today during Words their Way, I worked with a group on making words plural.  We learned a rule for when to add s or es.  You add an es when words end with ch, sh, s or x.  If a word does not end with any of these you simply add an s to make it plural.

In math we worked on the following basic facts strategies:
1. doubles
2. doubles plus 1
3. doubles minus 1
4. make 10
Please please please practice these strategies at home.  We learned to play a game called double dice.  Your child can show you how to play this game.

Caitlynn presented us yesterday with the following word problem.  Please go over this with your child.
If you travel at 80km/hr how long will it take you to travel 80 kilometres?  What about 160km?

No School on Friday.  It is a PD day for teachers.

Have a wonderful evening.  Looks like it is going to be getting a lot colder over the next few days.  At least we made it to December with no snow.

November 29

Today during guided reading I worked with a group on a new book called Puppy in Training.  This is a non-fiction text about training puppies to be service dogs for people who are blind.  Our goal during this book introduction was to learn to make connections between the information we read and read life experiences or other texts we have read.  

This morning we had a Christmas Concert practice with all of the grade 3s in the hub.  It was amazing.  I will be practicing the songs with the kids over the next little bit.

During Writer's Workshop we made a list of all of the skills we need to practice over the next few weeks.  Here is our list.  This list will be printed out and kept in each child's writing folder for future reference.

Writing Expectations

1.   Use punctuation (! , . ? “ “)

2.  Use details, juicy words and triple scoop words

3.  Use capitals

4.  Add an interesting beginning

-    dialogue (characters talking)

-    onomatopoeia (repeat the same word)

-    ask a question

-    sound word (boom)

-    start with a  fact

5.Use similies

6. Edit your work using 3, 2, 1 Edit

 Writing Genres:

1.   climbing story (fiction, beginning, middle and end)

2.  personal narrative (a story about your own experience)

3.  informational narrative (non-fiction, facts)

4.  from another person’s perspective

In Math we continued to work on telling time.  We had a lot of fun working with some mini clocks.  We worked in partners, made a time on the clock and then challenged our partner to read the time.

We also did one round of Math Daily 3.  We practiced the job Math Literacy.  This job involves reading a math book and writing down math vocabulary and re-telling what was read/learned.  I am going to add something new to this job.  I will have the kids also write any wonders they have while reading.

At the end of the day we worked in our inquiry groups.

On Thursday Mrs. Quilley will be coming to work with us using Dash.  Tyson thinks it is important that I explain what Dash is.  Dash is a mini robot that you connect to an ipad and use a special app that programs it to move and do other special things.  We will also talk about standard and non-standard forms of measurement as we see how far we can make Dash move.

Have a wonderful evening.

November 28

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  

Today at school we had a great day!  In guided reading we were working on being reporters.  We learned that reporters tell others information.  As a reporter during guided reading, it is the reader's responsibility to report the who, what and where of the story they are reading.  We are working on writing these ideas down on paper.

During writer's workshop we learned about triple scoop words.  We compared a writer to an artist.  We learned that artist start with a blank canvas and then they mix colors together that they choose very carefully to send a message to their viewer.  As a writer we must choose our words very carefully to send a message to our reader and to keep them interested. Artists and writers have the same purpose but use different methods.  Here are some examples of single scoop words that we changed into triple scoop words.  We said single scoop words are like a single scoop of ice cream....it always leaves you wanting more. This is where the triple scoop words come in.

Big- monstrous, gigantic
Small - tiny, itsy bitsy, teeny
Sad - depressed, devestated

Please add some triple scoop words to this blog on the comments.

In math we continue to work on telling time.  Thursday will be our last day for this and then we will be moving on.  Please practice telling time at home.

At the end of the day we watched a short video on sound by Bill Nye the Science Guy.  During this time we worked on creating a wonder journal.  We made a title page and a page devoted solely to sound wonders.  Tomorrow we will be working with Mrs. Thomas' class on our sound projects.

Information was sent home regarding the upcoming Christmas concert.  All those who have speaking parts need to make sure they have their scripts with them tomorrow for practice.

Book orders came in today.

Have a wonderful evening.

November 24

This morning during guided reading, I worked with a group on a book called Grandma's Budgie.  We learned about antonymns, synonyms, more about similies, emotions and interring.  These terms will eventually be discussed with the entire class.

When we did our self evaluation yesterday, I learned a lot of information about the students in this class.  I noticed that one area that most students felt like they were not doing enough was with editing/revising their writing.  So today we spent some time editing/revising a story I had written.  We are using the process 3, 2, 1....edit.  3 - correct 3 spelling or punctuation errors,  2 - make 2 word changes.  Use juicy words.  1 - change or rearrange one sentence.  Please practice this skill at home.

Today during Math Daily 3 we had a mini lesson on telling time.  We also did the following word problem:  I left home and arrived at school 45 minutes later.  What time did I leave home and what time did I arrive at school?  Is there more than one answer?

At the end of the day we got ready for parent- teacher interviews and had some free time in the classroom.  I know the kids really appreciated this as we never seem to have any down time at school.  We are a busy classroom and get a lot accomplished each day.  I am looking forward to speaking with all of you about your wonderful children.

According to Elise, I am suppose to say that Thursday is the best day.  I asked her why and she said " Because it is the best day."  Love your attitude Elise.

November 23 (its a long one)

We have had a couple very busy days.  Today we finished our henna projects and they are on display in the hallway for you to see during Parent-Teacher interviews. 

This morning my guided reading groups worked on a non-fiction text.  From this text they will be writing an information reading response.  This includes writing about things they knew on that topic before reading, what did they learn, what questions do they still have and something they would like to share on the topic.

During writing time in the morning, we completed a self-evaluation on how our classroom behaviour and independent work skills.  We also set a goal for next term along with a strategy that will help us reach that goal.

In math we worked on a math review/assessment.  On this assessment students needed to answer several double digit addition and subtraction questions, write numbers in expanded form and represent a double digit number in as many different ways as possible.  

Please see the previous blog as it will give you important information about report cards.

In writing this afternoon we worked on creating similies.  Please post on this blog one of your favorite similies.  Remember we need more information rather than simply saying "I felt as cold as ice".  You could say instead "My hands were as cold as an ice cube that just came out of the freezer". 

If possible please send in a pair of new socks and 5 dollars for "Fill a sock, Fill a need". 

5 students were chosen for a speaking part in the Christmas concert.  Permission forms were sent home today and need to be returned tomorrow.

Also, Scarlett's tooth fell out today.  Well..... she may have actually had some help pulling it out :)  I wonder if the tooth fairy will visit tonight.  Please keep us posted Scarlett.

Have a wonderful evening.

Report Card Expectations

Report cards are coming home in the new year.  I have been working very hard to get to know your child and their strengths over the past few weeks.  As you know, marks are given based on a 4 point continuum.  If your child receives a 2 on their report card this means they are meeting the grade level expectations for that point in the year.  

Math Expectations for this reporting period:

- represent numbers to 100

- describe and apply mental math strategies for 2 digit addition and subtraction 

- begin to show some strategies for 3 digit addition and subtraction

- apply mental math strategies such as doubles, making 10, thinking addition for subtraction 

- recall basic addition facts and related subtraction facts to 18

- relate the passage of time to common activities using nonstandard and standard units

Writing Expectations:

-      - demonstrates success during Writer’s Workshop (stays focused and completes task)

-      -applies strategies taught in class (stories have a clear beginning, middle and end, uses interesting beginnings, begins to edit and revise work),

-      - uses complete sentences and punctuation correctly

Reading Expectations:

-      -Successful during independent and group reading times

-      -Relies on 1 or 2 decoding strategies to help read unfamiliar words

-      - Attempts to use comprehension/vocabulary strategies taught in class.

-      - Can re-tell basic story elements which include events that happened in the beginning, middle and end.

- - Reading approximately at Level M

- - Just a reminder that decoding at a level M is not the most important factor in determining a reading level.  Your child needs to be able comprehend and discuss the story details.

IIf you have any questions about your child's progress please feel free to email me.  I wanted parents to have this information before this week's parent teacher interviews.

Also, I will be going over with you your child's SLA results.

November 21

This morning during Writer's Workshop we continued to focus on how to properly add dialogue to our stories.  Here is an example of what we did and the rules to follow for adding speech to a story.

"I don't like green bananas" said the monkey. 

"Why not?" asked his mother.  

"Because they taste like glue" the monkey replied.  

"How do you know what glue tastes like?" his mother asked.  

"Just do" said the monkey.

Rule 1: A new line every time someone new speaks.

Rule 2: Surround sound with quotations.

Rule 3: P.B.Q.  Punctuation before quotations

Please remember to practice writing stories at home.  Remember to organize your ideas first to help keep you on track.

This afternoon we worked with Ms. Thomas' class to create henna/mendhi designs.  Tomorrow we will being doing an art project where we use real henna.  We will decorate the designs we created today.

In math we have switched strands.  We are currently working on measurement in particular telling time.  Today we created pendulums which used to measure activities.  We learned that this form of measurement is considered non-standard.  Please answer this question on the blog:  What is using a home made pendulum to measure time considered a non-standard unit of measure?

Also, at the end of the day we once again worked with Ms. Thomas' class on a different inquiry project.  We will be finishing up our unit on sound.  Each child will work with a partner or in a group of 3.  We will complete 2 different projects.  The first project is learning about pitch and vibration where we will make a song using glasses and liquid.  This project will also involve learning about the anatomy of the ear.  The second group will learn about how humans and animals hear.  We will be using google docs to create animal trading cards that explains how they hear.  

Please remember to sign up for parent - teacher interviews this week.  Your child is welcome to attend our meeting.  I am very much looking forward to meeting all of you.

Tech club form Please print and return if interested

P

November 18

Today was Club Friday!  We also had the opportunity to buy popcorn for snack.

This morning we had a lot of fun working with Mrs. Quilley with Dash and Dot.  We got to explore these robots and did some programming to make them move.  Our next step will be to connect Dash and Dot to the math curriculum. Next time we get together we will use a coding program called Blokley.  Once we have this mastered we will then be estimating how far we can make Dash move, we will measure how far Dash went using non-standard units, and we will then graph our results.

Today in writing we continued to work on writing stories from our ideas that are organized on a story map.  Next week we will be practicing adding dialogue and using quotation marks correctly.

Information about Fill a Sock-Need a Sock was sent home today.  I have also sent home a copy of the lyrics for the songs we are singing at the Christmas Concert.  

Have a wonderful weekend.

Families Helping Families

Help us bring some Christmas joy to our city’s homeless

 

The Fill a Sock, Fill a Need campaign provides a Christmas “stocking” of essential needs and small personal items to those in need. 

 

We are asking each student to donate $5 (or more J) to help fill socks to be donated to the Drop In Centre.  If possible, we would also ask students to donate a pair of new, warm, adult sized socks.

 

We strongly encourage students to earn their donation money by doing chores around the house - shoveling snow, taking out the garbage…etc.

 

We will be collecting money from students between November 21^st and December 1^st.  We will also be collecting cash donations during Parent Teacher Interviews. 

November 17

This morning we had a presentation from the Canyon Meadow's Girls choir.  They did a beautiful job.

During Writer's Workshop we discussed what it means to make a positive first impression.  We brainstormed for ideas as to when making a good first impression would be really important.  We then related this to reading and writing.  We know that as writer's we need to make a good first impression to catch our reader's attention so they will read our work.  Here are the different ways that we are going to practice making a good first impression in our writing.

How to make a good first impression when writing:

1. Onomatopoeia - repeat a word

2. Start with a question?

3. Sound word

4. Start with a fact.

5. Start with a dialogue

6. Start with an action

During Math we brainstormed for strategies for solving 3 digit numbers.  A couple of strategies that we thought of were using expanded notation and stacking the numbers.  For example:

326+142

300+100=400

20+40 = 60 

6+2 =8

400+60+8 = 468

We also worked on stacking.

   326

+142

  468

Please practice 3 digit addition at home.

At the end of the day we finished our google slides presentations.  They were awesome and I am so proud of everyone for their hard work.

Have a wonderful evening.

November 16

During guided reading we continue to work on using several vocabulary strategies as well as re-telling the main events of the story.  Each student will be getting a book mark with all  the vocabulary strategies listed so they may be referred to during independent reading times.

In writer's workshop we have been talking about how writer's get ideas.  We created a brain pocked which is divided into 3 sections: memories, facts and imagination.  Each student listed several different topics under each heading that can be referred to during writing time.  Today we also talked about climbing stories.  We learned that most fiction stories are organized this way.  The story starts with a setting and characters and it builds or climbs to a problem which is eventually solved.  We are currently using story maps to help us organize our ideas.  

In math we continue to work on related facts (connecting adding and subtracting).  I have started a teaching math using Math Daily 3.  This is a very hands on way of teaching/learning math.  Each math time (approximately 45mins- 1 hour per day) is organized as follows.  1. Mini lesson on skill being taught. 2. Students choose a job from Math Daily 3 (math with someone, math by myself and math writing) and then we work on a word problem.  Today our word problem was.  What numbers can you make that are below 100 and there is a 6 in the tens place?  How do you know when you have them all?  Please post at least one answer on the blog and how do you know that is one of the correct answers.

Have a great evening.

November 14

Today was another amazingly productive day in Room 73.  This morning during guided reading we talked about the comprehension strategy which involves giving a re-tell of the information that has been read.  We also reviewed what we need to do when we encounter unfamiliar words.  Remember to re-read, read ahead and look at the pictures and captions.

During writer's workshop we continued to work on our personal and expository narratives.  We will be working on this for the next few days before we move onto fiction story writing.

In math we have started talking about Related Facts.  Please post the answer to the following question:  What are all the related facts of 5+4=9.  Also, we learned a new game called Subtraction War.  Here are the instructions.  Please have your child practice this game at home.  You can challenge your child by flipping over 4 cards and subtracting double digit numbers.

Subtraction “War”

What You Need:

·       ·  Deck of cards 

What You Do:

1.   Shuffle the deck of cards and deal them face down, giving each player an equal number of cards until the deck runs out. Each player keeps his cards in a stack. Assign picture cards, such as jacks, queens, and kings, a value of 10. Give aces a value of 1.

2.  Each player turns two cards face up, reads the number sentence and supplies the answer. For example, if your child draws a 5 and a 4, he says 5 - 4 = 1. If you draw a 7 and an 2, then your number sentence is 7-2 = 5. Because your result is larger, you win the four cards and you put them at the bottom of your pile.

3.  If each of you has a number sentence with the same answer, then it's war! At this point, you'll reverse the math "operation" and do an addition problem. Each player puts four cards face down and turns up two of them. The player with the sum wins all eight cards.

During inquiry we learned how to add music to our slideshow.  I would like to thank Tyson for helping learn to add animations to our slideshow.  This is the coolest thing ever.

The kids were really excited today because....... I may have just overwhelmed them with my amazing gymnastics ability.  I showed off my best cartwheel and roundoff.  The kids went crazy.  

Landmark Cinemas and Coco Brooks Pizza Fundraiser forms went home today.

Have a wonderful evening.