Sept. 24-28

In math this week, students continued to focus on number sense. Students learned how to subtract large numbers using mental math, and the traditional method.  This week's homework will focus on that skill. Next week there will be a math quiz on place value, rounding, adding and subtracting.

In language, students finished their reading letter to me about their current book.  We discussed how to revise and edit work, and students worked to edit their letters before handing them in. In addition, we took up the CASI by looking at example answers. Students assessed the example answers, and we brainstormed a list of ways to improve reading answers. Students also read a text about Rick Hansen, and responded to the text in a variety of ways.

In social studies the grade 4's are learning about Canada's regions, and the grade 5's are learning about Canada's political system. The grade 5's watched the film "The Secret Path", and reflected on its impact, as well as compared the story to Fatty Legs.

Finally, we continued the meditation program "21 days of calm.." Here is link to that site if you'd like check it out: https://www.calm.com/.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, Oct. 3: cross country meet

Thursday, Oct. 4: homework due

Thursday, Oct. 11: TUSC trip to High Park

Homework:
1) Read for 20- 30 minutes daily at home.
2) Practise the 2-4 times tables and work on memorizing them.
3) Complete the math work on number sense .
4) Read the narrative texts, and answer the questions. 

Sept. 17-21

We've had another wonderful week of learning in room 11!

In math, students continued to focus on number sense. Students learned to round numbers to the ten, hundred, thousand and ten thousand. We also worked on mental math skills, and practised adding numbers mentally, using a variety of strategies. Those strategies include rounding, using place value, compensation and adding on. Ask your child to explain those strategies to you, and practice using them to add 2 and 3 digit numbers mentally. We also reviewed how to add large numbers on paper, with carrying from column to column. This week's homework will focus on that skill.

In language, students continued a reading program called the first twenty days, which is by Fountas and Pinnell. Students are also working on a reading letter to me about their current book. In addition, we read several narrative texts together, and the students learned to annotate those texts, by finding the key features of a narrative within the texts. We are leading up to writing a personal narrative.

In addition, we began social studies. The grade 4's are learning about Canada's regions, and the grade 5's are learning about Canada's political system. You can help your child by sharing your knowledge of these topics, and having discussions.

 Finally, we continued the meditation program "21 days of calm.." Here is link to that site if you'd like check it out: https://www.calm.com/.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Monday, Sept. 24: Terry Fox run
Thursday, Sept. 27: homework due
Friday, Sept. 28: Orange Shirt Day
Wednesday, Oct. 3: cross country meet

Homework:
1) Read for 20- 30 minutes daily at home.
2) Practise the 4 times tables and work on memorizing them.
3) Complete the math work on addition.
4) Read the text on Residential Schools, and answer the questions.

Sept. 10-14

We've had another wonderful week of learning in room 11!

In math we continued to learn important lessons about math from Jo Boler's week of Inspirational Math. Students learned that mistakes are valuable, and help us to learn. They also learned that when you believe in yourself, your brain actually grows! We worked on learning the place value of numbers up to the 10 000's for grade 4's and up to the 100 000's for grade fives. Students can now write numbers in expanded form, standard form and in words. Ask your child to explain these to you. To practise at home, write a number for your child and have him/her practise saying it correctly out loud, then write it in words on paper. Some students also chose to write a math pretest this week. Those will be returned on Monday. All students logged into a math program, called Prodigy. This website can be used in school or at home. Students have their usernames and passwords in their agendas.

In language, students finished their "I Am" poem, using positive adjectives to describe themselves. They put this poem on watercolour paper, and used mixed media to bring it to life as an art piece. These will be on display next week. We continued with our read aloud novel, Fatty Legs, which is a novel about an Inuit girl in a Residential School. We began a reading program called the first twenty days, which is by Fountas and Pinnell. Students learned that reading requires hard thinking, so we will be silent during independent reading time. Students are also working on a reading letter to me about their current book. In addition, students read a text about 9-11, highlighting the town of Gander, Newfoundland, and the story that unfolded there. Ask your child about what he/she learned about Gander's efforts. Lastly, students wrote a CASI, which is a mandatory reading comprehension test. The results of this test will be used to guide my teaching.

Finally, we continued the meditation program on the website calm.com. We did a program called "7 days of calm," which teaches how to meditate. The students decided that they'd like to continue, so we also began the next program, "21 days of calm.." Here is link to that site if you'd like check it out: https://www.calm.com/.

Important Upcoming Dates:
Monday, Sept. 17: picture day
Tuesday, Sept. 18: steelpan starts at 9AM (NO early start this week)
Thursday, Sept. 20: Curriculum Night
Friday, Sept. 21: Terry Fox run
Wednesday, Oct. 3: cross country meet

Homework:
1) Read for 20- 30 minutes daily at home.
2) Practise the 3 times tables and work on memorizing them.

Sept. 4-8

We've had a wonderful start to the school year, and the students were troopers in the heat! We've spent the week getting to know each other, and participating in meaningful activities. We established our class agreements, which are:
1) Attentive Listening
2) Mutual Respect
3) Appreciation/ no Put- downs
4) The Right to Participate and Pass
5) Safety First
Please ask your child to explain these agreements to you!

In math we began with Jo Boler's week of Inspirational Math. Students have learned important lessons, like, there is no such thing as a "math brain" and that everyone can learn math. To learn more about Jo Boler, go to this link: https://www.youcubed.org/week-inspirational-math/. We also played multiplication bingo to refresh our memories on times tables.

In language, students wrote letters to their future selves. I will give these back in June so that students can read them. We also held a "funeral" for all our "I cant's" and agreed to change our language to "I'm learning to..." We began a language and visual art project. Students wrote an "I Am" poem, using positive adjectives to describe themselves. They put this poem on watercolour paper, and will used mixed media to bring it to life as an art piece.

We also spent a lot of time talking about the importance of attentive listening, and how we can work effectively with others. We created class success criteria for working together, as well as class norms.

Finally, we started a meditation program on the website calm.com. We are doing a program called "& days of calm," which teaches how to meditate. The students are finding it challenging, but relaxing. I'm hoping that they will continue to use it as a tool this year and in the future! Here is link to that site if you'd like check it out: https://www.calm.com/program/qK3IeqhiJP/7-days-of-calm.

Important Upcoming Dates:
Thursday, Sept. 20: Curriculum Night
Friday, Sept. 21: Terry Fox run

Homework:
1) Read for 20- 30 minutes daily at home.
2) Bring in the book that you are currently reading on Monday. Also bring a favourite book if you have one to share with the class.
3) Practise the 2 times tables and work on memorizing them.

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year!

I look forward to a wonderful year of learning together. Please check this blog weekly for updates. Also, you can subscribe to receive automatic updates by adding your email address under the title "Subscribe via email." Blog entries will be emailed to you.

Off we go into a great new school year!