Monday, June 18, 2018

Hi all!  Here's an overview of our day: 

Mr. Redding took the kids first thing for music class, during which there was a fire drill.
Upon their return to my class, we sang O Canada in French before learning more about the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act.  Following this activity, I read Ghost Train.

After recess, we were meant to quickly review the division method: guess and subtract but it turned into a 're-teaching and more practice' session.  I think that some are making progress with this method now. This took us until PE so we had a quick game of "Everybody's It!" before lunch.

After lunch and filling in Agendas, students completed a Human Body self-reflection.  This will be included with your child's year-end report next week. 

Finally, we got into some art. Students were to paint a small canvas board and set it aside to dry.  Then they were to finish their cell weaving; some students still haven't started the weaving yet.  I have posted the Assignment Check for your referral. 

It is a challenging time at school as we near the end of the school year.  We still have lots of work to do, as well as the fun stuff, so please have a chat with your child and emphasize the importance of perseverance and self-regulation. 

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Please return your RSVP for our year-end event Monday June 25, as soon as you know how many will be attending.  We can always seat more so it doesn't need to be exact!  Thank you.  

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Good afternoon.  We had a few people away today - here's what they missed:

After reviewing what FANBOYS are and what they do, we got into summarizing.  First, we read an article about the first lighthouse, Pharos, in ancient Egypt.  Students then drew information from the article to answer a variety of questions.  Finally, they put it all together in a short summarized paragraph. We did this first one together, and then it was their turn.  Their article was about people who work to make the Olympics run smoothly.  We shared our paragraphs, discussing the effectiveness of them.  I also stressed the importance of using the words in the text to spell correctly when writing them out in one's own work.

After recess, we spent some time discussing the upcoming 'green screen' projects for the Canadian geographical regions.  I think the kids are quite excited about putting these together.  They can begin as soon as their testing is done for the human body systems.  *The testing for these systems must be completed by June 5th.  Check the Assignment Check to see if your child is close to finishing his / her required two systems. [Click on it to enlarge it.]

Next, we painted and drew invitations for the year-end celebration. Hopefully, they can go home tomorrow for those students are going to be here. 

After lunch, students filled in their Agendas while I continued reading REFUGEE.  Soon it was time for PE where the kids practiced their track and field events. 

We ended our day marking the 'Comparing Fractions' package and started drawing 'Equivalent Fractions'.  The first page was assigned for tomorrow.

That's it!  Enjoy your evening.

Friday, May 25, 2018

Hi folks.

I guess I missed a couple of posts due to sports day and my leaving at lunch time yesterday.  Anyway, here's what our day looked like today:

After Assembly where Mr. Redding covered my prep so presented three 'Recognition Awards' today,  students returned to write in their Reflective Journals. They were to comment on the video we watched yesterday: Standup4GreatBear Documentary
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAnRFd3jBqQ

"A film based on Norm Hann's 400km standup paddleboard expedition along the proposed north coast oil tanker route in British Columbia. The goal of the expedition was to bring awareness to the traditional food harvesting areas of the First Nations and the incredible marine ecosystems of the Great Bear Rainforest."

It's a powerful film and one well-worth watching.

Students were also to complete the second page of their Interior Plains geographical region package, focusing on the vocabulary match and the question about Canada's Bread Basket.  There will be an open-book quiz on Monday on this region.

After recess and Agendas, students continued their Human Body independent studies and oral testing with me.  Please check with your child to see how he/she is doing with their chosen body systems. The Assignment Check shows who has finished testing with me.  [Click on it to make it larger.]

A REMINDER: Please get the Wildsight waivers in on Monday for the field trip on Tuesday.  They must be signed for the field trip - no over-the-phone permission can be given for this event.

After lunch, we had the final session for Exploration Friday for the year.  Some photos from Multi-Media Creations (and a couple from Indigenous Art) are below. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, March 2, 2018

Happy Friday!  Don't forget the CPE Carnival tonight from 6:00 - 8:00!!  This is a huge fundraiser for our PAC... Thank you so much for organizing and running this fun event!

We spent our entire morning before recess with our little buddies creating an Inuit art project.  First we watched a video about a 90 year old artist Elisapee Ishulutaq, a receiver of the Order of Canada, who created a mural about life when she was growing up in Nunavut.   ELISAPEE%20ISHULUTAQ%20–%20Inuit%20Art%20Centre.htm

Then we painted our hands and prepared our papers for next time we get together.  The attached photo (not one of Ishulutaq's) is the inspiration for our project.

After recess, we worked on our French projects.

Students first coloured the Olympic rings then added pictures of the winter games.  Next, they typed up or hand-wrote sentences about their likes and dislikes.  [See vocabulary below pictures.] The examples below are those that were finished today. 

 

FRENCH ASSIGNMENT: Sports

(Je + aimer+ noun.)

J’aime …………                                  (I like…)

Mais, je n’aime pas ……… (But, I don’t like….)

Et, je n’aime pas…. (And, I don’t like….)

Men’s hockey	le hockey masculine.
Women’s hockey	le hockey feminine.
bobsledding	le bobslevel.
Ski racing	le course de ski.
Trick skiing	le ski acrobatique.
Skating singles	le patinage en simple.
Skating doubles	le double patinage.
Ski jumping	le saute à ski.
Luge	le luge.
Speed skating	le patinage de vitesse.
Curling	le curling.
Snowboarding	le snowboarding.

Please check with your child to see if his/her assignments are caught up.  I am working them harder these days so homework may be necessary to finish up missing assignments. *Two double bar graphs were submitted without names so .......

Enjoy your weekend, everyone.  Have fun tonight at the carnival.

Monday, February 19, 2018

Happy Monday!  It may be cold but the sun is shining and the mountains are looking beautiful.

Here's our day:

 In Language Arts (after Music with Mr. Redding), we reviewed the terms: verbs, adverbs, nouns, and adjectives.  We did a couple of Olympic-related activities identifying these types of words.

Then, students worked on the first page of a package of various articles telling about the history of the Olympics.  There are a variety of things to identify on each article, including underlying facts, highlighting, and circling specific things.  Just the first page was assigned for tomorrow.

After recess, students were introduced to new drills: a combination of multiplication and division equations.  We did two 3-minute drills, side A and side B.  Next, we set up grids for a double bar graph, along with a key.  We will continue to develop this graph as we practice our X / skills.

Then off to PE for badminton games.  The scoring and serving / rotation is still confusing for many.

After lunch, we had our first eight Famous Canadian presentations.  I will try to send these to parents on Fresh Grade.  There were only eight presentations ready for today, although it was due today.  The "How to be..." art/writing projects were also due today.  These are the ones that are in so far.

 

Next, we did Agendas, book exchange, and I read TEAMMATES, a story about Jackie Robinson and
Pee Wee Reese.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Welcome to the last day of January!  Here's how our day looked:

We began our day with Holes testing... the last day.  All testing was to be done by today and all Level B and A assignments submitted for marking. I will be sending home a copy of each student's marking/recording sheet and an assessment rubric for parents to see, sign, and return.
*The Assignment Check below shows which students completed which levels of the Layered Curriculum* novel study that we started in November.  This novel study is not just about reading a story, but setting personal goals, managing one's schedule, and using class time wisely.

We spent a lot of time today practicing multi-digit multiplication.  All of the first page and the first eight problems on the second page (unless indicated otherwise) are due tomorrow.

We practiced for the French quiz (Noël vocabulary) scheduled for Friday.  **This may have to take place tomorrow instead as there is a special performance at RSS on Friday.  Students will be gone in the morning, and Exploration Friday takes place all afternoon.  The kids know what's on the matching quiz and we have done some practice runs together; I'd really like to move on.

After music, where the kids played recorders with Mr. Redding, students worked on their writing / art project with Mrs. Tomm and I during Library.

Enjoy your evening! You shouldn't have to shovel tonight:)

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Good day, Folks!  We're over the half way mark of the week and we're all feeling it!

We started our morning with some much-needed brain dance, filling in Agendas, then off to the gym to watch the video of last night's performance.

After recess, we cleaned out our Working Binders (removed materials went home for parents to see before recycling), cubbies, and desks.  Some lockers have also been cleaned out and clothing, old lunches, and more taken home.  The custodians will be cleaning over our holidays so everything needs to be tidied up.

Following our reorganization, we learned about Mexico's Christmas traditions.  They have some very interesting ones so ask your child what he/she learned.

Students also had some time to read Holes or work on their projects.  I have included a photo of the Assignment Check because there are students who have not finished reading the novel, not taken the quiz, and have not been tested on the minimum of one projects before Friday.  Please help your child finish the book!

We finished our day with Mrs. Tomm in the Library working on a "How to be ......." instructional piece of writing.

Please, let's strive to be on time for school these last two mornings!  We have lots to fit in and want to make things as pleasant and low key as possible.

SPECIAL EVENT: Friday morning is the annual waffle breakfast so come dressed in your PJs. 

Monday, December 11, 2017

Greetings, all.

The stage is now set up in the gym so Mr. Redding took the kids to practice their lines and song for the upcoming concert (19th) on the stage.

Upon their return, we learned about Henry Hudson.  We read aloud, highlighted important parts, and worked on a package.  Several students completed the package during the time allotted; it is homework if not done already. 

[See Assignment Check below for completed / missing assignments]

After recess, we did another 2-minute drill and graphed the results.  Next, we went over some rhymes that may help the kids remember some of their multiplication facts.  Then we went over the Associative and Commutative Properties of Multiplication, doing several samples of each. These are also due tomorrow. 

*We didn't get to the Fact Families worksheets that were written down as part of today's agenda. 

After lunch, for Christmas Around the World, we took a look at the traditions of Germany.  The tradition of Christmas trees and Advent Calendars came from Germany!

Once the assigned work for this was completed, students worked on their Holes novel study, either reading or working on various assignments. 
*There is only a week left for this novel to be read, the quiz taken, and one activity "tested" before the Christmas break so please urge your child to work on it!

PAC Reminder: Christmas Craft Fair is Thursday 14th so please bring in some items for the sale. 

Our class's Gifts That Matter donations are also needed by Monday if your child wishes to contribute.  

Holiday Grams will be on sale next Monday for the week.  They are 25 cents each. 

Friday, October 27, 2017

Hi folks.  We made it!  Here's our day:

Assembly was first thing this morning; Carver and Hayley were recognized for their creativity.

We played Lotto en Français to develop both our listening/comprehension skills and pronunciation practice with Halloween vocabulary. This is going quite well for most students, although they often have to look at their notebook.  Soon, they won't have to!

After recess we did Agendas and math: the fifth one-minute subtraction drill and graph, and continued working on the Representing Numbers package (pp 33-35) which is due Monday.

We didn't get PE today but helped the PAC set up tables for the hotdog lunch they so generously served.  Thanks PAC!

We also cleaned out desks in preparation of new seating Monday morning.

This afternoon was Exploration Friday.  The following are some photos from my session with multi-media creations.  A few projects are complete but some are mid-way.

ASSIGNMENT CHECK IS POSTED BELOW!  Check to see if your child has all of his / her assignments in. 

REMINDER:
The Immigration Projects are due the week after next so please continue to get these done.  Thanks for your home support.

Exploration Friday - Multi-media creations ...