January 2018 Calendar

A copy of this was also sent home today.

December 22nd Update!

Social Studies

Here are the pictures of the dioramas that the Grade 3 students created!  Next, we will explore what happened when the Europeans arrived. The Grade 2 students will begin a project focusing on a celebration that they would like to learn more about.

A glimpse into an Inuit Community in 1750

A glimpse into an Anishinabe Community around 1750

A glimpse into a Wendat Community around 1750.

Writing

The Small Moments stories are completed and were sent home today! Lots of effort went into crafting these pieces over the last couple of months. The final product is truly worth celebrating! I encouraged students to share these stories with family and friends over the holiday season. I also mentioned that this is the type of work that should be saved away as it is fun to look at again many years down the road!

Portfolios

The green portfolios went home today with the writing assessment. Please review this with your child as this assessment contains important feedback to help students grow as writers. These portfolios should be sent back to school signed in January. 

Math

We will continue to learn about strategies for subtraction in the first week of January. There will be a test for addition, subtraction, and perimeter likely in the second week of January but I will provide communication around this a week before the test. Subtraction War is a fun card game that students have learned this week. It is a great way to practise mental math subtraction at home. I encourage students to teach this game to their families over the winter break!

Enjoy the Winter Break! I look forward to seeing everyone again in 2018!

Errol Lee

December 15th Update

Social Studies

The Grade Two students presented their "Traditions in a Box" projects this week and they were wonderful! Each student taught the class so much about their traditions. It was a great learning experience for all. I want to thank the families for supporting this from home. The assessment will be sent home next week after a reflection is completed in class.

The Grade Three students have worked hard on their dioramas of First Nations villages. Thank you to the families that helped their children gather some art materials to bring in. While this was not mandatory it was definitely appreciated. On Monday, the Grade Three students will present their villages to the class. I will post pictures after the presentations so stay tuned for that!

Math

We have been working on strategies for addition. Many students choose to use the standard algorithm for addition. Some of the other strategies that we have focused on (making friendly numbers, adding the tens and then the ones) are important to explore as they support mental math. I encourage students to use the strategy that they feel most confident with, but also to understand other strategies as they are often more efficient depending on the question: 

For example if we are adding 49+ 34 it makes more sense to add 50+33, which is nice to solve mentally- instead of working through the standard algorithm. 

We are now exploring strategies for subtraction. Again, many students will choose to use the standard algorithm but we will also learn about other strategies that support mental math. 

At Home Practise!!

Being able to "take leaps of ten" mentally is an important skill that supports addition and subtraction. This can easily be practiced at home. Simply choose a number between 1-9 and keep adding ten until you wish to stop! For example if you choose 6, you would say 6, 16, 26, 36, 46, 56 etc. You can also try this for subtraction. For example begin with a large number like 134 and subtract ten each time, 134, 124, 114, 104, etc. Once students feel confident adding and subtracting tens, you could move to 20, and then 30 and so on. 

Spirit Day

Next Thursday, December 21st is P.J./ Bring your favourite stuffy day! Should be nice a cozy for the first day of winter!

Pride Assembly

Next Friday, December  23rd we are having a whole school Pride Assembly. The Assembly begins at 9:00. While the gym will be busy, if you are home and would like to attend please do! But come early to secure a seat!

Errol Lee

All next week, our students will be participating in workshops with Errol Lee. This is part of the Art's Package. On Thursday, December 21st our class will be part of a performance in the gym. This is from 11:30-12:15. Families are welcome to attend!

December 4th Update

Social Studies

Students are working on some important projects this week in social studies.

Grade Two:

The Grade Two students have a home work assignment. It will come home today and is due next Monday. Students will need help from their families to complete this assignment. There will be no spelling homework this week for Grade Two students so that they have more free time to work on their project. If you have any questions about the project please write a note in the agenda and I will respond. Thank you for your support with this!

Grade Three:

The Grade Three students are working on researching a particular First Nations group. They will then apply their knowledge to create a diorama of the community. This project will be completed at school but students may wish to bring in some items from home for their diorama (craft materials, cardboard, etc.) Bringing in materials is not mandatory as everything will be provided but students may bring in things if they wish to.

Art

We have started an exciting art project influenced by M.C. Escher. For this project students need to think of a symbol that they will use to trace. 

Grade Two students will choose a symbol that represents their heritage and culture (for example- someone who celebrates Chinese New Year may choose the dragon, or a red envelope as their symbol). Students may wish to discuss possible symbols with their families before Thursday.

Grade Three students will choose a symbol that represents a First Nations group that we have been learning about (possible symbols could be corn, or the birch back canoe as both are significant to the Wendat and Anishinabe - groups we have been studying)