Hello everyone,
Welcome to the first classroom update of the year! Over the past month, our class has been busy settling into routines, building connections, and engaging in new learning. Thank you for your support at home as we work together to create a positive and successful school year. I look forward to keeping you informed and connected with these monthly updates throughout the school year. Please read through the entire post, as the final section includes important upcoming events for the month ahead.
Welcome Conversations
It was a pleasure meeting with everyone during our Welcome Conversations on Thursday, Oct. 1st. If you were unable to attend and would like to meet, please send me an email so we can arrange a time.
Indigenous Learning
In September, we spent some time learning about the origins of Truth and Reconciliation Day. We discussed the consequences that the residential school system, loss of land, and culture, had on the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. We also learned about the 94 Calls to Action, and completed a bulletin board showcasing our learning. Throughout the year, Indigenous education will be woven throughout our learning in a variety of curricular areas.
Current Events
One of the first units we started this school year was Current Events and the Media. We learned about different types of media, media bias, and the importance of becoming informed local and global citizens. Students are learning to use their critical-thinking skills, which are needed to analyze information and consider different perspectives. We even had the opportunity to meet with a local journalist who worked at a variety of news agencies throughout BC. She shared with us what it is like to be a journalist, some highlights from her career, and why staying informed is important. We will carry this forward through the school year as we continue to learn about local and global current events.
Applied Design and Skills Technology
This month, we also started our first ADST project – Entrepreneurship. Students were challenged to put their thinking caps on and become entrepreneurs in our class! After brainstorming many ideas, students selected 1 product or service category to pursue before forming groups and developing a business plan, marketing plan, and project proposal. Throughout this process, students have been using creative thinking skills to generate ideas, solve problems, and explore different ways to meet the needs of potential customers. I am looking forward to seeing their final presentations!
Number Concepts
In Math, we have been reviewing and learning about number concepts from 1 to 1 billion. We have been exploring the different ways to represent numbers, as well as place value, ordering, and comparing numbers. Building a strong understanding of these foundational number concepts will help students develop the necessary skills and confidence as we work with more complex topics through the school year. Beginning in October, we will move on to decimals and integers!
English Language Arts
In ELA, we began the year by reading and responding to short stories. As we read, students have been practicing important comprehension strategies such as asking questions, making connections, summarizing, and forming opinions about texts. These skills will transfer directly to our first Book Club of the year, which begins in October. The theme of our upcoming Book Club is New Beginnings, and students will have the opportunity to select a novel from a collection, apply reading strategies, and engage in discussions with their Book Club groups. In writing, we are working on personal narratives and are following the writing process of brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing to create polished peices of writing. Through class discussions, Book Club conversations, and engaging in the writing process, students will continue to develop their ability to communicate their ideas, opinions, and experiences clearly.
Thursday, Oct. 1st – Welcome Conversations @ 3:10 – 7:00
Friday, Oct. 2nd – Early Dismissal @ 2:00, Div. 1 Snack Sale (freezies and chips)
Monday, Oct. 12th – Thanksgiving Day (school is closed)
Tuesday Oct. 13rd – Friday Oct. 16 – Drill Week
Thursday, Oct. 15th – Student Individual Photo Day
Friday, Oct. 23rd – Professional Development Day (students do not attend)
Friday, Oct. 30th – Halloween Assembly / Class Celebration @ 2:00