Category: Class News

As part of our thinking about gratitude, we used Kidspiration software to help us organize our brainstorming. 

Click on image to enlarge.

Then we wrote about which one resonated with us most. Using ChatterPix Kids (free iPad app), we used our creativity by having our leaves come alive to speak for us. The leaves were chosen because we thought they were special; these leaves were to become a part of our Wreath of Gratitude. We presented our compilation of ChatterPix videos at our Celebration of Learning last Friday. Click here to check out a few samples.

Students really enjoyed creating their own videos. During this time, our Superintendent, Gina Niccoli-Moen, was visiting our class. She was thrilled to see how engaged they were in this activity. A few students had the opportunity to share their work with her.

We hope you thoroughly enjoyed your Thanksgiving long weekend. We are grateful to be blessed to teach your child this year!

We have been learning all about patterns – both repeating and growing patterns. Students are expected to be able to name the core pattern of a repeating pattern (grade 1 & 2’s) and to describe the pattern rule for a growing pattern (grade 2’s). Click here to learn more about what we are learning about.

Ways to support at home:

• Notice and talk about patterns around the home and in nature.

• Build repeating patterns with items at home. Ask ” What is the core pattern?”

• Build growing patterns at home. Ask “What is the pattern rule?
  • HINT: Growing patterns have the same sentence frames: “Start with ______. Add [number] [item] each time.

• Check out the patterns we made at school. Use the samples to review. Then cover up the “answers” and practice finding the core pattern for repeating patterns. Similarly, use the samples to practice naming the pattern rule for increasing patterns. To pause the auto-play, hover your mouse over the image.

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What patterns can you create at home?

Last week, groups of students were tasked with the challenge to move plastic cups from one location on the table to another. They were given a number of cups and one elastic band with four attached pieces of string. Each group member was responsible to control one string. No hands were to touch the cups!

Upon first attempts, they realized how much there was a give and take with controlling the elastic band in the middle. It was more difficult than it first appeared so they had to use their communication and critical thinking skills. Their first task was to move all of the cups from one side of the table to the other side. Once successful, they were to try the challenge of stacking cups like a pyramid. I wish you were there to see how happy they were to work together, how well they persevered when they weren’t successful yet, and how elated they were when they were eventually successful. A few were jumping up and down excitedly and one exclaimed as she jumped in celebration, “We did the challenge! We did the challenge!” What a positive bunch of children with great communication and teamwork skills! 

During our debriefing, we discussed what went well in our groups as teammates and the strategies to get the work done:

• Myel: We did planning.
• Mehr: We stayed focussed.
• Olivya: We talked a lot and tried to communicate a lot.
• O: We communicated with other people.
• Priscilla: Being nice with your words.
• Sasha: We used tools properly.

It helps when we use positive language to support and encourage our teammates. These were some examples of what we heard:

We can do it! Good work! Yay, we did it! Good teamwork! Go team!

Isla summed it up nicely: We enjoyed learning through playing.

Core Competency – Communication: I can work with others to achieve a common goal; I do my share.

We have been working hard on reading every day. We went “shopping” for books to keep in our book bins for reading independently during our “Read to Self” time. We are building up our reading stamina each day. During our “Read to Self” time, we have a job and so does the teacher. 

The students have learned that there are 3 ways to read a book. As well, they have been encouraged to re-read books to develop fluency and comprehension. 

We encourage your child to continue to read at home with you, a sibling, or to read independently. There are a few ways that you can support your child as a reader. Click here to view tips.

In the last couple weeks, we have been doing an author study on Kevin Henkes. Through these books, we have been learning about feelings, increasing our vocabulary, and making personal connections (text to self). 

We have the privilege of having access to an online levelled reading program called Raz-Kids. More information will be coming home soon. To learn more about the program, click here.