Category: We are authors.

We have continued to enjoy ourselves by learning about and learning with each other. Here are some tweets from the week plus more!

MONDAY: Loving how students are accepting challenges to push themselves into growth zone. In writing after conferencing, I point out strengths and area(s) of opportunity. They walk away to work on challenge to improve writing and come back feeling so proud. Then we set new goal on next blank page.

TUESDAY: We looked at Terry Fox as an incredible example of perseverance and determination. Need to have positive self-talk especially when we find ourselves struggling; be own cheerleader. Recognize there is value in the struggle as we push through. Means we are in our growth zone. Believe in yourself.

In Math, we started learning about telling time. To find out more about the learning outcomes for each grade and how concepts can be reinforced through games on websites at home and school, click here. As mentioned previously, my goal is to help students change their mindset about Math. Here’s a short video about believing in yourself; click here to view.

WEDNESDAY: Students thoroughly enjoyed exercising their creative play and collaboration skills with green screen app by @DoInkTweets. Classroom noise not a problem! We say, “Quiet on the set!” And everyone goes silent to support the group recording their video. Class teamwork in action! #GreatKids

We continued to talk about perseverance (stick-with-itness) and determination (never give up attitude). We wrote about what it means, why it is important, and what statements we could say to ourselves. Click here to read reflections written by Alex, Sophia, and Zia.

In Science, we also started learning about matter and atoms. Students were asked to share what they know. If you take a look at the class brainstorm, students don’t know much yet. I can’t wait to see their learning grow! Click here to learn more about the learning outcomes or to watch the Bill Nye video with your child at home to reinforce learning.

THURSDAY: Such perseverance and determination was shown by students in our Terry Fox Run. During our reflection, many expressed how they told themselves, “You can do it!” and recognized that positive self-talk and believing they can actually made a difference. Lessons are paying off!

During our Terry Fox assembly, we shared a short video of Terry Fox with students holding signs cheering him on. We used the green screen set up in our classroom and an app called Green Screen by DoInk to make this happen.

FRIDAY: Great opportunity to discuss climate change and what we can do to make a difference. We all can have a voice and take action. Students were given an opportunity to march together in the afternoon.

To round off the week, students were asked to write me a letter telling me how they are feeling about being in this class so far, what they have enjoyed or not enjoyed, what they have learned about themselves, and one thing they are looking forward to. I thoroughly enjoyed reading their honest thoughts and feelings. It’s great feedback for me and it gave me a great opportunity to connect with each child about what was shared.

Important dates:

• Monday, September 30 – Pro-D day; school not in session
• Tuesday, October 1 – Scholastic orders are due
• Tuesday, October 1 – Orange Shirt Day; wear orange
• Thursday, October 3 – Individual photos will be taken

Notices sent home this week:

• Field trip: Bowling – Click here to learn more.
• Home Literacy Club  – Click here to learn more. If you did not receive the recording sheet, please write a note in the planner or email me.

Reminder to bring in earbuds with a microphone/volume control in a small labelled Ziploc bag. Students who have them at school have already taken advantage of them. Thank you!

We have been learning about many different reading strategies during our whole class read alouds and during reading groups time. One of the biggest things children are learning is that they need to ALWAYS read for understanding. One way to self-monitor is to regularly ask ourselves, “Does it make sense?” Children are being taught that there are a number of different strategies they can use when reading and to notice the ones they are already using when reading so they continue using them.

Ms. Cowan just returned on Monday feeling invigorated from a 2-day weekend workshop about reading and I am a part of a District book club reading Catching Readers Before They Fall so we are both very excited to have these ideas and strategies fresh in our minds to teach the students.

Today, we introduced students to a new reading strategy: picture walk. Here, we went through the book A Poppy Is to Remember one page at a time to take a look at the pictures before actually reading the words in the book. We discovered that by taking the time to study the pictures, it helped us to understand and make predictions. Next time you read with your child, feel free to take a picture walk through the pages before you read the words in the book and see how this strategy might help improve comprehension.  

After reading the book, we discussed what a poppy is to remember and thought about some of the reasons why we wear a poppy. We then wrote our A Poppy Is to Remember poems which will be shared at our Remembrance Day assembly this Friday, November 9th at 10:45 am. Some of the ideas shared in their poems were simply heartwarming. Here are some examples:

• A poppy is to remember the people who risked their lives.
• A poppy is to remember those who fought for peace because they were brave.
• A poppy is to remember those who went to the war because they sacrificed their lives for us.
• A poppy is to remember those we love because they wanted peace and for us to be free.
• A poppy is to remember people that are still living (who were in the war).

Each child will receive a poppy on Friday. Feel free to send donations to the poppy fund as we are collecting at the school. All families are welcome to join us in the gym this Friday for the Remembrance Day assembly. If you are not available at that time, then we hope to see you during our Family Read at 8:55 am!

On Monday, your child was introduced to our new spelling program called Chunk Spelling. They all enjoyed discovering the new words they could make with the “at” ending while using their sound boards. It also helped them think critically when they came to a beginning sound that sounded like a word but wasn’t one or was a word but it didn’t have the same sound as in the word family. For example, dat (not a word) or what (has “at” at the end of the word but makes a “uht” sound rather than “at” sound).

Week after week, students will be introduced to a new word family to create words with different consonants, blends and digraphs. They record their words in a notebook in three columns: first column are words with just consonants, second column are words with blends and digraphs, and the third column is where they challenge themselves to think of larger fancy words with the word family. Some examples of bigger words were: scatter, flatten, and attic.

The homework pamphlet that went home is to be completed during the week. Every Monday, they will be given a spelling check and a new set of words for a new word family. Typically, grade ones will have five words and grade twos will have up to ten words.

Click here to learn more about the program.

Please ask if you have any questions. Thank you for your support at home!