What a fun sport! Students had fun learning with our instructor, Marcus.
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Category: Teamwork
Jump Rope for Heart
We had a fun week learning how to jump rope! Students had fun learning a variety of skipping activities. Some grade 6 and 7 students came into our gym classes and helped to teach some of the skipping stations. We played some skipping games, jumped over ropes (e.g. Snakey Snakey), skipped while hopping on one foot, and some of the students worked on criss-crossing their ropes! Many students found skipping difficult and it took some perseverance and determination before they were able to skip. We now have a few very talented skippers in our class!
Thank you to all those who donated and helped to get donations for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
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Yoga for Health and Well-Being
For most kids, this was their first exposure to yoga. Our instructor, Michelle, focused on breathing exercises and a variety of stretches/poses (E.g. cat, cow, warrior). Yoga helps kids with focus/concentration, and boosts self-esteem. Learning about proper breathing techniques can help with tackling anxiety. I also liked that gratitude seems to be another key focus in the practice of yoga. And of course, the children get to experience play without the worry of making mistakes.
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Ice-skating
This was the first time ice-skating for many kids! It was cold, but we managed to get 4 & a half classes, as well as some parents, on the ice. A few tears, but still lots of fun! Thanks to parents for the rides and for helping to tie skates.
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Buddy Reading
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a restful winter break. There is something about January. The kids seem to bounce right back into the school routine with renewed energy for the new year.
Every so often, we have older buddies come into our class to read with our kids. Today during our kindergarten literacy time, we had grade 2 and 3 buddies come to read with us.
Reading is a necessity in any classroom, and getting some extra time to share a story with someone is a gift. We have all heard about reading being the secret to success. Students gain access to rich vocabulary and even simple stories contain complex aspects of relationships and events. While being read to, students are able to just relax and concentrate on what the story is about. They gain by listening to critical language and enunciation skills. There is no pressure to sound out words or memorize any information. For the older kids, the more they read to their little buddies, the more confidence they gain in their own reading skills. The benefits are just too many to list. Plus, it’s fun and the kids love having buddies!
Most of these buddies were in my class for kindergarten and/or grade 1. It’s always so nice when they come back to visit their old classroom!
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A Community Christmas
Our Christmas event was a hit! There was singing in the gym, hot chocolate and apple cider, and gingerbread men decorating contests in our classrooms. Families got to take photos with two elves. Many of my students brought their younger siblings, so there were quite a few toddlers joining in the fun too.
A big thanks to our music teacher, Ms. V. for doing so much organizing, and to our wonderful parent volunteers! Volunteers baked over 250 gingerbread men! What a fun night!
We Love to Play
We have all heard about the benefits of play! We know that the more kids are given frequent opportunities for free (as well as structured) play, the more attention they will pay to academic tasks. Play encourages teamwork, problem solving, which benefits both academic and social skills.
Last week, the kids decided to build a large structure using the straw connectors. Mr. M., our wonderful school counsellor, frequently visits our classroom. He has such a great connection with the kids. It’s nice to see them laughing, as they work together.
