Happy Halloween!

We had lots of fun today. We paraded around the neighbourhood, carved a pumpkin and painted and decorated some paper pumpkins. Tomorrow we'll do some follow up math and writing activities while it is still fresh in our minds.

First we painted:


Then we cut:


and placed:


and glued:



BOO! We're finished!

Math Monday - Patterning

Remember:

We find patterns in nature, art, music, and literature. We also find them in numbers. Patterns are at the very heart of math. The ability to recognize patterns helps us to make predictions based on our observations. Understanding patterns helps prepare children for the study of algebra in later grades.

To try at home:

• Explore patterns created by numbers. Write the numbers from 1 to 100 in rows of 10 (1 to 10 in the first row, 11 to 20 in the second row, and so on) (These need to be in an even grid -- this is called a "hundreds chart"). Note the patterns that you see when you look up and down, across, or diagonally. Pick out all the numbers that contain a 2 or a 7. What is the pattern?

Divali

On October 26, the Hindu celebration of Diwali (Divali) begins. We are very lucky to have had a parent come in and tell up about Diwali and also give us diyas (small lamps, or candle holders) to decorate. She also decorated our hands with henna. Thanks you so much for coming in and teaching us B! And Happy Diwali!

Diwali lasts for 5 days.

These are the diyas that we decorated. Some of us were VERY patient when painting our tiny lamps. Some of us learned that if you mixed purple, blue and orange, then you get brown. That was okay, because we had paper towels to wipe off the paint and start again (if we wanted).

October Magic

We talked about what is real and what isn't. We talked about our imaginations. We talked about what is scary. Do we like to be scared? (No, they all said, No). Then why do we like Halloween? (Candy, they all said. Candy). Then they started changing their minds. They did like the scary things. And they do know that it is all pretend....

Grade 1 Words of the Week
had
sad
dad
bad
mad
bonus word: pumpkin

Grade 2 Words of the Week
saw
paw
raw
jaw
law
bonus word: Halloween (it needs to start with a capital H)

*** last week the ou word family tripped up all of the Grade 2s -- we'll be practicing the ou words a more throughout the year. That is the point of practicing Words every week -- so I can see who needs help individually, or to determine if I have chosen words that are too difficult.

Math Monday - Patterning

Remember:

We find patterns in nature, art, music, and literature. We also find them in numbers. Patterns are at the very heart of math. The ability to recognize patterns helps us to make predictions based on our observations. Understanding patterns helps prepare children for the study of algebra in later grades.

To try at home:

• Use household items to create and extend patterns. Lay down a row of spoons pointing in different directions in a particular pattern (up, up, down, up, up, down) and ask your child to extend the pattern.

Inspire by example

If you want to teach your children, don't preach, inspire through example.

Ms. Brown takes classes too. Sometimes they are classes about teaching. Sometimes they are about computers and report cards.

Sometimes they are classes about art


Sometimes they are classes about social media and blogging.

When I take classes -- especially art classes, I bring my results into the classroom to show the children. They especially like my notebooks and all of the writing in them ("you wrote all of this Ms. Brown? Really truly?")

I also show them the books that I am reading to myself.
The conversations often go like this:
Student: "What are you reading today?
Me: "This book -- can you read the title?"(I show them the book)
The next day
Student: "What are you reading today?
Me: "The same book." (I show them, and I show them my bookmark).
Student: "It takes you a really long time to read a book."
Me: "Long Books take a long time -- a whole week, or sometimes more!"
Student: "Wow" (they look totally in awe)
Me: "You will read books this long some day"
Student :"I don't like books without pictures"
Me: "You will, someday"

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrel

Grey squirrel, grey squirrel,
Doesn't make a sound,
As he buries acorns,
Under the ground,
Later when it's cold,
And there is no food around,
The grey squirrel will dig,
His acorns from the ground

Words of the Week

Grade 1

dig

big

pig

wig

fig

Bonus Word

acorn

Grade 2

sound

round

ground

around

found

Bonus Word

squirrel

(for some reason my original post with the photo of the poem won't load so I've re-done it in typing only -- sorry for the delay!)

Math Monday - Patterning

Remember:

We find patterns in nature, art, music, and literature. We also find them in numbers. Patterns are at the very heart of math. The ability to recognize patterns helps us to make predictions based on our observations. Understanding patterns helps prepare children for the study of algebra in later grades.

To try at home:

• Hunt for patterns around your house and your neighbourhood. Your child will find patterns in clothing, in wallpaper, in tiles, on toys, and among trees and flowers in the park. Encourage your child to describe the patterns found. Try to identify the features of the pattern that are repeated.

How old are we?

We have been focusing on "All About Me" . We have done a lot of work to get to know each other. We're still learning each other's names -- but we're getting closer to knowing them all!

We have graphed our birthdays and are beginning to use words to compare numbers (more, less, greater than, less than).

We discussed how old we are ( we are 5, 6 and 7). We built our ages in unicubes. Then we added our name to a partner's name and added up our ages. Then we added the whole class together and found out how old we are as a class! (I didn't add my age in -- it skews the results a bit :)


Our combined age is 120! Each segment of colour represents one child.

Retelling

We are learning how to retell a story -- this will lead to better comprehension of the stories that we read.

First we need to be able to identify the characters in a story as well as its setting. Then we determine the problem in the story and how the problem is resolved.

Next up will be making connections with the story. How one story is like another story that we read (a "text to text" connection) , and also how the story connects to our lives (a "text to self" connection).


Ask your child how Hare solved his problem! We have discussed this story at length, so your child should be able to tell you what happened.

Play Day

We had so much fun on Play Day last Friday! The focus was on teamwork and good sportsmanship. Our class was divided into 2 teams ( Team A and Team B) and our teams competed against each other. We really learned to cheer for and support each other -- and to also cheer for the other teams :)

First up was the "Ball between the knees relay" (you had to hop with the ball between your knees around a pylon and back).


Next was the "Egg in the Spoon Relay".


Then we tossed some bean bag animals through the alien's mouths.


Then we did some skipping. We are a bit "skipping challenged" :) I'll have to send skipping ropes out with the students at recess more often!
JUMP!


Then we made two big group circles and held hands. We had to move the hula hoop around the circle without letting go of each others hands. This was my favourite game!


Next up was parachute play. We liked just lifting it up and down, but the game of "Cat and Mousie" was REALLY fun!


Then there was an obstacle course through the playground. It was another relay. It was really fun to watch :)


Then we played a fun game where we stood in a circle with our legs spread apart and pushed (or "batted") a ball at each other, trying to get the ball through someone else's legs.


Next up was a clothes pin relay. Each team had to hop hop hop with clothes pins, trying to get all of their clothes pins pinned onto the coat hanger. We have some really good hoppers in Room 15!


We finished at the game of "Move the water from one bucket to another with a sponge". I was surprised at how good we all were at this.

Afterwards we took a whole group picture of all of the students in their rows of colours. We looked great!

What are you thankful for?

Technical difficulties prevented me from posting these last Friday, when they would have been a bit more timely. However, we are still discussing Thanksgiving this week -- it is easier to discuss family traditions when they are very fresh in our minds and we don't have to think back a full year!

October

Over the next few weeks, we will be discussing Autumn, seasonal change and continuing our study of the Harvest.

(that "r" in October has been inserted in the classroom copy :)

Words of the Week:

Grade 1
us
is
of
the
and
BONUS WORD: brown (Ms. Brown)

Grade 2
down
brown
town
gown
crown
BONUS WORD: October

(some of our Grade 1 words may be repeats throughout the year... many of us are still working on them)
Bonus words are a bit harder words that we use frequently, so we should know how to read and spell them.

Math Monday - Patterning

Remember:

We find patterns in nature, art, music, and literature. We also find them in numbers. Patterns are at the very heart of math. The ability to recognize patterns helps us to make predictions based on our observations. Understanding patterns helps prepare children for the study of algebra in later grades.

To try at home:

• Create patterns using your body. Clap and stomp your foot in a particular sequence (clap, clap, stomp), have your child repeat the same sequence, then create variations of the pattern together. Teach your child simple dances that include repeated steps and movements.

Thankksgiving Delights

Words of the Week! We are working with Word Families this week:

Grade 1 Words:
all
ball
hall
wall
fall

Grade 2 Words:
look
took
book
cook
hook

Math Monday - Patterning

This is from the Ontario Government's Early Math Strategy:

Tips to help your child learn math:

Be positive about math!

• Let your child know that everyone can learn math.
• Let your child know that you think math is important and fun.
• Point out the ways in which different family members use math in their jobs.
• Be positive about your own math abilities. Try to avoid saying "I was never good at math" or "I never liked math".
• Encourage your child to be persistent if a problem seems difficult.
• Praise your child when he or she makes an effort, and share in the excitement when he or she solves a problem or understands something for the first time.

To try at home:

We find patterns in nature, art, music, and literature. We also find them in numbers. Patterns are at the very heart of math. The ability to recognize patterns helps us to make predictions based on our observations. Understanding patterns helps prepare children for the study of algebra in later grades.

• Look for patterns in storybooks and songs. Many children's books and songs repeat lines or passages in predictable ways, allowing children to recognize and predict the patterns.

For Example in Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See (by Eric Carle) , there is the same pattern of words over and over as well as the repeating rhyming words "see" and "me" at the end of each line.