We are really enjoying reading this poem out loud!
Words of the Week
Grade 1
you
his
her
for
the
bonus word: little
Grade 2
that
what
you
his
for
bonus words: lunch
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Chubby Little Snowman
We are really enjoying reading this poem out loud!
Words of the Week
Grade 1
you
his
her
for
the
bonus word: little
Grade 2
that
what
you
his
for
bonus words: lunch
Monday, January 30, 2012
Math Monday - Geometry - Directional Language
Remember this about Geometry:
The ability to identify and describe shapes, sizes, positions, directions, and movement is important in many work situations, such as construction and design, as well as in creating and understanding art. Becoming familiar with shapes and spatial relationships in their environment will help children grasp the principles of geometry in later grades.
To try at home:
Hide a toy and use directional language to help your child find it. Give clues using words and phrases such as up, down, over, under, between, through, and on top of.
Once they have mastered these, practice left and right.
Ask your child to draw a picture of your street, neighbourhood, or town. Talk about where your home is in relation to a neighbour's home or the corner store. Use directional words and phrases like beside and to the right of.
Then north, south, east and west
(try putting signs up on bedroom walls, or saying "When we leave our house, we are facing South" or "We are going West on the Subway"
The ability to identify and describe shapes, sizes, positions, directions, and movement is important in many work situations, such as construction and design, as well as in creating and understanding art. Becoming familiar with shapes and spatial relationships in their environment will help children grasp the principles of geometry in later grades.
To try at home:
Hide a toy and use directional language to help your child find it. Give clues using words and phrases such as up, down, over, under, between, through, and on top of.
Once they have mastered these, practice left and right.
Ask your child to draw a picture of your street, neighbourhood, or town. Talk about where your home is in relation to a neighbour's home or the corner store. Use directional words and phrases like beside and to the right of.
Then north, south, east and west
(try putting signs up on bedroom walls, or saying "When we leave our house, we are facing South" or "We are going West on the Subway"
Sunday, January 29, 2012
100s Day is coming!
We have been counting the days of school since day 1. I told the children that when we get to day 100 we would have a special celebration!
We have been counting the days by 1s (at the beginning) then by 2s, 5s and 10s. We are really good at counting by 10s. We keep practicing that counting by 5s. It is hard!
Here we are counting some popsicle sticks by 10s.
We worked together to make bags of 100 popsicle sticks Each student took a bag of 100 popsicle sticks home. (one student thought that he was getting 100 popsicles. Sorry!) . At home, each student will build a structure using exactly 100 popsicle sticks. The Grade 1s can make any kind of structure that they wish. The Grade 2s must make a buoyant structure (it needs to float)! They can use glue or tape to join the sticks.
On February 10 we will have a special 100 Day Celebration. We will have many activities that revolve around the number 100. We might have to wait for our pool day on the following Tuesday to see if our buoyant structures float though!
We have been counting the days by 1s (at the beginning) then by 2s, 5s and 10s. We are really good at counting by 10s. We keep practicing that counting by 5s. It is hard!
Here we are counting some popsicle sticks by 10s.
We worked together to make bags of 100 popsicle sticks Each student took a bag of 100 popsicle sticks home. (one student thought that he was getting 100 popsicles. Sorry!) . At home, each student will build a structure using exactly 100 popsicle sticks. The Grade 1s can make any kind of structure that they wish. The Grade 2s must make a buoyant structure (it needs to float)! They can use glue or tape to join the sticks.
On February 10 we will have a special 100 Day Celebration. We will have many activities that revolve around the number 100. We might have to wait for our pool day on the following Tuesday to see if our buoyant structures float though!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Happy Lunar New Year!
The Lunar New Year is celebrated in China, Korea and Vietnam. This year is the Year of the Dragon!
The grade 1's were born in the Year of the Rooster (Chicken) (EXCEPT FOR THE 2 STUDENTS WHO WERE BORN IN JANUARY -- they are Monkeys! ) . The Grade 2's were born in the Year of the Monkey.
We made some streetscapes complete with fireworks in the night sky, lanterns waving in the breeze, and a dragon parade (or a lion dance).
Gung Hay Fat Choy! (the spelling is phonetic, so you may see many different ways of spelling this message) -- it means "wishing you good fortune and happiness"
What I Hate About Winter
This weeks poem is, perhaps, a bit controversial. Not the poem itself, but the fact that it uses the word "hate" in it. While I don't condone the use of the word "hate" when directed toward a person, I think that there are some things that we hate. And it's not necessarily bad to point those things out. In the classroom, we discussed the usage of the word "hate".
Douglas Florian's poem sums up the way I feel about winter :) All of the children agreed that no one likes runny noses or frozen toes. Some of them did say that they like sloppy slush though!
Words of the Week:
Grade 1
hate
late
date
rate
gate
bonus word: winter
(once again we are focusing on the silent e and how it makes the vowel that comes before it say its own name)
Grade 2
low
row
bow
slow
snow
bonus word: below
When you are practicing the words, see if your child can come up with more words in the word family! How long of a list can he or she make?
Douglas Florian's poem sums up the way I feel about winter :) All of the children agreed that no one likes runny noses or frozen toes. Some of them did say that they like sloppy slush though!
Words of the Week:
Grade 1
hate
late
date
rate
gate
bonus word: winter
(once again we are focusing on the silent e and how it makes the vowel that comes before it say its own name)
Grade 2
low
row
bow
slow
snow
bonus word: below
When you are practicing the words, see if your child can come up with more words in the word family! How long of a list can he or she make?
Monday, January 23, 2012
Math Monday - Geometry - Blocks
Remember this about Geometry:
The ability to identify and describe shapes, sizes, positions, directions, and movement is important in many work situations, such as construction and design, as well as in creating and understanding art. Becoming familiar with shapes and spatial relationships in their environment will help children grasp the principles of geometry in later grades.
To try at home:
Build structures using blocks or old boxes. Discuss the need to build a strong base. Ask your child which shapes stack easily, and why.
The ability to identify and describe shapes, sizes, positions, directions, and movement is important in many work situations, such as construction and design, as well as in creating and understanding art. Becoming familiar with shapes and spatial relationships in their environment will help children grasp the principles of geometry in later grades.
To try at home:
Build structures using blocks or old boxes. Discuss the need to build a strong base. Ask your child which shapes stack easily, and why.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
What I Love About Winter
This poem is by Douglas Florian
Words of the Week
Grade 1
make
lake
cake
bake
take
bonus word: pancake
Grade 2
fight
night
might
light
right
bonus word: snowball
** we are also focusing on compound words -- especially for the Grade 2s!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Math Monday - Geometry - Shapes
Geometry
The ability to identify and describe shapes, sizes, positions, directions, and movement is important in many work situations, such as construction and design, as well as in creating and understanding art. Becoming familiar with shapes and spatial relationships in their environment will help children grasp the principles of geometry in later grades.
To try at home:
Identify shapes and sizes. When playing with your child, identify things by their shape and size: "Pass me a sugar cube." "Take the largest cereal box out of the cupboard."
The ability to identify and describe shapes, sizes, positions, directions, and movement is important in many work situations, such as construction and design, as well as in creating and understanding art. Becoming familiar with shapes and spatial relationships in their environment will help children grasp the principles of geometry in later grades.
To try at home:
Identify shapes and sizes. When playing with your child, identify things by their shape and size: "Pass me a sugar cube." "Take the largest cereal box out of the cupboard."
Sunday, January 15, 2012
The Three Little Pigs
We have been working hard on our 3 Little Pigs Readers Theatre with our Shadow Puppets.
Here is our first filmed attempt! (after many rehearsals!)
Next time, we'll remember the house :)
** note to parents -- this video is on YouTube -- but the children and the school are not identified in any way**
Here is our first filmed attempt! (after many rehearsals!)
Next time, we'll remember the house :)
** note to parents -- this video is on YouTube -- but the children and the school are not identified in any way**
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The Short Life of a Mitten
Words of the Week
Grade 1
got
not
hot
lot
pot
bonus word : I'm
Grade 2
sliding
falling
rolling
standing
playing
bonus word: I'm
This week we are all working on "ing" words and starting to learn about contractions (I'm).
Monday, January 9, 2012
Math Monday - Number Sense and Numeracy
Remember:
Numbers are used to describe quantities, to count, and to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Understanding numbers and knowing how to combine them to solve problems helps us in all areas of math.
To try at home:
Play "Broken Calculator". Pretend that the number 8 key on the calculator is broken. Without it, how can you make the number 18 appear on the screen? (Sample answers:
Numbers are used to describe quantities, to count, and to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Understanding numbers and knowing how to combine them to solve problems helps us in all areas of math.
To try at home:
Play "Broken Calculator". Pretend that the number 8 key on the calculator is broken. Without it, how can you make the number 18 appear on the screen? (Sample answers:
20 – 2, 15 + 3). Ask other questions using different "broken" keys.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Math Monday - Number Sense and Numeracy
Remember:
Numbers are used to describe quantities, to count, and to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Understanding numbers and knowing how to combine them to solve problems helps us in all areas of math.
To try at home:
Make up games using dice and playing cards. Try rolling dice and adding or multiplying the numbers that come up. Add up the totals until you reach a target number, like 100. Play the game backwards to practise subtraction.
Numbers are used to describe quantities, to count, and to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Understanding numbers and knowing how to combine them to solve problems helps us in all areas of math.
To try at home:
Make up games using dice and playing cards. Try rolling dice and adding or multiplying the numbers that come up. Add up the totals until you reach a target number, like 100. Play the game backwards to practise subtraction.
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