Wednesday September 30

Highlights of the Day

We did a great job using our individually packaged base ten blocks to build and represent numbers in a variety of ways!

We finished our visual journal page for the books we read this week.  We focused on the Author's Purpose and the Reader's Purpose for each book.

Something to talk about:

We recognized Orange Shirt Day today both in the classroom and as a school.   We read a third story called Stolen Words and learned about how those in residential school were not allowed to use their own language and were expected to only use English. 

As a school, each child received an orange ribbon to write a message or idea from their learning about Orange Shirt Day.  Each class tied their ribbons to a piece of twine which are now displayed in the school hub.

Every child needs a safe place.    Brody

Hope for every child.    Olivia

Every child has a voice.   Marley G.

Respect Every Child.    Jacob

Family is Forever.   Ellie

What message did you write on your orange ribbon today?  Why did you select that message?  

Important Reminders

PLEASE have your child visit their gmail this evening and accept the invitation to our new Google Classroom.  Their password is the same as last year.  Once they accept the invitation, they can access the new classroom which will start on Monday!

Terry Fox Run Friday. You can bring your Toonies for Terry any day this week or donate online using the link in yesterday's blog.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W9Eglm7HDRzx0CWAFpnnNw9SDJ_CEHEZYExw6XuYdTI/edit?usp=sharing

 

Thank you to all parents who have sent back the Student Insight that Mrs. Kinsman sent to you.  We have been reading them as they come in and are finding them very informative and helpful!  

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother’s garden, she begins to notice things about her grandmother that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long braided hair and wear beautifully coloured clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? ... Google Books 

Highlights of the Day:

1) We started to respond to Orange Shirt Day picture books

2) We had our first fire drill this afternoon

"I feel like the grandmother is like me because she can't speak her own language at school..."

Sean's response to the book: When We Were Alone

Please sign into your gmail account to accept our invitation to our new 2020/21 google classroom.

Something to talk about: 

In our book today, we talked the importance of names. Ask your parents about the story of your name. Why did your parents give you the name you have.

Information on the Terry Fox Run this Friday:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W9Eglm7HDRzx0CWAFpnnNw9SDJ_CEHEZYExw6XuYdTI/edit?usp=sharing

Dates to Remember:

Orange Shirt Day, wear your orange shirt

Terry Fox Run Friday (October 2, 2020)

Early dismissal Friday (12:02)

Monday Sept. 28

 

                

                Orange Shirt Day

                         Wednesday September 30

Highlights of the Day

* We are preparing for Orange Shirt Day on Wednesday by sharing some books and videos.  Today we read When we Were Alone and we introduced Author's Purpose and Reader's Purpose.  

*The students were excited to work with our base ten materials in math today.  It is a whole new experience using these during Covid times!  Each student has a bag of their own blocks so that there is no transmission of germs.  We are working to build and represent numbers in a variety of ways.

Something to Talk About

What image will you choose for your mini-book to represent the story When We Are Alone?  Explain you choice to your parents.

Important Dates and Reminders

We will have our first fire drill tomorrow afternoon.

Orange Shirt Day on Wednesday - wear something orange.

Terry Fox Run on Friday - you can bring your toonies any morning this week to put in the collection jars at your entrance doors.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

 

We continued reading about the adventures of Roz the Robot. She is learning how to survive in a natural environment.

Highlights of the Day:

1) We played a math game called: Which Number Doesn't Belong. Students were given four numbers and were challenged to explain what and why a chosen number didn't belong. They were encouraged to use math language to explain their thinking.

2) We created a definition of sentence. We discovered that sentences start with a capital and end with a punctuation mark that has a period in it (period, question mark, exclamation mark). It also has to express an idea or thought.

Something to talk about:

Students, talk to your parents about why Roz is sitting quietly and using all of her senses.

Important Reminders:

1) Half day tomorrow, early dismissal, 12:02 pm.

2) No school for students Friday, Teacher Conferences.

Tuesday, Sept. 22

 Highlights

We continue to work with students to find books that they enjoy and that they can understand when reading independently.  We talk about how important book choice is to building our reading stamina.

In Writers' Workshop today we  worked on expanding sentences using "juicy words".  Mr. Kelly showed some images of animals and here are some of the results:

"In the deep humid jungle you find a striped fierce tiger crawling slowly approaching its prey." 

"The adorable puppies have a big struggle climbing over the wooden fence."

"The slippery dolphin jumps out of the vast ocean to its playful friend."

Something to Talk About:

This was our math challenge today.  Using our Math Words, students were asked to examine the 4 numbers and determine which one did not belong and to explain their thinking.

* place value        * value        *digit

*odd                     * even          * greater        * less

Parents - try the challenge!

Students - show your parents the ones you figured out!

Comfort Drawings with Mr Kelly

Important Dates:

1) Meet the Teacher Conferences start on Thursday, Sept. 24

2) Early dismissal, 12:02 pm, on Thursday, Sept. 24

3) No school for students on Friday, Meet the Teacher Conferences continue

4). Important Terry Fox Information at the link below.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W9Eglm7HDRzx0CWAFpnnNw9SDJ_CEHEZYExw6XuYdTI/edit?usp=sharing

Monday, September 21, 2020

Highlights of the Day

1) We are now sitting at tables. All of us. 

2) We celebrated Peace Day today. We made pinwheels and talked about what peace means to us.

3) It was Picture Day... we were very busy today.

Check out the Peace Day video that the kindergarten students made:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ccqw2WUDVtgkgw23D97SzE7Tf2dZr27d/view?usp=sharing

Important Dates:

1) Meet the Teacher Conferences start on Thursday, Sept. 24

2) Early dismissal, 12:02 pm, on Thursday, Sept. 24

3) No school for students on Friday, Meet the Teacher Conferences continue

Something to talk about:

Share your pinwheels with your parents and explain why you chose the images you did.

Thursday, Sept. 17

Highlights

1.  Our students are really becoming artists and their sketching skills are improving daily.  Mr. Kelly has been teaching them some tricks and tips and they are incorporating these into their daily work.

2.  We are beginning to examine the map of Canada.  We looked at a "vintage" map of Canada (one that Mr. Kelly and Mrs. Zwack would have learned from in elementary school) and compared it to a modern map.  We discussed why the province of Alberta is shaped the way it is and identified our neighbors to the N, S, E, and W.  

Something to Talk About

Where have you visited in Canada?  How far have you traveled outside of Alberta but within Canada? 

Important Updates:

Picture Day Monday September 21!!

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

 When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her ...

 Highlights of the day:

1) Mr. Kelly's group started Write to Self today. It is very similar to Read to Self. As a large group we discussed why we should practice writing, what student are responsible for and what is the role of the teacher during theses times.

2) We played a math game that reinforced place value and digits. Students rolled dice four times (digits) and challenged to make the largest number (place value).

3) We read the first chapters of our read aloud book, The Wild Robot.

Something to play: Students show your parents how play the math game we learned this mornimg.

Important Dates:

Early dismissal Friday, September 18

Picture Day, Monday, September 21

Tuesday Sept. 15

Today's Updates 

Please ensure all forms are returned to the school by the end of this week in the brown envelope.

We continue to tweak and adjust our routines to ensure that students are safe and learning.  Please ensure that you check the blog regularly for updates.  We are doing our best to accommodate during this challenging time.

Highlights

Today we examined a variety of maps, globes and atlas' in our quest to learn more about maps and how they help us understand our world.  We followed up our investigation with listing some of our "wonders" that will guide our work.

During Writer's Workshop we set up our Writer's Toolbox notebook.  This is where we will collect tools and strategies throughout the year as we build our writing skills and techniques.  We began by starting a page of "Juicy Words" after looking at some interesting images shown by Mr. Kelly.

Something to Talk About

Now that you have seen the book trailer for The Wild Robot, how do you think the author might hook the reader when he starts the novel?  You can rewatch the trailer with your family!

 The Wild Robot Book Trailer 

Monday, September 14, 2020

Highlights

1) We started learning about maps today! We brainstormed words that describe what a map is and represented them in our visual journals. We discover that maps are:

                                                     illustrations

                                                direction givers

                                                location finders

                                                destination seekers

                                                                                             storytellers, like books

                                                            See our work below

2) We set a new class record for Read to Self-11:30 minutes! Good job everybody

3) We started our first read aloud book called: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. We looked for clues on the book cover to help us make predictions about what might happen in the story.

Something to talk about

Tell your parents what you think our story is about. What clues from the cover did you use to help make a prediction. Remember, a good prediction is guess based on evidence.