Writing - the focus of our writing this week was reflecting on the
Reading - More strategies for being a good reader continue to be added to our CAFE board. This week we have practiced and discussed "Monitor and fix up" as well as "Reading Voraciously to expand vocabulary."
Writing - the focus of our writing this week was reflecting on the
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Reading - this week we continued to build our independent reading stamina while adding to our strategies for comprehension, accuracy, fluency and expanding vocabulary.
Writing - we began working on how to brainstorm stories before beginning so that they have a beginning, middle and end. We are using the symbols of a triangle, square and circle to help us remember what we need in each section of a story. Math - Ms. Sultana continued to work with the group on reading numbers to the millions and on deciding greater than and less than. They also worked on ordering numbers. Socials - The class began to look at getting to know each other from a historical sense. They looked at how important it is to know fact from opinion and began a discussion on stereotypes and why they are dangerous. Health and Career - The class began to look briefly at the many important features of the agenda such as the onTRAC system (pg. 6-7). We continued to focus on accountability and have done regular agenda checks for parent signatures each morning. Art - For our art lesson this week we worked with chalk and charcoal to create 3-D Jack-o-lanterns. Students have also continued their study of music and movement with Ms. Dolson. We were also privileged to enjoy a performance by the Story Teller Theatre company for our first Young People's Concert of the year. PE - the focus continues to be on volleyball and the basic skills of the game. Reading - we continue to add to our reading strategies while building our stamina to work independently. Students have begun reading to myself or Mrs. Sultana to help with fluency and other personal goals.
Writing - This week we introduced our work on writing portion of the afternoon. Students will be required to write independently on a subject of their choice daily. We began the process of getting the books set up and discovering where they will live. Math - Mrs. Sultana has been working on a unit dealing with number patterns and skip counting. Students are being asked to practice counting forwards and backwards by 2s and 5s from any number. Science - This week we completed our study on Salmon by attending the Adam's River Salmon Run. The kids had a fantastic time and enjoyed visiting the river and seeing the salmon dissection the most. Socials - We have just dived in to our studies with socials. We have been exploring the textbook and beginning to look at how we are a part of history and how we need to understand fact from opinion. Health and Career - This week we talked about communicable and non-communicable diseases and the importance of hand washing to prevent illness. The kids really enjoyed the sparkle germs and how the spread everywhere. Art - This week we worked on a Hallowe'en themed project. Please feel free to drop into the school's main entrance to see "Which witch is which?" Reading - over the past two weeks we have really been focused on increasing our reading stamina while exploring strategies good readers do. We know good readers Check for understanding, Cross Check, and Tune into Interesting Words. We have also completed our first term Whole Class Reading assessment.
Writing - we have been working on how to answer questions in complete sentences and on building a "brain bank" of ideas we can use when we do free writing. Math - we have continued our unit on telling time on an analogue clock. Students have gotten very good at reading the minutes and are feeling confident in telling the time. We have also just begun looking at elapsed time. Additionally, we are working daily on timed basic facts drills. Our goal is to do a sheet of addition facts in 2 minutes or less. Science - we are just finishing up our unit on Salmon and have learned about the six different types of salmon. On Monday we are going to the Adam's Run to see the Sockeye salmon. HCE- We finished our discussion on classroom beliefs and have been working hard to make sure we are all able to flow them in the various situations that come up in the classroom. Additionally, agenda use is being monitored and each student should be bringing their agenda to you nightly for your review and signature. PE - In PE we have begun learning about the techniques required in Volleyball. So far we have worked on the basic movements and the need for fast feet and strong thigh muscles. Fine Arts - Students are working with Ms. Dolson on music education. In the classroom we have done some theme art related to Thanksgiving and our salmon unit. A busy year has just begun!
Reading - we are working on reacquainting ourselves with the CAFE reading system which focuses on improving our overall reading skills. Writing - This week we completed a project called 'Summer Sunglasses.' It is a short clip about our summer which we will be proudly posting with our art in the stairwell in the school very soon. Math - We have begun working on unit on telling time and working with the clock. To boost this skill at home please have your son/daughter use an analogue clock to tell you the time whenever you need to know. Science - We are currently hard at work learning about salmon to prepare for our trip to the Adam's River Salmon Run on October 20th. Parent volunteers will be needed! Health and Careers - The class has been very focused on developing a set of group beliefs which with help us work together to ensure everyone's success. Additionally, each child is using their agenda to communicate regularly with home. Please be sure to review it nightly and sign it. Thank you! PE - Volleyball season is just beginning! See you next week! Mrs. Charron My apologies that this post has not been updated. Weebly was having a few issues and I have had a few Friday meetings which have taken me away from my job of keeping you informed. I hope this week will get us all back up to speed and back on track.
Reading - Over the past month we have continued to be focused on developing ourselves as readers. We have been focusing on reading strategies to help us ensure we understand what we are reading regardless of the subject. We have been practising behaviours which make good readers. I have also began sitting with students as they read to listen and talk about ways they can improve their own reading skills. Math - We have just completed our unit on patterning and t-tables. Most students did well on the unit and feel comfortable with creating, increasing or decreasing a pattern. We have just begun a unit on numeration and are looking at place value. Also this past week, students completed their first homework math package. Thank you for helping your child by working with them to aid in their success. Remember to let me know if this is becoming a huge struggle or if you need help with a particular weeks work. Please note: not all topics have been touched. Some ideas/concepts may be totally new, problem solve together and try your best. We will get to those concepts down the road this year. These worksheets are about practice, exposure and gradua Writing- students have been working to build their ability to stay writing on an independent writing topic without stopping. We also began looking at "Brain Pockets" to discover what types of memories, facts, and imaginative ideas we hold in our brain that we could use as a topic for later writing. Science - We have been steadily working away at understanding how adaptations, structural or behavioural, help organisms live in their habitats. Students will be tested on these concepts on MONDAY, OCTOBER 28. HCE - Students have spent the month discovering the basic emotional needs of humans; love/belonging, power. freedom, and fun. we have talked about how these ideas are expressed and what each need means to them personally. Socials - We have done a lot of work on understanding maps and how and why we use them. We are just beginning to look at how two cultures meeting for the first time results in differing ideas and changes to the landscape and belief systems. PE - The class has been focusing on developing their volleyball skills. This improvement is showing greatly in the grade 4/5 co-ed volleyball team and in their confidence with the ball. Art - this month we created our very own pillow/cushions from old t-shirts. The kids had to work very hard at sewing carefully and neatly. Everyone is really enjoying their personal piece of comfort. Here's what we have been up to this week :)
Reading - We have continued to work on developing our reading strategies and on building our reading stamina. We discussed how the brain is a muscle than must be exercised so practice, practice, practice! Writing - We have been working on finishing up our Newspapers about ourselves complete with story, cartoon and hero talk. Math - Our focus has been on using t-tables and models to demonstrate how patterns can change and on stating the rule for each pattern. Science - Our focus has been on understanding what makes habitats different from one another. We have also just begun looking at adaptations in organisms and how thoe adaptations help them meet their basic needs. Socials - The class has been reviewing vocabulary from our first chapter which has focused on understanding that information can come from lots of sources and that we need to watch for bias and stereotyping when gathering information, watching television, or searching the internet. Health and Careers - This week we discussed our role as the schools management team and the jobs that that position entails. A schedule was made up of partners who will handle various tasks around the school to help keep it running smoothly. Art - We have just completed our line and shape drawing of St. Basil's Cathedral. Next week I am hoping to have the class begin a textiles project. PE - We have continued our ongoing work on playing safe and following rules and today completed our Terry Fox Run. Well done! We have had a busy start to the school year and are finally feeling in the swing of things. Classes are now set and subjects are all quickly getting underway. Please remember to check your child’s backpack for their agenda and look for any important newsletters and, of course, homework. I will do my best to keep this blog updated as to what we are working on in each subject but should you have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact me via email or at the school.
Reading - we have begun working on reading strategies with a focus of how to make ourselves better readers. We will be working with a Daily 5 routine that includes reading and writing on a daily basis for a sustained time period. Writing - each student has been working on creating a personal newspaper to tell a little bit about themselves. It includes an all about me, a story and a book review as well as some drawings and photos. Math - we have been looking at patterns and how to extend them. We have learned about t-tables and pattern rules. Science - we are just beginning a unit on Habitats and Communities. To date we have looked at what organisms need to survive and the difference between need and want. Socials - we have begun our studies in socials by looking at how an individual is part of a group and learning about facts and opinions as well as biases. We have also discussed where history comes from in terms of sources. Health and Career - we started the year off developing a set of classroom beliefs which, along with the start matrix, help guide our behaviour. Students also had a sparkle filled lesson on germs and how their spread and why hand washing is so important. Art - we have begun our studies combining shape and pattern by recreating St. Basil's Cathedral. Students are in progress of creating their black and white buildings which will then be mounted on shaded backgrounds. PE - we have been focused on co-operative games and safe behaviour/movement. Well, it has been a busy and fun start to the year. We have accomplished lots and been very busy in all areas of the curriculum. This post will give you a brief look at what we have been focusing on:
Reading - We have been practicing a method of reading called CAFE which focuses on daily practice to improve students comprehension, accuracy, fluency and vocabulary. Students have been learning different strategies to use in each of the four catergories. Additionally, students concerence with me about their reading and receive individual coaching to suit their needs as a developing reader. Writing - to go along with CAFE is a writing component which introduces students to daily writing. Studetns are asked to write continuosly for a period of time working to develope their own voice while improvign the conventions of writing. We have just begun working on understanding a paragraph and developing solid topic sentences. Spelling - We practice weekly spelling lists. Students are asked to practice their words nightly and complete a worksheet package which engages them in the use of their spelling words to develop their vocabulary while improving their spelling. Math - In math, we have completed a unit on patterning. Studentes learned to increase and decrease patterns as well as identify pattern cores and attributes of patterns. We have just recently started working on place value and writing number words in teh proper place values. Science - So far this term we have been focusing on learning about the weather and the tools that meterologists use. To date, we have discussed thermometers, rain gauges, snow boards, and using our five senses to measure and observe the weather. Socials - Students are learning mapping skills through looking at where we are in the world and learning about Canada's boarders, provinces and territories. Health and Careers (HCE) - As a class we have developed classroom beliefs which, along with the STAR school-wide beliefs, help govern our behavior in and out of the classroom. We strive for a respectful, mannerful, helpful environment at all times. We have also looked at understanding the basic needs all humans have for love/belonging, power, freedom and fun. Students are discovering which need drives them and how their driving need affects their work habits. PE - We have worked on co-opperative games and are now developing our volleyball skills. We have learned court movement and are practicing "the bump." If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or email me Last full week of the school year!
This week has been all about wrapping up in different subject areas and making sure we are leaving off on a good foot. Math - we have continued to focus on long division as the concept is a challenge. Students really need to work on their multiplication and division facts! Reading - continued work on reading comprehension with picture clues Writing - we made cards to our little buddies and worked on vocabulary Science - we wrote our final science test of the year on the properties of light. It was open book style. Socials - students have been working with a compass to understand mapping and orienteering. |
AuthorMrs. Charron, grade 3/4 teacher at Stuart Wood Elementary School in Kamloops BC, Canada. Archives
November 2014
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