Welcome to our class website! Please make sure to check in often to hear about all the great things going on in room 109.
Here are some important things to remember for the month of May:
Hard to belive that the end of the year is upon us! Having said that, we are still buckling down and hard at work. Check the "Currently" tab for updates about areas of study this month.
We will be sending portfolios home once again. Keep an eye out early next week as your children are anxious to share their progress with you.
Also, remember to dress for the weather on May 28th for our trip to Nonquon. Make sure to lather on the sunblock. We will be exploring bugs and reptiles in their natural habitat. I'll try not to scream if we come across any snakes!
As always, please feel free to contact me via phone or agenda if you have any questions or things you would like to discuss. Many thanks for your ongoing support!
** We are working on double digit addition and subtraction with regrouping / borrowing. This is a very difficult concept and students would really benefit from extra practice at home (example: 45 + 16, 26 - 19). Merci!
Language
Our language program focuses on a different sound each week. Students read short passages and answer a variety of questions to ensure comprehension, build vocabulary and work on spelling. Students write in their journals weekly, incorporating words from past dictees. We are reading a variety of books to determine what aspects make a good story. In guided reading groups, students are learning to retell a story by breaking it down into the main ideas and sequencing events correctly. Also, we are working on delving deeper into our comprehension of books by inferring meaning and making connections with what we are reading to our own lives.
Math
We continue to work through addition and subtraction facts. As well, we continue to practise double digit addition and subtraction with regrouping and borrowing. We have learned to tell the time to the quarter-hour on an analogue clock. Soon we will be learning about probability and factions.
Science
We are learning about the various animal groups. Children are learning to identify common characteristics of mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, insects and amphibians. We are looking at starting an in class research project shortly.
Visual Arts
We continue to use the elements of art effectively in our designs. We have done some beautiful abstract art pieces as of late. The students really enjoyed learning about "pop" art. They have also enjoyed applying a technique called "wax resist." This involves drawing a line or design in wax crayon and then painting over the piece. The paint pulls away from the wax and creates an interesting composition.
Gym
We continue to participate in a variety of games and activities that emphasize safe movement and get the heart rate going. As well, we are circulating through kicking centres.
Dictée words will be sent home in the agenda on the Monday, and the Dictée will take place on the Friday of each week. The purpose of the Dictée is to help students spell frequently used words. Each week will focus on words that share a specific sound or theme.
This week's words are.. (and please note the words will be given in a different order) May 14-18
1. un mois
2. une balançoire
3. boire
4. une voiture
5. un oiseau
6. une baignoire
7. un poisson
8. une étoile
9. un mouchoir
10. une boîte
Thank you for your support with the dictée.
If you could sign last week's dictée before sending it back to school that would be great. This way I will know that you have seen it.
I am very pleased to be returning to Brooklin Village for the 2011-2012 school year. I have really enjoyed my time off this summer with my three kids: Will (age 8), Kate (age 5) and Claire (age 1). That being said, it feels good to be coming to work again!
I am originally from Ottawa and majored in French Studies at Queen’s University. I went on to complete my Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa.
Since graduating in June of 2000, I have been teaching French Immersion with the Toronto and Peel District School Boards. My family relocated to Brooklin in June 2009 so that my husband, Derek, could be closer to work. We are very happy to call Brooklin home.
I am very excited to be working with your children and would love to hear from you! Please feel free to write me notes in the agenda or to call me at the school if you have any questions, concerns or just to say hello.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support during this time of transition. I hope to speak with many of you soon!
Sincerely,
Mme. Mitchell
This week we begin Etoile de la semaine (Star of the Week)! Each child will have the opportunity to be
"Etoile de la semaine". When your child is selected, they will bring home a booklet to complete at home.
The booklet is then due on the Friday at the end of their week, as they will present it to the class on the
Friday. However, it does not have to remain in booklet form. Students can choose to present it on bristol
board, or as a scrapbook, or in any other creative way they choose! During their week, the "étoile" can also
bring in objects/pictures/toys, etc., to show the class each day, or even share their talents with us (playing
an instrument, a magic trick, etc.)!
Schedule:
Jack: Oct.24-28
Felicity: Oct.31 - Nov.4
Armann: Nov.7-11
Garrett: Nov.14-18
Allison: Nov.21-25
Benjamin: Nov.28 - Dec.2
Zoe: Dec.5-9
Sydney: Dec.12-16
Madison: Dec.19-23
Samantha: Jan.9-13
Aeryn: Jan.16-20
Aliyah: Jan.23-27
Samuel: Jan.30-Feb.3
Justin: Feb.6-10
Katelynn: Feb.13-17
Jocelyn: Feb. 21-24
David: Feb.27 - Mar.2
Ella: Mar.5-9
Mikaela: Mar.19-23
This year our class will be undertaking the Who is Nobody project. Nobody (or "Personne") is a blue doll without a name, face, gender, race, interests or friends. It is our job to help Nobody become Somebody by doing kind things around our school, homes and community.
Every student will have the opportunity to take Nobody home with them for one week. During that time, they must come up with something that they can do to help other people, animals or the environment. The purpose of this activity is to help Nobody (and the students) build character by focusing on important character traits: courage, integrity, fairness, perseverance, optimism, honesty, initiative, respect, responsibility and empathy.
Step 1 - Choose an act of kindness
It is up to you and your child to choose something that suits their interests and abilities! Projects can include taking care of the family pet, shoveling snow for an elderly neighbour, raising awareness about endangered animals, helping at a soup kitchen, recycling, donating old clothes or toys to a shelter, collecting pop tabs to help make wheelchairs, baking cookies for a sick friend, etc... The possibilities are endless!!!
Step 2 - Complete the good deed with Nobody
Document the activity by taking a picture of Nobody and your child while completing the activity.
Step 3 - Share your good deed
The class will be putting together a scrapbook to share all of the wonderful things we have been doing. Please have your child write a few sentences in French about what they did to help Nobody become Somebody, why they did it and how it made them feel. Your child may also wish to draw a picture to accompany their writing, to be pasted in our scrapbook.
Step 4 - Attach a memento
Throughout the year, Nobody will be collecting memories and experiences to help him grow as a person. Please attach a small trinket to represent your child's good deed. For example: If you donate toys at Christmas, you could attach a small toy to Nobody. If you plant a tree, you could attach a small plastic shovel to Nobody's hand. If you donate money to a local charity, you could attach pennies to Nobody's face as eyes.
Step 5 - Return Nobody with your child on Monday
Nobody will be sent home on a Monday. To ensure that every student has a full week, it is essential that you return Nobody with your child when they come to school on Monday morning.
Thank you for your support with this project. The class and I are very excited about it! I cannot wait to see what kind of fantastic things the students will get involved in.
http://www.whoisnobody.com/examples.html
