Wednesday, November 18, 2009

November 18, 2009

Word of the day: capricious

Reminders:
1. Spelling is due tomorrow for the Grade Three students.
2. Library book exchange is scheduled for tomorrow.
3. Friday is "Wear Pink Day" in support of our school's anti-bullying initiative.
4. The students will be dismissed Friday at lunch, because of parent-teacher interviews.
5. Your child should have brought home a notice today letting parents know the times their interviews are scheduled. (I always interview all the parents for the first reporting period.) If it's at all possible, please have your child attend the interview as well.


The Grade Three students have completed their fairy tale interviews. Soft sculpture characters have been designed to complement the writing. Stop in and check out the results!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

October 27, 2009

(Review) word of the day: gratitude

Reminders:
1. Students need a clean, empty tin can or cereal/cracker box for tomorrow's art project.
2. Students are invited to bring items for the Food Bank drive.
3. Students are reminded that UNICEF forms are due back next Monday. Thanks for supporting this very worthwhile program.

The class has been busy writing "Witch Rules" and recipes for "Sandwiches" in class this week. Drop in for a look at their efforts - if you dare!!!!!

Grade Three's problem solving questions include:
1. Frankenstein had 16 bolts in each arm and 14 bolts in each leg. How many more bolts did he have in his arms than in his legs?

2. Cameron got 17 loot bags on Hallowe'en. 5 had chips in them, 3 had gum, 4 had peanuts and the rest had chocolate. How many had chocolate?

3. Hilda the Witch flew to a friend's home. She traveled for two hours to get there. She made it home in 97 minutes. How many minutes did she spend traveling altogether?

4. The temperature on Hallowe'en was 12 degrees. Last Hallowe'en it was 2 degrees. How much warmer was it this year?

5. The Great Pumpkind flew over 3 dozen house in Transylvanis and then flew over 28 houses in Jasper. How many more houses did he fly over in Transylvania?


*** Please remember that each problem needs a number and a word sentence.

Monday, October 26, 2009

October 25, 2009

(Review) Word of the day; famished

Parents,if you haven't been in yet to check out the witch hat creations, try to slip into Room 4 in the next little while. Everyone did a wonderful job decorating hats this year. We could open up a store!

Also, as a special Hallowe'en activity, Jasper Elementary School is collecting for the local food bank. If you'd like to donate, please send non-perishable donations to school with your child. Thanks!

Reminders:
1. Students need a clean, empty tin can or food box (cereal box, cracker box, etc.) for a Wednesday afternoon art project.
2. There is no spelling homework for Grade 3 this week, but there will be a test of special Hallowe'en words this Friday. The words are: spooky, ghost, skeleton, zombie, cemetery, Frankenstein, mummy, vampire, witch, pumpkin, devil, cauldron, and coffin.
3. We will be having a Hallowe'en party this Friday afternoon. Students are invited (but not required) to dress up for the afternoon on Friday. As well, anyone who would like to send cookies, cupcakes, or other snacks for the party is most welcome to do so - with our thanks! Students should also bring a small fruit juice for Friday afternoon's party.
4. Grade 3 math problem solving sheet is due tomorrow. For absent students, the problems are:
1. Wolfman used special shampoo. His shampoo regularly cost $4.98 but was on sale for $0.50 off. What was the sale price of the shampoo?

2. Bart the Bat flew 15 km. on Wednesday, the same amount on Thursday and 23 km. on Friday. How many kilometres did he fly on those 3 days?

3. The mummy's bandages kept falling off. One strip was 95 cm. long. How much longer would it have to be to be one metre long?

4. The Count and his wife ordered 2 bat-wing, chicken foot pizzas for supper. Each pizza had 2 dozen bat wings and 30 chicken feet on it. How many fewer bat wings than chicken feet were there altogether on the 2 pizzas?

5. Hilda the Hag had 16 purple hairs in each of her two false eyelashed. She had 194 purple hairs in her dress-up wig. How many purple hairs did she have altogether?

Thursday, October 15, 2009

October 15, 2009

Word of the day: nefarious

Reminders:
1. Spelling test tomorrow.
2. Photo retakes tomorrow.
3. Grade 3 math sheet is due tomorrow.

Information and pledge sheets for UNICEF fund raising were sent home today. Please note that you are under no obligation to participate in the UNICEF fund raising effort, but that any efforts to support UNICEF are greatly appreciated.

We've been working on subtraction questions using "borrowing" in Grade 3 math. Examples of these questions are 347 - 189 and 206 - 568. The students are practising showing all the steps to complete and check the questions.

Problem solving questions for today for Grade 3 math are:
1. Harriet the Hag bought new bristles for her broom. She also bought a new headlight for her broom. The bristles cost $3.15 and the headlight cost $10.00. What would Harriet's change be from $20.00?

2. Harriet invited 2 goblins and 1 ogre for supper. The ogre ate 5 bowls of bat soup and the goblins each ate 3 bowls. How many bowls of soup did Harriet serve her guests?

3. Harriet's striped socks were a little mismatched. The left one ahd 13 stripes and the right one had 15 stripes. How many stripes were there altogether?

4. Harriet cackled a dozen times Saturday night and 2 times more than that on Sunday night. How many cackles did she cackle altogether?

5. Harriet's broom can travel at 35 km per hour. Her sister's broom can travel at 42 km per hour. How much faster does her sister's broom travel?



****Students should show a number sentence and a word sentence for each problem. If they're stuck, students should reread the problem several times. If they're still stuck, they should try drawing a picture to go with the problem. They should always ask themselves if their answers make sense when they finish a problem.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

October 6, 2009

Word of the day: succulent

Reminders:
1. Please sign and return the U of A permission form regarding Dr. Simmt's visit to our class tomorrow, if your child has permission to participate the research project. Thanks.
2. Grade Three parents: please sign and return your child's math test from today.


The class brainstormed 20 different ways to say the word "walked". Some examples were "tiptoed", "scampered", and "stomped". For those student who were absent today, try to think of 17 more ways to say "walked". (Parents, you're allowed to help out here!)

Also for the students who were absent today, you can work on the following Thanksgiving problems:
1. Grandma and Grandpa Goodbody had company for Thanksgiving. One carload had 6 people in it and the other car had 5 people in it. How many people did Grandma and Grandpa have to feed? (Don't forget about Grandma and Grandpa themselves.)

2. Four grandsons helped peel potatoes. One peeled 4 potatoes. One peeled 3 potatoes and the other boys each peeled 2 potatoes. How many potatoes were peeled altogether?

3. The family had pumpkin pie for dessert. 3 people had pie with ice cream, 6 had pie with whipping cream, and 2 (on a diet!) had plain pie. How many pieces of pie were consumed (that means eaten) altogether?

4. Grandma served after dinner mints after the meal. She put 2 dozen on a plate and passed them around. Only 4 were left on the plate at the end of the night. How many mints were eaten?

5. Granpa gained 2 kilograms over Thanksgiving. He used to weigh 76 kilograms. How much did he weigh after Thanksgiving?

Please supply and number and a word sentence for each problem. (An example of a number sentence is 8 + 9 = 17. The corresponding word sentence might be "They ate 17 after dinner mints.") If you're stuck, try re-reading the problem several times. If you're still stuck, try drawing a picture that shows the information in the problem.

When you're finished the problem, ask yourself if your answers make sense. Check each question carefully!

Monday, October 5, 2009

October 5, 2009

Word of the day: repast

Congratulations to Braeden for getting 100% on today's spelling pre-test. Anyone who gets a perfect score on their spelling pre-test is awarded "Immunity" from the weekly spelling homework, and is exempt from Friday's test. So Braeden can relax while the rest of the class slaves away on the spelling this week. Well done, Mr. V.!

Reminders:
1. We will be having a taste of Thanksgiving stew this Thursday afternoon at about 2:30. Please send 1/2 cup of cut-up veggies (frozen peas or corn will work as well) with your child Thursday morning to contribute to our pot-luck stew. Thanks!
2. Grade 3 has spelling homework due Thursday.
3. October's book order has been sent home. If you'd like to place an order, please return the forms by this Thursday. Thanks.


The class wrote journal entries regarding last week's Terry Fox Run. There were lots of great writing samples. Megan's was particularly good - well organized and well written.
The third graders worked on "expanded notation" today in Math. We talked about place value (thousands, hundreds, tens and ones), practised writing 4 digit numbers -including ones with missing hundreds (like 2,078), missing tens (like 4,309) and missing ones (like 5,340). We also reviewed breaking numbers up (like 8,976 = 8,000 + 900 + 70 + 6 and putting them together (like 3,000 + 50 + 400 + 6 = 3,456). We should be ready to test for this in the near future. Stand by for a test to come home for Parental Perusal!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

October 1, 2009

(Review) word of the day: liberty


Reminders:
1. If you haven't done so already, please send a paint shirt to school for those messy art projects we always seem to have on the go. (If you want to drop in to see our latest art creations, they're on the bulletin boards outside our room. Grade 23 is FULL of creativity!)
2. Spelling test tomorrow
3. Library book exchange tomorrow
4. A newsletter was sent home with the family heads today.
5. Please sign and return the science test that went home today.

We reviewed expanded notation today in math class: writing/reading numbers such as 4,780 and 4,078 and 4,708 - and then broke the numbers into their components. An example would be 6,089 = 6,000 + 0 + 80 + 9. We also practised solving equations like the following: 3 + 4 = _ + 5. To solve this kind of question, the students first asked themselves, "What do I know about this question?" They should then recognise that they know what 3 + 4 add up to, and that they know that = means "equal", so both sides of the equal sign must be equal. The answer, therefore, must be 2.

We've also been working on math facts practise and have concentrated on the addition facts that use 9 or 2 as one of the addends.

In Language Arts, we expanded our list of homonyms (words that sound the same but have different meanings and different spellings). We also reviewed quotation marks, and worked on our novel studies.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

September 23, 2009

(Review) Word of the day: contemplate

Reminders:
1. Grade 3 spelling test tomorrow. Study hard!
2. Return Terry Fox pledge sheets by tomorrow. The whole school will be participating in a run beginning at 2:00. Our class will run around the block once -a distance of one kilometre.
3. Library book exchange will be tomorrow morning, as there is no school Friday.
4. If you haven't already sent a paint shirt to school, please do so ASAP. We do a lot of messy projects in Grade 23.
5. Grade three students should have a math test for their parents to review and sign. Please have your child return the test tomorrow. Thanks.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

September 22, 2009

Word of the day: intrepid

Thanks so much to Braeden's mom and Connor's mom for agreeing to be our class Key Communicators. Thanks as well to Severin's mom and Breanna's mom for agreeing to be our school council reps. We really appreciate it, ladies!

Reminders:
1. Bring an empty, clean tin can for an art project tomorrow. Any size can is fine.
2. Please have all the Terry Fox pledge forms in by this Thursday morning, whether money was collected or not.
3. Our library book exchange will be Thursday morning this week, as there is no school this Friday.
4. Grade Three spelling homework is due Thursday.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

September 17, 2009

Word of the day; detest

Reminders:
1. Tomorrow is Library Day - please tuck those library books into the backpack. Our book exchange is scheduled for Friday afternoons.
2. Class photos were originally supposed to be taken tomorrow but this date has been pushed back to next week because of tomorrow's forecast. Keep practising those smiles!

Monday, September 14, 2009

September 14, 2009

Welome to the class blog for Grade 23! This space will be used for announcements, reminders, "bouquets", video'photo postings, word of the day postings, etc. Enjoy!

Our word of the day today: omit

Our library book exchange will be on Friday this year.

Meet the Teacher Night is scheduled for tomorrow evening from 6:30 to 7:30. We hope to see you there!

Our school will be participating in a Terry Fox Run next Thursday afternoon, beginning at 2:00. Our class will be running around the school block - a distance of 1 km. Your child is bringing home a pledge sheet today. Everyone is invited (but not required) to collect money for this very worthwhile cause. Please return the pledge form to the school by next Thursday morning, whether your child is collecting money or not. A Terry Fox video is posted below. Just click on the forward arrow to watch.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

May 19, 2009

Word of the day: capricious

Reminders:
1. Read/Math facts
2. Spelling due Thursday

Here's a video for your viewing pleasure - it's a good intro to our upcoming science unit on Sound. Enjoy! (Cue the orchestra.)

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

May 13, 2009

Word of the day: congruent

Reminders:
1. Read/practise math facts
2. Bring bikes and helmets for tomorrow afternoon.

I can't remember if I've posted the bicycle safety video below, but even if I have, it's a good review!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

May 12, 2009

Word of the day: perpendicular

Reminders:
1. Read/math facts
2. Bikes and helmets for Thursday afternoon.

The class has been working on constructing things in Science. I thought everyone might like a look at these amazing Rube Goldberg constructions. Just click on the video.

Monday, May 11, 2009

May 11, 2009

(Review) word of the day: parallel

Congratulations (AGAIN!) to Liam and Hayden for winning another spelling immunity challenge! Awesome work, gentlemen. Congratulations to Britney, too, for perfect completion of today's times tables challenge.

Reminders:
1. Read/math facts
2. Library books
3. Story writing test tomorrow - dream creative dreams tonight!
4. Math booklet completed correctly for tomorrow
5. Bike safety presentation May 14th from 1:10-1:50 at the museum parking lot. Please ensure that students have bikes and helmets at school for that activity.

Friday, May 8, 2009

May 8, 2009

(Review) word of the day: mundane

Congratulations to Josh, Liam and George for perfect completion of today's times tables challenge. George's accomplishment means that he is joining the wonderful ranks of "Assistant Teachers" - super!

Reminders:
1. Read/ practise math facts.
2. The bike safety program that will run next week in the Museum parking lot has our class scheduled to participate on May 14th from 1:10-1:50. Please send your child to school that day with a bike and helmet. Thanks.


Enjoy the Mother's Day weekend!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

May 7, 2009

(Review) word of the day: translucent

Reminders:
1. Read/ math facts practice.
2. Spelling test tomorrow.
3. Story due tomorrow.
4. Math booklet due tomorrow.
5. Class photos will be taken tomorrow. Practise those smiles!
6. Tomorrow's Show and Tell theme is "Blue and Tell" - students can bring anyting blue.
7. Please send a cup of uncooked "ask-me-no-questions-I'll-tell-you-no-lies rice" for tomorrow. (Uncooked beans or lentils will also work.)
8. If anyone has a stockpile of those thick "broccoli" elastics, we'd love to have them donated to our class for a special art project next week. Thanks!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

May 6, 2009

Word of the day: identical

Wacky hair day was a big hit - we got some lovely photos for the journals! Thanks to everyone who helped with the "do's"!

Reminders:
1. Practise those math facts.
2. Read.
3. Please bring 1 cup of uncooked rice to school by Friday morning. (Ask us no questions, we'll tell you no lies.)
4. Please send any thick elastics that you can donate to our classroom. Those broccoli elastics work well. (We need the elastics for a special art project next week.)
5. Spelling homework is due tomorrow.
6. Space stories are due Friday. Aim for between 2 and 3 double-spaced pages.

Monday, May 4, 2009

May 4, 2009

Word of the day: frequently

Congratulations to Hayden and Liam for getting spelling immunity today! Congratulations to Liam for perfect completion of today's times tables challenge, as well.

Reminders:
1. Read and practise math facts.
2. Spelling due Friday.
3. Good copy of space story due Friday. Aim for 2-3 pages of double-spaced writing again this week. I can't wait to read the stories at the end of the week - there were lots of neat ideas in the class today!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

April 29, 2009

(Review) word of the day: mercurial

Reminders:
1. Read/ Math facts.
2. Good copy of story is due Friday. (Aim for between 2 and 3 pages of double-spaced writing for this.)
3. Finish the math quiz and return it for tomorrow. Those students who've finished it (Liam, Giela, George, Brit, Emmanuel, and Hayden) can just review the questions with their parents.
4. Parents, please send any thick elastics to school (the kind used for broccoli at the grocery store) as we need elastics for an upcoming art project. Thanks.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

April 23, 2009

Word of the day: opaque

Welcome back to our globe-trotting Ben - and thanks for the treats that you brought back from Europe, Ben!

Congratulations to Liam and Alex for perfect completion of today's time tables quiz. Congratulaitons, too, to Liam, George, and Nik for setting our another "Zoom, Schwartz" record today. Our new record is 34!

Reminders:
1. Read.
2. Practise math facts.
3. Spelling test tomorrow.
4. We'd love to see all our volunteers at tomorrow's Volunteer Appreciation Assembly. It's at 11:00 in the gym.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

April 22, 2009

Word of the day: translucent

Congratulations to Giela who joins our "teaching staff" as a multiplication advisor - well done, Giela!

Reminders:
1. Read and practise math facts
2. Bring "recyclables" for Mme. Montgomerie's science class
3. Spelling is due tomorrow
4. Our volunteer appreciation assembly is this Friday morning in the gym at 11:30 - we hope to see you there!

Monday, April 20, 2009

April 20, 2009

Word of the day: occasionally

Congratulations to Hayden for getting 100% on today's immunity challenge in spelling. Well done, Hayden!

Congratulations to the whole class, as well, for reaching a new record in the "Zoom, Schwartz, Pfigliano" challenge today - our number to beat now is 27.

Reminders:
1. Read.
2. Math facts practise.
3. Library book exchange tomorrow.

Your child is bringing home a note today inviting parent volunteers to a special assembly in our gym this Friday morning at 11:00 - hope to see you there!

Friday, April 17, 2009

April 17, 2009

Word of the day: frequently

Reminders:
1. Read!
2. Practise those times tables. We learned a new game in Math today called "Zoom, Schwartz, Pfigliano" - ask your child how to play and try it out!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

April 16, 2009

Word of the day: transparent

Reminders:
1. Read!
2. Practise those times tables.
3. Spelling test tomorrow.
4. Tomorrow's Show and Tell theme will be "Movie and Tell" or "Video and Tell". Students can bring a video and tell why they chose it.
5. Book orders are due tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

April 15, 2009

Word of the day: fraternal twins

Congratulations to Liam for perfect completion of today's multiplication challenge - that makes a complete set for him. He joins Giela, Emmanuel, and George in the group that has completed all the times tables challenges perfectly. Well done!

Reminders:
1. Read, read, read ...
2. Practise those times tables!
3. Math problem sheet is due tomorrow.
4. Book orders are due Friday.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

April 14, 2009

Word of the day: mercurial

Congratulations to Alex, George, and Giela for winning immunity for this week's spelling.

Thanks to Jess for the pop can tab donation again today - it's amazing how those little pieces of metal are adding up...

Reminders:
1. Book orders are due this Friday.
2. The Math sheet is due tomorrow. Some tips for helping your child with the problems: Make sure they are crystal clear about what the problem is asking.
Have them double or triple read the problem if they're stuck.
Have them draw a picture if they're stuck.
Have them ask themselves if their answers make sense.
3. Keep practising those times tables!
4. Read, read, read.
5. Your child should have brought home the school's monthly newsletter today.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

March 12, 2009

Word of the day: boycott

Congratulations to George, Liam, Ben and Britney for perfect completion of today's times tables test! Keep practising those times tables, everyone...

Congratulations to Ben, as well, for being on the winning team for the "Principal for a Day" competition!

Reminders:
1. Tomorrow is our final day for downhill skiing. Remember lunch, ski clothes, sun screen, and ... energy!
2. Spelling test tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

March 11, 2009

Word of the day: blarney

Congratulations to Giela for succesful completion of today's times tables challenge.

Our first day of downhill skiing/snowboarding went really well and tomorrow promises to be even better, as the weather's supposed to smarten up. Thanks to Susan, Suzie, Bill, Ron, and Terry for helping out with the lessons today.


Reminders:
1. Tomorrow is "Dress as a Principal" Day - it's an optional activity.
2. Bianca, Elena, George, and Britney still need to bring back their gymnastics permission forms.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

March 10. 2009

Word of the day: machushla

Reminders:
1. Practise those times tables!
2. Read, read, read, read, read, read....
3. We're slated to begin our downhill ski program tomorrow. Please ensure that your child has appropriate clothes, including ski pants and warm mitts (preferably waterproof ones.) It's often sunny at the hill, so you may want your child to use sunscreen, but please apply this at home. Your child will need a lunch. We'll eat at 11:30 and will board the bus around 12:00. Food and drinks are not allowed on the bus and the students are not allowed to bring money to spend at the hill - sorry. We should return between 3:30 and 3:45. Thanks to the parents who will be volunteering tomorrow - we appreciate your help!

Monday, March 9, 2009

March 9, 2009

Word of the day: shillelagh

Reminders:
1. Library books for tomorrow.
2. Practise those times tables!
3. Spelling due Thursday.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

March 4, 2009

(Review) word of the day: synonym

Reminders:
1. Cookie sale tomorrow.
2. Practise those times tables!
3. Read, read, read, read ....

Watch for a note coming home this Friday regarding next week's downhill ski/snowboarding program.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

March 3, 2009

(Review) word of the day: scold

Congratulations to Giela, George, Nik, Britney, Emmanuel, and Liam for perfect completion of today's comprehension quiz! Well done!

Reminders:
1. Spelling homework is due Thursday.
2. Practise those times tables! The links on the side of the blog have lots of good sites for reviewing multiplication.
3. Read, read, read...
4. There will be a cookie sale this Thursday.

Monday, March 2, 2009

March 2, 2009

(Review) word of the day: triskaidekaphobia

Congratulations to Alex, Nik, Britney, Liam, and Bianca for perfect completion of today's comprehension quiz in Language Arts. Well done!

Reminders:
1. Spelling homework is due Thursday.
2. Library book exchange is on tomorrow.
3. Practise times tables!!! So far, Emmanuel and Giela are the only ones to finish all the times tables challenges - let's see if we can add to that list this week!
4. There will be a cookie sale this Thursday.


Thanks to all the parents who volunteered to help out with the ski program. Just a quick reminder that our class skis March 11, 12, and 13. We eat lunch at school at 11:30, board the bus at noon, and are usually back at the school between 3:30 and 3:45. (Students will be reminded that no food or drinks are allowed on the bus.) I'll send a note home later this week regarding the ski sessions - they should be fun!

Friday, February 27, 2009

February 27, 2009

(Review) word of the day: audible

Congratulations to Jillian for perfect completion of today's times tables quiz. Well done, Jillian!


On another "Jillian note", we're sad to report that today was her last day at Jasper Elementary School. Jillian is moving with her family to central Alberta. We'll miss her alot!

Students, please get your parent(s) to sign and return the Science test for Miss Montgomerie. Thanks.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

February 26, 2009

(Review) word of the day: aroma

Reminders:
1. Spelling test tomorrow.
2. Practise times tables.
3. Get those math tests (on telling time) signed and return them tomorrow.
4. Book order due tomorrow.
5. There will be noon dismissal tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

February 25,2009

(Review) word of the day: futile
Congratulations to Giela and Emmanuel for perfect completion of today's times tables challenge. Very impressive!

Thanks to all the students who dressed up for Twin Day today.

Reminders:
1. Spelling due tomorrow.
2. Read, read, read!
3. Practise times tables.
4. There will be a noon dismissal for students Friday.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

February 24, 2009

(Review) word of the day: amorous

Congratulations to Bianca, George, and Jessie for perfect completion of today's times tables challenge!

Reminders:
1. Read!
2. Tomorrow is Twin Day.
3. Practise those times tables!

Monday, February 23, 2009

February 23, 2009

(Review) word of the day: soporific

Congratulations to Liam, George and Giela for winning Immunity for this week's spelling quiz. Congratulations, too, to Alex, Josh, Emmanuel and Ben for perfect completion of today's times tables challenge. Well done!!

Reminders:
1. Spelling due Thursday
2. Library book exchange tomorrow
3. Twin day Wednesday (students are invited, but not required to pair up with a friend and come dressed as twins)
4. Noon dismissal this Friday

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Frebruary 19, 2009

Word of the day: obstinate

Reminders:
1. Spelling test tomorrow.
2. Math sheet (on telling time) due tomorrow.
3. Read!
4. Practise times tables.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

February 18, 2009

Word of the day: synonyms

Congratulations to Emmanuel for perfect completion of today's times tables challenge - in two minutes!!! Amazing! This boy has completed all the times tables challenges within the three minute time frame and is now conquering them in an even faster way! VERY impressive.

Reminders for tomorrow:
1. Practise times tables.
2. Spelling is due Thursday.
3. Cookie sale tomorrow. Bring a quarter if you'd like a cookie!
4. Read, read, read!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

January 29, 2009

(Review) word of the day: veruca

Congratulations to Giela for perfect completion of today's times tables challenge!!! This girl is amazing!

Reminders:
1. Spelling test tomorrow.
2. Practise those multiplication facts!!!
3. Our book exchange is on tomorrow. If you bring a book to donate to the exchange, you get to "shop" around for another one to take its place. (Of course, if you bring 2 books to exchange, you can select 2 books to trade it for, and so on.)

Monday, January 26, 2009

January 26, 2009

(Review) Word of day: absurd

Congratulations to Liam and Bianca for perfect completion of the spelling pre-test this week - that's two weeks in a row for both these smart cookies! Well done!

Reminders:
1. Spelling homework is due Thursday.
2. Library books for tomorrow.
3. Student led conferences are tomorrow. Our class's conference is from 6 - 8 p.m. The activities planned should take between 45 minutes and an hour to complete. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and watching all the parents and guests beam with delight at the wonderous offerings the students will provide.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

January 22, 2009

(Review) word of the day: AKA

Congratulations to George for perfect completion of the times tables test today. Great job!

Reminders:
1. Spelling test tomorrow.
2. Noon dismissal for students tomorrow.
3. Student led conferences are coming up next Tuesday. Our classroom will be open for visits between 6 and 8 o'clock in the evening.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

January 21, 2009

(Review) word of the day: irrelevant

Congratulations to Muscle Man Emmanuel for perfect completion of today's times tables test! Well done!!

Remember spelling is due tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

January 20, 2009

(Review) word of the day: authentic

Congratulations to Bianca for perfect completion of today's math test! Well done, "Bear Wrestler"!!

Reminders:
1. Tomorrow is "Dress as a Sports Person Day" - can't wait to see what walks through the door in the morning!

2. Keep practising those 9 and 2 times tables - the class as a whole is doing very well with them. We have 2 people already who have completed their facts tests perfectly and are hoping to have that number swell to 17 people soon!

Monday, January 19, 2009

January 17, 2009

(Review) of the day: Janus

Congratulations to Giela for perfect completion of today's times tables test - very impressive work, Miss Giela!!

Congratulations also to Liam, George, and Bianca for winning immunity for spelling this week. Well done!

Reminders:
1. Library tomorrow.
2. Math practise!!
3. Spelling homework due Thursday.

We're going to be doing a messy art project tomorrow, so please make sure that your child has a paint shirt here. Thanks.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

January 15, 2009

Word of the day: veruca

Reminders:
1. Spelling test tomorrow.
2. Book orders due tomorrow.

Tomorrow's "Show and Tell" is going to be an"Around the World" and Tell - the students are going to try to bring something from another country. If they haven't been to another country or think they don't have anything to bring, they can just check the labels of their toys, clothing, etc. Lots of common household items come from other countries.

Our fairy tale interviews have all been video-taped and are ready for the viewing public! The class did a great job on this project - and I think we've uncovered several budding actors at the same time. We'll be showing the video at the student-led conference on the 27th of January. Hold your breath!

Friday, January 9, 2009

January 9, 2009

Word of the day: mneumonic

If you find the time (and the inclination, go to You Tube and search "jesmathguru" for a look at the finger calculator we studied in class this week. It's a cool way to help out with the 9 times table.

The class is looking great on x-country skis (check out our photo in the paper yesterday). We'll continue to try getting out as much as possible next week. Please make sure your child has waterproof mitts and a hoodie with a windbreaker each day at school next week so that they're prepared to ski if the weather and the tracks are calling to us. Thanks.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

January 7, 3009

Word of the day: irrelevant

Reminders:
We're going cross country skiing again tomorrow. (The students did really well today - we even tried out a small hill!)

Spelling is due tomorrow.



We began a unit in multiplication in math today. The students seemed very keen - something that will facilitate the memorization of math facts for them. Today we learned that the "x" symbol means "groups of". The students drew pictures depicting multiplication facts and related multiplication to repeated addition. We also started using memory tricks to help memorizing times tables. We learned " 7 x 8 = 56 (5,6,7,8) and 3 x 4 = 12 (1,2,3,4, now you may go out the door!"). Stay tuned for more memory tricks for the times tables from Room 4, where the excitement never ends.....

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

January 6, 2009

Word of the day for yesterday: Janus (ask your child who Janus was) and for today: authentic

We just finished a really cool art project: painting desks. The class looks great with all the artistic furniture in it now. Drop by for a look if you get a minute.

We're planning to take advantage of the warm weather and go cross-country skiing again tomorrow. Please make sure that your child has appropriate clothing for this activity. Waterproof mitts and a hat are essentials and a warm hoodie with a windbreaker is much better than a big parka, as you tend to overheat when you're overdressed with this sport.