March 25, 2011

Homework for the holidays is just to read, read, read, and then read some more. I've kept the Golden Envelopes and the agendas here at school - enjoy the break!

March 24, 2011

Reminders:

Study for tomorrow's spelling test - the last one before the spring break!

There is a noon dismissal tomorrow.

The class was trying to come up with 10 body part words that have only 3 letters. So far we've got arm, leg, and eye. What are other body parts can you think to help round out the list to 10?

March 23, 2011

If you didn't get a chance to check out the sand castles from yesterday's post, see if you can find a minute to do that now. There are some spectacular pieces!

The students were going to try a math challenge on someone at home today. It goes like this:

"You are driving a bus. At the first stop, 5 people get on. At the next stop, 6 more people get on. At the third stop, 2 people get off but 4 more get on. At the fourth stop, 10 people get on. At the fifth stop, 3 people get off and 7 people get on. What is the age of the bus driver?"

Good luck with the challenge!

March 22, 2011

Thanks to all the people who have returned their report card envelopes, comment sheets and interview sheets. If you haven't returned those things yet, please send them back ASAP so that we can get some interview times set up. There's lots to show you!

Also, please sign and return the permission slips that went home yesterday. We're trying to collect all of these before the spring break. Thanks.

We were exploring examples of Harrison Hot Spring's wonderful sand sculptures - enjoy the photos! (Just click on the address listed below.)

http://www.greatervancouverparks.com/HARRISONSandCastles01.html

March 21, 2011

This week's spelling list is a challenging one - it concentrates on the "ight" family. We've been encountering these words quite often lately, so it's a good time to put them on a spelling list.

Report cards went home today. Please return the parent comment sheet, the interview sheet and the report card envelpe. (We'll reuse the envelope in June.) Please don't be alarmed if I've asked for an interview, as I've asked everyone to come in for one. There are so many things to go over and report that I felt meetings were appropriate for everyone.

A note went home today regarding a special event at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge that will take place after the spring break. Please sign and return the attached permission form if your child will be attending the event.

Students will be dismissed this Friday at noon - start making your plans for the holiday!

March 17, 2011

Happy St. Patrick's Day! The leprechaun visited our class in the wee hours of last night and caused considerable trouble in the classroom. (We know it was the leprechaun because he left a note AND a phone message.) What a mess. Your child can tell you all about the tricks that were played.

Today was rather full - there were lots of activities to get through. As a result, we didn't get a chance to choose new books for the Golden Envelopes so will take a break from that reading/writing until tomorrow. (Think of how many people will get 100% on tomorrow's spelling test now that there's extra time to use for studying spelling words!)

March 14, 2011

This week's spelling words are in the agendas. We spent a bit of time on the Spelling City link today. This site provides an excellent way to practise spelling skills, as it applies them to reading comprehension and thinking abilities. Lots of the activities are presented in game format and have immediate feedback - things the students really appreciate.

With spring weather in the air and wet clothing a distinct potential, it would be a good idea for students to continue bringing ski pants or some other sort of protection for their clothing.

March 11, 2011

Spelling test results are in the front pocket of the agendas. The students are also bringing home our latest science construction project. (I apologize for any coronaries they may cause. Ha ha.)

We had some more fun on the "ski hill" on our school playground today. (The new fluffy snow was just too good to pass up.) The class did very well with their hill work! Several students came with no mittens so we raided the Lost and Found on their behalf. Please check to make sure that your son or daughter has mittens at school every day. Even if we're not skiing, they should have mittens for the recess breaks. Thanks.

Enjoy the weekend!

March 10, 2011

Thanks to everyone for supporting our cookie sale today. We made $96.33! (Amazing how the sale of 25 cent cookies can produce that sum, isn't it?) The class helped set up, sell cookies, and count the coins at the end. (Let's see who remembers how to count by 25 tomorrow!) What a great way to learn about money - and about helping our Foster Child.

Cross country skiing just gets better and better with this class. Some people are starting to set the track on fire when they ski around the big loop and more and more people are standing up ALL THE WAY DOWN THE HILL! Yeehaw! Hopefully our snow will hold so that we can go a few more times next week. (Some of the students have trouble tieing their own ski boot laces. If you find the time, could you check to see if your child knows how to do this? If they don't, it would be very helpful if you could give them a lesson in tieing laces. Thanks.)

Remember that there will be a spelling test tomorrow and that it will again be in the sentence format.

I'm sorry to write that I didn't get a chance to look over the blue book sentences today. (It looks like I've got double duty tomorrow.)

March 9, 2011

Cross country skiing was lovely today - the class did very well and the weather couldn't have been better. We may go again tomorrow first thing in the afternoon - weather permitting, of course, so please send hoodies, mitts and toques again.

It's our turn to hold a cookie sale tomorrow. Please send 2 dozen baked goods for us to sell. Thanks!

The students have been going to the whiteboard to write sentences. Most mornings we write sentences with quotation marks in them and the students are doing very well with this. Today, however, everyone wrote nothing on the board. Parents, please ask your child about this.

It was a bit frosty to cross country ski this morning and the Grade Three students had booked the skis for the afternoon, so we didn't get a chance to go today. We'll try again tomorrow - again, weather permitting.

Come by the school some time this week and check out the life sized self portraits that the students designed and created. We made them as a follow-up to a book called "I Ain't Gonna Paint No More." It's about a little boy who gets in trouble for painting the walls and floors and ceilings of his house. He promises that he won't paint anymore, but then his good intentions crumble because, as he puts it, "There ain't no harm if I paint my arm, I just can't rest 'til I paint my chest, and I just can't stand not to paint my hand." He ends up covered in paint from head to toe... just like our art projects!

March 7, 2011

This week's spelling words are posted in the agendas, along with a note regarding our upcoming cookie sale.

We will be cross country skiing tomorrow morning (weather permitting). Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately. Mittens and a toque are essential and a hoodie is recommended.

The companion reading duotangs that were sent home last week can stay at home. They show a good cross section of the kind of written work that compliments the Companion Reading portion of our Language Arts program. You'll find everything in the duotangs, from phonics to words in context to comprehension to written expression to grammar and mechanics to handwriting practise.

The writing portion of the Golden Envelope program is coming along nicely. The students did an independent book reading with a follow-up sentence writing exercise in class this morning and did very well! Keep up the great work at home, everyone! We'll continue to check in with the reading/writing all this week. I'm sure I'll continue to be impressed.

Enjoy the lovely weather we've returned to today!

March 3, 2011

Reminders for tomorrow:
1. Spelling test
2. Noon dismissal
3. Book orders due
4. Twin Day! For those who'd like to participate in a whole class Twin Extravaganza, we're all going to try to wear blue jeans and white shirts. (Then we can design a name for us - would we be "double octuplets"?)

March 2, 2011

Reminders:
1. Spelling test Friday
2. Book orders due Friday
3. Twin Day Friday

If you haven't checked in to Spelling City for a while, this might be a good time to revisit it. Just click on the link on the right hand side of the page. You'll find all kinds of activities and games to help practise the spelling words.

As well, we're revisiting counting by 2's, 5's and 10's. Lots of the students can list these numbers to 100 (and beyond, in some cases!). If your little Einstein can already do this, have them practise counting backward from 100 - something that's a little more challenging.

March 1, 2011

My apologies for the mistake I made yesterday on the blog. I wrote that our cookie sale is going to be held March 3rd. I should have written March 10. Sorry about that.

Reminders:

1. Book orders are due Friday.
2. This Friday will be Twin Day. Students are invited (but, as always, not required) to dress up with the same outfit/hair style/accessories as a partner or partners. It should be fun!
3. Newsletters went home today.

We made bluerprints for Marshmallow/Toothpick name tags today and then followed through to construct them. Now, how to put them on display ....