Friday, September 30, 2011

September 30, 2011

(Reveiw) Word of the Day: cogitate

Thanks to all those who supported the Terry Fox run today - what a great cause, inspired by an amazing Canadian hero. We all ran one kilometre - and several people were ready for a second lap! Well done, Room 4!

The first graders are bringing home this week's spelling test, along with an apple book that was created to go along with a festival of apple ideas this morning. (We taste-tested apple jelly, apple cereal, apple juice, applesauce, and apple croissants, and recorded our results. We also did some apple math and practised reading the apple books. Some fun!)

Enjoy the weekend!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

September 29, 2011

(Review) Word of the Day: crimson

Grade one students: spelling test tomorrow

We'll be running in the school's Terry Fox run tomorrow afternoon - one lap around the school block. Please make sure that all pledge sheets are in by tomorrow. Thanks!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

September 28, 2011

(Review) word of the day: facetious

Remember that class pictures will be taken tomorrow.

Grade ones, practise counting from 1 to 20, frontward and backward!

Check our first grade class books on Daisy and Bobby. There's some pretty fun stuff in the books!

Remember to return the Terry Fox pledge forms (whether the students collect money or not) and money tomorrow. Thanks!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

September 27, 2011

We're beginning a review of the first ten words of the day. Today's word for review was initial.
We used it in the following sentence: "Breakfast is the initial meal of the day."

The first graders are bringing home the sheets that accompany the first ten lessons of the Companion Reading portion of our Language Arts program. Parents can review the sheets with their children. The sheets can then stay at home - there' s no need to return them.

First grade parents, remember to check out the new phonics link at the side. If you run out of things to do for homework, you can always have your child practise counting aloud to 20 - forward and backward.

Remember that tomorrow is photo day. Dig out your favourite duds and practise those smiles!

Also, just a gentle reminder that the Terry Fox pledge sheets should be in by this Thursday. Please return the sheets whether your child is collecting pledges or not. Thanks. (An alternative to collecting pledges is to "Bring a toonie for Terry", but, again, collecting funds is an option, not a requirement, for our Friday afternoon run. We'll be running around the school block - a distance of one kilometre (and just 41 fewer kilometres than Terry ran EACH DAY!)

Monday, September 26, 2011

September 26, 2011

Word of the day: detest

We carried out an experiment today to illustrate what a fair test in science is. When you perform a fair test, you change only ONE thing in the experiment. Our "test" was seeing who could eat a bowl of pudding the fastest. The amount of pudding each person got was not the same, the start times of the eating was different, everyone used different utensils (an eggbeater for someone, a potato masher for someone, a turkey baster for someone else... ) - the only thing that should have changed was the person eating the pudding. We learned that our test was not a good one because more than one thing changed in it.

The first graders are bringing home a new batch of spelling words - ones with an "at" root. This week's spelling test will be on Friday morning again.

Individual school photos will be taken this Wednesday and class photos will be taken on Thursday. Shine up those smiles!

Someone had asked about Lego art last week and I said I'd put some up on the blog for your viewing delight. Just click on the word Lego in the last sentence and enjoy!

Friday, September 23, 2011

September 23, 2011

Word of the day: succulent (This word was chosen to go along with our pomegranate tasting/story today. We talked about the story of Demeter ["da mudda"] and her daughter Persephone and how those two relate to pomegranates and to the myth about seasons. It will be interesting to see who remembers any details of the story on Monday ... )

The spelling test results went home today for parental oohing and aahing. (There is no need to return the tests to school. Let the fridge magnet collection begin doing its work at home!)

I've added a link that teaches beginning phonics. Just click on "StarFall Phonics" at the side if you'd like to give it a try!

Enjoy the weekend!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

September 22, 2011

Word of the day: omit

Thanks to Michael's mom for coming along on our thrift store adventure! The fruits of our shopping will be on display tomorrow morning on the bulletin board outside our classroom. Prepare for a dazzling sight!

It sounds like the second graders had a great hike to the fairy tree. Some of them reported to me that they didn't see and fairies but did manage to hear some. Apparently the fairies
sound like birds. Interesting.

The first grade students will have their first spelling quiz of the year tomorrow. Practise those "at" words!

There will be a noon dismissal for students tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

September 21, 2011

Word of the day for yesterday: identical

Word of the day for today: vital

Remember that we'll be going to the United Church thrift shop tomorrow morning to purchase scarecrow attire. (Some fun!) We should be back before morning recess. Please send a quarter or two to help pay for the clothing we'll be purchasing. Thanks.

The first graders are bringing home their number booklets today. (We've been practising the proper formation of numerals, as well as reading numbers when they're written in letter form.)

Please remember that if your child is not collecting pledges for the Terry Fox school run next Friday afternoon, the blank pledge form needs to be returned ASAP. Thanks!

Monday, September 19, 2011

September 19, 2011

Word of the day: ecstatic

A note regarding roadwork on Elm Street was sent home today for your information.

The first graders have their first spelling list in their agendas! Please practise the words with them. We'll have a spelling quiz on Friday. Thanks.

Rmember that this Thursday the second graders will be going on a walking field trip to the fairy tree and the first graders will be going to the United Church thrift shop to purchase scarecrow clothing.

Pledge forms for the Terry Fox run were sent home today. If you decide not to have your child collect pledges, please return the form to the school. The entire school will be participating in our own version of the Terry Fox Run on Friday September 30. (Pledge forms should be in prior to the run - thanks.) Parents are welcome to join us - we'll be running one kilometer (once around the block). It'll be a great way for the students to realise how far Terry ran each day of his Marathon of Hope: this amazing Canadian hero ran a full marathon every day of his campaign. So if we could just manage to run around our block 41 more times ....

Friday, September 16, 2011

September 16, 2011

Today's word of the day: cogitate (Ask your child how they look when they cogitate ...)

The students are bringing home notes regarding field trips next Thursday morning. (The second graders are going on a trip to the Fairy Tree while the first graders are going shopping for scarecrow clothing at the United Church thrift shop.)

The grade two students are also bringing home their spelling test books. The books need to be signed and returned for next Monday morning.

In science, we've been talking about the qualities that help someone become a good scientist. One of these qualities is being able to think creatively. Check out the creative thinking on display on our bulletin board next Monday morning!

If any students are interested in joining a noon hour hiking club (hiking portions of the Sawridge and Discovery [town] trails), there are notes with attached permission forms regarding this in the office.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

September 15, 2011

Today's word of the day: crimson

A book order went home with the students today. Anyone who'd like to order books should have their order in by tomorrow. Thanks.

A ticket for an Edmonton Eskimoes event also went home with the students today.

We've been building a bank of sight words in Grade One. Words that we've covered so far include I, the, is, little, big, boy, girl, an, am, and see. We've also been working on recognising colour words and number words to ten. As well, we've been building blended words, using "ay" as a base - words like may, pay, bay, day, say, sway, lay, ray, hay, okay, etc. If anyone is keen to help their child practise any of these words, it would certainly be a big help.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

September 14, 2011

Yesterday we started a new "Word of the Day" program. The students will be introduced to a new "big word", we'll discuss it and practise using it, and then they'll write the word in their agenda so that they can extend their learning into the home setting. (Using these big words makes the students feel very important - especially when they learn a word that their parents or caregivers might not know. Prepare to be humbled!) I'll post the words on this blog. Today's word was "facetious" and yesterday's was "initial".

The second graders have a spelling test tomorrow with Mrs. MacDonald.

There will be a cookie sale tomorrow. As always, cookies can be purchased for the low, low price of 25 cents. LIne up those quarters!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

September 8, 2011

We talked about how good scientists must be inventive and open to new ideas today and, in honour of that, we sampled a rutabaga. Ask your young scientist to describe the experience to you!

Thanks to all the parents who came to Meet the Teacher night - it was lovely to touch base with everyone again!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

September 7, 2011

Welcome back to our class blog! I know you've been inundated with notes and notices from school, so I'll keep this first posting short.

The class is bringing home a note from me today regarding how the day is organised and reminding people of computer contracts, student info sheets, and tomorrow's Meet the Teacher event. The school newsletter was also sent home today.

In science today, we talked about the seasonal changes that are happening right now and went on a rose hip hunt. We also practised asking good questions (as scientists have to be able to do this) and introduced the apple clock to the class. (Drop in for a peek, if you get a minute.) We're going to see how long the apple will power the clock - hopefully it'll last a good long time.

We also completed a fall art project, which should be ready to view at tomorrow's "Meet the Teacher" evening. Hold your breath!