September 28, 2012

Thanks to everyone who supported the Terry Fox fund raiser.  Our class raised $22.00!

Spelling test results are in the front pockets of agendas.  It's clear that people are practising at home, since there are LOTS of 100% papers going home again today.

Enjoy the weekend!

September 27, 2012

Remember that tomorrow afternoon we will be running around the school block as part of our school's Terry Fox fund raiser.  We're trying to have everyone in the class to bring a toonie to donate, if possible.  Thanks for your support for this.

Study hard for tomorrow's "ay" spelling test!

September 26, 2012

We've returned to the plastic book bag program, but will periodically throw in a book like yesterday's, just to keep things interesting ...

Please remember that we will be participating in the Terry Fox Run Friday afternoon.  If you can send a "toonie for Terry" to help with the school's fund raising for this event, that would be great.

We introduced two new words today: "not" and "this".  The sight word vocabulary just keeps on growing here in Room Four!

Giving your child some time on the Star Fall Phonics link (on the left side of the blog - lower down) will help them strengthen their word attack skills and sight word expertise.  As well, I added a new site - ABCya! - to the links.  It, too, should help with phonics and sight words.

If you have any empty, clean tin cans (any size) that you could send to school for a special project, I'd love to have some.  The cans should have one end intact.  Thanks.

September 25, 2012

Parents, you'll have the night off from reading tonight.  The first graders are bringing home a book that they've authored themselves, and they're planning on reading to you!  Enjoy!

We've practised reading the book here at school, so the students should be able to knock everyone's socks off with their wonderful reading.  The book is illustrated to give the students a pictoral nudge if they're stuck.  (This is a perfectly fine way for them to help figure out written text at this point in their academic lives.)

If your child gets stuck on a word, a useful strategy they should employ is ask to themselves "What do I know about this word?"  Then they can start saying things like, "Well, it starts with a "c" .... that says "c" like the start of cat ... then it has an "a" .... that says "a" ... " etc.

We've been working on reading smoothly, so that it doesn't sound like a robot is speaking, so lavish lots of praise on that smooth expression, if you hear it!

September 24, 2012

Our class took a walk over to the community garden area this morning, where Mrs. D'Antonio gave us a wonderful tour.  We felt, tasted, and smelled our way through the tour, and we even got to dig some spuds AND make garden sushi!  Does life get any better than that?  If anyone has not visited the gardens, it's a lovely thing to do on a fall afternoon (or morning).

The spelling list ("ay" words) went home today.  Study hard for Friday's test!

Thanks to everyone for keeping such good track of the books and activities that match them from the plastic bag reading program.  We are missing a few of the activities - if any are kicking around your home, could you please return them?  Thanks.  (The activities are used over and over so it's important that they are kept with the bags.)

We saw a great performance this afternoon on wildlife in the mountain parks.  The performers presented information on wolves, bears, snails, goats, etc. - and were very entertaining.  (It was almost as much fun watching the audience as it was watching the performance ....)

September 20, 2012

Study hard for tomorrow's spelling test!  (The words all have an "ot" ending.)

Remember that there will be a noon dismissal for students tomorrow.

Thanks very much to everyone who contributed to our shopping spree at the United Church thrift shop this morning.  Thanks too, to Logan's mom for coming along as one of our shopping gurus - we appreciate your expertise!  The scarecrows are made, christened (the boy is Spook and the girl is Plum), and hung on the bulletin board outside the library upstairs. 

September 19, 2012

We will be going to the thrift shop in the basement of the United Church this Thursday morning.  We plan to shop for scarecrow clothing as part of a language arts/art lesson.  Please send a small donation - even 25 cents would be fine - to contribute to our shopping adventure.  Thanks.

Remember that school photos will be taken Thursday morning, as well.  Practise those smiles!