A few weeks ago, the staff from Lady Evelyn Alternative came over here for a collaborative meeting. We met in our grade groups to share ideas. One of those ideas was to connect and do pen pals. The kids in our class received letters yesterday from the students in Mr. Huniu's class. They were really excited. Today, we started our letters back. It is our goal to keep this up and hopefully meet at some point before the school year ends.
There is a regular homework duotang and reading response this week.
This week's snack schedule is as follows: Darius, Declan, Emily, Eric, and Hailey.
We are going skating this Friday to Dulude.
We continue to read and enjoy the Giver.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Fibonacci
If you are looking for some extra stuff to research at home...
We took a brief look at Fibonacci this morning. I would like to discuss it again but I don't want to go in to too much detail. If you have some math experts, have them do a search on Fibonacci and what his pattern has to do with nature. It's pretty neat stuff. I would love to have some experts in the class when we talk about it next.
I hope some of you were able to check out the eclipse last night. In class, we talked about it and the rogue satellite by looking at an article from yesterday's Citizen while practicing the reading strategy of "asking questions".
In math today, we also looked at interpretation of data. Using some scoring sheets from the "School of Rock's" song preference vote, we are working on averaging scores. Ray's class and a third group interpreted the data differently. When everyone has finished, we are going to compare results and see if different interpretations yield the same results.
The students are also beginning to read music. They did an excellent job at clapping out rhythms today.
We took a brief look at Fibonacci this morning. I would like to discuss it again but I don't want to go in to too much detail. If you have some math experts, have them do a search on Fibonacci and what his pattern has to do with nature. It's pretty neat stuff. I would love to have some experts in the class when we talk about it next.
I hope some of you were able to check out the eclipse last night. In class, we talked about it and the rogue satellite by looking at an article from yesterday's Citizen while practicing the reading strategy of "asking questions".
In math today, we also looked at interpretation of data. Using some scoring sheets from the "School of Rock's" song preference vote, we are working on averaging scores. Ray's class and a third group interpreted the data differently. When everyone has finished, we are going to compare results and see if different interpretations yield the same results.
The students are also beginning to read music. They did an excellent job at clapping out rhythms today.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Back in Business
Whoa...it's good to be back. I hate being sick and boy, was I sick. I'm back now and rearin' to go. Here are some updates for you.
We have postponed the play. We just weren't ready. Instead of setting a new date, we've decided to keep working and when we feel ready, we will pick a date. It's the more humane way to move forward we think. We are moving ahead though. Thanks to Colleen who has been working with our "Writing Experts".
In class we've been reading "The Giver" as our read-a-loud. The kids LOVE it. Ask them about "Sameness" and if they'd like to live in the "Community".
We've moved on to some new units in class as well. In math, we are looking at patterning. The unit is mostly about input and output of numbers into a "function machine". They need to create patterns, extend patterns, and decipher patterns. They will also be doing problem solving with patterns and graphing their patterns.
In Science, we are looking at the Human Body in grade 5 and Diversity of Living Things in grade 6. This unit ends off with an exciting culminating activity called the New Life Convention. More news to come on this.
In Language, we've been looking at some more strategies that good readers use and ones that good writers use. For reading, we looked at asking questions. We talked about asking questions about how you are reading, what you are reading, and questions to deepen your understanding or to learn more about what you are reading. In writing, we've been looking at sentence fluency: writing sentences that are rhythmic and that sound good. The kids wrote some really great poems about their neighbourhoods. So good in fact that we are going to show off to each other. We've planned our very own Coffee House. On Thursday, the kids will read their poems out loud while the rest of us listen while sipping our hot chocolate. Instead of clapping, we'll probably snap to show you how cool and fluent your poem is. In class, we talked about the following criteria for oral presentations:
tone (the mood of your poem)
pace (not too fast, not too slow)
volume (can you be heard)
pitch (robotic)
gestures (body movements can distract but they can also help)
eye contact
That's all I can think of now. If there's more, I'll let you know!
ps Because of the short week, there is only a reading response for homework. I've also asked the kids to practice saying their poems at home. They were asked to bring them home today.
We have postponed the play. We just weren't ready. Instead of setting a new date, we've decided to keep working and when we feel ready, we will pick a date. It's the more humane way to move forward we think. We are moving ahead though. Thanks to Colleen who has been working with our "Writing Experts".
In class we've been reading "The Giver" as our read-a-loud. The kids LOVE it. Ask them about "Sameness" and if they'd like to live in the "Community".
We've moved on to some new units in class as well. In math, we are looking at patterning. The unit is mostly about input and output of numbers into a "function machine". They need to create patterns, extend patterns, and decipher patterns. They will also be doing problem solving with patterns and graphing their patterns.
In Science, we are looking at the Human Body in grade 5 and Diversity of Living Things in grade 6. This unit ends off with an exciting culminating activity called the New Life Convention. More news to come on this.
In Language, we've been looking at some more strategies that good readers use and ones that good writers use. For reading, we looked at asking questions. We talked about asking questions about how you are reading, what you are reading, and questions to deepen your understanding or to learn more about what you are reading. In writing, we've been looking at sentence fluency: writing sentences that are rhythmic and that sound good. The kids wrote some really great poems about their neighbourhoods. So good in fact that we are going to show off to each other. We've planned our very own Coffee House. On Thursday, the kids will read their poems out loud while the rest of us listen while sipping our hot chocolate. Instead of clapping, we'll probably snap to show you how cool and fluent your poem is. In class, we talked about the following criteria for oral presentations:
tone (the mood of your poem)
pace (not too fast, not too slow)
volume (can you be heard)
pitch (robotic)
gestures (body movements can distract but they can also help)
eye contact
That's all I can think of now. If there's more, I'll let you know!
ps Because of the short week, there is only a reading response for homework. I've also asked the kids to practice saying their poems at home. They were asked to bring them home today.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Gong Xi Fa Cai
Happy New Year! Chinese New Year that is. We will be learning about and celebrating the year of the rat and the Chinese culture this week. To cap off the celebrations, my parents will be coming in on Thursday. Thank you to Bronte who called my dad and invited him (because if I had, he'd definitely feel more comfortable to refuse).
The canal trip has been re-scheduled for February 15th. A new permission form will have to be signed. Those will be going home today. That means that during the week of February 11th, there will be two field trips: the NAC on the 12th, and the canal on the 15th.
This week is a short week because of the PD Day on Friday. I have decided to only hand out a reading response for homework this week.
After some initial photocopying disasters on my end, the math test has finally been completed. I will do my best to mark those over the next coming days. Once we have taken it up as a class, I will send it home to be signed by you. Our next math unit will be on patterning. In Language, we are working on sentence fluency and some guided and shared reading about China. We are wrapping up our science unit on structures and will be focusing on the play as that is coming up very soon. Yikes!
This week's snack schedule is: Martha, Nathan, Nick K, and Nick P.
Ask your kids if they can count to ten in Mandarin!
The canal trip has been re-scheduled for February 15th. A new permission form will have to be signed. Those will be going home today. That means that during the week of February 11th, there will be two field trips: the NAC on the 12th, and the canal on the 15th.
This week is a short week because of the PD Day on Friday. I have decided to only hand out a reading response for homework this week.
After some initial photocopying disasters on my end, the math test has finally been completed. I will do my best to mark those over the next coming days. Once we have taken it up as a class, I will send it home to be signed by you. Our next math unit will be on patterning. In Language, we are working on sentence fluency and some guided and shared reading about China. We are wrapping up our science unit on structures and will be focusing on the play as that is coming up very soon. Yikes!
This week's snack schedule is: Martha, Nathan, Nick K, and Nick P.
Ask your kids if they can count to ten in Mandarin!
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