I learned...
*that we will be having a STEM night next week
*more about place value in math

Ask Me About...
*my Ozobot challenge that I completed yesterday
*the 2 design challenges that I have completed
*our buddy collaborative art project
*my Fibonacci sequence project

STEM Family Night is occurring Thursday, December 6th from 6:00-7:30pm. Please see the invitation in your child's backpack. 

Today I learned...
*about major/capital cities during geography
*more about place value in math
*more about BIG numbers

Ask Me About...
*ask me about our Fibonacci sequence project
*the presentation from the Grade 4's on garbage collection
*ask me about the Fibonacci sequence Rubric
*what we did in Music


Please remember to bring in those food items for the Food Drive!

Today I learned...
*that we should bring in items for the Mayor's food drive
*that we will be building an original and creative structure with all the food items
*how to use Ozobots
*the new rules about the outside game today
*more about Digital Citizenship (and numbers not to answer)

Ask Me About...
*our time with the Ozobots today
*our drama class today
*the games we played in drama
*the BIG grade 3 game we played this afternoon

Tonight is the Chapters Fundraiser for our school. Please join us between 6:00-8:00pm tonight. 
16061 MacLeod Trail SE

Today I learned....
*about the best way to build a card tower
*what I will be doing on Passion Fridays
*that Book Orders are due Thursday, November 23rd

Ask Me About...
*the final growing pattern task
*our geography task
*our buddy time this morning (snack/story)
*our Remembrance Day writing task

Parent/Teacher Conferences are next Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th.

Ask Me About..
*our Grade 3 outdoor game
*our first 'real' computer time
*my new computer password
*our fire drill
*my Top 3 choices for Passion Fridays
*our 'Thank You' sticky note task

Weekly Update

The Remembrance Day Assembly and work around this time as been our focus this week. Students have been unpacking the TOLD and UNTOLD stories of the past through books, videos, and the sharing of personal connections. During one task, students were asked to put themselves in the ‘boots’ of another (soldier, nurse, doctor) and describe their experiences through means of the senses. For example, what would a nurse see, smell, hear, touch, taste and feel. Students were then asked to write a letter home including all these details. Students were also shown various photos of boots and were asked to share their thoughts on the TOLD and UNTOLD story of the boot, focusing on its location. I am so proud of the students and how serious they took the learning tasks associated with Remembrance Day this week. They were rewarded by participating in the Remembrance Day assembly.

Two cooperative building challenges was another focus this week. The students were randomly placed into groups of 3 and given very simple instructions to create either a bridge or a structure that one group member could pass through in under a minute. Students were given limited materials and encouraged to work as a team to complete each task. Not only were students learning about the skills required to work as a successful team but key understandings linked to building such as load, span, bridge deck. These terms will be used on a regular basis over the coming months. Students will participate in their final building challenge next week.

We have been really focusing on how good mathematicians communicate in math for the past month. Whenever taking on a learning task, students are reminding of the 3 key points of communication: use organized and clear writing, use pictures, words, and numbers, and use reasoning: Explain your thinking! These points are glued into the front of their math journals but I am also encouraging you to ask your child about these points whenever working on a math problem at home. Students have also been working on their iLab plan for how they will visually represent their understanding of Fibonacci sequence. The students have come up with some very creative and unique ideas. I can’t wait to see their thoughts in action.

Thursday morning was our much anticipated Bat Conversation of Canada presentation. The students were absolutely amazing listeners during the 2 hour presentation. They were so engaged and ken to learn more about bats, and in particular how they use echolocation. The students learned a great deal about the daily life of a bat, where they are located in the world, what items we use on a daily basis that come from bats, and what to do to help save the bat population.  

Upcoming Events:

Sunday, November 11th - Remembrance Day

Tuesday, November 20th - Chapter FUNdraising Event from 6-8pm

Thursday, November 22nd - Early Dismissal at 12:30pm

Thursday, November 22nd - Parent/Teacher Conferences from 3:30-7:30pm

Friday, November 23rd - Parent/Teacher Conferences from 8:00-12:00pm

(No School)

Have a fantastic weekend with your son/daughter. See you Monday!

Teresa

Please wear your nicest clothes for tomorrow's Remembrance Day assembly (pretend you are going out for a fancy dinner)

Please ask me how I should behave at the assembly tomorrow morning.

Today I learned....
*we are starting recorders in Music soon (please see the form)
*that bats are smaller than you think they are
*that the worst enemy for a bat is the human
*bats actually help the earth by pollenating
*that bats are very clean animals
*bats are in fact not blind
*bats are the only mammals that fly
*not to ever touch a bat (I pledged this)
*about a few more math games on the computer
*that half of our class was able to log on

The Remembrance Day Assembly is tomorrow at 11:00am. Please join us if you are available.

Today the students had a busy day. The day started off with exploration with their kindergarten buddies. Students were encouraged to explore the materials in the kindergarten room as well as Room 7 and 8. It is wonderful to observe the students interacting with one another, regardless of the age difference. The older students are helping the little guys complete entries in their 'Exploration Journals.'

Students were also busy completely their poppy art inspired by the work of a particular Mexican tribe. Each poppy will be placed on our class wreath and then laid to rest at the assembly on Friday morning at 11:00am. Please join us Friday if you are available.

We started our new focus in Science with a building challenge. Students were given a select amount of materials to use to construct a structure that one member of the team could pass through in one minute. Students were judged on creativity, teamwork and rate of success. The students will take on the second building challenge this afternoon.

Students will be participating in a Bat Presentation tomorrow at 10:30am. Please ask your son/daughter what they took away from the presentation.

Today I learned..
*we are having a fundraiser at Chapters on November 20th from 6:00-8:00pm
*more about how Flanders Fields looks like
*that we have 2 new leaders of the week

Ask Me About...
*the Remembrance Day video we watched today
*what I will be thinking about during the moment of silence on Friday
*the red and black small objects I could bring to school

Please feel free to have your son/daughter bring in any stories or personal experiences to share with the classroom regarding Remembrance Day. Both the students and teacher would love to hear them.

Well, I hope everyone made it through this Halloween season safe and sound. I can honestly say that I didn’t notice a difference in the behaviour of the students on or after Halloween. I am very thankful to have a group of mature students who understand the importance of focusing on their job as students when at school.

What learning took place this week?

Students began learning about world geography this week. We just started becoming aware that our globe is divided into hemispheres by ‘imaginary lines’ that run both vertical and horizontal. We also learned that North America (Canada) are located in the Western Hemisphere.  This is a large project that incorporates the work we have been doing on Quality of Life. The hope is this visual representation of their learning will be ready for conferences at the end of the month.

We are coming to the end of our Patterning unit in Math. Students have been exposed to several learning tasks on growing (increasing/decreasing) and repeating patterns. Room 7 has also had the opportunity to work alongside Ms. Moore and Mrs. Giffen during Math this week. We are focusing on how important it is for a mathematician to communicate clearly and in an organized fashion. This week, the focus was on including pictures, words, and numbers when solving a pattern word problem.

Students will be starting the next inquiry unit in Science next week. We will be completing 3 collaborative building tasks next week to kick off the unity. If you have any empty shoe boxes, cereal boxes, toilet rolls, and/or egg cartons you would like to get rid of, please bring them Monday.

Remembrance Day is upon us and the students will be working through various tasks to discover both the TOLD and UNTOLD stories of this day. If you have any personal stories that you would like to share with the class, please let me know and I would be happy to set aside time for the students to share about their families past.

Just a reminder to bring back your cookie orders if you are interested.

Upcoming Events…

*Sunday, November 4th - Daylight Savings Time (turn clock back)

*Thursday, November 8th - In School Bat Presentation

*Friday, November 9th - Remembrance Day Assembly

Have a wonderful first weekend of November. Remember to move back your clocks on Sunday at 2:00am!!

Take care,

Teresa