Thursday, November 30, 2017

It's hard to believe tomorrow is the first day of December!  The children have come so far in just three short months.

This week we have been working on incorporating blends and digraphs into our sentences.  At one of our stations, we used a clothespin to select the correct beginning sounds for a particular word, and then wrote sentences for that word.

In math we are beginning to develop a basic understanding of place value.  We are learning that the number in the tens place means "groups of ten."  We have been using base ten blocks to cover up the number we are trying to build.  Our next step will be saying the number in expanded form (tens + ones).  For example, 22 is 20+2 (see picture below).  You can practice this at home by printing the blank number chart below and also cutting up strips of paper to represent tens and squares of paper to represent ones.

Reminders:

• Tomorrow is movie night (7pm)
• December 8- No school
• We will have a library period on Tuesday, December 5 instead of Friday, December 8.
• December Newsletter

Printing Lowercase Letters

Here are a few instructional videos that show the proper stroke order for lower case letters.

Monday, November 27, 2017

Today we reviewed our set of writing expectations before completing our journalling.  Here is the checklist we used:

• I can write the date at the top.
• I can write on a line, then skip a line.
• I can put spaces between words.
• I can write some sight words.
• I can write at least 3 thoughts or ideas.
• I can use neat printing.
• I can make a colourful picture connected to my writing.
• I can read my writing.

Here are a few examples of what we wrote today.

Reminders:

• Popcorn day ($2/bag) tomorrow and Wednesday.
• December 1 is movie night (7pm start time)

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

This week we are continuing to discuss seasonal changes.  We have been learning about how the Earth is tilted on its axis, and how this tilt affects the amount of sunlight each hemisphere receives depending on Earth's position in the orbit.  Here is a picture of our role play, with Grady as the Earth and Journey as the sun.

Similarly, we have been identifying ways in which both people and animals prepare for winter.  Today we were fascinated with insulation in particular.  We learned that people insulate the walls in their homes to prevent cold air from getting in and warm air getting out.

In math we are working on using the language "one more" and "one less."  For example, "What number is 1 less than 19?" Students have been using number lines to assist with finding the answer to questions such as this one.  At home, please ask your child to identify numbers that are one more and one less than a starting point.

Our counting goals for this point in the year are for students to count (without visual aids):
-forwards to 100 by 1's
-backwards from 20 by 1's
-forwards to 100 by 5's
-forwards to 100 by 10's
Any extra practice you can fit in at home would be terrific!

Reminders:

• A new Kenneth Taylor Office Blog is being created at https://kentayloroffice.blogspot.ca/
• November 24: Fun Lunch (www.healthyhunger.ca)
• December 1, 7:00pm: Movie Night ($10 donation per family collected at the door)
• Outstanding fee invoices can be paid at https://webapps.cbe.ab.ca/MyAccount/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fmyaccount
• November 28 and 29 are popcorn days ($2.00/bag)

Friday, November 17, 2017

This week we began practicing skip counting by 5's to 100.  We talked about how skip counting by 5 means you say every 5th number, or keep adding 5 more to the last number said.  On the same note, we clarified that counting by 5's does not mean only saying the numbers that end with 5.  One of the songs we use to practice our skip counting is sung by Jack Hartmann (link below).

Jack Hartmann Count by 5's

Our Google Earth explorations will continue into next week.  We have been practicing locating important landmarks in Calgary and our community (e.g. Nose Hill Park, the airport, our school) as well as finding our addresses.  For fun, we also used the street view mode to check out a few international destinations.

In writing this week, we talked about the difference between "no" and "know." We then wrote entries about things we "know" how to do.  Some of our writing goals this week were to write more than one sentence, to make sure we used finger spaces between our words and to not include upper case letters in the middle of our words.

Reminders:

• We will have library on Tuesday, November 21.  
• November 28 and 29 are popcorn days ($2.00/bag)
• November 23 Poinsettia orders are due
• November 24 is the next Fun Lunch (www.healthyhunger.ca)

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

We are working hard on our gymnastics skills in gym this month.  Today we practiced balancing in particular.

In social studies, we are now using Google Earth as a tool for locating landmarks.  Please work with your child on learning his/her address.  We can then use Google Earth to "visit" homes.

Our new poem today was a tongue twister!  Ask your child to practice it with you.

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear.

Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.

Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy,

was he?

As part of your home reading routine, please encourage your child to warm up with reading the blends and digraphs chart below.  In addition, ask that they identify the blends and digraphs after finishing a sentence/page.

Reminders:

• Photo retakes are tomorrow
• We do not have library this Friday, as there is no school.  Instead we will have library on Tuesday, November 21.  
• November 28 and 29 are popcorn days ($2.00/bag)
• November 23 Poinsettia orders are due
• November 24 is the next Fun Lunch (www.healthyhunger.ca)
• Christmas market raffle forms were sent home today and are due on November 16
• November 18 (10-3) is the Christmas market

Friday, November 10, 2017

This week we have been busy continuing to develop our number sense.  We have enjoyed playing our, "What's the number?" game each day.  In this game, only a few numbers on our large 100 chart are visible.  Then a marker is placed in front of a blank square on the chart.  Students must use a variety of counting strategies and mental math to determine what number is hiding behind the marker.    Some of the ways we count are: forwards and backwards by 1's and 10's.  We also look for patterns to help us confirm our predictions (e.g. noticing that all of the numbers in a particular column end in the same digit).  You can try this activity at home.  Print out the 100 chart below and then put a marker on an empty square.  Ask your child to determine the missing number, using a number of strategies.

Also in math, we began learning to use base ten blocks to represent numbers greater than 10.  In partners we practiced selecting the correct base ten blocks to build a given number.  We used a tens and ones chart to help guide the process.

We are also beginning to put an emphasis on vocabulary development, before, during and after our read aloud periods.  This week, we focused on the five words noted below, from our book, "Stellaluna."  See if you can incorporate them into your conversations at home! Perhaps consider encouraging your child to use them as well.

Thank you to all those who attended our Remembrance Day assembly today.  The students did a lovely job showing appreciation and respect for our veterans and their sacrifices.

Reminders:

• Fun lunch is November 24 (order at www.healthyhunger.ca)
• Photo retakes are on November 15
• There is a walk-in flu clinic for ages 10+ on November 15 (7:30-10am)
• Students can wear a blue shirt on Monday to mark International Children's Day
• No school on November 17
• Christmas market is on November 18 (10-3)
• Please make sure your child has an extra change of clothes packed in his/her backpack each day

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

This morning started out with some excitement!  We were delighted by the snowplow outside our classroom and enjoyed watching the snow clearing process.

Later on we spent time creating our own lyrics to the popular song, "Down by the Bay." We sang along to the tune and then wrote our own additions afterwards.  Below are a few samples!  Ask your child to sing their verse to you.

We have also begun discussing digraphs in recent days.  A digraph is formed by two letters going together to make a brand new sound.  So far we have heard stories about "th" and "ch."  Today we went hunting for these digraphs and then recorded them on our boards.  When you are engage in home reading, please be on the lookout for words that contain "th" and "ch."

Remembrance Day is approaching.  Today we began making our poppies for the class wreath.  We will be completing them tomorrow.

Reminders:

• We have a Remembrance Day assembly on Friday at 10:30.  Families are welcome to attend.
• Students who are in Sparks/Cubs/Scouts are encouraged to wear their uniform to school on Friday.
• Poinsettia plant order forms will be sent home tomorrow.  They are due on November 23.

Friday, November 2, 2017

The weather may have been snowy and cold, but we were toasty and warm inside today.  Thank you to everyone for continuing to send you child to school with appropriate outerwear.  On mornings where the mercury drops below -20 (factoring in wind chill), the school doors will open early and allow students to enter the building before class starts.

This week at stations we practiced using our "Toobaloo" phones during guided reading.  These tools help us hear our own voices and make us more aware of our expression and fluency.

We have also been spending time writing rhyming sentences, many of which are humorous and silly.  These sentences have been incorporating key sight words, reinforcing proper stroke order when printing letters, using finger spaces, ending punctuation and upper case letters at the beginning.  Our current wall story is focused on rhyming words too.  It is, "The Rhyming Dust Bunnies" by Jan Thomas.  Ask your child to read it to you below!

 In math we are practicing representing numbers using ten frames, dice, tally marks, numerals, number words, and pictures.  At home, try rolling one or two dice, and then ask your child to represent that number as many ways as possible.

Reminders:

• Remembrance Day Assembly is this Friday, November 10, from 10:30-11:15.  Parents are welcome to attend.

• Thank you to all of the families of Kenneth D. Taylor that have participated thus far in our Playground Cheque Writing Campaign, every amount is greatly appreciated. Please keep sharing the Parks Foundation link with your friends, family, businesses and other connections as we work together to build a playground for our kids. http://www.parksfdn.com/donate-now/ This campaign officially ends November 6 but the link to donate will remain open and active until we have our playground, so keep sharing! Don't forget to mention that all donations over $25 will automatically receive a tax receipt. The original cheque writing campaign flyer with all of the information has been attached for your convenience. KDT Playground Fundraiser.pdf We have also included a link to a wonderful video that captures our school's need for a playground. Please view and share this link as well. https://youtu.be/PfH3MVDXwgQ