Literacy Week and More Cancelled Buses

It was a fun-filled week for Literacy Week. On Monday, we did a class library scavenger hunt. Tuesday was Book Exchange day, which continued all week for those who missed it due to bus cancellations. Wednesday was Crazy Socks day. On Thursday, we had lots of book characters around the school. We finished the week on Friday with Pyjama day and reading to stuffies with flashlights.

In language, we read "La ritournelle" to review the "el" sound and spellings. We also read the poem "On dirait que l'hiver tombe". Our words and sentences of the week focused on the "o" sound. For our shared reading, we are reading "Le loup qui ne voulait plus marcher". This week for our reading strategy focus, we are practising retelling a story from beginning to end in order. The class are learning to use the images to help them retell. They are also using post-it notes to write down key information as they read.

Words of the week

Our reading strategy

Our reading strategy learning goal and success criteria

In our guided reading groups, we are looking at narrative text. Students are using the images to help them figure out new vocabulary and to better understand the text. In guided writing, all of the groups finished up the activities on avoir/être and are beginning to work on writing a message of the day.

This week we began to do more complex mental math in our math talks. The students are now working with 2-digit numbers and finding strategies, such as using the closest 10 to help them. The grade 3s did some work on identifying angles (right angles, greater than/less than right angles). They also did 3-digit addition problems using base 10 blocks. The grade 2s used base 10 blocks to do 2-digit addition.

Explaining our mental math strategies

Learning goal and success criteria for grade 2 2-digit addition and subtraction

Using base 10 blocks to solve problems

Grade 3 angles

Using the corner of a paper to measure an angle

Learning goal and success criteria for Grade 3 3-digit addition and subtraction

Solving 3-digit addition problems with base 10 blocks

Problem solving for early finishers

In science, the grade 2s looked at wheels and axles, pulleys and gears, and how objects can be made up of several simple machines. Scissors are levers and wedges. Bicycles have wheels and axles, gears, and the brakes are levers.

A closer look at pulleys

The grade 3s learned about the centre of gravity in structures and how it can affect the stability of that structure.

In social studies, the grade 2s learned about Chinese New Year. We discussed the importance of the colour red, the red envelopes of money that are given as gifts, and other traditions.

The grade 3s are learning about Ontario's important cities and where they are located in Ontario. 

In visual arts the students are learning about watercolour painting techniques. Their snowmen are drawn and they are in the process of painting them. Look for them soon on the art wall outside our class!

On Thursday, Mme Misener volunteered again in the class. We are always happy to see her. She will be running an activity at the Queen's Science Discovery Day on February 4th. It's free for all families. Check it out if your not doing anything that afternoon. I'm hoping to drop by with both of my boys!

I hope everyone has a great last weekend in January and all the best to Alice and her family as they celebrate Chinese New Year!

Snow Days and Colour House Day

It's my first blog post since the holidays. With last week's and this week's bus cancellations and being away sick last week, I am just getting to this update now.

Last week, we looked at the sound/spelling "ette" in "La chouette". We also read the poem "La nouvelle année".

This week we looked at the sound/spelling "al" in "Le narval" and read "La neige" for our shared reading.

We also finished our read aloud "Le loup qui avait peur de son ombre".

We have been looking at how books make us feel as a reading strategy to better aid comprehension.

Some of this week's sentences

Using a telephone for self-monitoring while reading to improve fluency

Making good use of time on the snow day and listening to reading on the iPads

A chair and a clipboard for writing

Lying on the floor to write

We began a new unit in math last week. The grade twos are working on adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers and the grade threes are working on adding and subtracting 3-digit numbers.

Using blocks to add

Playing addition games with complementary numbers, 90 + 10, 80 + 20, ...

Find the missing number

Adding games with spinners

Playing Zap!

2-digit flashcard addition and subtraction

Explaining our mental math strategies that we have bee practising in math talks

In science, the grade threes looked at structures that are found in nature. They also looked at how the choice of building materials affects a structure, solidity, flexibility, and durability.

The grade twos looked at screws and levers and how those make work easier.

In social studies, the grade threes looked at the regions in Ontario and completed a map on the regions.

The grade twos looked at the celebration of Kwanzaa.

We have been playing a variety of co-operative games in gym.

Working on teamwork and balance in Ambulance

A tag game

A snowball fight against Mme Joanne's class

Curling

Skating

4 corner dodge ball

In visual arts, the students made abstract cats, and learned how to draw a frame around their drawing.

Drama activities with puppets

Thank you very much, Evan, for bringing treats to celebrate your birthday!

Have a great weekend!