Math Update - Ms. O'Halloran

Looking at place value……

Over the next few weeks we will be extending our knowledge of place value.  Students will investigate numbers to ten thousand.

We will focus on reading, writing, comparing, ordering, and rounding numbers using hands on manipulatives and real life situations. 

Your child will also work with play money as students estimate, count, and write money amounts up to $50.

Please visit the Nelson website and link to Chapter 2 for games and mini lessons at home.

Math Vocabulary for Numeration

Ø     ones (unit)

Ø     tens (rod)

Ø     hundreds (flat)

Ø     thousands (cube)

Ø     place value

Ø     place value chart

Ø     model (draw)

Ø     standard form

Ø     expanded form

Ø     base ten blocks

Ø     number line

Ø     greater than (>)

Ø     less than (<)

Ø     round to the nearest ten, hundred, thousand

Ø     dollars

Ø     cents

Ø     bills

Ø     toonie

Ø     loonie

Ø     quarter

Ø     dime

   Here are some examples of student created numbers using manipulatives.

English Update

Reading: Please continue to read at home to and with your child in English. In class students are learning to summarize (retell) a story and include all the characteristics of a story (characters, setting, problem, solution, plot) in their summary.

 

 Students are also learning about using surrounding words in a sentence and the context of a sentence to help determine an unknown word.

 

Students have learned how to partner read and have made their own partner reading bookmarks. Ask your child about Crazy Professor Reading (using gestures)!

 

Good readers make connections while they read to better understand and enjoy a text. As a class, we have developed an anchor for relating to a text based on The Name Jar. Students will continue to practice the skill of making connections using prompts such as:

 

& This reminds me of… (a movie, personal experience, a friend, another book, a song, a place, etc.)

& I remember…

& It makes me think of…

& This (character/setting, event) reminds me of… because…

& It makes me feel…

& That happened to me…

& This (setting, character, problem) is different/similar…

& This sounds like…

& I identify with…

 

Writing:  Students are learning to use order words (First, Then, Next, Third, Finally) when explaining their work. In addition, we have reviewed examples for their Writer’s Notebook and the expectations for their journals.

My Writer’s Notebook Expectations

 ü  I always begin with the date.

ü  For ideas I can use my own ideas/feelings/ observations, a writing prompt, or a picture.

ü  Each entry has a main idea and is focused. 

 I begin my writing in an interesting way (see the 6 great ways to start my writing).

ü  I can include pictures or diagrams.

ü  I include a variety of writing forms (short story, persuasive, poem, procedure, recount, movie review, letter, charts, lists, observations, thinking webs, journal, lists).

ü  I have written about different topics in my notebook.

ü  I always reread my writing. It is thoughtful and I have added ideas when necessary.

ü  I edit using the CUPS strategy (see the inside of your folder).

  Students shared their creativity with others this week (poems, stories, lists, charts, webs, journals).

 

 

 

 

Students are also learning how to use a thesaurus to expand their word choice and incorporate rich vocabulary when writing.

Parents may want to show their child how to access a thesaurus on a word processing program on the computer at home (Word, etc.)

 

Library: Library books are to be returned by Thursday. If your child is bringing home their library book in their knapsacks, you may wish to provide them with a ziplock bag to prevent the book from being damaged due to water, snow, etc.

 

At home ideas:

·        Read a picture book with your child and have them retell the story, including beginning, middle and end.

·        Incorporate reading time before bed.

·        After reading a book – ask your child – What was the author’s purpose in writing this book (persuade, inform, entertain)? Who is the author’s audience? What is the author’s message?

·        While reading, discuss connections you have to your own life, other texts you have read or the world.

 

Happy Reading!

 

French Update

Thank you to all the parent volunteers who accompanied us to the Bill Mason Centre last Monday, October 1st. The weather cooperated and we had a terrific, fun-filled day outside :-)

Our next field trip will be to the Museum of Science & Technology at the end of February.

Presentations: I have uploaded the calendar onto the blog. It can be found on the right hand side.

Science: We are approaching the end of our unit on Habitats. The students final task will be to build a diorama of a specific habitat. They will need to include everything necessary to create a "real" habitat ecosystem. 

I will be sending home all the information about this project later this week.  To complete this project, each child will require a shoe box as well as any supplies that they would like to use to create their habitat. I will be providing the students with white glue, string, paint, masking tape, plasticine and a few other things. Should your child wish to use other supplies please send them in. The entire project will be completed at school.

Writing: We are focusing on using specific sequence words and transition words. For example the students must be able to recognize and use appropriate words when starting an introduction, conclusion, etc. and use a variety of words instead of always using the same ones (ex. aussi, parce que, car, etc.).

Reading: Please continue to read at home to and with your child in French. We are currently reviwing how to summarize what we read, find the main idea and also make inferences.

Physical Education: Our unit on Basketball has officially started. We have practised dribbling and passing.

Health: Over the next month we will be learning and discussing the topic of"Bullying". The students will learn the various types of bullying and how we can protect ourselves and our friends from it. I will be asking the students to create skits and posters to promote awareness of bullying and how we can stop it.

Halloween: I will be having a small celeration on Wednesday, Oct.31 from 2-3:00 p.m. in the classroom.

If you would like to send in a healthy snack please email me at natalie.tessier@ocdsb.ca.

Please remember that we have peanut, nut and shellfish allergies.

I am looking for the following contributions:

Cheese & Crackers

Veggies

Fruit

Juice

Cookies/Muffins/Treat

Math

There will be a math unit test this Thursday on Patterns.

Students are encouraged to review the Chapter Review (#1-6) on page 25 of their math textbook.

The Nelson website is a great resource for test preparation. 

1)   Type in the address line:   www.mathk8.nelson.com

2)   Click on Companion Sites

3)   Click on Nelson Mathematics 4

4)    Click on  Student Centre

5)    Click on  Try It Out

6)   Click on  Chapter : Patterns in Mathematics

Library

A friendly reminder that all library books are due back by Thursday.

English Scholastic Orders

If you are interested in ordering English books, Scholastic book orders are due back to school by Thursday October 11.

Happy end of September!

Ms O'Halloran and I enjoyed meeting parents and siblings last night at Meet-the-Teacher.

Thank you for visiting our classroom and catching a quick glimpse of what the students have been working on during the month of September.

Bill Mason Centre: I have sent home a note with reminders about what to bring for our field trip on Monday (please check your child's agenda today). We will be outdoors all day (rain or shine). My fingers are crossed that the weather will cooperate and the sun will be shinning!!!

I would suggest that your child wears rubber boots and maybe brings an older pair of running shoes. We will be playing a game called "Predator & Prey" in which the students will be running around the forest like the game of tag.

• Students who are part of the the milk program will be given their milk once we return to school.
• Students who have any medical concerns or allergies please do not forget to bring your Epi pens and/or puffers. I will be carrying your extra Epi pen with me throughout the day.

Parent volunteers

• I will meet you in the office on Monday morning around 8:40 a.m.
• Remember to bring a "litterless lunch" and drinks to keep hydrated.
• I believe the adults will be included in the game of "Predator & Prey" therefore I would suggest wearing comfortable clothing and shoes.
• Thank you again for volunteering!!

Presentations: The Actualité presentations will begin Tuesday, Oct.9th. Please make sure your child has a Bristol board with the following information:

1. An explanation of the token (with specific details)
2. Pictures/drawings/photos
3. Creative titles, letters, texture and lots of colour

 I will be looking for expression and eye contact. I encourage the students to have a catchy introduction to get my attention. Please note that the students are not expected to memorize the entire presentation. I would like them to feel comfortable with their topic.

• Next Friday, October 5th is our first P.D. day of the year.
• Also please note that Monday, October 8th is Thanksgiving.
• There is no school for students on both days.
• Enjoy the long weekend with family and friends :-)

Physical Education: We have learned a new game called "Keeper of the Castle". This game focuses on the students coming up with strategies and working together as a team. We have also continued to play "Elimination Soccer Stations" a couple of times as it was a huge hit with the class. This game also requires some strategy work and soccer skills.

We will be starting our unit on Basketball next week. This will continue through the month of October. At the end of the unit I will be sending home a rubric for you to sign.

Language: Please continue to read with your child in both languages if possible. It is important for them to see new vocabulary and learn how to decode the words.

In French we have been working on using surrounding words in a sentence to help find the meaning of an unknown word. I have been encouraging the students to write down "new words" when they are reading and look them up either at school or at home to help expand their word bank.

At the moment we are writing paragraphs about habitats. We will be typing our good copies on the computer shortly.

Have a good weekend.

We have a new Library Day

Our library day has switched from Friday to Thursday.
Students will visit the library in the morning with Ms. O'Halloran. They may sign out one French and one English book for a week. To prevent water damage, we have suggested that students use a Ziploc bag to transport their books back and forth from school.

Week # 2

Homework: Ms O'Halloran & I have started our homework program. The students English work can be found in an ORANGE duotang and their French work in a YELLOW duotang. I have added an outline in the yellow duotang to help guide them. The students do not have to complete the homework on those particular days. I understand how difficult schedules can be with extra-curricular sports and family engagements which is why we give everyone a full week to complete the assigned homework.

Scholastic: I have placed an order for anyone who has sent in forms. Please note that these items should arrive before the end of next week (Sept.21st). When they arrive I will send them home with your child.

If you would still like to place an order for the September catalogues, I will be accepting order forms until Sept. 24th.

What we've been up to this week:

Sciences: We have learned about what type of habitat and food for a raccoon. We have discussed the difference between 'climat' & 'temperature" as well as noted the differences & similarities between habitats. All habitats must include "les besoins vitaux" which includes water, food sources, air, sun, soil and space. I have addd 2 more fun websites to help the students learn more about habitats.

We will be building terrariums next week. I will post the various types of habitats we are creating online at the end of the week. Stay tuned!!

Physical Education: More drills to improve our soccer skills which included strategies to help block a ball, throw a ball and kick a ball to a specific target. We talked about the importance of warming up their muscles before starting any physical activity to avoid injuries. We played a new game called "elimination soccer stations". If you are feeling adventurous this weekend, please ask your child to show you how to play :-)

French: We read a text entitled "Silence!" that focused on the importance of keeping quiet during library time. While reading this text together we worked on using surrounding words to help us understand new words as well as underlining key words.

Have a fantastic weekend!!!!