On Friday, the students finished up their math packages, wrote their spelling quizzes, did some creative writing, and then had some time to do work on coding and math games on the iPads. (I was unfortunately away for the day, but we will put a wraps on our team points competition on Monday as promised on Thursday.)
On Thursday, the students began their day reviewing their spelling words for Friday's game, then it was off to the library to grab some new books for the week. When they returned to class, it was time to pick a book for their novel study next week. Each of the students had a chance to read through and make their novel choices ahead of Madame Mulski's visit on Monday. After recess, there was some time to continue to work on their area and perimeter work packages, before we headed out for a nature walk. In the afternoon we put a cap on our basketball mini-tournament, then it was back to class to continue work on our Goals Art projects. On Friday, the students finished up their math packages, wrote their spelling quizzes, did some creative writing, and then had some time to do work on coding and math games on the iPads. (I was unfortunately away for the day, but we will put a wraps on our team points competition on Monday as promised on Thursday.)
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Our day started with a quick review of this week's spelling words (which can be found on the ENGLISH page), then we moved back into our study of Canada's First Nations and first contact. Today we focussed on the Algonquian, Athabaskan & Iroquoian FIrst Nations. After recess, the students headed off for Music class with Mr. Barkman, then returned to watch a video and discuss living conditions of the Iroquois. (The video is posted on the SOCIAL STUDIES page.) After lunch it was silent reading, a trip back to the gym to resume our basketball tournament (see photos below), and then we finished off by helping Mrs. Pimentel with preparation for our May the 4th Coding & Robotics celebrations by creating personalized invitations.
HOMEWORK: No homework tonight, but students should review their spelling words in preparation for this week's quiz on Friday. REMINDER: Please sign and return any completed OPERATION WATERPROOF forms as soon as possible, along with the accompanying $8. (Grade 5's only) Today started off with a trip to the gym, where we teamed up with Division 8, for the start of our Grade 4/5 boys and girls basketball tournament. I will be honest, and expected a lot more double dribbles, air balls and travels, but instead, the students played some pretty impressive basketball! I was so busy picking my jaw off the floor, that I forgot to take photos, but will tomorrow. Following PE, we headed back to class to review the answers from our "Bison Homecoming" homework, and discuss our opinions on conservation efforts in Canada's national parks. Following an indoor recess, we began our first lesson on measuring and calculating area. After some initial confused looks, light bulbs starting popping up around the room, and the students began to understand the simplicity of calculating area. Ms. Morris even got in on the action, and helped the students solve how to solve the challenge of calculating area with something with unequal width and length. Nice!! In the afternoon, we read our books, and then worked on goal setting, and finished up with some art.
HOMEWORK: Please finish your 5 goals, and 3 ways to achieve those goals for homework. NOTE: Grade 5's were send home with their permission and information forms for OPERATION WATERPROOF, a district sponsored swim program that we will be taking part in later this Spring. Please look over your form, and let me know if you have any questions. Otherwise, please have your forms completed and handed in as soon as possible. Thanks!! Back in the saddle, after 2 weeks away, and wow! I was really impressed with the students focus, and work ethic today. Usually coming off a long break, there is an adjustment period for the students to get back into the swing of things, but the students brought their work boots and thinking caps, and had an excellent day. Our day began with a timed class mingle, in which each person had one minute to visit and catch up with a classmate, before needing to move on. We then took those conversations and extracted information about Division 10 Spring Break activities and created a graph of what they'd done. Unsurprisingly, meeting with friends, and playing video games topped the list. (See results in the photos below.) After music class, we continued with work on our French greetings, before turning our attention to a short text on the return of Bison to Canada's National Parks. After lunch, the students had time to get back into their books with 25 minutes of silent reading, before shipping off to Mrs. Cramer's class for some class discussions on Animals and Habitats, a little dancing, and a couple of minutes of DPA outdoors with their Little Buddies. We capped off the day, with time for the students to finish up the questions associated with their reading "Bison Homecoming".
HOMEWORK: Please finish questions 1 - 7 of Bison Homecoming. I will be checking for completion tomorrow morning after gym class, and awarding points for each student who completes all of their work with complete (and correct) sentences. REMINDER: We resume Gym classes tomorrow, so please be sure to have a clean pair of indoor gym shoes, as well as a pair of outdoor shoes or boots. Today was a day, you didn't want to miss, as it was TWIN DAY, and a day chock a block full of brain busting fun!! We began our day with a spelling play down, in which students from our classes 7 teams were pitted against one another by testing their spelling recall from the words we have learned since September. When all the dust settled, we were left with four student...2 boys & 2 girls. A pair from Grade 5 and 2 more from Grade 4. Congratulations to Kyle, Maya, Emma and James for conquering the Spelling Play Down Challenge and earning their classmates admiration, and points for their teams. Once we put the wraps on spelling, we turned our attention to math, and I decided to test their abilities, by introducing order of operation equations. Despite it being Grade 6/7 level concepts, most caught on quickly, and we again played for team points, while putting their newfound skills to the test. After recess, the students had the choice to continue the coding assignments we began yesterday, to take a turn writing code for our Dash Robot, or taking on some math challenge games. Following hot lunch, it was time to put our dramatic side to the test, as we played a number of drama related games and activities, before clean up and final dismissal for Spring Break.
HOMEWORK: There is no homework from me, however Mr. Barkman would like the students improve their music reading ability through gaming, and to practice with their recorders over the break. He has chosen the website: www.musicplayonline.com to help. The username for access to the website is: "student" the password is: "1234" NOTE: We will return to school on Monday, March 27, and we will have an educational, and action-packed remaining 3 months scheduled, so please rest up, have lots of fun, and come back to school reinvigorated and ready to work hard!! HAPPY SPRING BREAK EVERYONE!!! In recognition and celebration of International Women's Day, the students wrote thank you messages to important females in their lives. We also discussed how far women's rights have come in the past century in Canada, and how much further still they need to improve globally, in order to achieve true equality. After we put a wraps on our art work, we were fortunate enough to have a visit from Mrs. Mulski, who gave the class a run down on some of the novels they will be able to choose from after Spring Break for their novel studies. Following recess it was off for a quick visit with their recorders to see Mr. Barkman. Once they were back in class, we continued with our discussion of Canada's first nations, and their traditional homes. After lunch, it was a quick sprint to the 1:45 dismissal bell. We had silent reading, and then we were off to the gym to finish our abbreviated day with some bench ball.
REMINDER: Early dismissal again tomorrow, and please remember that Friday is Twin Day in Division 10, and Wacky T-Shirt Day at JKE. Normally we would have jump started our day with a trip to the gym, but with it being set up for today's band concert, our day began with students sharing their Spring Break Destination wish list. I loved the variety of choices, and the reasons behind them. Once we finalized our holiday list, we reviewed to see who was listening and paying attention. (Our focus today was to improve our listening.) We then brainstormed what we knew about St. Patrick's Day, then expanded our knowledge of Ireland's Patron Saint, and the holiday with a reading passage and a video. We also were lucky enough to have a visit from Mrs. Pimentel, who shared her memories of being in the Emerald Isle. After recess, we took the middle part of the school day to review multiplication, and in the case of the Grade 5's, division. Following a cold and wet lunch break, the class returned for silent reading, before heading to the gym for an excellent Grade 6 / 7 band concert, put on by Mr. Rogers, Mrs. Roberts and all the band students.
REMINDER: Tomorrow is an early dismissal day at 1:45pm, in order for us to prepare for student led conferences, which begin at 2pm. Also, please remember that Friday is TWIN DAY. If a picture is worth a thousand words...these beauties are worth 17,000!!! Please ask your child about the pictures below, and have them explain to you what we did in class today. There is no homework tonight, but I did ask the students to make sure they come prepared to listen a lot better tomorrow.
REMINDER: Student led conferences will take place on Wednesday from 2:00 - 7:30pm, and again from 2:00 - 4:30pm on Thursday. It will be a chance for the students to show, and tell you about all the cool things we have done this year in class, and is not intended to be a parent-teacher interview. NOTE: As per the confirmation email sent out when you registered for the Student led conferences, unlike Parent-Teacher interviews, up to 4 families can attend per time slot. If you would like to have your appointment moved to another time slot, you can still make changes, until 10pm on Tuesday, March 7th. A wet, but wonderful Friday in Division 10 today. The day began with a french lesson on greeting and common phrases, then we moved onto learning more about First Nations and First Contact. Following recess, the class wrote their Spelling quiz, we corrected them, and then organized our desk and work, in preparation for next week's student led conferences. After lunch the class had some free time to read, draw, write or play with their classmates. Our day finished with a visit from Speed Control, a rock trio from Whitehorse, who entertained a jam packed JKE gymnasium with a 60 minute tour through Canadian Musical History. It was awesome! Before heading home, the students cleaned up, grabbed their report cards and headed out for the final weekend, before Spring Break.
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AuthorMr. Main is an avid sports fan, a proud father of two extremely active boys, and passionate about building collaborative and inclusive educational environments. Archives
June 2018
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