February 17

We had a great time on 100 Day!

We had a special book for all our activities. We even had some activities left over to do at home. Here we are wearing our special 100 Day glasses. It's much easier to do 100 Day work when we wear these glasses.


We also held a draw to decide who would get the Olympic mittens Mr. Heidebrecht gave us and the growth chart with the Olympic mascots on it. Here are the winners with their prizes.

Remember that Friday is a Professional Development Day. Children don't come to school that day. I will be with the rest of the teachers on the Sunshine Coast at Chatelech learning more about teaching both Reading and Math, especially to children who struggle.

February 16

Mrs. Pinkey was pleased to report that Division 9 worked hard for her while Miss Owen was away enjoying Pairs Figure Skating.

Tomorrow is 100 Day, and everyone is reminded to bring a collection of 100 things displayed in a way that is easy for others to count. Today we talked about using smaller containers to hold 10 itmes each, using small bags, and using elastic bands. The most important thing is that parents and children talk together about the collections.

Watch for information on the next opportunity for Parent-Teacher interviews. A notice will come home giving you choices of when you want to meet with your child and the teacher to set goals for the final term.

February 6, 2009

We have been very busy lately.

We've been writing stories. First, we listen to a story many times. We act out parts and practice saying lines from the story. Then we use pictures from the story to help us tell the story ourselves. We will be bringing home our first story after we have had a chance to read it to a Kindergarten child. You can see samples of stories other children are writing around this time of year. http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/perf_stands/writing.htm This link takes you to page where you can look at writing performance standards. Simply click on your child's grade level. The part that applies right now is the part about Literary writing.

We've been using the Olympics to learn more about Canada. We got to watch the torch relay run right past our school. Some children from our class broke into a spontaneous rendition of O Canada when it was over.

We've been deepening our understanding of the number system and increasing the number of strategies we can use to do mental math. Some of this is through the use of Dreambox, and some is through more traditional methods.

We've been painting. We are learning to use materials correctly. For example, we use only the tip of the brush for paint.

We are looking forward to Valentines Day. We will celebrate on February 12. Please keep all cards at home until that day.

January 27

Who knew there were so many interesting facts stored up by Gibsons Elementary students -- or so many ways to attach those facts to backs!

Now that we are used to using Dreambox, many children are making good progress through the lessons. Some others still need serious teacher time. Parents who give me their email addresses by Friday will be able to follow their child's progress for free as long as the pilot continues (into March). Of course, the two-week free period will remain open to anyone at any time.

Janaury 25, 2010

We had a great DEAR day! The children brought in a wide variety of books and dropped everything to read them. We even used our books in gym as place markers and in a running game.

On Tuesday, we will each have a poem in our pocket. Then we will ask each other to read the poems we have throughout the day.

On Wednesday, we will wear a fact on our back. The fact is to come from a book we have read (or had read to us). Attaching the fact could pose a challenge. I wear keys around my neck on a lanyard. When I have lean over children, I often flip the keys over onto my back. I plan to wear my fact attached in the same way.

On Thursday, we will dress up as a book character we like.

Then on Friday, Nicola Campbell, a First Nations author will come to talk to our students about her books. (I will be in Madiera Park in the morning talking about mine.)

We are ironing the kinks out of our Dreambox use. All the children can log in on their own now, and most are good at staying on task. The teacher's dashboard lets me know that some are using the program at home.

You can still give me your email address if you want to check on your child's progress or allow your child to use the program at home.

We now have permission for our parents to extend the usual two-week period to the full time that we will be piloting the program.

I'm available to answer any questions about Dreambox or any other aspect of our classroom life.

January 20, 2010

We've read the story of The Lion and the Mouse. We've practiced saying some of the lines from the story. We are now writing the story for ourselves and doing a wonderful job!

Watch for a big book to come home in the next few days.

Today we learned just how big the sun is, why we can block such a large object with just our small hands, and how to make large things look far away in a picture.

Until further notice, we will dismiss from the computer lab on Tuesdays.

January 13, 2010

We got to see Baby Charlotte again today. She is definitely growing. But today she was not a happy baby. We learned that sometimes fussy babies who are not hungry want to nurse so they can calm down. We heard Baby Charlotte telling her mom that she didn't want to be moved. We know that fussy babies are not bad babies. They are babies with a problem and they need our help, so Maria, Baby Charlotte's mom, listened to her baby and didn't move here.

The following message will go home tomorrow in the planner. Some children have been ill, so I am posting the information here, as well.

Those following the class blog know that we have begun to use a computer Math program called DreamBox. Parents can receive two weeks of free access to their child’s work by giving me their email address and asking me to include them in the invitation to parents. I will send out the invitations through the site on Monday evening, so if you want to be included, please let me know and give me your email address by Monday at 3:00 pm.

January 12, 2010

DreamBox will not be our whole Math program.

We have been learning strategies for mental math. That's math we can do in our heads.

First, we are learning what the word strategy means. It's a way to make something easier to do.

So far, we have worked on a strategy for +0 and the "counting on" strategy for +1 and +2.

You will be seeing special strategy sheets come home from time to time. They have two columns of questions. If you look at them closely, you will see that the questions are similar, but that the column on the right is slightly more difficult than the column on the left. Children who have problems with any of the strategies get extra help at school. You can also check how your child is doing and give hints that work for you.

January 11, 2010

After school today teachers from across our district went to a session to learn about an online Math resource called DreamBox.

We were impressed by some of the things it can do for the children. We were even challenged a little by some of the tasks.

This program uses technology to figure out a child's level and then presents tasks meant for exactly that level. Each child moves along at his or her own pace.

We have agreed to pilot this program for 90 days.

Once I have the class logged in, and the children have learned how to use the program, I will be sending home information about how you can participate at home. Parents can sign up for a free two weeks. After that, there will be a charge. I'm hoping it will be minimal because I'm sure most of you would like to see exactly what you child can do.

Of course you will always be welcome to come in and watch what your child is doing with this or any other activity. With the number of classes wanting to participate, our schedule will probably have to change somewhat to give all of us the time we want.

January 7

Sometimes the timing is just perfect!

Shannon came today for a Roots of Empathy lesson. She talked about how babies get teeth and how Grade Ones and Twos lose them. Then she asked the children to draw pictures about losing teeth and write about the feelings that gave them.

After Shannon left, we went on with other work.





Suddenly, Maya called out, "My tooth came out!" And like a magnet, that tooth pulled all the children out of their seats for an inspection. Sure enough, there was a new space in Maya's mouth and a tooth in her hand.

At Gibsons Elementary, children who lose teeth while they are at school get a tooth container from the office so they can take teeth home safely.

January 6

Today we looked through a frame to find something interesting to draw. It's a lot harder than it looks.

January 5

We welcomed two new students today.

Cory and Malaki bring our numbers up to 23. They help to balance the girl/boy ratio. They joined in well and we look forward to working with them.

January 10, 2010

Today the children brought home a Word Wall list. This is a list of words they are expected to spell correctly in class.

That's because the words are posted on the wall where the children can see them at all times.

Note that the children are NOT expected to memorize these words. Some will, and that's fine. But the real goal is to give them a growing list of words for which they are responsible.

The list grows by 5 words each week. Look for a new list each Monday. New words are always circled. Watch, too, for the practice sheets the children bring home each day. The children are given clues and write all five words daily in response to the clues.

During the daily practice, the children learn a great deal about language by using the clues. They also focus on printing.

Families use the Word Wall Words in a variety of ways. Some have their child simply read the words each day. Some give clues themselves and have their child choose which word fits each clue. Some post the list on the fridge or on a bulletin board. When the child is writing, the parents can remind the child to check the list.

By using the correct spelling for this list, children often learn the words by memory by the end of the year.

December 10, 2009

Sometimes a teacher needs a little help. Today 3 students took on some of the leadership. They did a good job. So did those who responded to them.

You can be proud of your children.

December 9, 2009

This afternoon we saw Baby Charlotte again as part of the Roots of Empathy program in our room.

We practiced singing a lullaby in case Charlotte got fussy.

We noticed how much Baby Charlotte had grown. She can hold her own head up a bit now. She can open her hands by herself.

Then sure enough, she got fussy. But she didn't want a lullaby. She didn't even care about being held and rocked. What she really wanted was to eat.

So we got to watch her drinking breast milk. This was the first time for some of us to see a baby drinking from her mom. After she ate, Baby Charlotte wanted to go home, so we sang our good-bye song to her and began to look forward to her next visit.

Tonight we are going to do our concert for our community. We are all ready and will do our best.

December 8, 2009

Tomorrow is our big day!

Please have your child in the classroom IN COSTUME by 6:50. That means brown top and pants and black gloves. Everything else they need will be here.

All children sing in a choir at the end, so you will pick up your child at the end of the performance in the classroom. It can be a bit chaotic in the classroom at the end. I will want to know how each child leaves, so be sure we've made eye contact before your child goes home.

December 7, 2009

Tomorrow is our dress rehearsal. Please do not send the costume pants. Black gloves are fine.

On Wednesday, have your child here by 6:50 so we will be ready for a 7:00 performance.

December 3, 2009

You should have received tail lights in the planner by now. These have a peel and stick backing. To be really secure, they will need some stitching as well.

We will not have spats, so apart from noses, we are all set--

And the noses have to be put on that night in the classroom, so we are all set.

Plan to come early enough to find a place to park and to get your child into the classroom in time to have a nose applied. One strategy would be to park, get into the gym and reserve yourself a seat by putting something on it, and then bringing your child down to the classroom. Once your child is in the room, you can go and hang onto your seat. I'll send a list of who will be where on the stage later so you can sit where you can see your child best.

At this time, during the choir numbers, our class is on the right as you face the stage. I'll let you know if that changes. Every year we struggle to find a way to make every child visible to the whole audience when the choir sings. We've never been fully successful. What we can do, is tell you that the singing is fabulous! For a young choir that has not had much time to practice, your children are amazing! This is, without a doubt, the best group singing from the primary children I've heard at Gibsons Elementary, and I've been here a while.

December 2, 1009

Today we worked on a Christmas decoration. Painting small spaces with tiny brushes takes a lot of concentration.

We also learned more about babies. We learned why babies cry and what we can do to soothe a crying baby.

We learned that a crying baby is not a bad baby. A crying baby is a baby with a problem who needs our help.

December 1, 2009

December is a busy month at school as I'm sure it must be at home.

You can help your child to cope by keeping to bedtimes so you child has enough rest and keeping to routines as much as possible.

Today I saw academic growth in everyone. I also saw a class of very focused children. You can all be proud of the ones you send me each morning.