We had a great day today in the grade 1/2 classroom.  We started off the day today working on proofreading.  The students were asked to proofread sentences and correct them for house points.  They have a lot of fun with this activity and I can see some great improvement with proofreading skills.  During language we worked on picture words, special sounds, rhyming words and vowels sounds.  They also practiced their cursive.  In our IB unit of inquiry today we continued on with the changes that living things face in each season.  We reviewed what we learned yesterday about the basic needs of humans and animals (water, food and shelter) and then today we continued on by discussing how humans and animals react to cold seasons.  The children learned three new words 1. hibernation 2. migration 3. adaptation and then we role played examples of animals doing each of these three things to get ready for the winter.  During math the students worked on addition (grade one) and balancing (grade two).  They also went to french class.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words for tomorrow's test, Letters and Sounds page 38 - 39 and cursive page 30 - 31.

Important information:  Scholastic book order forms went home last night.  If you are interested in purchasing anything please send in the completed form with a cheque by tomorrow.

Coffee order forms have been sent home.  Please keep your eye out for these forms.  These act as great gift ideas and a portion of the proceeds go towards SJA's IB certification.

The October reading charts can now be kept at home in your records as the students are now working on their November reading chart.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

We started off the day today working in the computer lab.  The children played computer games to begin developing their keyboard skills.  If you would like to have your child practice the game at home we were playing the bubble popping game found at www.typingmaster.com/games/typing-games.asp. We then moved on to language where the children practiced special sounds, rhyming words and finishing sentences.  During our IB unit of inquiry we began our new line of inquiry 'the impact of seasonal changes on living things'.  Today we discussed how the seasons changes from summer to autumn, and the environmental changes that we witness as a result of the changing seasons.  Some things we discussed today were leaves changing colours on trees, migrating birds and butterflies, and thunderstorms.  We also did a group activity where the students worked together to explore how the three basic needs of humans and animals (water, food and shelter) change with each season.  During math the children worked on addition (grade one) and subtraction (grade two).  They also went to P.E and french class.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words, Letters and Sounds page 36 - 37  and math pages 64 - 65 (grade one) and 63 - 64 (grade two).

Important information:  I have sent home a new monthly reading chart for the month of November.  The students have tallied up their October reading chart and were awarded house points if they met their monthly goal.  You may keep the October reading chart at home now for your records.

Scholastic book order forms are coming home with your child tonight.  These are due back Friday, November 4th with a cheque if you are interested in purchasing anything.

Please keep an eye out for the coffee order forms in the home folders.  These went home last week.  They are a great way to do fundraising and a sought after  Christmas gift!

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

We started off the day today working on sentence writing.  The children were asked to choose 5 of their weekly spelling words and turn them into sentences.  After sentence writing the children worked on phonics where they practiced with rhyming words, compound words, blends and vowel sounds, and they also did their cursive practice.  During math today the students continued working on their addition and subtraction skills.  We also completed our first line of inquiry (climate and weather patterns) today by having a class quiz.  The children will be bringing home their graded quizzes with them tonight.  They also went to music and french class.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words, complete Bell Work if necessary, Letters and Sounds pages 34 - 35 and cursive pages 28 - 29.

Important information:  Please remember to help your child bring their home folders, spelling books, homework and agendas back and forth with them every day.  We use these items each day, and not having them in the classroom makes it difficult to complete their tasks. 

Please remember to check the drama, french and music blogs for important information about your child.  These blogs get updated frequently with information that relates to our class.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

We had a really great day today at SJA!  We started off the day today having a Halloween Spirit Day with the whole school where house teams competed in balloon volleyball.  The students had a lot of fun with this activity.  The children then came back to class and copied down their new weekly spelling words and worked in their spelling books.  During math today we worked on addition and subtraction skills.  We then had our class party!  The children played games, watched Halloween cartoons and did Halloween colouring.  We had a very wild and fun afternoon during the party!  In the later part of the day the children burned off some energy in P.E and went to french.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words, and complete spelling workbook if necessary.

Important information:  Please make sure you are helping your child to remember their agenda, spelling book and home folders each and everyday.  We use these items most days (if not every day) and it is important that your child come to school with all three items to be prepared for success.

Please make sure you are checking the french, drama and music blogs as well a few times a week.  The specialist teachers also post important information on their blogs that is relevant to your child.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

Grade One                 Grade Two

1. jar                          1. save
2. fan                         2. lake
3. fun                         3. face
4. bag                        4. same
5. jog                         5. gate
6. pig                         6. rake
7. dig                         7. tape
8. sun                         8. sail
9. leg                          9. paint
10. beg                      10. afraid

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2011

Good afternoon!

We had a great day today.  We started off the day by having our weekly spelling test.  The marked spelling tests will be coming home with your child tonight.  Then we worked on phonics where the children worked on picture words, blends and special sounds.  During our IB unit of inquiry the children learned how the sun affects humans, and also why we sneeze in the spring.  We also acted out the orbit of the earth around the sun, which was a fun way to further investigate this subject.  You child is bringing home a sheet with them tonight with a seasons poem to read with you at home, and a picture of the earth's orbit that they are going to explain to you over the weekend.  We also watched a movie about seasons and weather.  They students also went to french class.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, re-write incorrect spelling words ten times each and cursive pages 26 -  27.

Important information:  Monday is Halloween Dress-up Day at SJA.  Your children are welcome to come to school dressed up in their Halloween costumes for the day.

We are also going to be having a Halloween party in our class that day.  Children are able to bring snacks and treats in for the class to share if they would like to.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

We started off the day today working on sentence writing.  The students were asked to pick 5 of their weekly spelling words and turn them into sentences.  During language we also worked on special sounds, short and long vowels and picture words.  During our IB unit of inquiry we discussed what we have learned to date about weather, climate, temperature, clouds and the atmosphere.  We extended that knowledge today by discussing why our cheeks turn red on a cold day, and how thunderstorms are created.  Ask your child tonight what they learned about lightening today!  We also went outside to read the thermometer and track today's temperature.  During math the students worked on more and less than (grade one) and tens and ones place (grade two).  In the afternoon the students worked on a Halloween craft where they used various materials to create Jack-o-lanterns.  They had a lot of fun with that activity!  They also went to music and french class.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words for tomorrow's test, cursive pages 24 - 25, math page 58 (grade two), and finish Bell Work if necessary.

Important information:  Monday is SJA's Halloween Dress-up Day.  Your children are welcome to come to school wearing their Halloween costumes.  You are also welcome to send any nut-free treats in with your child to be shared during our class Halloween party.

Most of the teachers from SJA went to an IB Schools of Ontario dinner and education-session last night to learn more about the IB program.   This was a great way to see how schools have been implementing the IB PYP (primary youth program) at their schools. Some teachers I spoke with last night have been IB teachers for over ten years!  We all came back with a great deal of information that we are excited to put into use at SJA.  Please continue to keep yourselves updated with IB information as well by asking us questions, or using the IB website (http://www.ibo.org/).  Remember that becoming knowledgeable in IB matters is a great way to help your child succeed!

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

We started off the day today with some time in the computer lab.  The children had a lot of fun working in pairs to discover important functions of a computer. When we returned to the class the children began their language work, where they worked on cursive, special sounds, vowel sounds, compound words and completed a word search.  During our IB unit of inquiry we continued investigating seasonal weather patterns.  We reviewed what we learned yesterday about the equator and atmosphere, and then today we applied that knowledge into learning about how clouds and snow are formed.  The children also learned why their breath makes white clouds in the winter time which they thought was very interesting.  Ask your child tonight to share with you their learning!  During math today the children worked on more and less than (grade one) and number order (grade two).  They also went to drama, french and P.E classes.

Homework:  Read for 15 minutes and record in the reading chart, practice weekly spelling words and math page 57 (grade one) 56 (grade two).

Important information:  We had our school pictures taken today. These should be available for purchase in the next few weeks.

Tomorrow is casual day.  If you have paid your $2 for the day, your child may come dressed in whatever casual clothes they would like.

Monday, October 31st we are having our Halloween party in our class.  Children are free to come to school dressed in their Halloween costumes and bring any treats they would like for their friends.

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson