Monday Jan. 25

Hello Families!

We read How To Be by Lisa Brown and to develop our instructional writing we are working on our own "How To Be" books.  We started today by picking an animal and creating a plan for our writing.  

In math, we have been continuing to work with place value and base ten blocks.  Ask me about how the number of blocks can be different than their value.  

 

Thursday, Jan 21

 Hello Friends and Family,

We had our baby visits today!!  Ask me what's new with Baby Thompson and Nixon.

We have loved seeing all your "Stretch Zone" videos - there's still time so don't worry if you still want to send something in!

Thanks for Reading!

Tuesday January 19

Hello Families!  

We have been learning about our comfort, stretch and panic zones and practicing stretching ourselves by trying new things.  Parents, we are hoping that your child could record themselves trying something new at home (with parents permission) that would move them into the stretch zone (eg. trying a new food, reading a more challenging book, skate without holding someones hand, etc.).  Then, if they want, they can upload it onto Iris or email the recording to one of the teachers.  Then we can all watch the video and celebrate their accomplishments as a community.  This is optional. 

See below pictures from math as we continued our work with base ten blocks and place value.  Ask me about the game Race to 100 with base ten block.  How many ones do I need to make a ten?

 

Monday, Jan 18

 Hello Friends and Family! 

We were excited to have our first group of kids present a Reader's Theatre today!  We were very proud of them because it is always hard to be the first group to do anything in front of the whole class, so some of the kids needed to really go into their "Stretch Zone" today.  

We started to learn about "How To" writing.  We tried to give Mrs. Day all the instructions for how to brush her teeth.  Ask me how it went!

We continued learning about magnetism today.  We learned about how you can turn a needle into a magnet.   Ask me how this is done, and why it is possible (hint:  it has to do with making all the "domains" in a material face the same way).  Today we did a little demo on how to make your own compass using your magnetized needle.   If you have the materials, you can try this at home!  See below for the instructions.

Materials:  

• Needle
• Strong-ish magnet
• Cardstock
• Dish/Shallow Bowl filled with water
• Compass (optional)

Step 1:  Magnetize the needle by stroking it several times with the magnet in the same direction

Step 2:  Cut a small circle out of the cardstock, and thread the needle through the centre of the circle.

Step 3:  Carefully drop the needle and the card into the dish of water.  Watch the needle slowly move to point North!  If you have a compass, you can compare your homemade one with it to see if it's accurate.  If it's not, you may need to magnetize your needle a bit more.

Have Fun!

Friday, Jan 15

 Hello Friends and Families,

We read "Good Rosie" today and learned more about our "Stretch Zone".  We learned that sometimes we need a little push to leave our comfort zone to go into our Stretch Zone.  We shared stories about a time where we needed to be pushed to leave our comfort zone, and we learned to stretch a little bit.  Ask me about the story, what Rosie's comfort zone was and what made her leave her comfort zone!

We have been working all week on our learning goals for 2021.  We learned about a "rough copy", and "good copy" (ask me what each copy is for!). 

Thanks for reading!

Wed. Jan 13

 Hello Friends and Families,

Today we read The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires.  Ask me what the story was about and what lessons we learned from the main character (hint: perseverance!)

We have been talking about our Comfort Zone, Stretch Zone, and Panic Zone and how it is important for us to go outside of our Comfort Zone so that we can grow as people and learners.  See if I remember which Zone learning happens in!

Yesterday we had brainstormed some school goals, and today we chose one to focus on.  We started to come up with a plan on how we are going to achieve our goals!  We aren't finished with this work, but some kids shared what they had so far and we helped to give some suggestions on strategies they could include in their plan to achieve their goal.  Ask me about my goal and what strategies I have come up with so far in my plan.

In math we have begun learning about place value.  Ask me what I know about how the digits work to make up whole numbers.

Upcoming Peace Assembly:

Eric Harvie's next Peace Assembly is about feeling peaceful within ourselves.  We have been talking about finding a place where we feel good.  I am hoping to get a few pictures to add to our Peace Assembly.  Please note that if you send a picture it will be in the video attached to our school Youtube page.  What I am looking for: your child in a place that makes them feel good, feel at peace. It does not have to be a recent picture, it can be one from the past.  If you would like to participate, please email your photo to Jennele Coulson at jabaine@cbe.ab.ca.

Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, January 12

 Hello Families!

Today we read the story "Scaredy Squirrel at Night" by Melanie Watt.  We discussed the meaning and purpose of goals and how to create a plan to accomplish our different goals. Then we brainstormed goals we have for our own learning.  Ask me about my goals and my plan to achieve success.  

We have began learning about magnets and which metals are magnetic.  It was interesting when we discovered that not all coins will stick to a magnet.