We are learning

Do you ever wonder what we do all day?

Most of the time we are just sitting around.

Well, actually that's not quite true.

We do sit with a partner and practise reading.

These are the little books we have been making and they contain

many of the sight words that we are learning to read and spell.

Learning to read is hard work, but our friends in our class do not judge us.

They help us get better.  That's what friends are for!

We have started to learn a bit more about ourselves within our

community.  We all belong to families, but families do not all

look the same.  People in our families love us and that is what

is important!

The students created their own family glyph.

Glyphs are often used by children as a way to gather and

depict data, in this case, a picture form of their family.

Who lives in this child's house?  This child said that they have a mom, dad, sister, 

grandparent and two pets that live with him or her.  The white square is the child.

Can you tell if this is your child?

Maybe this represents your family or

maybe it is this one.  The students were able to talk about their

family in a concrete manner using the glyphs.

These two fellows were so proud!  During language learning centre time,

where the various work tubs are full of activities (many that are working those time motor

muscles that are so important) these two created the whole alphabet!

What looks like play is real learning!

Even though we prayed for better weather, God chose to let the rain come down.

Our Terry Fox 'run' turned into a walk with Grades One and Two classes

doing laps within the gym.  We all know that Terry is a Canadian HERO

and we are proud to continue his Marathon of Hope.

All the students got to decide who they were running for.

Here is the little guy who was able to put a chocolate and whipped cream 

pie in my face!  He was sweet and didn't smash me!  It was worth

the need for a bath tonight, because the students in my class were very

interested in learning about Terry, our hero!

The students got to paint using watercolours.  This is just the 

first step in a multi-medium project that they are working on.

Wait until you see the final product!!

Our week in pictures

I am sorry that it has been so long since I have posted!  Between the fact that I was out of the country, we had a PD Day, and I had an opportunity to spend time with an old friend who lives across the country this week, the blog just didn't get done!

I am so happy to see that the students are choosing a fruit or a vegetable as their morning snack.  These natural sugars allow the kiddos to have enough energy to get through the morning and do their best.

They so enjoy the opportunity to tell me what they are eating...and it varies from grapes to strawberries to carrots with dip.  They love it!  Thanks for packing those important foods.

Earlier this week, after reading a story about a family who decided to get organized and keep count of their many household items, I had the students work in pairs and count boxes and bins of a large quantity of items.  I wanted to know what they already knew about large numbers and ultimately, what they remembered from their learning last year.  Most of the students counted the items in the containers one at a time.  They wrote the number (or in some cases attempted to write the number) on a sticky note. and put it on the outside of the box.

The next day, as a group, we talked about what is important about knowing how to count large 'quantities'.  We discussed the need to be 'quick' and 'efficient' and that counting by ones, was neither. The students worked with their same partners, but were given a different container and were asked to come up with a different strategy to count, and to check if the number on the sticky was the actual amount inside.

They were so proud of being able to 'prove' that the amount that they counted was correct.  They worked hard to create groups of 10s or 5s or 2s.  They were able to demonstrate to others in the classroom that their number was correct.

They were so proud and I could hear the change in their conversations, as they started to use the words that are displayed on our board:

Today our whole school participated in our annual Terry Fox Run.  After a really miserable week weather wise, seeing glimpses of blue sky was was encouraging, even though the temperatures still meant the students needed a sweater or jacket.

The students thought of someone who they would be running for and coloured a picture of Terry.  They have a better understanding of how important this run is, to ensure that cancer is cured.

It was hard to get a good shot of how those hundreds of students running for this cause, really warms your heart.

These smiles help...

as does this pair who walked and talked around the course.

They did it...and now it is time for the big reward....

I am sure you heard how those who brought a Toonie for Terry, would have their name entered for a chance to throw a pie at a teacher.   Here's the before shot....

...and here's the after!

again, with a different group of teachers

willing and waiting for the chance to help this cause.....

any way they can!

Good thing that it was all just whipped cream!