Winter

I firmly believe that it is easier to write about something that you

know about or have some experience in.  One of the areas that the

students are working on writing about is 'how to' or sequencing.

They had never been in the staff room before, thus all the looking about!

We came in to make some hot chocolate!

The students had to listen carefully and watch all the steps to know

what they would be writing in their own 'How To...." booklets.

There was the added bonus of getting a cup of hot chocolate in the deal.

It was yummy, they tell me!

The students have been writing quite a bit this month.

It is a long process for them, and the work is divided into smaller,

more manageable chunks.  For the final product, it is important

that they are able to read their own writing.  They are often

surprised that they don't know what they were trying to say!

As you can see, I have a real bunch of students who

are climbing the ladder of success.

They loved their opportunity to try out the various equipment during

their first gymnastics lesson.  It is easier for them to be successful

because of the safe environment they are in.

On Friday, the Grade One students 'buddied' up with their

friends in Grade Three and each student created a Valentine card

for a veteran who has served, or perhaps a current member of our

Canadian Military.

The Grade One students had a few sentences to choose

to add to their heart.  This kiddo added them all, I think!

The Grade Three students wrote directly from their heart

sharing their thoughts about the service our military personnel gladly give 

so we may live freely.

We're going to be writing another "how to" piece, this time about

making a snowman.

As we spent some of our class time outside, the students learned that

not all snow is created to stick together.

Try as they might, the snow would not form a ball and roll along

gathering more snow.

We might just have to watch a video instead of having a hands on experience!

Happy Valentine's Day

It's just my opinion but I think my kiddos were much more excited that they were going to go skating in the afternoon on Valentine's Day than they were about their valentine cards!  Thank you to ALL the wonderful parents who came out to tie skates, offer encouragement and skate along with these happy, happy children!

This is an example of the happiness we saw all afternoon!

I tried to get the kiddos to stop for a minute to pose for a picture, but it wasn't easy!

In our physical. ed. classes back at school we had been practising doing static balances, so here was our attempt to do a balance on ice!

This was a great challenge for them!

It didn't matter how often these kiddos get to skate, they were all happy to try!

Posing for a picture is a favourite activity as well.

I love when I can get a photo with a mom in the picture, because we know that 

doesn't happen nearly enough!

These two hung out all afternoon and improvements were definitely seen!

Outside the classroom are the students' opinion writing pieces.

I believe that students do a better job of writing when they have actually had the experience, so each kiddo got a Hersey Kiss and a Hersey Hug to eat, which helped generate more vivid vocabulary (Shhh! Don't tell anyone we were eating chocolate in class, but it was only two tiny pieces!)

The students writing followed a specific pattern, so the first sentence shared their opinion, followed by three sentences that each explained a reason for that opinion and the last sentence summarized and restated the first sentence.  

I have included an example of each go the opinions, just to be fair!

These lovely art pieces use mixed media, including sharpie pens, pastels and a blue wash, to share some lovely words from the Bible.

Yep!  I do love these kids!

Goodness! Gracious! Great days of Learning!

The students had a lot of fun using this idea that Kelley Dolling shared with me.  The students used a Hersey's Hug to land on a word on their adjective mat.  Whatever word they landed on, they wrote that word onto the next blank in their story.  It was a 'sweet' way to practise adjectives!

They were giggling all the way through their assignment.

Most of the students got to share their silly stories with the class who were tickled pink with the funny  phrases such as "smelly classmate" and "bubbly mind"

The students also got to make little bags to carry their Valentines home in.  They tried to make themselves!

I loved the details such as the boy who added his glasses and

the one who decided he had both yellow and brown hair.

The "Healthy Living" team from the Student Leadership Squad organized an event for the entire school.  The 'Jump Rope for Heart' presenters came and did an interactive demonstration, showing our kiddos how important keeping our hearts healthy is.

The kiddos loved the different tricks that were shown using the skipping ropes and

cheered on the teachers and students in a jump rope contest.

Here's the pledge we took as a school.

Later in the afternoon, the students got to hand out their Valentines to each other,

and check out the 'loot.'

Remembering our pledge to eat healthy, we ate apple slices as we watched 

Good ol' Charlie Brown!

The fun just hasn't stopped and the students were lucky to have groups of Grade Four students come into the classroom today to show some of their work on an author, using their Chromebooks.

The Grade 4 students were well prepared and polite as they shared

slides and video clips with the Grade 2 students.

It was a perfect Segway  because we tried to get onto Chrome books for the first time today.

Let's just say that the one teacher to 24 student ratio meant that I was more than a little busy but in the end, they all managed to get onto the Google search engine to start their project based learning activity in math.  It should be a steep learning curve but we'll get there.

Is it going to be quiet tomorrow?  I doubt it because it is the 100th DAY OF SCHOOL!