Freesia's Birthday and Computer Class

What words come to mind when you think of Christmas?... at AnswerGarden.ch.

Literacy Week

I hope everyone received their brown envelope containing all of the information and forms for literacy week yesterday.  Lets all try to read as many books as we can and if the school reaches the goal of 500 pledges by next Friday, if we do then I will shave my head!!!!

cheers
Braedon

Thomas and Lucy's B day and weekly centres

Friday, November, 25

            Another busy week has passed and it was great to see everyone out last Thursday at our American Thanksgiving potluck.  There was so much delicious food and it was great to see so many familiar faces. 

Next week will be our last week studying nursery rhymes.  We have studied Goldilocks and Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and The Gingerbread Man.  In math we have now began to investigate shapes and differences between 2D and 3D shapes. 

            I have changed a few things on this blog.  As you can see there are tabs at the top labeled Calendar and Useful Websites for Parents.  I will update them regularly so please take a look when you have a second, also if you find a useful website or article please let me know so I can post it on the blog.  You will also notice a new daily schedule posted below.  A few things have changed with regards to time and we are also doing reading buddies every Wednesday afternoon.

            We have begun practicing for our Christmas performance.  Please let me know if you cannot make it Thursday December 15^th at 6:30pm as I have already planned out what each student will be doing. 

            As you can tell by the blog I take a lot of photos.  But I also love receiving pictures from parents.  If you take a great photo of anyone from the Pre-K class could you please email it to me so I could post it on the blog or have it in the 2011-2012 yearbook.

Also, since December is a shorter school month and very hectic there will be no homework assigned this month.  It will start again in January. 

Student of the Week

The student of the week this week is Lucy.  Her leadership and overall positive energy in the classroom are astonishing.  Way to go Lucy!

Reminders and Notices

1.     Christmas performance will be December 15^th at 6:30 in the downstairs auditorium.

2.     Literacy week is December 5-9 (more details will follow)

3.     Please email me any great photos you have of the Pre-K’s

What we did in our centres this week

Literacy Centres

1.       Guided and silent reading with our portfolios.

2.       Little Red Riding Hood sequencing and retelling the story.

3.      Computer story “Little Red Riding Hood.”

4.      Writing sight words using magnetic letters.

5.      Phonics text books Kk.

Math Centres

1.      Making a 3D reproduction of Little Red Riding Hood’s house.

2.      Play dough and toothpicks making shapes.

3.      Shapes cut and paste booklet.

4.      Computer shape games.

Like always, if you have any questions or concern you can always write me an email at bsharp.his@gmail.com or come by and speak to me in person.

Cheers

Braedon

You don't understand anything until you learn it more than one way.

Marvin Minsky

Updated Daily Schedule

TIME	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday		Friday
8:20-8:45	Choice Play	Choice Play	Choice Play	Choice Play		Choice Play
8:50-9:25	Morning Sharing Time (weather, feelings, goal of the day, number of days of school etc)
9:25-10:20	Math/Science Centers	Math/Science Centers	Music with Mrs. Fay	Math/Science Centers		Math/Science Centers
10:15-10:55	BATHROOM, SNACK AND RECESS
10:50-12:15	Literacy Centers/ Daily 5	Literacy Centers/ Daily 5	Literacy Centers/ Daily 5	Literacy Centers/ Daily 5		Writers workshop
12:15-12:25	Bathroom and Clean up
12:25-12:55	LUNCH
1:00-1:15	Silent Reading and Rest time
1:15 –1:30	RECESS and BATHROOM
1:30-2:20	Drama with Mrs. Willis	P.E with Mr. Burt	Computer class		Music and Dance with Mrs. Vicky and Mrs. Lee	Afternoon sharing time and themed activities
2:20-3:00	Afternoon sharing time and themed activities	Library with Mr. Welz	Reading Buddies		Afternoon sharing time and themed activities	Assembly/Science experiment/Walk
3:00-3:10	Review of the Day and Closing Exercises

Friday, November, 18

            Time just keeps flying by and soon we will be getting ready for our Christmas break.  I have completed my third reading observations and I am so happy with all of the progress that the students have made with regards to literacy.  Keep reading as much as you can to your child and like I said to some during the parent teacher meetings, it doesn’t matter if you are reading English or Chinese, reading is reading.  I prefer English of course but reading in Chinese will transfer over to English.  Also, when you are reading with your child encourage them to help you locate and read the sight words.  They love helping and showing how they can read as well. 

            Awareness/anti bullying week was a big success and we all learnt so much about how we can stop bullying in our society.  Today we sang a song about how bullying is unfair to the entire elementary school!  We are still working on our anti bullying posters and will be presenting them next Friday at the monthly assembly.  I am so proud of the Pre-K’s in how much they learnt this week about bullying!

            Since Christmas is just around the corner I have begun to plan for our Christmas concert.  It will be Thursday December 15^th.  If you son or daughter wont be able to attend could you please let me know.

Student of the Week

The student of the week this week is Thomas.  He has been an excellent leader with our anti bullying week and has improved so much since September.  This has been a big and challenging goal for him to achieve and we are all so proud of him.

Reading Tips

Tip 5 –  Talk About Books

Talking about the books you read is just as important as reading them. Discussing a story or a book with your child helps your child understand it and connect it to his or her own experience of life. It also helps enrich your child's vocabulary with new words and phrases.

Here are some ways to help your child acquire skills in comprehension, reasoning, and critical thinking:

·                       Ask your child about the kinds of books he or she would like to read.

·                       Talk to your child about your favourite books from childhood, and offer to read them.

·                       Encourage your child to ask questions and to comment on the story and pictures in a book – before, during, and after reading it.

·                       Look at the cover and the title of a book with your child, and ask your child what he or she thinks might happen in the story.

·                       Encourage your child to think critically about the story. Does he or she agree or disagree with the author? Why?

·                       Think out loud about the story as you read, and encourage your child to do the same. For example, ask, "Does this make sense? Why or why not?"

·                       Give your child time to think about the story, and then ask him or her about it again a few days later.

Reminders and Notices

1.      There will be an American Thanksgiving party on Thursday November 24^th

2.     Please return word rings after you are done with them.

3.     Christmas performance will be December 15^th (more details will be available soon)

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres

1.       Guided and silent reading with our portfolios.

2.       Thanksgiving craft, what we are thankful for.

3.      Computer story “Little Red Riding Hood.”

4.      Writing sight words using lego.

5.      Phonics text books Jj.

Math Centres

1.      Little Red Riding Hood board game.

2.      Puzzles and dominos.

3.      Shapes cut and paste booklet.

4.      Sizing Goldilocks and the Three Bears with play dough.

Like always, if you have any questions or concern you can always write me an email at bsharp.his@gmail.com or come by and speak to me in person.

Cheers

Braedon

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. 

Chinese Proverb

Making porridge, Ms. Lee's birthday and acting Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Wear Blue

Just a gentle reminder to wear blue tomorrow, November 16th to support our anti bullying week.

thanks
cheers
Braedon

Friday, November 11

Friday, November, 11

            I want to thank all of the parents that came in this week to meet with me.  It was great to sit down and discuss all of the progress that your children have accomplished thus far in the school year.  If you have any follow up questions or anything you want to clarify, my door is always open.

            This week we have begun to speak only English when sitting on the carpet.  This is the first step in our goal to only speak only English when inside the classroom.  It has been very easy for the students to accomplish this goal and even throughout the entire day I rarely hear any Chinese spoken.

            I have started word rings in the class.  They are all of the sight words that the students learn put onto a metal ring.  Since we learn one or two new words every week the word ring will grow and grow.  On occasion these word rings will go home and could you please quiz your child on the words.  High frequency words are essential to know and use in both reading and writing.   When children have a number of high frequency words under control they can read them in text and then focus their attention on solving new words.  The same occurs in writing.  Please return the word rings after a few days at home so we can add more words to them.  Also, each word has a corresponding hand signal I do for them.  If you child gets stuck on a particular word you can come and see me and I can show you the corresponding hand signal.

            Awareness/anti bullying week is going to be next week.  There are many fun and exciting activities that the students will participate in.  I will post some of them on the calendar section tab on this blog.  One of the important ones for parents will be to dress you child in blue on Wednesday, November 16^th.  The entire elementary department will participate and it will show unity in stopping bullying.

 

            Lastly, please keep sending in those American Thanksgiving forms.  It is in a few weeks and we need to know what will be brought in and what is still needed.  

Student of the Week

The student of the week this week is Wayne.  He is improving everyday and especially proved how well he can colour when he puts his mind to it.  Way to go Wayne!!!

Reading Tips

Tip 4 – Set an Example

As a parent, you are your child's most important role model. If your child sees you reading, especially for pleasure or information, he or she will understand that reading is a worthwhile activity.

You can also share many daily reading activities with your child. Here are some ideas:

·                       Read recipes, food labels, schedules, maps, instructions, and brochures.

·                       Read traffic signs and signs in stores and restaurants.

·                       Look up information in cookbooks, manuals, phone books, atlases, and dictionaries.

·                       Read greeting cards, letters, and e-mail messages to and from relatives and friends.

Reminders and Notices

1.      “Aa, Bb etc” books also need to be brought back to school.

2.      Any art activities or paper put in the plastic folder can be kept at home.

3.      There will be an American Thanksgiving party on Thursday November 24^th please send in the potluck forms.

4.      Awareness/Anti Bullying is Monday November 14^th until Friday November 18^th.

5.      Please return word rings after you are done with them.

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres

1.       Guided and silent reading.

2.       Thanksgiving craft, what we are thankful for.

3.      Computer story “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.”

4.      Making the alphabet using blocks.

5.      Phonics books Ii.

Math Centres

1.      Goldilocks and the Three Bears sizing activities.

2.      Puzzles and dominos.

3.      Computer ordering numbers game.

4.      Sizing Goldilocks and the Three Bears with play dough.

Like always, if you have any questions or concern you can always write me an email at bsharp.his@gmail.com or come by and speak to me in person.

Cheers

Braedon

Week of November 11th

Reading Buddies

Friday, November, 4

            Thanks to all the parents that came out for our Halloween party.  It was great to see everyone dressed up and in the Halloween spirit.  After the parade and singing the students participated in trick or treating around the school.  It was a wonderful day for everyone in the school!

            I want to give another big thank you to everyone that came out last Wednesday to our Fun Day.   Although hot, seeing classes from the entire school participating together in some fun games was an amazing event to be apart of.  The grade 6’s did an excellent job running the activities and Mr. Burt oversaw the entire event.

            Time just keeps passing and we are now already into November.  This month our unit is nursery rhymes and we will be covering Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs and the Gingerbread Man.  In math we are studying sequencing, one to one correspondence and representing whole numbers to 10. 

            This month I have started to implement English inside the classroom.  We are going to start very slowly and gradually build up our stamina. For some it will be very easy while others might have some difficulties.  Could you please talk to your son our daughter about speaking English when inside the classroom.  At lunch and recess or anytime outside the classroom I will allow them to speak their native languages.  This is a very important step in learning English and it will benefit the students immensely. 

             

Reading Tips

Read Every Day

Children love routine, and reading is something that you and your child can look forward to every day. By taking the time to read with your child, you show him or her that reading is important and fun to do.

Try to read with your child as often as possible. It's the best thing you can do to help him or her learn at school! It also allows you to spend time together in an enjoyable way and to build a strong and healthy relationship.

·                       Start reading with your child when he or she is very young.

·                       Set aside a special time each day when you can give your full attention to reading with your child.

·                       Choose a comfortable spot to read, where you can be close to your child. Make it your "reading place"! Set aside a special shelf in that area for your child's books.

·                       Choose a variety of books.

·                       Vary the length of reading time according to your child's age and interests. For young children, several short sessions (of 10 minutes each) may be better than one long session (of 30 minutes).

·                       Read slowly so that your child can form a mental picture of what is happening in the story.

·                       Praise your child for his or her ideas and participation!

·                       When you and your child are away from home, take along books, magazines, and books-on-tape for your child to read and listen to.

·                       Keep reading to your child even after he or she has learned to read. By reading stories that will interest your child but that are above his or her reading level, you can stretch your child's understanding and keep alive the magic of shared reading.

Reminders and Notices

1.      “Aa, Bb etc” books also need to be brought back to school.

2.      Any art activities or paper put in the plastic folder can be kept at home.

3.      There will be an American Thanksgiving party on Thursday November 24^th more details will follow.

What we did in our centres this week.

Literacy Centres

1.       Guided and silent reading.

2.       Putting our poems in the pocket chart.

3.      Computer story “The Paper Bag Princess.”

4.      Making the alphabet using blocks.

Math Centres

1.      Ordering numbers in the pocket chart.

2.      Math sequencing cut and order sheets.

3.      Creating towers and drawing them.

4.      Puzzles and dominos.

Like always, if you have any questions or concern you can always write me an email at bsharp.his@gmail.com or come by and speak to me in person.

Cheers

Braedon