Tuesday, November 22, 2011

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




Thursday, November 17, 2011


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 15th.  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 24th
2.     Please return word rings after you are done with them.
3.     Christmas performance will be December 15th (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


Monday, November 14, 2011

Wear Blue

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

thanks
cheers
Braedon

Thursday, November 10, 2011

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 16th.  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 24th please send in the potluck forms.
4.      Awareness/Anti Bullying is Monday November 14th until Friday November 18th.
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