Friday, April 29, 2011

Note home - the May newsletter went home with the youngest/only students at the school.

Pictures - spring photo samples went home today.  If ordering, please fill out and return.

In math today we worked on estimating quotients.  In other words estimating the answer to a division question before actually doing the calculation.  Here is a little quiz to help reinforce the skill.

Estimating Quotients

Have a good weekend.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Note home - for the youngest or only student in the school.  Information on Before and After School Care.

In math today, we continued to work on division.  The grade 3s used a 100 chart to identify patterns, while the 4s continued to practice division by subtracting.  We focused on what to do with the remainders today.  Here are some sites for practice:

Patterns to 100 and beyond

Grade 3 Quiz

Division with a remainder

Remainders

Grade 4 Quiz

Have a good night.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Note home - for youngest and only, information and order form for the 2010-11 yearbook.

Note home for Grade 3 - field trip permission form for Music Mania on Wed. May 4th.

In math we worked on repeated subtraction/skip counting to do division.  Here are some practice sites and quizzes.

Division and Subtraction

Grade 3 Quiz

Dividing Two Digit Numbers by One Digit

Grade 4 Quiz

New Assignment - we have discussed the oral presentations of poems in our classroom, and the students were given the assignment today.  Here it is:

Poetry Presentation


It is time to share your favourite poem, or poems, with your classmates and teacher. By reciting your poem aloud, with emphasis and actions, you can show why this poem means so much to you. Here is what you will be evaluated on:

• Your entire presentation must be a poem of 15 lines or more. You can do a number of smaller poems as long as there are 15 lines in total
• You must memorize your poem
• You make the reading interesting to your audience, by use of your voice, actions, dressing up, etc.
• You need to hand in a copy of your poem or poems

You can write your own poem, or you can find one by a published author. Shel Silverstein and Dennis Lee are just a couple of the many poets popular with students your age.

You can also check out Kenn Nesbitt’s site, “Poetry 4 Kids”

Ken Nesbitt

Presentations will take place the first week of May. Good luck!

Also, check these out:
 
Shel Silverstein
 
Dennis Lee
 
Have a good night.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Welcome back, I hope everyone had a good Easter break.

Parent signature - please review and sign your child's math quiz on multiplication.

First thing this morning, we had our Character Recognition assembly for April.  This past month, the focus was on Responsibility.  In May, it is Cooperation.

In math, we continue to work on division.  Please see last weeks post for practice websites.  When working at home, please ensure you have counters available for support.  It doesn't matter what you use (pennies, buttons, bingo chips, etc.).  Division is a difficult concept and having a manipulative of some sort helps to breed confidence.

Can you believe it is almost May? 

Have a good night.  Go Habs, Canucks, and Sabres!!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Note home - Grade fours only "Home Alone Course with First Aid"

Talent Show - notes for those who are performing went home today.

Permission form - grade four only, for Gregg LeRock.  Please sign and return.

Math -- today we started division.  Try these out!

Division Bingo

Baseball (choose division)

Quiz for grade 4

Quiz for grade 3

Tomorrow (Friday) is Earth Day.  Observing is as easy as taking a bag out and picking up some trash.  Here are some sites:

Earth Day Canada

Earth Day games

Have a hoppy Easter!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Reminder - Thurs. is the Dance - a - Thon, so please bring in those pledge forms.

Wednesday - April 22nd is Earth Day, which is during the Easter break.  We may be going out for a yard clean up tomorrow, although the weatherpeople don't look like they are going to cooperate.  Make sure everyone is dressed in clothes that are OK to get a little dirty, just in case.

The Dairy Farmers of Ontario dropped by for a visit today to talk to the students about the benefits of milk.  Here is their website:

Dairy Farmers of Ontario

Also, some fun follow up sites:

4 H Virtual Farms

Illinois Agriculture Dept.

Some games and a word search from the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture

http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1566_1733_22582-71015--,00.html

Thursday is Yellow, Pink, and White day.

Math - we are reviewing multiplying today to be ready for a quiz tomorrow.  Grade 3s had a review class today, with the questions taken up in class.  Grade 4 worked on their review questions, and we took up the first one.   Grade 4 was sent home with their review questions and answers as a reference.  Question 5 is on the expanded form of multiplying.  Here is a website for more explanation and practice.

Expanded Multiplication

Have a good night.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Monday is our used toy and book sale.  It is not too late to make a donation, just drop your items off in Mrs. McKeen-Dobbs' room.

Monday is also spring photo day.  Dress up nice and shiny!

We revisited an old friend, Howard Wigglebottom, today during a talk on this month's character trait, Responsibility.  Here is the link to a great site with lots of activities.  Click on the link to "Animated Books" for the stories

Howard Wigglebottom

Have a good weekend.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Due date - Animal reports are due tomorrow.

Reminder - due to swimming, grade 3s will not be able to order milk or pizza on Thursday

The grade 4s attended the Watoto Children's Choir concert today at CCI.  Ask them how it went.

Today the grade 3s started a song to sing as a choir.  the grade 4s will join us later, as they were at their concert.  The song is "We Are the World" by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.  If you are of a certain age, you already know this off by heart, but for those who don't, here are the lyrics:

We are the world


There comes a time
when we need a certain call.
When the world must come together as one.
There are people dying.
Oh it's time to lend a hand to life.
The greatest gift of all.

We can't go on,
pretending day by day,
that someone somwhere will soon make a change.
We are all part of,
God's great big family,
and the truth your love is all we need.

We are the World
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
so let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true, we'll make a better day
Just you and I.

Well send them your heart,
so they know that someone cares.
And lives will be stronger and free.
As God has shown us, by turning stone to bread
and so we all must lend a helping hand

We are the World
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
so let's start giving
Oh there's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true, we'll make a better day
Just you and I.

When you're down and out,
there seems no hope at all.
But if you just believe,
there's no way we can fall.
Well, well, well, well let us realize
oh that a change can only come,
when we stand together as one (hey, yeah, yeah, yeah!)

We are the World
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
so let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true, we'll make a better day
Just you and I.

We are the World
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
so let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true, we'll make a better day
Just you and I

Have a good night.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Reminder - book orders are due tomorrow (Tues.)

Due date - Animal reports are due Wednesday.

Field Trip - Grade four is on their way to see the Watoto Children's Choir tomorrow.
Today in math we worked on multiplying with arrays and splitting them into two or more pieces to make them easier to work with. Check out this site:

Multiplying with Arrays

In Visual Arts class, we continued working on perspective, and then moved on to positive and negative values in art. We will look at a painting called "Brooklyn Bridge" by Joseph Stella. Take a look here:

Brooklyn Bridge

Have a good night.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Note home - scrap metal fundraiser from April 23 - 30th

Book Orders - due Tuesday the 12th.

Due date - Animal reports are due Wed. Apr. 13th.

Spirit Assembly - today was our spirit assembly, ask your child how it went!

In English, we have been reading "Sarah Plain and Tall" by Patricia MacLachlan aloud.  Many students have been following along in their own books as I read.  For those interested in hearning further adventures of Sarah, Papa, Anna, and Caleb, they can check out the book "Skylarking" by the same author, as well as "Caleb's Story".  Here is a site for Sarah's new fans.

Sarah Plain and Tall

In math we worked on using base 10 blocks to help us multiply when arrays are not practical. 

Lots of multiplying here!

Have  a great weekend, enjoy the warm weather!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Tomorrow (Friday) - spirit day!  Wear your house colours!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Note home - Grade fours - please sign and return the permission form for the Watoto African Children's Choir trip, which takes place Tues. Apr. 12 11:30 - 1:30


Used Toy and Book Sale - please send in any unwanted used toys or books for our sale here on Mon. April 18th.  Proceeds go to help the Wolfpack 'keep the wild alive' in our school yard.


Note home - for grade 4s, information on a Healthy Schools survey they will be participating in


Grade 3 - bring your swimming stuff (towl, bathing suit, etc.) for tomorrow (Thurs.)


Pizza - a reminder there will be no pizza or milk for the grade 3's tomorrow (Thurs.)


Spring photos - please fill out and return the form for spring photos


Today in math we worked on relating multiplication facts.  For more info, and a little practice, check this out:


Relating multiplication facts


Have a good night.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Note home - the April Kid's Scoop News

Reminder - please send back the slip for the spring photos that are being taken soon.

In math today we explored multiplication by 0 and 1. 

With April being poetry month, we have begun to take a look at some poets.  First, we looked at my favourite poem:

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

and some very fun poems by Ken Nesbitt:

Poetry 4 Kids

Have a good night.  Leaf fans, tonight could be it.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Well, it is a soggy one out there.  I hope everyone enjoyed the sun this weekend.

Notes home - info sheet for spring photos, Mon. Apr. 18th
                   - book orders due Tues. Apr. 12th.

In math, we continued to work on multiplication, focusing on doubling.  E.g. if 3 x 3 = 9, then 3 x 6 = 18.  If you double one of the multipliers, you double the answer. 

Double the Donuts

Archery Doubles

During Visual Arts class, we worked on perspective.  Here is a site to learn a little more:

http://www.explore-drawing-and-painting.com/perspective-drawing.html

Have a good night.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Senators knock Leafs out of playoffs!!!!!! (maybe this is an April Fool, maybe not. We'll see Saturday!!)

Note home - newsletters went home today to the youngest/only students in the school.

Monday is pizza day.

Have a great weekend.