June 13, 2016

(This week's homework below)

Dinner Topics

Trip
Our Grade 3 trip the Shenkman Centre will feature several arts activities. Be sure to ask your child about what they did, what they liked, learned, and would like to follow up on this summer.

Boss Battle
This week we battle a fiercesome dragon to review concepts from many subjects!

Religion
We are starting a Unit from the Fully Alive program on how, as a Catholic, we can love one another and appreciate differences, for example in different cultures. We are still tying this in to day-to-day events, such as how to help the neediest - the one that needs support the most is the one who is most easily picked on.


Science
The tests for Soils (3) Rocks and Minerals (4) are coming soon so we are reviewing all concepts and students should too! The Grade 3s will make observations on our ant habitat, create a layered sediment bottle environment, and review erosion-related topics such as how people control it, including a challenge. The Grade 4s will make mold fossils in cement (my first time using cement, so keep your fingers crossed!)


Math
Grade 4 motion geometry review this week includes geoboard challenges, Battleship games, and making patterns on grid paper. As reports are coming, yet another test . . .  Friday.

Writing
With our "writing marathon" over (phew!), we have one last test type we are studying. This one is a surprise! Stay tuned.We will definitely send home these ones for parents to read.

Clothing
Forget what I said last blog about the hot, sunny being here (wink, wink!). It seems to change by the hour. Please make sure your child arrives at school prepared to spend time outside. We will try to run Physical Education, Science, and other subjects out when the weather is not too hot, wet, or cold. So this means that you should consider packing sunblock, a hat, sweater, etc. depending on the weather.

Mr . _L.

           ̆ 

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THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK

June 13, 2016  (check for updates!)

LOOK FOR WAYS ADVERTISERS MARKET TO KIDS
For instance, cartoon characters, contests, and jingles.

MONDAY       Library books due tomorrow.

No Words 

Grade 4 Math :  Show What You Know (answer on lined paper)

Science - review all for test Friday

TUESDAY     
Words Pretest in booklet (a parent reads the current week's words for their child to spell. The child marks each word with a check mark or X using the word list.

Science - review all for test Friday

WEDNESDAY      
NO Words to Fix mistakes from yesterday's home pretest. Write each misspelled word correctly, adding a trick to remember how to avoid the mistake (eg draw the two 'l's in really into a really long giraffe neck and head).

Science - review all for test Friday

THURSDAY                

Words to Study mistakes from home pretest for tomorrow's test.

NO Sentence Stretchletics  (see instructions on inside cover of Words duotang) Most students are now writing a sentence in pencil (with three circled words for the current Words list), then stretching it with a blue pen or pencil. I am expecting 4-5 changes in blue. A change could be an added adjective such as "sticky", "adorable", or "jealous". It could be a phrase that replaces such as this adverbial phrase replacing the word "later": "when all eyes had closed and the busy sounds of mice had begun." However, several students still need to do one of the expectations.

Science - review all for test Friday

Religion sheet

FRIDAY 

May 2, 2016

(This week's homework below)

Dinner Topics

ILPs  

The ILPs hve not disappointed (see EVEN MORE! photos below). It is wonderful to see students overcome anxiety, enjoy demonstrating speaking skills and even develop control of audience and time. It is also wonderful to hear students asking thoughtful questions ("What would happen if..." )  immediately reinforce with praise that we call 'Fireworks' ("I really liked how you knew your parts so you could speak naturally and with expression"), and even offer positive criticism that we call 'Shooting Stars' ("I loved your topic and facts. Next time if you research more facts it would be even better!").  But most wonderful of ll is to see students bring talents, interests, and their personal lives into the classroom. This week should complete the ILPs (sniff, sniff), although there may be one or two to do next week.


Take Four
This week, Wednesday and Thursday, we are presenting our musical theatre routine at 9:30 and 1:00 respectively.


Science Tests
The Grade 3s and Grade 4s will have their end of unit tests shortly. Start reviewing any weak areas.

In Math the Grade 4s are learning about Fractions of a set. This proves to be a difficult concept for a few students each year, but really fun and easy once they 'get it'.  Have your son or daughter divide a set of something (cherry tomatoes, dominoes, cutlery...) into a specific number of equal groups and then count the number of items in one of those groups or two of those groups to practice naming fractions. EXAMPLE: When having guests over, making 8 people eating at the table, have your child place a fork, spoon, and knife at each setting and then show you what is 2 eighths of 24 (6). 

Narratives
The students are putting the finishing touches using our colour-editing routine on their descriptive texts as we move along our narrative text unit. Your child will be writing a realistic narrative, practicing paragraphing, transitions, and of course how to develop engaging, effective settings, characters, plot / sequence of events, and resolution.


Book Your Time
Don't forget to record your Home Reading - remember that just 105 minutes a week earns your child XP in our Classcraft live video game!

Mr . _L.

           ̆ 

Brandon takes us for a ride with video clips of lamborghinis and knowledge of luxury car parts.

Sararose opens a trio of martial arts ILPs. We learn basic moves and belts.


Ella targets martial arts battle gear, such as a cushion head gear. (photo coming)

Hugh discusses philosophy, adds to uniform facts, and engages the class in mock defense stances.

Okay, so maybe Nic wasn't so enthusiastic throughout his ILP presentation on what to know when building with wood.

Jacob shot off basic facts from memory and challenges the class to a soccer game. Yay!

Ethan continues the soccer theme, interviewing head coaches in the Cumberland Soccer Academy, demonstrating and having the class practice falling on the ball while scooping it up and into the body.

Trey takes us into the world of Roblox. How do you make a character? What are the rules?

Chloe reminds us of a precious resource that we take for granted - water. Her footage brings us to parts of Africa where having clean water is not a given, to see how it is used there, and how partners from Canada help in the mission to provide clean water for everyone!

Eva shows us (and lets us taste!) exotic foods from Peru, tells us about it geography, local animals, customs, and people.

Our Grade 3 winning group. They used rolled up paper to construct cylinders that supported many text books!!! 

Amelia invites students to see first hand her rabbit after explaining in her ILP how to care for it.

Anna leads stretches in the Learning Commons as part of her Lions Club Athletics ILP presentation.

Hugh models how to draw a penguin and helps students, learning how to gage time when presenting his ILP.

Kyler and Nate divide tasks, rules and equipment, to present their interactive ILP on hockey in the gymnasium.

For Theo's ILP, he not only shows us the parts of his violin, but also how easy it was to break one! Thanks for the lovely playing, Theo!

Our class practicing our dance, "Be the Hero"

Sararose builds and then orders fraction towers, noting that equal height towers (fractions) can be made out of different-sized parts.

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THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK

May 2, 2016  (check for updates!)

DISCUSS ILPs EACH EVENING

MONDAY       Library books due tomorrow.

Words sheet #22  NO WORDS FOR BREANNA, ANNA, HUGH H, NIC THISWEEK 

Math Yellow Group:  Worksheet  (due Friday)

Math Blue Group:  Worksheet  (due Friday)

TUESDAY     HANDS ON TECH PRESENTATIONS AT 4:30
Words Pretest in booklet (a parent reads the current week's words for their child to spell. The child marks each word with a check mark or X using the word list.

Grade 3 Science: Study for upcoming test (probably next week)

WEDNESDAY      MUSICAL THEATRE AT 9:30
Words to Fix mistakes from yesterday's home pretest. Write each misspelled word correctly, adding a trick to remember how to avoid the mistake (eg draw the two 'l's in really into a really long giraffe neck and head).

Grade 4:  Keep studying times tables .  Look for fractions of sets (see note above)

Grade 4 Science: Study for upcoming test (probably next week)

THURSDAY          MUSICAL THEATRE AT 1:00      

Words to Study mistakes from home pretest for tomorrow's test.

Sentence Stretchletics  (see instructions on inside cover of Words duotang) Most students are now writing a sentence in pencil (with three circled words for the current Words list), then stretching it with a blue pen or pencil. I am expecting 4-5 changes in blue. A change could be an added adjective such as "sticky", "adorable", or "jealous". It could be a phrase that replaces such as this adverbial phrase replacing the word "later": "when all eyes had closed and the busy sounds of mice had begun." However, several students still need to do one of the expectations.



FRIDAY       WEEKEND MISSIONS (GIVEN  TO INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS - FOR GOLD COINS OR XP!)  
Review health sheet - (test probably next week)

April 25, 2016

(This week's homework below)

Dinner Topics

ILPs  

ILPs are well underway (see photos below) If your child has not yet presented, please keep reminding your child of his or her presentation date so that s/he will be on time and leave time to rehearse.

Take Three
We are improving our musical theatre routine. We will perform on Education Week. Please continue to have your child  practice the lines to the song.

London Bridges not Falling Down
The Grade 3sbuilt a suspension bridge to demonstrate how the combination of compression (on the deck and towers, for instance) and tension (on the cables) share the force of a load. Grade 3 students are still building shapes to experiment with which shape gives the most strength and which design provides the most stability. The Grade 4s made gear trains and will experiment with gears until the End-of-Unit Test. Review notes and look for examples of concepts in real life (triangles in bridges, where and how gears are used: watches and clocks, bike...)

In Math the Grade 4s starting learning about Fractions. Have your son or daughter divide a pizza (Parts of a Whole - early this week) and a box of many items (Parts of a Set - later this week / next week) to practice naming fractions.

Narratives
The students are putting the finishing touches using our colour-editing routine on their descriptive texts as we move along our narrative text unit. Your child will be writing a realistic narrative, practicing paragraphing, transitions, and of course how to develop engaging, effective settings, characters, plot / sequence of events, and resolution.


Book Your Time
Don't forget to record your Home Reading - remember that just 105 minutes a week earns your child XP in our Classcraft live video game!

Mr . _L.

           ̆ 

Our Grade 3 winning group. They used rolled up paper to construct cylinders that supported many text books!!! 

Amelia invites students to see first hand her rabbit after explaining in her ILP how to care for it.

Anna leads stretches in the Learning Commons as part of her Lions Club Athletics ILP presentation.

Hugh models how to draw a penguin and helps students, learning how to gage time when presenting his ILP.

Kyler and Nate divide tasks, rules and equipment, to present their interactive ILP on hockey in the gymnasium.

For Theo's ILP, he not only shows us the parts of his violin, but also how easy it was to break one! Thanks for the lovely playing, Theo!

Our class practicing our dance, "Be the Hero"

Sararose builds and then orders fraction towers, noting that equal height towers (fractions) can be made out of different-sized parts.

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THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK

April 25, 2016  (check for updates!)

DISCUSS ILPs EACH EVENING

MONDAY       Library books due tomorrow.

Words sheet #21 

Math Yellow Group:  Worksheet  (due Friday)

Math Blue Group:  Worksheet  (due Friday)

TUESDAY     
Words Pretest in booklet (a parent reads the current week's words for their child to spell. The child marks each word with a check mark or X using the word list.

Grade 3 Science: Review  pros and cons of each bridge type.

WEDNESDAY      
Words to Fix mistakes from yesterday's home pretest. Write each misspelled word correctly, adding a trick to remember how to avoid the mistake (eg draw the two 'l's in really into a really long giraffe neck and head).

Grade 4:  Keep studying times tables .  Look for fractions in real life (pizza, entrance tiles...)

Grade 4 Science: Review how different size gears mesh to rotate at different speeds / number of times. A small gear turns faste / more than a big gear  (a gear with 5 teeth turns 2 times when meshed with a gear having 10 teeth that turns 1 time).

THURSDAY                

Words to Study mistakes from home pretest for tomorrow's test.

Sentence Stretchletics  (see instructions on inside cover of Words duotang) Most students are now writing a sentence in pencil (with three circled words for the current Words list), then stretching it with a blue pen or pencil. I am expecting 4-5 changes in blue. A change could be an added adjective such as "sticky", "adorable", or "jealous". It could be a phrase that replaces such as this adverbial phrase replacing the word "later": "when all eyes had closed and the busy sounds of mice had begun." However, several students still need to do one of the expectations.

Grade 3 Science-review lesson.

FRIDAY 
Review health sheet

April 18, 2016

(This week's homework below)

ILPs Presentations Week 1
ILPs have started and they are starting off great with Amelia's pet presentation! Please keep reminding your child of his or her presentation date so that s/he will be on time and leave time to rehearse.

Amelia present caring for her rabbit "oreo".

The students compliment her on her preparedness and good job at facing the audience!

Mr . _L.

           ̆ 

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THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK

April 11, 2016  (check for updates!)

MONDAY       Library books due tomorrow.

NO Words sheet   (due to much Math and ILPs)

Math Yellow Group:  Worksheet  (due Wed)  On Google Drive too

Math Blue Group:  Worksheet  (due Wed)  On Google Drive too

TUESDAY     
Grade 3 Science: Discuss tension and compression on bridges (remember the sponge demo). 

Grade 4 Math due tomorrow   On Google Drive too

WEDNESDAY      

THURSDAY                

FRIDAY NO HOMEWORK  

April 11, 2016

(This week's homework below)

ILPs Prep and Practice Week
I have assigned ILP dates and they are on our class calendar in the classroom for all students to see. However, please keep reminding your child of his or her presentation date so that s/he will be on time and leave time to rehearse. Thank you for returning sheets (I know there have been quite a few) - if any sheets are not yet signed, please do so to let me know that you are aware of the date and that your child will be ready and present (no medical appointment...). I will send a note if this is not done  this week. We are getting very excited about the ILPs!

Take Two
We know almost the entire routine for our musical theatre routine. Please have your child  practice the lines to the song.

Book Your Time
Don't forget to record your Home Reading - remember that just 105 minutes a week earns your child XP in our Classcraft live video game!


It's a Goal!!!
Each student has now developed a personal goal (brought home in the "Marked Work" folder) with a measurable step to help him or her improve in a specific area. Your child should be able to tell you what the goal and step(s) are any day you ask. Encourage, suggest, and praise your child to support his or her progress in this area. For example, if the goal is to write more detailed answers, ask how s/he has or can improve a piece of homework, perhaps give a further suggestion, and then praise him or her for putting forth a strong effort. If the step is done usually at home, watch and prompt if your child is forgetting.

Another Goal?
Some of the goals students in the class have chosen have been accomplished. Regardless, please review with your child his or her goal as students are expected to take responsibility to use the step they have chosen. If you have any questions about this please write me a quick note.


Dinner Topics
Topics you may want to discuss at supper or any time are:

Discuss what your child has learned about Easter in Religion, or about why and how parents have families. 

Both grades, three and four, are on Part Two of their units: Bridge Structures and Gears, respectively. The Mid-Unit quiz will be sent home for you to see soon. I will most likely have some of the same questions on the End-of-Unit Test. Grade 3 students are building shapes and entire structures out of paper and other materials to experiment with which shape gives the most strength and which design provides the most stability. Grade 4 students are making cardboard gears of various sizes to experiment with how gears can change the direction, speed, and location of a force. Review notes and look for examples of concepts in real life (triangles in bridges, where and how gears are used: watches and clocks, bike...)

In Math the Grade 4s are using their knowledge of multiplication to divide. The Yellow group is focussing on representing problems using symbols and pictures and the Blue group is focussing on long division with remainders. Give your son or daughter similar problems to those on the practice sheets in his or her duotang. 

We continue practicing Be the Hero, from The Big Fish. The Super Three Fours have already many moves for their dance routine. Ask how your child feels about doing this. What do they find most challenging?

Sloush!
On a final note, as the colder weather vanishes, it leaves behind puddles (sometimes smelly ones ;-) Students should have clothes in case of an muddy accident. Your child is always encouraged to keep with his or her emergency bag of clothes extras of these articles of clothing. Also, if you send your child in with a coat, I have them wear it outside - the teacher on duty can make the decision that it has warmed up enough to play without the coat.

Mr . _L.

           ̆ 

(Caption)  Layna and Anna display our big descriptive book to show how features such as maps, diagrams, photos, and bold words make texts interesting and easy to use.

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THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK

April 11, 2016  (check for updates!)

MONDAY       Library books due tomorrow.

Words sheet #20 

Math Yellow Group:  Worksheet  (due Friday)

Math Blue Group:  Worksheet  (due Friday)

Grade 4 Science: Finish and review “Gears” 

TUESDAY     
Words Pretest in booklet (a parent reads the current week's words for their child to spell. The child marks each word with a check mark or X using the word list.

Grade 3 Science: Review  how shapes add strength. Groups made and tested a circular, triangular and square pillar out of construction paper, then tested them with books to learn how braces / struts form triangles and increase rigidity /strength). We also did a cool demonstration on absorption of force (using a wrapping tube filled with sand, end closed with a facial tissue held on with a rubber band), students tried to push a stick through the sand to break the facial tissue). We related this to how triangles spread out force (absorption)  in structures like bridges.

WEDNESDAY      
Words to Fix mistakes from yesterday's home pretest. Write each misspelled word correctly, adding a trick to remember how to avoid the mistake (eg draw the two 'l's in really into a really long giraffe neck and head).

Grade 4:  Keep studying times tables 

Grade 4 Science: Review “Gearing Up” and “Gear Examples”

THURSDAY                Grade 4: Practice recorder each night (bring it in each day) Testing Thursday as needed

Words to Study mistakes from home pretest for tomorrow's test.

Sentence Stretchletics  (see instructions on inside cover of Words duotang) Most students are now writing a sentence in pencil (with three circled words for the current Words list), then stretching it with a blue pen or pencil. I am expecting 4-5 changes in blue. A change could be an added adjective such as "sticky", "adorable", or "jealous". It could be a phrase that replaces such as this adverbial phrase replacing the word "later": "when all eyes had closed and the busy sounds of mice had begun." However, several students still need to do one of the expectations.

Grade 4 Science: Review Gear Information 


FRIDAY NO HOMEWORK  PD DAY

 correctly, adding a trick to remember how to a

April 4, 2016

(This week's homework below)

• I have assigned ILP dates. Please return the sheet signed to let me know that you are aware of the date and that your child will be ready and present (no medical appointment...). 
• We are still practicing a song-and-dance piece for musical theatre. Please have your child learn the lines. 
• Don't forget to record your Home Reading - remember that just 105 minutes a week earns your child XP in our Classcraft live video game! 

(Caption)  Layna and Anna display our big descriptive book to show how features such as maps, diagrams, photos, and bold words make texts interesting and easy to use.

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THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK

April 4, 2016  (check for updates!)

MONDAY       Library books due tomorrow.

Words sheet #19 

Math Yellow Group:  Worksheet  (due Friday)

Math Blue Group:  Worksheet  (due Friday)

TUESDAY     
Words Pretest in booklet (a parent reads the current week's words for their child to spell. The child marks each word with a check mark or X using the word list.

Grade 3 Science: Review  notes


WEDNESDAY       DANCE-A-THON       
Words to Fix mistakes from yesterday's home pretest. Write each misspelled word correctly, adding a trick to remember how to avoid the mistake (eg draw the two 'l's in really into a really long giraffe neck and head).

Practice Musical Theatre song  "Be the Hero"

Grade 4:  Study times tables 

Grade 4 Science: Review Gear Information coming tomorrow

THURSDAY                Grade 4: Practice recorder each night (bring it in each day) Testing Thursday as needed

Words to Study mistakes from home pretest for tomorrow's test.

Sentence Stretchletics  (see instructions on inside cover of Words duotang) Most students are now writing a sentence in pencil (with three circled words for the current Words list), then stretching it with a blue pen or pencil. I am expecting 4-5 changes in blue. A change could be an added adjective such as "sticky", "adorable", or "jealous". It could be a phrase that replaces such as this adverbial phrase replacing the word "later": "when all eyes had closed and the busy sounds of mice had begun." However, several students still need to do one of the expectations.

Grade 4 Science: Review Gear Information 


FRIDAY NO HOMEWORK  

 correctly, adding a trick to remember how to avoid the mistake (eg draw the two 'l's in really into a really long giraffe