Writing Time

Writers are like painters they think about ideas and feelings. Different artists are inspired by different things. The word inspired was explained. We discussed what things give us a burst of creative energy. Here is an example of a morning message and you will see what things our  students are thinking about lately.

the earth, airplanes, dance/soccer, family and friends, and of course animals!

Evan is writing and drawing about the life cycle of a frog

Kaylee is excited about soccer

Proud Students - Students share what they are working on: books and ideas(drawing/writing/special objects)

These are Division 7's proud students last week. Most days we take the time to hear our classmates favourite books and writing. It is a small but important part of our day. Students benefit from this practise because by participating they...
feel success, practise presentation skills and learn to be a good audience.
It is also helping to grow a community of learners sharing with each other!

Oct 31st - Costumes

October 31st, 2013 -   Hah, Hah, Hah!!!!!!

Our Costumes!

Do you Think Worms are Creepy? ....More about our Worms

Worms have a mouth and breathe through their skin. They need to eat sand along with their food to help grind up their food. They have no teeth.

 Here is a bucket of food scraps. These foods would be great to feed worms. We should not feed worms meat. Worms can eat paper and coffee grinds. Peelings and flesh from citrus fruits are not recommended.

This is a red wiggler worm. 

Did you know...

There are approximately 23 known species of earthworms in Canada. 

To learn more about worms:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Lumbricidae#p00thgkz

https://www.google.ca/search?q=four+year+old+gives+a+tutorial+on+worm+composting&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

Earthwise Field Trip - More photos

Two groups of children each with their scarecrows - They decided to position the scarecrow friends  in the garden standing together 

  Katie buttoning up her scarecrow girl's shirt.

 

"We might have to take out some straw to make this work!"

Photos from our Field Trip to Earthwise Gardens

Making Scarecrows:  Must have old clothes and ......lots of straw!

Working together: Taking turns and having fun

Fall colours are beautiful!

It is truly fall now and it is a good time for soccer, walking in the neighbourhood and observing spiders. Div 7 has really made a shift to include non-fiction books in our daily reading routines. Zachary shared with us a fabulous book on wolves; which inspired many questions and good discussion. Thanks!

Here are a few more photos of students working together on their math.

Logan and Adrian working together on: What's Missing?

Partners learning together

Also Raz kids, an online reading program will start in the next week or so. A letter will go home stating your child's password. 

Benefits of RAZ kids: 

1. Parents can help their sons/daughters with reading at home. 

2. Reading practice is structured for short periods of time a few times a week (or more if needed or desired). 

3. Books are always at the right level for your child's reading development.

What did you do today at school?

Here is our schedule. It may help you in your conversation with your child about his/her day.

Monday - Gym pm

Tuesday  - Music

Wednesday - Library

Thursday - Gym am

Friday - Gym pm

We do Calendar everyday and each day there is a new helper. I am still getting through the list of students so don't worry if your child hasn't had a turn yet. Eventually I will post the schedule of who is next for helpers. A few times a week I will choose a student to work on the ipad (viewed by all on the projector). I also keep track of who hasn't had a turn on the ipad yet. I am hoping to introduce educational apps to the class this way. There may be class time to play on the ipad, as a reward. Also I would like to share the apps with you at home for home practise.

Apps introduced so far:  Word Wizard - Talking Movable Alphabet and Spelling Tests for Kids

Also try:  Writing Wizard  - Kids Learn to Write Letters
                iWriteWords Lite
                Feel Electric! Sesame Street  - This app is great for building vocabulary around the
                                                               different ways we feel. Fun and kid approved!

Sunny September

Welcome Families of Division 7!

In our class, we enjoy stories and reading everyday. Last week we read the wonderful beach story and classic Canadian children's book, A Salmon for Simon, by Betty Waterton. In this story, the main character, Simon, was waiting to catch a fish and he almost gave up. Students enjoyed all of the excitement in the story when Simon's luck changed. In the classroom we have painted beach scenes to share with you on our bulletin board. Since we were curious about sea creatures I have included photos of some of our drawings of sea anemones and crabs. 

sea anenome

crabs