Dear Families,

As you're aware, today is a P.D. Day!  I hope your child is able to enjoy it in the fresh, crisp, cool air doing a winter activity.  I believe it is important to get opportunities to rejoice in our natural environment whether it's a mindful walk in the woods, sledding down a hill, making snow angels for the sky above to enjoy, or admiring your surroundings by just  ...BEING :)
We truly live in a beautiful community, province, and country!  We do lead busy lives, but I hope you get some time in your days to relish in the fresh air!

Family Literacy Day:

On Wed. as a whole school, we celebrated Literacy Day in our PJ's!  It was a real treat seeing all the cozy PJ's and huggable stuffies!  I have shared with my students that ‘Reading is Thinking,’ and it is a tool that must be embraced, cherished, and celebrated J  Thank you to everyone who dressed up for our school  spirit day!  

I also shared with my students an upbeat, engaging, and purposeful song entitled: 
"You Gotta Keep Reading."  The children loved the beat and lyrics to this!  I am sharing the link below for you to check it out with your child over the weekend.  I am optimistic it'll get you both into the spirit of READING!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psby0mI6ZLY

In addition to literacy celebrating, I am delighted to share with you that every day, I meet with one group to do a Guided Reading lesson and every child is READING!!  I have let my students also know that everyone is at a different level and that is OK, as long as we’re learning and growing at our own pace.  I have had a few parents ask this so I am going to share it on here now, the expected reading level by the end of Grade 2 is level 23/24.  I am optimistic that we CAN and WILL reach this goal.  Thank you to all the parents who continue reading diligently with your child every evening either on Raz-Kids or picking a book of interest and having him/her complete the 1 page of 'Word Study Homework,' it is making a significant difference in their learning and growing!!   

As promised in last week's post, I have a few pictures from Literacy PJ Day for you to enjoy! Thank you parents who were able to come in Wed. morning to 'Snuggle Up and Read' with your child in the library. The turnout was amazing!!  I know it meant the world to them seeing you and snuggling with you for the LOVE OF READING!!  

We love wearing our PJ's and cuddling with our stuffies

Jack & Cameron have matching PJ's, cute!

Celebrate Literacy EVERYDAY!

Reading is THINKING!

Thomas B., Ethan W., & Archie intrigued by their book!

Snuggle Up and Read!

Hannah & Danica singing 'You Gotta Keep Reading!'

Doing W.A.L.T with our stuffies :)

Amy holding the talking stick - one voice being shared and heard at a time!

New Math Learning:

On Wed. I sent home a math note which talks about our new learning goal.  Thank you families who take the time to read these notes when they come home in the agenda.  Your support is making a difference!  

Our focus continues to be on measurement, however, instead of linear, students will now be measuring 'Time.'  In Grade 2, the expectation is to tell time to the quarter hour.  Reviewing telling time to the hour, and half hour is also essential as your child learned this concept awhile ago in Grade 1.  Please talk with your child about the terms:  o'clock, half past, quarter to, and quarter after.  Incidentally throughout your days, have your child tell you the time.  E.g., it is 6:15 p.m. or quarter after 6; it is 6:45 p.m. or quarter to 7.  Telling time to the quarter hour can be tricky, so any extra practice would be beneficial!  Thank you for your continued support!

Math Journal Entry:
In supporting our unit on Time in class, I had the students think of 'special times in their school day' to write about.  As a whole class, we first brainstormed these ideas and came up with the following:

-Literacy Workstations 2:30 p.m - 3:00 p.m
-D.I.R.T. 2:15 p.m - 2:30 p.m
-Science 3:00 p.m - 3:30 p.m
-W.A.L.T. 3:30 p.m -3:45 p.m
-Gym 9:30 a.m - 10:30 a.m
-Music/Art/Drama  9:30 a.m -10:30 a.m 
-D.P.A.  1:00 p.m - 1:30 p.m

After this, in their math journals, students were responsible for communicating the following:
-pick a special learning time in their school day
-draw two analogue clocks showing the start time and end time
-record the digital time for each clock
-write down how long the learning was in minutes
-why this time of day is special to them

Here's a picture below of one completed entry for you to get an idea of what I was looking for.  I will send home math journals next week so you can see what your child came up with!
I was very impressed with their entries!  You can also support this learning by having your child think about special times they have with you over the weekends!   

Math Note

Math Journal Entry

Dance-A-Thon:
Last week, a note came home about our school's Dance-A-Thon which is coming up on Feb. 11th!  The initiative is to help raise money that will go towards outdoor play equipment and/or technology items for our school!  Every little bit counts and your support is appreciated in continuing to make Ernest Cumberland an interactive, engaging, and FUN learning environment for ALL STUDENTS!  

Please note:  all pledge sheets are due ON (not before) Feb. 11th.  Thank you :)

    Quote:

“Kindness is like snow; it beautifies everything it covers.”

Namaste,

Miss Gill

Dear Families,

Can you believe that we’re soon entering our last week of January next week, wow!  Time sure flies when you’re having a blast!  Your child truly brings me such joy and happiness daily.  We are all thinking, learning, and growing with each other – an uplifting feeling! 

More Engaging Measurement Learning:

This week, we continued exploring, investigating and recording linear (length, width, and perimeter) measurements.  Students used string to measure the perimeter around various containers and then used non-standard (e.g., snap cubes) and standard (e.g., rulers and metre sticks) units to measure and compare their findings.  They have been introduced to a metre stick as a benchmark when comparing lengths of various objects in the classroom.

Vasiliki measuring around the scissor container

Reanna measuring around a candle holder

Danica using ones blocks to measure

Cameron measuring around a candle holder

Ethan W. measuring around his water bottle

Using a table to record

Math Game:
On Thursday, I introduced a new math game called "Perimeter Chase."  See picture below for instructions.  Students had an absolute blast playing this and now have a deeper understanding of what this math term (perimeter) means and how to calculate it.  Please ask your child about this :) You will notice in their agenda this evening that they have brought this game home for the weekend to play with you!  They know the procedure 'how to play the game' and the accompanying materials to go with it.  Enjoy :)

Perimeter Chase instructions

Amy & Danica cooperatively playing

Mati & Brandon having a blast!

Kaylie & Ethan W. colouring the perimeter

Madison & Vasiliki carefully colouring their perimeter

Reanna & Evelyn proud of their efforts!

Archie & Jack working together to get the job done!

Thomas B. & Cameron adding two numbers together

Ethan F. & Owen trying to roll doubles!

Science:
On Tuesday, students wrote their 'Matter' assessment.  I was very pleased with how many enthusiastically completed it and wanted to share their learning about the 'Properties of Liquids, Solids, and Gases.'  Last week, I sent home a 'Matter Review' sheet and I want to thank you for supporting your child in this with reviewing the concepts taught at home.  It certainly made a significant difference!

Spirit Day:
On Thursday January 28th our school is celebrating Pajama Day!  I shared this news with my class and they are already starting to think about which PJ's to wear and which special 'stuffy' they'd like to bring with them to school that day!  I am encouraging students to bring in a stuffy that can be carried in their backpack.  They will be given the opportunity to learn with it in class all day!  I will be sure to get a class picture of all of us in our PJ's to share with you on next week's blog post!  Stay tuned :)

Website:
One of our literacy workstations is called 'I Inquire.'  At this station, students are exposed to a variety of materials on our science table and are required to write down an I Wonder question.  I encourage them to think about questions they may have about the world around them.  When we read, a comprehension strategy that we have learned about is questioning. Good readers ask questions as they read to assist in gaining a deeper understanding of the text.  Please ask your child about one of their I Wonders that they've written this year :) You can then go online with them and find the answer!

Please also visit the following website: http://www.wonderopolis.org/    
It is an excellent website that shares 'Wonders of the Day' which your child uses when they are at this workstation!  I think you will find it very interesting and informative :) Enjoy!

Quote:
"Being happy isn't dependent on your circumstances.  Optimism is a courageous choice you can make everyday, especially in the face of adversity."

Namaste,

Miss Gill    

  

Dear Families,

I hope you've had a wonderful week with your family and found ways to enjoy the fresh air all bundled up cozily as it's been chilly.  Thank you parents for providing warm, winter gear for your child to wear, it gets very windy on our yard during recesses, so bundling up helps your child endure the frigid temperatures without feeling discomfort from the cold. 

On Monday, I was absent from school due to the weather as I drive from Collingwood each day.  The busses in that area were cancelled as the roads were treacherous, so I opted to stay home.  I would like to share with you the positive comments I received from the supply teacher that was in for me.  She wrote, “Miss Gill your students know and implemented your rules, routines, and expectations flawlessly!  It was s joy to witness!”  I am extremely proud of my students, they made my heart soar!  In class, we consistently work on displaying Character “even when no one is watching!”  Way to go boys and girls, you have demonstrated Charger manners, keep up the positive efforts!  At times, the winter driving conditions can be challenging.  I hope your commutes to work and to extra-curricular activities with your child has been a safe one.  As you're aware, today (Fri.) is a snow day here in Alliston.  The forecast is calling for freezing rain later, so please be safe if you're having to be on the roads.  Have a wonderful weekend!     

Measurement Learning:

This week, the students continued having fun measuring objects in the classroom using non-standard and standard units of measure such as their hand widths, cm rulers, and a metre stick.  We are learning to use the terms length, width, perimeter, area, longer, shorter, and equal to when comparing various objects.  We always record our findings in a chart and consolidate (share) our discoveries as a whole class or with a peer.  

Check us out measuring!

Mati hard at work

Madison measuring the length of the legs of a table

Archie recording his measurements

Reanna choosing her coat to measure

Our Math Wall with Learning Goals & Success Criteria

Hannah & Kaylie working together to get the job done!

Thomas M. measuring  our Character wall

Owen testing the width of 10 hand prints

Yes, I think I got it!

Mati & Thomas M. working together to measure the length of their penny flicks

Evelyn, Reanna, and Archie measuring penny flicks using centimetre rulers and a metre stick

Kaylie & Ethan F. flicked the penny more than 50 cm, wow!

Cameron & Thomas B. striving to measure their flick with accuracy

Amy & Hannah also working well together who have flicked more than 1m as you can see!

The thrill, the excitement, the enthusiasm with measuring in groups!

Collaboration at its finest :)

Recording measurements using a table

Ask your child what their longest and shortest flick was from this math task

Writing:

Last weekend, your child brought home his/her writing notebook which contains a variety of Recount writing pieces.  Thank you families for taking the time to sit and actively listen to your child’s thinking J Their sense of pride is evident as they share, and it’s a joy to see!  Our focus has been on Recounts for several months and I am pleased to say, students are consolidating their learning from my lessons and are writing to their potential.  As always, we will continue to build upon and grow as the school year progresses! 

We have been spending time learning about the Writing Process which includes - brainstorming, using graphic organizers, editing, revising, receiving teacher/peer feedback, publishing, and finally sharing with the class.  It has been wonderful to be to see their progress from August.  If you wish to have your child bring home their writing notebook for you to see this week’s writing piece, please let me know in the agenda.

Procedural Writing:

Over the Break, Amy took initiative to write a Procedure on her own J I was delighted when she shared this with me.  Writing a procedure is another writing form that we have focused on for several weeks. 

Thank you Amy for taking the time out of your holiday to reinforce learned concepts at home!  You have inspired your peers to continue learning where ever you are!  Evidence of this is when Vasiliki wrote a procedure at the "We Write" literacy workstation about "How to Make Air Bubbles.  Please check out Amy’s procedure on “How to Make a Smoothie.”  Yummy!!  Simply click on the pictures to enlarge them for your viewing pleasure :) 

Amy's Procedure: "How to Make Smoothies"

Vasiliki's Procedure: "How to Make Air Bubbles"

Learning Buddies:

Your child may have mentioned to you that each week we have learning buddies with Mr. Twine’s grade 7/8 students!  Ask your child the name of his/her buddy.  So far, we have worked with them on letter writing, decorating gingerbread men, sharing our recounts/social studies Venn diagrams, measuring objects in the class using metre sticks, and reading for the love of it!  The older students have served as caring, compassionate, and cooperative mentors for us and we are grateful to learn and grow from them! 

Here we are with our buddies!! 

Kaylie's learning buddies

Danica's learning buddy

Amy's learning buddy

Thomas B.'s learning buddy

Ethan W.'s learning buddy

Owen's learning buddy

Cameron & Archie's buddies

Ethan F.'s & Alexis' learning buddies

Brandon attentively listening to his learning buddy read to him

Evelyn & Thomas M.'s learning buddies

Reanna & Vasiliki's learning buddies

Learning and growing from OUR grade 7/8's

Website:

I’m encouraging you to put the app for RazKids and www.spellingcity.com (the latter is a word study program where your child can type in their list words and complete a variety of fun, and engaging games.  It is known to be an award-winning game-based learning tool for vocabulary, spelling, writing and language arts.  Give it a try, I know your child enjoys using this program when they are at “Tech Time” when we do our Literacy Workstations! 

Quote:

“The purpose of human life is to serve …to show compassion and the will to help others.”

Namaste,

Miss Gill