Dear Families,

It was fabulous seeing my students this week, I had missed them tremendously!  I hope you enjoyed your March Break with them.  I heard so many neat experiences!  Now we're back to our regular routines and regimes, I bet as a parent you're delighted by this too :-)

Math:

On Monday, I handed back 'Time' assessments.  I'm impressed with the students progress in this area of mathematics!  Most are able to confidently tell time to the hour, half hour, quarter hour, and some even have extended their learning by telling time to the minute (not a Grade 2 expectation, but I exposed this to them).  I am encouraging families to continue to incidentally ask their child to tell time to further reinforce this learned concept.  Thank you!

Animal Report Projects:
On Wednesday, students worked hard to put together their projects.  It was lovely to see their enthusiasm and diligence to get this job done!  Now we are in the process of preparing an oral presentation.  Each child will have the opportunity to present their report not only with our class but also to Mrs. A's students.  Below I've posted pictures of us listening to Mrs. A's students present their projects in their class, they certainly inspired us!  Check us out being attentive listeners!!

Now it's our turn to present to Mrs. A's class!  We will be ready for this next week!!  Check us out as we organize our information!

Math Consolidation (sharing):
As part of our 3 Part Math Lessons, students get an opportunity to listen, share, and communicate their mathematical thinking with a peer.  It is an informative time for me as the teacher because I get to see your child being cooperative, collaborative and accountable!  Each student has the opportunity to learn, teach, and grow!  During these times, I also encourage the kids to give 'feedback' to their peer to help improve their achievement!  Ask your child what this means :)

Bucket-Filling Moment:
Here I am again sharing my second bucket-filling moment!  It truly warms my heart when these experience happen genuinely.  Ethan F. noticed on his own that a fellow peer needed some assistance with reading his animal report information.  The boys decided to go to the back of the classroom quietly to do this.  A pure, genuine, and real moment of caring, compassion, and KINDNESS.  Thank you Ethan F. for displaying character in your thoughts, words, and actions!  You're amazing :)

'Hoppy' Easter:
I would like to wish you all a Happy Easter with your family and friends.  As many are aware, it is Good Friday this week (no school) and Easter Monday (no school), so students will be back to school on Tuesday.  Some children have shared their Easter traditions that they partake in with YOU!  Enjoy these precious activities with your child and I look forward to hearing all about them next week!    

Quote:

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.  It’s the LIFE IN YOUR YEARS!” 

Namaste, 

Miss Gill

“The benefits of reading, writing, and math does not outweigh the need for children to learn to work and play together.”  --John Wilson

Dear Families,

As we enter into our March Break, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe, enjoyable, and rejuvenating break with your loved ones!  Some of my students have mentioned that they've going away (e.g., Great Wolf Lodge, Florida), that's terrific!!  In the past, I've been to Florida with a dear friend, however, this year that isn't the case, but I am planning on enjoying all the wonderful and fun winter activities that Collingwood has to offer such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skating, and maybe even downhill skiing at Blue Mountain.  I am very much looking forward to hearing and reading (your child will be writing a "Recount" about a special event upon his/her return to school) all about their BREAK and the special things they did with YOU!  Although, we won't be at school, I wanted to also wish you a HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!  A few students dressed in GREEN today to celebrate this occasion :)

Dressed in GREEN for today's spirit day!  Thank you to those that participated!!

Math Workstations:
This week, we spent some time learning about Math Workstations!  Similarly to our Literacy Workstations, students will work in small groups to reinforce and practice learned concepts, in this case, the workstations will have a math focus.  They are very excited about this!  Below I have listed the workstations with its accompanying learning goal (see pictures) so you have an idea of what your child will be doing and his/her expectations when they're working in small groups.

Balanced Math Workstations:

MATH GAME - "Trade it to Save it!"
Students had the opportunity to learn and play this engaging new math game!  Please ask your child the 'Procedure' (how to play this game) for this.  HINT: I've posted a picture of the game for your reference.  Check to see if your child remembers!

During a math game, I am not only looking for their mathematical thinking, but their collaboration and sportsmanship skills.  It is important to work cooperatively with group members and to remember to 'win with a smile, lose with a smile!'  It's all about having FUN!

Building 3-D Figures:
On Thursday, our learning goal for math focused on - learning to design and make a 3-D skeleton.

Check out the students actively engaged in building a skeleton for a chosen 3-D Figure.  Pics below! We learned that the plasticine represented the vertices (corners) and the toothpicks represented the edges (sides). Ask your child to describe the properties (e.g., faces, edges, vertices) of the figure he/she designed. An expectation in Grade 2 is to identify, describe, and explore these properties!

Amy
Thank you Amy for bringing in a real world example of a 3-D Figure to share with your peers! Connecting your school learning at home is an essential skill and a great way to reinforce learned concepts!  Way to go :-)

A hexagonal prism from Amy's house!

A Heart-Warming Bucket Filling Moment:
On Monday, I was moved by Mati's thoughtful ways.  As you know, YOU (families) and I have been consistently reinforcing our school's character traits to help instill these values in our learners' thoughts, words, and actions.  I am PROUD to share that our efforts are paying off!  Just before our W.A.L.T. experience, Mati noticed that his peer Ethan F. had a paper cut.  He independently went to the drawer where our band-aids are located and started to help Ethan put it on.  Mati did this on his own quietly at the back of the classroom :) What a bucket filling moment!!  Mati has demonstrated not only EMPATHY - thinking about the feelings of his friend, but also some of the other traits we've focused upon thus far this school year such as Caring, Respect, and Responsibility.  Mati, THANK YOU for being a kind, caring, compassionate friend - you have modelled extraordinary character all on your own. Amazing!!  

Bucket-Filling Mati!

Website of the Week:

http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/

“Looking for engaging ways to introduce your child to reading or to encourage your child to write? Need some age-appropriate book suggestions or rainy day activities? The materials here are your answer—all of them created by experts to be fun, educational, and easy to use outside of school.”

Quote:
“A smile and a kind word is all it takes to spread joy because happiness is contagious!”

Namaste,

Miss Gill

Dear Families,

The end of our first week of March, already!?  The sunshine has been peaking out moreso and I hear by next week, we'll even have warmer temperatures!  Wihoo!  I am going to utilize this by being outside most likely going for a hike in the woods :)  I feel so blessed to be able to do adventurous winter activity in my BACK YARD (Collingwood).  I am wishing you all a safe and enjoyable weekend with your loved ones, too.

Teaching Brain Gym to Mrs. Lynch's Grade Ones:
Our class had an exciting opportunity to teach Mrs. Lynch's Grade 1 class Brain Gym!  As you know, we have been doing Brain Gym everyday as a means to exercise our mind, body, and spirit.  It has served as a useful tool in helping us prepare for learning and we wanted to extend this to the Grade 1's!  

I wrote on various report cards that I would be providing meaningful opportunities for my students to work on their leadership skills and this was a perfect experience for them to do so!  I am so proud of how your child served as a positive mentor to this younger age group  :) 

Last week, Mrs. Lynch's students delivered a 'thank you letter' to us.  When we read this aloud as a class family, I could sense the pride and joy in my students eyes and heart!!  Way to go boys and girls :-)

Brandon leading Brain Gym!

What a beautiful letter!!  Thanks Mrs. Lynch's Ones!

Exploring the Properties of 2-D Shapes and 3-D Figures:
Yesterday, I sent home a math note explaining our new unit of study.  Thank you to families who take the time to sit down with your child to go over these concepts, it is truly beneficial!!  I have heard some of my students share with me when they do the 'at home activities' that are suggested in these notes!

To start off this unit, I had my students use geo-boards to explore thinking about and making 2-D shapes.  We then consolidated this learning by sorting and classifying the shapes according to their  geometric properties such as by their:  faces, edges, and vertices.  Ask your child what  these words mean :)  They had a blast using this math tool (geo-board).  Check us out!!

Sharing our learning!

Mati really wanted you to see his creations, Mom!

Math Journal Entry

Writing about the Properties of 2-D Shapes

Evelyn:
I would like to take this opportunity to wish Evelyn safe travels on her adventure to Florida with her family. We will be thinking of you and miss your bright, beautiful smile!  Have a wonderful trip!  See you after the March Break, Evelyn.  Say hello to Mickey for US!
 

Bon Voyage!

Quote:
Integrity is ..."Doing the RIGHT thing, even when NO ONE IS WATCHING!"

Namaste,

 Miss Gill