October 28, 2010

From the Desk of Ms. Legault

Dear Parents,


Thank you for all your support and assistance getting the homework completed. I received many fine examples of poetry and I hope to submit many of these shortly to the contest, as well as showcase some of samples on our classroom blog (www.mslegaultsclassroom.blogspot.com). The primary students did an excellent job sharing their procedures to the class. Some of the work is on display outside the classroom. We had a great variety including pizza, jack’ o’lanterns, turkey, lego and so much more. Students have demonstrated a lot of improvement in speaking clearly and loudly. Thank you to everyone for helping to make this an exciting and enjoyable experience for the students.

In the classroom we have been reading and responding to a number of stories. The grade 1 and 2 students have been retelling the story of a Bear in War by Stephanie Innes and Harry Endrulat. Grade 3 and 4 have been working on a book called The Enemy: A story about Peace by Davide Cali and Serge Bloch
and the grade 5 and 6 class have been reading Sadako and a Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Corr. Many students also followed instructions provided online at http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Make-a-Paper-Crane-1100 to fold their own paper crane. Origami square (scrapbooking) paper is available at Dollarama.


As part of a schoolwide initiative to improve students skills in literacy, we will be beginning a focus on the development of inferring skills. Inferring is drawing conclusions, making predictions, evaluating and judging using information from the text. The key point we are trying to stress with the students is that they need to provide proof by referring to the text/story. One question you can ask during your daily story time is “What does the author want us to learn from the text?” You can also talk about the characters and what we learned about the characters from the story. Be sure to ask your child to provide evidence from the story to support their thinking. I will send more information about this home as I begin exploring it with your child at school more in depth.










Homework


Grade 1 and 2: New sight words and word patterns to print and spell. For those who like technology, I stumbled on an APP for the Ipod that helps children with sight words. My twin daughters are in grade one. One of them loves this game, the other does not care for it. Its just another way to help them learn their words. You can find it at http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/dolch-sight-words-complete/id352798485?mt=8

Grade 3 and 4: Continue with the handwriting work and research frameworks are due on Nov 3.

Grade 5 and 6: Research frameworks are due November 3. Students from these grades have shown an interest in beginning a Peer Mediation program to help younger students solve their problems on the playground. Some students have also been selected to assist with the Remembrance Day assembly. Watch for more information to be sent home soon.

Thanks again for your support. Enjoy your week. Ms. Legault

P.S Any parents interested in assisting with the Remembrance Day Assembly or the Peer Mediation Program please contact me or send a note. I am looking for someone to speak at the Assembly. Thanks again