Friday, May 31st

 Hello Families!

Important Dates:

June 3rd - 6th - Coulee School *A Sign Up Genius was sent home through CBE messenger

June 27th - Last Day of School

June 28th - Non- Instructional Day (No school)

Important Information:

We start Coulee school on Monday!  We will be going to the Coulee each day on Monday through Thursday.  Please dress for the weather.  It would probably be a good idea to apply sunscreen before coming to school these days, as well as bringing a hat, water bottles and pocket snacks.   Please keep in mind that we don't want to have too much in our backpacks as they can start to get very heavy. 

Our Learning:

Literacy:

• This week was LitCon 2024 hosted by the Calgary Public Library.  We attended two sessions: Art Inspired by Land and Story as well as Christina Quintero and "The Only Way to Make Break."  
• During these sessions, we participated in a guided art lessons and Christina Quintero was able to read her book as well as talk about becoming a published author at the age of 45.  
• We were able to ask questions and share our enjoyment of both sessions!
• In writing, we learned how to use our 5 senses to write a list poem.  

Math:

• In math, we participated in a problem solving tasks that went home in your blue folders.  
• In grade two, we began learning about fractions and how to represent a whole divided into different parts.
• We learned how to represent the different parts into fractions and then compare a variety of fractions.  We continue to strengthen our understanding our fractions after Coulee school. 
• In grade one, we began measurement and compared objects around the room by shorter, longer, taller, wider, etc.  
• We then began using non- standard units of measurement to measure things around environment. 

Inquiry:

• We finished up our Mars inquiry by adding to our Mars art how we might add the components of Earth to Mars in order for us to live there. 
• We drew scientific drawings with labels to explain our thinking. 
• As May is Asian Heritage month, we participated in two sessions hosted by Jube School!
• One session provided us with an opportunity to participate in a guided drawing with Rozzie Lee.  Ask your child what we drew.  We were so proud of our work.  Rozzie helped us to understand how art allowed her to connect with her Chinese culture and find a sense of community.  
• We also learned a Chinese dance with Jinjin Du.  We followed along with the steps and were definitely exhausted by the end.  
• On Monday we went to the Coulee and practiced our journalling skills of looking deeply!  See pictures below. 

 

Friday, May 24

Hello Families!

Important Dates:

June 3rd - 6th - Coulee School *A Sign Up Genius was sent home through CBE messenger

We are planning on going to the Coulee on Monday (May 27th) afternoon and are still in need of one more parent volunteer to join us. Please email Mrs. Day if you are able to join us.  

Important Information:

Thank you to everyone who joined us on our Fun Run this morning!  We had a great time!

Please sign up for our volunteer tea!

Volunteer Tea Sign up:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFdX1Jxfp0Alk4Cuz2BgYM8NZmfeefYvQ-CLqbeHLTAV9UUg/viewform

Our learning:

Literacy:

• We continued our learning about poetry and how to add alliterations to make our writing more interesting.  
• We then used that knowledge to create Thank You Poems to the Earth.  They were beautiful! 
• In writing, we also used a prompt to demonstrate our growth in writing this year.  We took time to plan and then wrote for 20 minutes.  Ask your child what the topics they were asked to write about (Hint: outside).

Math: 

• In grade one, we continued our learning around fractions and focused on one halves.  
• We then represented our understanding of fractions through an assessment to show what we know.  
• In grade two, we continued to build our understanding of inequality and equality by using equations to solve problems and represent equality.  
• Next week we are moving into learning about fractions.  

Inquiry:

• We continued our Mars and Earth comparison inquiry, where we created some Mars art and looked at the components of Earth.
• We discussed the May Cree Moon and discussed the changes that we have seen in the environment this month. Ask your child the name of the moon (hint: Leaf Budding Moon)
• In art, we spent time sketching and shading tree drawings that will become our Coulee school journal cover pages.  
• We also went to the kindergarten celebration of learning where they showed us their learning this year.  We also got to meet the ducks.  Please see the pictures below as the kindergarten learners were our teachers. 

Friday, May 17

Hello Families!

Important Dates:

May 20 - Victoria Day (no school)
June 3rd - 7th - Coulee School (we will be in the Coulee for at least some part of each day during this 

week)*

*A link for a sign up genius will be coming home for volunteers for this week. 

Our learning:

Literacy:

• We learned about contractions and completed a word sort to reinforce our knowledge about this concept as well as completing another making words out of a mystery word.  See how many words you can make out of the word "flowers"
•  We continued practicing our printing to ensure that our writing is clear to the reader.
• In writing, we learned about acrostic poems and worked with a partner to use the word spring to create a poem using double and triple school word sentences.  
• Later in the week, we created our own acrostic poem using the word flowers.  We examined a rubric to help us understand what success looks like, which included using single/double school words, connecting words to the topic, begin to use descriptive writing devices (ie. similes) as well and using proper finger spaces, punctuation and clear printing. 

Math:

• In grade two, we used our knowledge of 2-digit addition and subtraction to solve word problems.
• We are also strengthening our understanding of equality and inequality and used pan balance to balance equations. 
• In grade one, we have begun learning about fractions and the term one-half. 
  
• We are learning to recognize breaking shapes into different equal parts.  

Inquiry:

• We have begun a Mars inquiry!
• We have started by discussing the components of Earth.  Ask your child these different components.  We then watched videos on Mars and make a list of comparisons of what we have on Earth vs. what has been discovered on Mars. 
• We will continue next week asking ourselves Can we live on Mars?
• We had 14 Chrysalides change into butterflies!  We so enjoyed watching them change and grow, however yesterday we did need to release them into their true home in the wild. 
• We thanked them and said our goodbyes (there may have been a few tears) and released them in the field.  If you see any Painted Lady butterflies around your flowers, they might just be ours. 

Friday, May 10th

Hello Families!

Important Dates:

May 17 - Non Instructional Day (no school)
May 20 - Victoria Day (no school)

*Please keep in mind that we will need parent volunteers for Coulee school which will take place on the first week of June. 

Our learning:

Literacy:

• We are continuing to work on our word building, spelling and reading skills by completing word sorts involving word endings, as well as making words.  Ask you child what the mystery word was this week. (Hint: friendly)
• We also practiced our printing by copying sentences about butterflies and drawing a detailed picture to match.  
• As we are learning about the beginning, middle and endings of stories, we listened to the read aloud Jabari Jumps and used a graphic organizer to retell the story in our own words
• We are continuing to work through our Daily 5 tasks and practicing reading in our guided reading groups.  
• In writing, we have begun poetry!
• We listened to some poems and brainstormed what poems look like, sound like feel like and make us think about.  We came up with some very insightful ideas.  For example poetry sometimes makes us think about something old in a new way or inspires us to make a change. 
• During our writers' workshop, we then wrote our own poems about someone special in our lives. 

Math:

• In grade two, we learned how to subtract using the standard method (also known as the stacking method)
• We used this subtraction method to be able to subtract using regrouping.  ("More on top - that means stop.  If the numbers are the same - zero is your game.  More on the floor - go next door - borrow ten more.")
• In grade one, we are practiced subtraction with numbers to 20 strategies and used the Math Easily website and solved some subtracting puzzles. It is a free website so be sure to check it out at home.
• We also completed some problem solving tasks using our mathematical knowledge. 

Inquiry:

• Some of our caterpillars have turned into a chrysalis and now we are keeping on eye on them to see if/when they might change into butterflies.  
• We drew the life cycle of butterflies and learned how to draw a monarch butterfly.  (Ask your child what type of butterflies we have)
• We also learned how to give and use feedback to strengthen our illustrations. 
• As we have been learning about Nova Scotia, we read stories and looked at pictures to learn about lighthouses and their uses.  We then learned how to draw a lighthouse, where we took our time in adding details and different colours. 
• Today, we went outside and found a sit spot where we could connect with nature.  We then journaled about what we noticed and our wonderings.  

Friday, May 3rd

Hello Families!

Important Dates:

May 8 - Hats on for Mental Health
May 17 - Non Instructional Day (no school)
May 20 - Victoria Day (no school)

Our learning:

Literacy:

• We are continuing to build our spelling and reading skills by engaging in word sorts as well as making words.  This is when we give the students a mystery word and they have to make as many words out of those letters as possible (ex. mystery words: pictures and spinach). See how many words your child can make out of these words. 
• We have added a new centre to our daily 6 literacy tasks where we practiced our no excuse words (words we read or write automatically). 
• In writing ,we learned about personifications and how we can use them to make our writing more interesting. Ask you child to tell you what a personification is and an example of one they created. 

Math:

• In grade one, we completed estimation tasks as well as math games to help strengthen our addition and subtraction fluency.  We also practiced the variety of strategies to add and subtract numbers to 20. 
• In grade two, we learned and practiced subtracting 2 - digit numbers using intuitive procedures.  
• The strategies that we learned included subtracting in parts, subtracting by adding, overlaying, compensating and subtracting by using related subtraction expressions. 
• We also engaged in mathematical problem solving tasks throughout the week. 

Inquiry:

• You may have heard we have caterpillars!! We have been so excited to watch them eat and eat and eat and some of them are starting to change. 
• We have been learning about these caterpillars, their life cycles and metamorphosis.  We are so looking forward to watching them grow and change. Ask your child what stage will be happening next. 
• On our Coulee walk we attempted to find crocuses as we have been learning about them in the classroom.  However, due to the mud we had to turn around before we found any flowers.  It was a fun and exciting walk regardless!  
• In the classroom, we created crocus art and heard about the story of the crocuses.  Ask your child to retell the story.