Hello All:

Our class has settled in nicely for the New Year and we are well on
are way to completing our outcomes for the term two report card.
Please read the following so that you can be updated on what the
students are up to with regards to each subject.

Language Arts:

We are reading "The Twits," by Roald Dahl, as a whole class.  Students
are completing a comprehension booklet and discussing reading
comprehension strategies throughout the readings.

Spelling program continues as usual. Most tasks are being done in
class to ensure completion and accuracy.  We will probably be able to
complete two more sets of spelling picture tasks before the March
break.

Students are working hard at developing effective and interesting
stories through the use of "Write-On" at least twice a week.  Students
are given a topic to write about and the class discusses, as a whole
group, ideas, strong verbs, setting, suspense, and character
description, pertaining to the topic. On the word "GO" students write
non-stop for at lest 20 minutes about the topic.  They often ask for
more time, since the topic is usually of great interest to them.
Stories are then read aloud and many of them analyzed on the smart
board for ideas for others to use next time.  The students are really
enjoying the collaboration involved in this work!

Silent reading occurs at least 25 minutes daily in the classroom.
Each student is tracking their A.R. (Accelerated Reading) points in
the class by using their own personal graph.  Every two weeks, they
meet with me and together we project how many and what books they
would like to read in the next two weeks. We look at the calendar,
discuss points and time available to read. Together we come up with a
"goal" and this is recorded on their chart. This has proven to inspire
and motivate the children to take advantage of their time in class to
read mindfully.  Within two weeks, we meet again and chart their
progress according to books read and A.R. points gained.  This relates
nicely to the math outcomes of graphing, calendar and adding and
subtracting, as we see the difference between their goals and what
they actually achieved.  PLEASE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE READING AT HOME
AND RECORD IT IN THE AGENDAS.

Math:

We have been working hard on the adding and subtracting of 2 and 3
digit numbers. So far, we have discussed many strategies to do the
above without having actually used the traditional algorithm.  This
has developed increased number sense. We are using base ten blocks and
pictures to support our work.  We will be using the traditional
algorithm for both operations right away and practicing all strategies
consistently.  Upon completion of the current IXL homework project, on
February 20th, students will be handed out the second IXL project,
complete with a contract calendar, to be completed towards the
beginning of March.

Students completed the unit of "Patterns" and did an in-class test on
the unit.  A few students were absent for this unit test and
therefore, the results will not be handed out until after convention
week. This unit was practiced entirely in-class with manipulatives and
in-class activities.

Social:

In Social, we are discussing the environment of the four countries of
study, India, Peru, Ukraine and Tunisia. We will also be having 3 in-
class workshops from the Arts and Heritage School Programs:

1) Making Peruvian masks out of clay:  February 22nd.
2) Comparing Tunisia and St. Albert: March 1st
3) Making Ukrainian Easter Eggs:  April 3rd.

Please Note:   We will need volunteers for 5 volunteers for the March
1st and April 3rd dates.  Forms regarding cost and details will be
sent out soon.


Health:

We continue to discuss the Leadership Seven Habits throughout our
school days.  Please refer to your child's calendar pages for
concepts, vocabulary and ideas discussed on a regular bass in class.
February is our KINDNESS month.  We discuss all the possible ways that
we can be kind to others and ourselves.

Discussing goals and how to meet them is being achieved through the
IXL and reading homework.

Dates to remember for February and March:

Feb. 9th and 10th: No School: Convention
Feb. 13th: Leader in Me assembly 10:30 a.m.
Feb. 15th : Hot Dog Day
Feb. 15th: Skating  from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Feb. 20th: Family Day No School.
Feb. 22nd: Pizza Orders Due
Feb. 29th: Pizza Day

March 7th: Early Dismissal
March 14th: Hot Dog Day
March 16th: Report cards Out
March 20th and 21st : Celebration of Learning 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
March 23rd: March Break Starts

Please contact us with any information or questions you may have.


M. Barry:)