Place Value

 We started with an anchor chart today on place value in math.  We focused in on the difference between PLACE and VALUE (place is the location of a digit in a number and value is how much the digit is worth)

using blocks and pictures to help little learners.  We also looked at four different ways to represent a number, using blocks, word form, expanded form and standard form.  We will spend the rest of this week mastering place value.

We played a game of Guess the Missing Word today - I wrote the sentence and left out a word and little learners had to read around the word to determine what could be missing.  We had a great time with this reading skill.

5 Finger Rule is how we determine if a book is 'just right' for us.  When starting a new book readers should be holding up their fist and then putting up a finger every time they come to a word they don't know.  If all five fingers go up the book is too hard.  If only one or two fingers go up the book is too easy.  We are looking for the 'just right' book that will challenge us to become better readers.

Read 20/10

No school Friday

 

Cheerios

 We did some more work around estimation today using a good old box of Cheerios.  First we estimated how many bits of cereal there is in one box of Cheerios.  Our estimates ranged from 22 bits of cereal in the box to 200,000 bits of cereal in the box.  Everyone got 1/2 cup of Cheerios to count and I was watching for how your little learner organized themselves for counting. Lots of us got 'lost' while counting one by one while others made groups of 10 or 5 or 2 and then counted their groups.  I was interested in the efficient counters who determined there were about 200 bits of cereal in a half cup.  We talked about adding 200 21 times (because that's how many of us were here today) and then we decided to multiply

200 x 21 to find out that there is about 4,200 bits of cereal in a Cheerios box.  Ask your little learner how they went about counting their pieces today.  Is there something in the kitchen you could estimate the total of during supper tonight?

Everyone has a purple Digital Citizenship form in their backpack that needs signing tonight and returning to school tomorrow.  Without that form your child will not be able to use technology at school.

Read 20/10

Day 2 of Carson Crosses Canada

 Just a reminder that the playground is off limits before and after school.  Everyone must wear a mask when on school property (including outside) and remain within their cohort.  We are asking students to go directly home after school and check in there.

We reviewed the story Carson Crosses Canada and discussed all the places that Carson and Annie stopped along their way.  Some of us have been to the east coast, the mountains and the hoodos just like Annie and Carson.  A writing piece was then started in journals about places we have visited in Canada.  I am looking for complete sentences in this writing sample, complete with capitals and periods.

We practised a bit of estimating together as a class and then everyone was able to conduct their own estimation activity with dice and a pencil.  It is important that little learners make reasonable estimates and are not wildly guessing.  

We finished packing our suitcases for our trip across Canada and are ready for an adventure!

Read 20/10 tonight

Carson Crosses Canada

 To kick things off we are having a close look at the picture book, Carson Crosses Canada by Linda Bailey.  Not only is it a story written about Canada but the author is Canadian too!!  We talked about facts we know about Canada and wrote sentences with starters such as, Did you know, Would you believe, One fascinating thing.  The story will give us an introduction to where Alberta is in Canada and who our closest neighbours are, leading us into our social studies unit of Alberta.

Estimation was the math word of the day.  We discussed the meaning of the word, making a thoughtful guess, and then estimated how many sea shells were in my basket.  Estimation is a powerful tool and we will be estimating all week to ensure we all have an understanding.

Read 20/10

Welcome Back

 Welcome back to school!!

I am so excited that we are all back together again and I look forward to our year together.

In the classroom we have been working on routines and getting to know one another.  So far, we are proud to say, we have built stamina for reading to ourselves up to 15 minutes at a time each day.  Our goal is 30 minutes - we hope to be there by the end of September.  We have reviewed 3 Ways to Read a Book, Where to read, Why we read, When to read, What to read, Who reads and most importantly that one can not expect to become a better reader without PRACTISING. In grade 3 and 4 students can still be reading to someone for 10 minutes a day and reading to themselves for 20 minutes every day at home.  So so very important to practise.

Please ensure your child has indoor shoes and several masks every day.  It is nice to change the mask every so often, and then of course, wash them at the end of the day,  We will be going outside multiple times a day and students should be dressed for the weather, and since this is Canada weather surprises.

I hope to get to meet you all at some point but until then please feel free to call me at school 403-777-6610 or drop me an email, ljanderson@cbe.ab.ca if you have any questions or concerns.

The end is near -

The end is near and what a strange end it is.

Our learning continues until Friday and there are several activities posted in our classroom.  Thank you for supporting your little learners continual learning at home.

The Calgary Public Library is hosting their annual summer reading challenge and I encourage all of you to sign up.  It is a free activity that has a virtual sign up at their website.  It is an easy way to stay engaged with reading this summer.  Check them out!
https://calgarylibrary.ca/events-and-programs/ultimate-summer-challenge/

We have posted the staff farewell on our classroom wall that would have taken place Friday morning if we were at school.  

Report cards can be accessed through your CBE account - there will not be printed copies available.

Friday from 12 - 1 teachers will be hosting a 'walk-by' parade on Bermuda Drive.  We will be up on the hill to maintain social distancing and then we have the opportunity to wrap up this school year.  I hope to see you all there.

As always, if you have questions or concerns drop me an email or call Corey at the school and she will get in touch with me.  I hope you all have a fun-filled summer.

"There are no good byes for us.  Whatever you are, you will always be in my heart."
Mahatma Gandhi

Year End Bits and Pieces

It is a very odd thing to be packing up my classroom without the help of little hands but I have put everyone's belongings from their desk into bags and placed them in the gym.  You can book a time through your CBE account to drop by the school and pick those up.  There are still a few shoes and such waiting there too.

Staff are working on an opportunity to say farewell with students.  It will come in several formats so stay tuned.

Next week we will be concentrating on Indigenous Peoples Day with our classroom work.  In room 11 we have already done some work around the aboriginal theme through the sharing of picture books and activities that had little learners exploring themselves, their family, their community and the land.  We continue to strive for activities that will engage learners and move forward their thinking as we quickly approach the summer break.

As always if you have questions or concerns I am available by phone or email.

“Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors” - First Nations Principals of Learning