*Reminders:

You are welcome to bring NUT free treats on Friday as we will be having our Holiday Party to celebrate the Winter Break. The students will be having hot chocolate in the morning and will enjoy a party in the afternoon. Please let me know if you have any questions ilianna.givelos@tdsb.on.ca.

Please return all Activity Folders/Communication Folders by Friday!

Thank you.

Focus this week:

Studying Text: This week we will be focusing on breaking down books, expressing ideas and studying the features of text (Such as title, author, illustrator, cover, back etc…).

We started our focus on the Title of the story. The students had to point where the title was, identify that it was words and that it helped tell us what the story might be about. We compared the title to the picture on the cover to see if we think it made sense. Every day we will add to our chart paper as we uncover the different features of the text.

Curriculum Expectations:

-demonstrate an awareness of basic book conventions and concepts of print when a text is read aloud or when they are beginning to read print

-make predictions regarding an unfamiliar text that is read by and with the EL–K team, using prior experience, knowledge of familiar texts, and general knowledge of the world around them.

Making Connections

The students are always encouraged during reading to make connections to their personal lives, other stories they have read or what they think of when they read the story.

Activity at home:

When reading at home, have students reflect on the story, ask them questions about the story and ask them if the story reminds them of another story, something they have done etc…

Curriculum Expectations:

-use language in various contexts to connect new experiences with what

they already know

-use language to talk about their thinking, to reflect, and to solve

Problems

-ask questions for a variety of purposes

-orally retell simple events and simple familiar stories in proper sequence

-demonstrate an interest in reading

Literacy Centres: Reviewing our Letters S, A, T, I, P, N, C, K, E

This week, the students of Room 108 will review the letters of the week that we have focused on since October. The SK’s will have a high focus on reading our first group of Sight Words and practice sounding them out and writing them out. The JK’s will continue focusing on the various sounds and the printing of the letters in their printing workbooks.

Curriculum Expectations

-demonstrate knowledge of most letters of the alphabet in different contexts

-begin to use reading strategies to make sense of unfamiliar texts in print 

Transforming our Science Centre into a Winter Wonderland

Transforming our Science Centre into a Winter Wonderland

The students of Room 108 were asked what they needed to change (from our fall table) to reflect our current season winter. This is what they came up with...

The students were given various materials and were allowed to create their science table without very little direction. For snow they used paint, sugar cubes, Kleenex, cotton balls… They created snowmen using paper cups, pipe cleaners and felt.

In order to create the shimmery effect, the students used glitter to cover the cotton and the paint.

They also created pictures and placed them around the table. 

This is a work in progress and the students think of new ideas every day, stay tuned for the changes at our Science Table!

Art Activity: Creating Snowflakes

The students have been creating decorations using beads and pipe cleaners (focusing on fine motor skills).

The students were asked to create pictures of what they saw on their way to school today (as it snowed today). We read a book about snow, discussed the changes in the season and brainstormed a few ideas on what we see, feel and hear. Check out what they created..

Science Curriculum Expectations:

-ask questions about and describe some natural occurrences, using their own observations and representations

-state problems and pose questions before and during investigations 

-select and use materials to carry out their own explorations 

-state problems and pose questions as part of the design process

-make predictions and observations throughout the design process 

-select and use tools, equipment, and materials to construct things using the design process

Math Curriculum Expectations:

-identify and describe informally the repeating nature of patterns in everyday contexts (seasons)

 In Literacy: Building our Word Wall

The students of Room 108 are beginning to build our Word Wall. The SK's have been working hard in the Reading/Writing groups exploring various word blends, the sounds of the letters and learning new sight words. They will building the word wall by practicing and recognizing words and then spelling them out (if possible from memory).

Language Curriculum Expectations:

-demonstrate an interest in writing

-begin to use reading strategies to make sense of unfamiliar texts in print (strong focus in our Guided Reading/Writing Groups)

-begin to use classroom resources to support their writing (e.g. word wall)

 Elf on the Shelf: 

The students of Room 108 have been sent a special visitor from the North Pole to watch out and ensure they are being kind and caring. Our elf (sent by Santa) is hanging out in our classroom to ensure that the students are sharing, being kind and following the Room 108 Contract. So far, our elf has moved around the room. Ask your student about our Elf on the Shelf.

 Emily’s Christmas Gift

 Letter of the Week:  E is for Emily

The book "Emily's Christmas Gifts" is about Emily is about how the best gift of all is when you are showing people how much you care about them. We tried to focus on how gift giving is nice but when you are being kind and nice to your family, friends and everyone around you, it makes you and them feel good. The students of Room 108 brainstormed ideas on how they can show kindness and caring to their friends and family. The students were given comparisons of behaviour and asked what they would prefer (e.g. being together with all of their friends and playing and having fun versus having one toy and not being together with their friends). We also tried to ensure that we discuss different holidays throughout the year (not focusing on only Christmas). 

“Help with Laundry” – Vina, Briyana, Julia

“Be kind to our teachers” – Shemar

“Bring dog food” – Tyler

“Wash dishes” – Julia, Stella

“Being silly with daddy” – Vanessa

“Helping mom with Christmas Tree” –Michael

“I will give hugs” – Shahira

Curriculum Expectations: (Personal and Social Development) 

-demonstrate the ability to take turns in activities and discussions

-demonstrate an awareness of ways of making and keeping friends

-develop empathy for others, and acknowledge and respond to each other’s feelings

-demonstrate respect and consideration for individual differences and alternative points of view

When asked why the author wrote the book:

“The author wrote this book so you can be helpful” - Whayne

Curriculum Expectations: (Language)

-         listen and respond to others for a variety of purposes

-         use language in various contexts to connect new experiences with what they already know

-         use language to talk about their thinking, to reflect, and to solve problems

-         describe personal experiences, using vocabulary and details appropriate to the situation

There will be no school on Friday, December 5th.

Thank you.