Classroom Notes - April 2016
Swimming Lessons - Please don't forget that we have two more swimming lessons left on April 14th and April 21st. Students will need to bring their swimsuits, towel, bag and goggles (if necessary). Our students really enjoyed their first swimming lesson and I know they can't wait to return to the pool. We will leave St. Gregory's at the same time as scheduled. Thank you to all parent volunteers that assisted our students last week. Our first lesson would not have been so successful without your help.
Agendas - Important information is sent home daily in your child's agenda. Please remember to sign/initial the agenda daily.
Dressing for the Unpredictable Weather - We have seen a variety of weather in the last two weeks. Please remember that students should be dressed appropriately for cold, wet days. With all the rain and snow, our school yard is still quite muddy, Remember that you can always pack extra socks/mittens/hats in your child's backpack just in case.
Weekly Homework - It is strongly recommended that you check in and work with your child regularly at home to ensure understanding and reinforce learning at school. All students should be reading regularly for 15-20 minutes each night. Books read at home should be at their appropriate reading level.
Student Portal - Our gr. 3 class has been learning how to navigate through Google apps (e.g. Google Docs, Read & Write, etc.) as well as the apps listed on the student portal at our Board's webpage. Students know how to login using their email and password which is glued to the inside of their agenda. There are many useful Math and Language apps that children are encouraged to use in order to supplement their homework. If you have any questions, please write me a note in the agenda.
PD Day April 15th - No School
Always Learning in Grade 3
In Math, we have been working on our unit in Geometry. Students are learning and investigating right angles, as well as angles greater and smaller that right angles. Our class was very engaged when creating a variety of prisms using paper nets and investigating lines of symmetry. We are beginning to sort and compare 2-D shapes and 3-D figures by their geometric properties. We will likely have a Geometry quiz sometime next week, so please check the agenda for a scheduled date.
In Language, we have just about finished our good copies of our adventure stories. Over the last few weeks, our focus in Reading has been with making inferences (reading between the lines) using clues from the text. We have began to review persuasive writing. Students are currently completing a Reading assessment and then, we will move on to poetry.
In Science, gr. 3's have started a new unit called Strong and Stable Structures. We have been very lucky to have Mr. Ball in our classroom for two Science blocks to assist us in our bridge making experiment. I will post completed bridges on our class Twitter page.
Our class did an amazing job assisting in our school Easter Mass. All students had one responsibility during the Mass and they were great spiritual leaders. In Family Life, we have been speaking about the gift of brothers and sisters and the relationships that we have in our own families. We are almost done our stained glass crosses which we will put in our classroom window.
Thank you for your continued support!
Mr. Blais
