Classroom Notes - January 2017
Swim to Survive - Our grade 3 class enjoyed their first swimming lesson last Friday! We will have two more swimming lessons on January 20th and January 27th. Please ensure that your child has all required swimming items on these days. It is advised that all children have a good breakfast on swimming days since we are unable to have a morning snack before leaving St. Gregory School or during our time at the pool. Thank you for having your child well prepared on these days.
Skating - I anticipate that our class will be able to go skating this winter and I will inform parents on the dates and times well in advance. With warmer weather approaching again this week, I will monitor the ice condition and make a decision in the near future. So far, the weather has not been ideal for maintaining the ice and the condition of the rink has been poor. Hopefully, we experience more predictable weather. Thank you for understanding!
Reading at home and weekly homework - Just a reminder that all students should be reading at home for approximately 20 minutes per night. Extra reading at home will assist students in achieving grade 3 reading levels and vocabulary. Please check in with your child to ensure that they understand provided homework for both French and English. Homework is almost always sent home on Monday's and due on Friday's. Both Mme. Kealey and I will maintain this homework routine throughout the year. Thank you for your continued support!
Extra clothing - Thank you for providing your child with extra socks, mittens, hats, etc. in their backpack. I see children daily changing these clothing items since they are too wet to wear outside. Please check with your child to ensure that these extra items are still in their backpacks.
School supplies - I believe that we have reached a point in the school year in which most students have used up many of their school supplies, such as pencils, pencil crayons, erasers, etc. Please take some time to ask your child if they require any additional items to get them through the remainder of the year. I have been providing many students with these items, but we have reached a point in which our classroom supplies are diminishing rapidly. Thanks for understanding!
Always Learning in Grade 3
In Math, we have been busy conducting a variety of surveys, recording data in tally charts and using this data to create bar and pictographs. We have been learning to tell time to the nearest 5 minutes. We will continue our unit in Measurement as we learn to read a thermometer and identify benchmark temperatures. Also, we will be learning to estimate, measure and record linear measurement in centimetres.
In Language, students have completed winter narrative writing. We have started discussing fables during shared reading activities. We will continue practicing reading comprehension questions using the A.P.E. strategy. In Media Literacy, our grade 3's have been looking a media techniques and they will be creating their own product and advertisement.
In Science, we have started our unit on Strong and Stable Structures. We have several exciting experiments planned for this unit as we learn about what a structure is, as well as what makes a structure strong and stable.
In Family Life, we will continue discussing our families with a concentration on family changes and sisters and brothers. In the Arts, our grade 3's have created beautiful advent wreaths using pastels. We are currently working on drawing and painting realistic animals. Also, we have have started our unit in Dance and students will learn and practice creative movements in a variety of activities.
We are busy...busy...busy!
If you have any questions, please write me a note in your child's agenda. Thank you for your continued support!
Mr. Blais
