Classroom Notes - March 2017

Bake Sale for Kindergartens - On Friday, a newsletter went home outlining the bake sale that our class and Mrs. Jung's 2/3 class will be hosting. Our students are very excited about this upcoming event, especially since all donations will contribute to our OK Clean Water Lenten project. Please return the bottom portion of the newsletter by Wednesday, March 29th if you are planning on donating a baked treat. Our class has worked very hard to organize this event and we will present our posters and Google Slides to all kindergarten classes this week in anticipation of Friday's bake sale. Thank you for assisting our class with this initiative!

Growth Mindset - As previously mentioned, our class embraces a growth mindset approach to learning and our students recognize that we must make and learn from our mistakes in order for our brains to grow. Here are a few links to video clips that we have watched in class during our growth mindset lessons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC82Il2cjqA&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElVUqv0v1EE&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-3Fs4zGjDU&feature=youtu.be

Continuing to emphasize a growth mindset approach to learning at home will complement this approach to learning at school. At school, we emphasize that we must put effort and show resilience when faced with challenges. 

Homework - Please be advised that I will not be sending home Spelling homework this week; instead, students will have Math homework to complete. As always, homework is due on Friday, March 31st.

Appropriate Clothing and Agendas - As the weather begins to warm up, please remember that our school yard gets very wet as the snow melts. In fact, our yard will start to resemble a small lake. Students need to be prepared for the changing weather each day by being dressed appropriately. It is recommended that students have a pair of water-proof boots for wet/rainy days. I have noticed some students are complaining about their indoor shoes not fitting anymore, or that some are well worn. Please ask your child about the condition of their indoor shoes so they can continue to feel comfortable and remain safe during gym activities.Also, please remember to check and initial your child's agenda daily since we have agenda notes most days. Thank you for your efforts!

Always Learning in Grade 3....

In Math, we have just completed our unit in Geometry. We will continue to review important concepts from this unit as the year progresses. Students have been busy learning about area and perimeter, as well as strategies to show their thinking when encountering these questions. We will create robots using area and perimeter for the body parts (e.g. arms, head, legs, etc.). Also, our class has been working very hard on multiplication to 7 x 7 and showing their work using arrays and repeated addition. We have started subtraction with regrouping using an algorithm and checking our answers using a number line. If you are looking for extra practice at home for your child, addition and subtraction with regrouping will assist their learning at school. There are many great websites that students should be using at home to support their learning in mathematics. Previously, I have mentioned www.tvokids.com and our students use this website frequently at school. Also, all students have access to Dreambox and their login information should be glued into the front of their agenda. Please note that logging into Dreambox has been difficult for some, depending on the device that you are using at home. Here are some additional websites you can try at home:

http://www.mathies.ca

http://www.mathplayground.com/

http://www.abcya.com/

https://ca.ixl.com/math/

www.MathBreakers.com

Also, students will find a variety of apps when they login to their "student portal" through our board website when they use their Google account. Our class uses their Google accounts everyday and all students know that their email and password is glued at the front of their agenda.

In Writing, students have been inspired by our read aloud of "Jumanji" and they are using this story to develop their own adventure stories. We are focusing on the characteristics of an adventure story, including a series of exciting/dangerous events before the solution is revealed at the end of the story. Part of the success criteria is using adjectives, quotation marks, a variety of punctuation, as well as including action verbs. In Reading, we are continuing to read a variety of texts and use reading comprehension strategies when answering short answer questions.

In Science, we have started a new unit called "Soils in the Environment." We will have a variety of exciting hands-on activities for this unit throughout the next few weeks. In Visual Arts, we have been integrating Math and the Arts. Students have finished a task making robots by using a variety of quadrilaterals. Presently, students are making a collage using two different colours and measuring/drawing/cutting squares to create a desired effect.

In Religion, our class has been thinking about why and how we make a Lenten journey. As we get closer to Easter, we are preparing to celebrate the dying and rising of Christ. Presently, students are discussing the ways they can prepare their hearts for Easter. Many students in our class have shared some of their personal sacrifices that they are making as part of their Lenten journey.

Once again, thank you for your continued support!

Mr. Blais

Classroom Notes – February 2017

Valentine Raffle Basket – Thank you to all parents and students who donated puzzle related items for our class basket. Our basket had many interesting items and I'm sure that it was popular at our St. Gregory Valentine's Day Dance. Way to go grade 3's.

Class Skating – Our first skating excursion was exciting and successful. We will continue to try to skate every Friday between 2:30 – 3:30. I will confirm or cancel skating the day before by sending home a quick note in the agenda. If you are able to assist our class with tying and untying skates and helmets, please write me a note and I will confirm with you.

Red and White Day – In anticipation of Canada's 150^th celebration, our school will have a red and white spirit day. Students can wear red and white clothing on Wednesday, February 15^th to recognize this important historical event.

First Term Reports Cards – Reports will be sent home on Thursday, February 16^th. As you discuss the report card with your child, it is important for students to reflect on the year and to set goals for the second term. Please sign and return the bottom portion of the report card as soon as possible.

Family Day – Schools will be closed on Monday, February 20th.

Student agendas – As previously mentioned, please be diligent in checking student agendas daily. Mme. Kealey and I will check for parent signatures/initials each day. All parents should be aware of due dates for both English and French and that work is completed with some assistance. A positive, supportive approach at home will reinforce a love of learning. Thank you for your hard work!

Class Blog and Twitter Account – Our class blog contains our monthly newsletter as well as some additional information. You can view the website at: http://mrblaisgrade3.blogspot.ca/

Don't forget to take a look at our class Twitter account. I try to post some pictures of learning and other activities when I get a chance.

Always Learning in Grade 3....

We have been very busy in Math! We will continue practising telling time to 5 minutes, as well as measuring length, height, width and the perimeter of a shape. Our attention in February will focus on Geometry and Spatial Sense. Students are learning about right angles and angles greater than and less than a right angle. We will continue learning about 2-D shapes and 3-D figures over the next few weeks. For extra practice at home, students can use www.tvokids.com

In Language, students have been working hard on persuasive writing. Next, we will be writing persuasive letters. In Reading, students have been learning about the characteristics of fables during our shared reading activities. We will continue to work on answering reading comprehension questions in anticipation of EQAO.

In Science, we have looked at what makes a structure strong and stable. Students participated in a fun paper folding experiment to see how many pennies their bridge could support. We have read several texts about human and natural structures.

In Religion, we have been discussing how the Holy Spirit is present in our lives as well as Jesus' life. We will be learning about the symbols of the Holy Spirit and the sacrament of Confirmation.

Please write me a note in your child's agenda if you have further questions. Thank you for your continued support!

Mr. Blais

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

Classroom Notes - December 2016

The Snow is Here! - Just a quick reminder that you can always place extra socks, mitts, toques etc. in your child's backpack since all students go out for recess on most days (except when it is too cold). Children love playing in the snow and they do come in from outside quite wet, so extra clothing will make their day more comfortable. Also, please label all clothing since many winter items end up in our lost and found and many students have similar clothing. Doing so will make finding those items much faster!

Christmas Shopping Day - Our annual Christmas shopping day will be held on Friday, December 16th. Thank you to all parents who have donated items for this event. 

Christmas Hampers - The last day to contribute Christmas Hamper items will be Friday, December 16th. Thank you for your thoughtfulness at this time of year. If you are planning on buying a gift card, please let me know by writing a note in your child's agenda. Once again, on behalf of St. Gregory School, I thank you for your continued generosity.

Christmas Concert - Our annual Christmas concert will be held on Thursday, December 22nd. We will be singing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." The Christmas Concert is a popular event and all parents are welcome.

Always Learning in Grade 3

In Math, students have been working very hard on applying strategies when solving challenging word problems. We spent most of November working on representing, adding and subtracting money amounts to $10, as well as rounding numbers to the nearest ten. All students can benefit from extra practice with money at home, so this can always be an extra activity to reinforce your child's learning at home. Currently, we are working on creating surveys and using this data to organize and create bar and pictographs. Also, students are learning to read and interpret data from a given or created graph. We will continue working on Data Management after Christmas as well.

In Language, our grade 3's are working on a new narrative story influenced by the story, "Snowmen At Night." We are continuing to focus on the characteristics of narrative writing, such as characters, setting, problem/solution. Students will also use a variety of punctuation, including quotation marks and adjectives in their writing. In Reading, we have been working on retelling a story and answering reading comprehension questions using the A.P.E. strategy. Students will practice this strategy throughout the year in preparation for EQAO.

In Science, we have begun our unit on structures and we are very lucky to have Mr. Ball working in our class as students design and create a strong and stable bridge. Mr. Ball assists our junior students each year in preparation for the engineering challenge, as well as our weekly maker's space activities during lunch.

In the Arts, students have been very busy creating winter scenes using water colour paints. Also, our class is doing a wonderful job with drawing Advent candles/wreaths with a stained glass perspective using pastels. We will begin Dance very shortly!

Now that we are in the season of Advent students have been learning how to prepare for Jesus' coming and how we can share the message of Advent and Christmas with others. As we get closer to Christmas, our days will get busier at home and within the school. On behalf of all St. Gregory staff, I wish all families a safe and memorable Christmas as we celebrate this special time of the year.

Mr. Blais

Mathematics Support at Home

During the progress report interviews, many parents mentioned that they see the benefits from the new methods that teachers are using in the mathematics classroom. Many parents replied that they wished that they learned math in this way when he or she was in elementary school. In our classroom, we have a growth mindset approach to learning math. Our students know that anyone can learn and do math with effort and by learning from our mistakes. Since most parents are not aware of how math is presently taught, I have outlined my approach, as well as some resources that will assist you as you support your child at home.

Dear parents,

Have you noticed that your child has been showing more enthusiasm, confidence and a positive mindset toward mathematics? When you ask your child about what they learned in school today, are they speaking about their solution to a problem, or perhaps, the many different approaches that they learned from their peers? By taking an inquiry based learning approach to mathematics, our students have been given opportunities to demonstrate their creativity, use their own ideas/knowledge and they are actively engaged in their learning.

Inquiry based learning is not teaching about how to use a specific procedure to solve a problem, then asking all students to mimic the same strategy to find the answer. However, an inquiry based approach allows:

• students to use their own ideas and combine their knowledge of mathematical methods and procedures to solve problems
• opportunities for students to think critically and creatively in a collaborative setting to deepen their understanding of math
• communication and math vocabulary to resonate between students and the teacher
• a realization that there can be many solutions to a problem and they can discover new pathways from their peers, instead of one fixed methodology
• problems that are visual to create interest, curiosity and get all students thinking

When students discuss their ideas in a safe classroom environment, they are more willing to take risks and learn from each other’s errors. As previously discussed, we will continue to have several positive growth mindset lessons in our class and praise your child for contributing his/her thinking. By encouraging student thinking toward mathematics in this manner, your child will gain confidence and be more prepared to solve real-life problems that are relevant in today’s world. Here is a few resources that can assist you at home:

"Doing Mathematics with Your Child K-6"

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/parentGuideNumEn.pdf

"Inspiring Your Child to Learn and Love Math"

http://www.ontariodirectors.ca/parent_engagement-math/en/index.htm

Using Manipulatives in the Classroom by Marilyn Burns
http://mathsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/1996_Hands_on_Help.pdf

Online Math Games

www.tvokids.com

Several parents have mentioned that they would like more opportunities to practice word problems at home. I am revising our "problem of the week" activities and I will begin to integrate these tasks into weekly homework.

Thank you for your support!

Mr. Blais

Classroom Notes - November 2016

• Patterning Tests - If you have not signed and returned the last math test, please do so as soon as possible since I would like all tests returned. We will continue working with a variety of math assessments in preparation for EQAO. I know that all students put in a lot of effort and they are proud of their work. Good job grade 3's!

• Parent/Teacher Interviews - Our parent teacher interviews will be held on November 17th. Interviews are scheduled using online booking using a Google Form. The Progress Report interviews are short and I do have to stay on time to respect all parents who have booked, so please be aware that our time is limited. Thanks for understanding!

• Progress Reports - Please sign the bottom portion of the report and return it to school with the envelope since we can reuse it for the first term report. It is important that students discuss their goals for their learning with you. I will continue to discuss the importance of learning skills throughout the year to the class as they prepare for the junior division. Thank you for your continued support!

• Technology Coach - We are very lucky to have a expert from our board for the next few weeks to teach our students how to navigate through Google-based programs, such as Read & Write, Google Drive and Google Docs. Students will learn how to navigate through and organize their drive, use tools in Read & Write (e.g. word predictor, microphone, etc.) and to be more independent when navigating through the student portal. This is a very unique learning experience that will foster student success using technology.

• Homework Routines and Getting Enough Sleep - Having a structured homework routine - including a regular time and place - will reinforce learning at school and demonstrate our home/school commitment to the success of your child. Please take some time to look over each week's Spelling homework to ensure understanding and that it is completed neatly. Many students appear to be more tired than normal and seem less energetic. With the time change and ongoing commitments, it is understandable that children are tired, but please keep in mind that that we have a busy school schedule and children need enough sleep to learn to the best of their ability.

• TVO Kids - I have introduced the TVO website to our class during our iPad block (www.tvokids.com) and I encourage students to investigate some of the Math apps. There are many engaging games, so take a look!

• Remembrance Day Liturgy - Our Remembrance Day Liturgy will be held this Friday at 10:45. All are welcome!

• PD Day - Don't forget that Friday, November 18th is a PD Day and there is no school for students. Our school choir will be singing at Centrepointe Theatre during the evening for Rag and Bone Theatre. If interested, you can purchase tickets in advance by going to the Rag and Bone website, or at the box office during the day of the play.

Always Learning in Grade 3

In Math, we are currently working on representing, adding and subtracting money amounts to $10. We are working on problem solving strategies and mental math using adding and subtracting. We will create menus and pretend to purchase items from each other and receive change to provide a real life context to money. Students will begin learning about rounding numbers to the nearest 10.

In Language, we are finishing up our narrative writing called "My Haunted House For Sale." In this writing task, students have learned to create a problem/solution, use detail and a variety of punctuation (e.g. question marks, exclamation marks, commas, etc.). We will begin learning how to effectively write answers to comprehension questions using the "APE" strategy. Students will practice this strategy throughout the year in preparation for EQAO. We will continue working on identifying the main idea in a text.

We are getting close to finishing our Science unit on forces. We had a few experiments using gravitational and magnetic force. We have discussed friction and we will have a short experiment on electrostatic force. I am preparing a take home project on natural forces that will go home shortly. A detailed letter will go home shortly to explain the expectations of the task.

In Religion, we have discussed why we pray and different types of prayer. In Family Life, we are talking about our gifts and talents and how God wants us to share these talents/gifts with others.

In Visual Arts, students are completing their autumn art using colour, space, movement and patterning. I have posted a few pictures on our class Twitter page.

If you have any questions, please write me a note in the agenda. Thanks for your continued support!

Mr. Blais

Classroom Notes – October 2016

Terry Fox Run – Thank you for donating to our annual Terry Fox run. Our class was very excited to participate and it was a beautiful afternoon for this special event. St. Gregory is close to meeting our monetary goal because of your generosity.

Cooler Weather...brrrr – It has been a warm and sunny autumn so far, but it seems that the cooler weather has finally reached us. Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the entire day. As previously mentioned, students can keep extra socks, mitts, hats, etc. in their backpack. Please label all clothing so lost items can be hopefully found and returned promptly. Many students have similar clothing items, so labelling helps determine proper ownership.

A Note Regarding Homework - Thank you for supporting your child's learning at home. All extra practice will reinforce learning at school. We are partners in your child's education and I cannot emphasize enough how important the role that a home/school connection has toward academic success. Please send me a note if your child experiences difficulty with some or all of the homework tasks. It is recommended that all children have a consistent homework routine. Please check in with your child to ensure understanding of a task, praise their hard work and support their learning in a positive manner.

Reading on Raz-Kids and Using Dreambox – Just a reminder that I consider reading on Raz-Kids to be part of weekly homework and I am aware of how much time that your child spends using the app. It is recommended that students balance reading on Raz-Kids with other reading materials (i.e. chapter books, picture books, etc.). Students will be given their logins and passwords for Dreambox this week and this information will be glued into their agenda.

Spelling Quiz Books – I will be sending spelling quiz books home on Friday, October 14^th for parents to look over and sign. Please return these booklets on Monday, October 17^th.

Lottery Calendars – Students received their lottery calendars last week from parent council. If you are not participating and do not plan to use the calendars, you should return them to school. Based on previous years, parent council would like all unused calenders returned since there are always many students looking for extras.

Always Learning in Grade 3...

In Math, we have started a unit in patterning. We are currently focusing on growing and shrinking number patterns. Our class has worked hard on describing a pattern rule using appropriate math vocabulary. Together, we learned from our mistakes and we were given the opportunity to teach Mrs. Cooper's grade 3/4 class. We will continue to work on our patterning unit throughout October and we will have a unit test by the end of the month. I will send home practice work in advance of the test and provide parents with a specific date once it has been determined.

In Writing, grade 3's are writing a descriptive paragraph about their favourite holiday. We have worked on writing an effective opening/closing sentence, adjectives and using detail to improve our writing. Most students are revising their work by using our class “Bump it Up” wall, peer-editing and teacher conferences. Our next writing task will be narrative writing with a Halloween twist. In Reading, we have been working on reading comprehension strategies and practising “making connections” to texts in order to be better readers.

In Science, we are continuing our unit on forces. We have discussed the impact that natural forces have in the environment, such as landslides and erosion. Our class was very excited to complete an experiment using buoyancy and gravity. Students designed and created their own boats using tin foil to support a load (pennies). We will begin another experiment using small magnets to push, pull and stop an object.

In Family Life, students have learned that we may have likes and dislikes that may be similar or different from others, but regardless, we are unique. In Religion, we have discussed our Catholic community – as well as other communities – and we have created artwork inspired Fernando Llort. We have so many talented artists! Next, we will focus on use of colour and movement in Visual Arts.

Thank you for your continued support!

Mr. Blais