October News from Room #8
Dear Parent(s) / Guardian(s), October 5, 2009
I can hardly believe we have been back to school for one entire month already. As everyone I am sure is already aware we are now officially a straight Grade 3 classroom with only 17 students. Although we miss our Grade 2 classmates, we are now able to focus strictly on learning the Grade 3 curriculum. A few other changes include the teachers who are covering Science, Library, Media Literacy, Health, and Character Education. Due to Mrs. Lautenschlager taking over the Grade 4 classroom, Ms. McFaul will be teaching our class Library on Day 1, Media Literacy and Health on Days 3 and 5. Ms. McReelis will be teaching our class Science on Day 2 and 4 and Character Education every second Day 6.
September was a great month in Room #8. We have been refreshing ourselves with our Four Agreements (Attentive Listening, Mutual Respect, No Put Downs / Appreciations, and Participation / the Right to Pass). We have begun to talk about Personal Goals and what they might look like in Grade 3. We have also become comfortable with many of Room 8's classroom routines.
In Language we have been looking at the components of narrative stories, making connections, and non-fiction summaries. We have also been learning about what Writer's Workshop looks like this year. We will continue with all of this throughout October also.
In Math we have been learning how to problem solve using our Math Placemats to organize our work. Slowly the class is getting more independent in completing all four stages of problem solving (understanding the problem, selecting a strategy, carrying out their work, and explaining their strategy choice). In September we finished our first unit on Patterning. Unit tests will be coming home to be signed this week. We are currently working on Number Sense, focusing primarily on Understanding Place Value. The students are learning how to represent numbers in a variety of ways (i.e., using numerals, writing numbers using words, drawing a picture, or writing numbers in expanded form).
In Science the students had begun learning about Plants with Mrs. Lautenschlager. I believe Ms. McReelis, the teacher who has taken over teaching our class Science, will finish up this unit throughout this month.
In Social Studies we have begun to learn about the Native American's who first occupied our country, Canada. We will continue learning about how they lived throughout this month.
In Gym we have been focusing on Co-operative Games and Soccer Skills. This month we will also add in some specific ball handling manipulation skills.
Our homework program officially started last week. Congratulations to everyone who finished and handed in their work before Friday. Just a reminder, I do not send home work home during 4 day weeks. Also when your child does receive their homework again you will notice my marking indicators: E = excellent, G = good, S = satisfactory, NI = needs improvement and R = redo (this indicates the homework assignments must be looked at again and corrected for that week). If any questions ever arise please do not hesitate to contact me.
Our Grade 3's are very lucky to be taking part in the Swim to Survive program this month. A Newsletter specifically outlining the goals of this FREE program is attached to this newsletter as well as a coloured poster outlining the philosophy behind this program. Our class will be going to the Lindsay Recreation Centre for our 3 one-hour swimming lessons on the following three Wednesday's (Starting the Wednesday after Thanksgiving): Wednesday, October 14th, Wednesday, October 21st, and Wednesday, October 28th. Students are asked to bring their bathing suits, a towel, money for a locker if they wish, and a bag to put everything in on these days. A male E.A. (still to be determined) will be joining our class to assist with supervision in the boys change room. The bus will be picking us up at 10:35 on these days. This means students will be eating their snacks a little early and missing most of their first nutrition break. The bus will return back to the school just before our second nutrition break (around 12:40). If you have any questions or concerns about this program do not hesitate to get in touch with me during school hours or by writing a note in your child's Agenda.
This month we will be having a Class Halloween Party on the 30th. The time of day this will begin has yet to be determined. We will be enjoying healthy snacks during the 2nd Nutrition Break (12:45) if any are provided. I am also planning on carving pumpkins as a class on Thursday, October 29th. Students are encouraged to bring in their own pumpkin to carve. I will be purchasing 4 class pumpkins for any students who are not able to bring in one of their own to carve in a group together. Pumpkins can be brought into the classroom any time during the week of the 26th, but not before. We will be carving from 1:25 to 3:05. If you are able to help during this time can you please let me know. Finally if you have any kid friendly pumpkin carving tools you can lend us, can you please label them with your name and send them in for the 29th. They will be returned that afternoon.
Have a great month and if you have any questions or concerns please contact me through your child's Agenda or on the phone during school hours.
Sincerely,
Mrs. S. Nielsen
October Important Dates in Room #8
Monday, October 5th - Milk Money $2.40 due, Turkey Shoot 50 cents,
No Homework
Tuesday, October 6th - Turkey Shoot 50 cents
Wednesday, October 7th - Last Day for the Turkey Shoot 50 cents
Thursday, October 8th - Turkey Shoot off if any ties
Friday, October 9th - P.A. Day (no school), Thanksgiving Holidays begin
Saturday, October 10th - Happy Birthday Hailey Christensen
Monday, October 12th - Thanksgiving Monday (no school)
Tuesday, October 13th - Milk Money $2.40, No Homework
Wednesday, October 14th - First day of Swim to Survive (bring bathing suit /
towel), Parent Council meeting 6 pm (all parents welcome)
Friday, October 16th - Happy Birthday Matthew
Monday, October 19th - Milk Money $3.00, Homework Book
Wednesday, October 21st - Second day of Swim to Survive (bring bathing suit/towel)
Monday, October 26th - Milk Money $3.00, Homework Book
Wednesday, October 28th - Last day of Swim to Survive (bring bathing suit/towel),
Parent Survey coming home.
Thursday, October 29th - Carving Pumpkins 1:25-3:05 (bring pumpkin, carving tools)
Friday, October 30th - Praise Assembly 11a.m., Halloween Parade, Class Party ~ please send in Healthy snack to enjoy at 2nd Nutrition Break if possible.
