Friday, 23 December 2016

It's the end of another year...

Well 2016 is over and the students are really enjoying their last day of school in pyjamas, with stuffed toys, a party, a movie... you name it, we're doing it!

There is no homework over the holidays, however there will be a 20 word spelling test on frequently used words at the end of the first week. These are words that students are expected to know by this point in the year. The best way to prepare for this is to read daily and to focus on words that appear frequently. Happy reading!

I wish you all the very best for the New Year and wonderful, happy holidays.


Tuesday, 20 December 2016

Friday pyjama day!!

After some discussion with your children, it has been decided that this Friday will be PYJAMA DAY!!!

In addition, we will watch a holiday movie and have a party. With regards to food, please feel free to send in a small amount of HEALTHY treats. I discourage the students from eating junk food.

Friday, 16 December 2016

Spelling words and homework.

Spelling words for next week focus on the sound "an". 

  1. le pantalon
  2. une orange
  3. le panda
  4. quand
  5. demander
  6. méchant
  7. avant
  8. devant
  9. blanc
  10. la guirlande
Homework:
Students are bringing home a sheet with interview questions on it. All week, they will be given the opportunity to listen to other students' presentations and to ask them clarifying questions. The homework is to write up what they have learned.

Thursday, 15 December 2016

Dioramas and science project update

Hi there everyone. I wanted to give you all a quick update on our science projects. Students haven't yet started to do their presentations... that's going to happen tomorrow! Why? Well, because it's taking a while to get the dioramas done. Some students have been putting in so much effort that we've needed a few extra days to get things finished.
Below are pictures of their work... enjoy!















Friday, 9 December 2016

Science Project Due Date

A friendly reminder that our science project is due on Monday, December 12th.  The research project consists of:
1) Introduction
2) Appearance
3) Habitat
4) Food
5) Life cycle with drawing
6) Adaptation to the environment
7) Interesting facts
8) Cover page - drawing of your animal 

I am attaching the rubric that was sent home 4 weeks ago, for you to look over with your child. Oral presentations will take place next week; students will speak freely to the class, prompted by my questions. The goal is for them to share what they have researched and learned, and not to read off a script.  Please email me if you have any questions; 



Level 1      (D)
Level 2      (C)
Level 3      (B)
Level 4      (A)
Knowledge
of content
Demonstrates limited knowledge of content.
Demonstrates some knowledge of content.
Demonstrates considerable
knowledge of content.
Demonstrates thorough
knowledge of content.
Understanding
Demonstrates limited understanding of content.
Demonstrates some understanding of content.
Demonstrates considerable understanding of content.
Demonstrates thorough understanding of content.
Creativity
Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations
of nature with limited care or creativity.

Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations
of nature with some care or creativity.

Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations
of nature with considerable care or creativity.
Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations
of nature with great care and creativity.

Written communication

TRANSLATION TOOLS ARE NOT PERMITTED!
Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with limited effectiveness.
Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with some effectiveness.
Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with considerable effectiveness.
Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with a high degree of effectiveness.
Written presentation
Written work is not neat and tidy or well-organized, and does not demonstrate that a good effort has been made.
Written work is somewhat neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates some degree of effort.
Written work is neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates a good effort.
Written work is extremely neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates a great deal of effort.
Research
Little evidence of research.
Some evidence of research. Research is accurate/some categories are complete.
Project is researched and accurate. Most categories are complete.
Project is researched and accurate. All categories are complete.
Oral presentation
Presentation is not serious and/or very little information is shared with the class.
Presentation is serious but little information is shared with the class, or vice versa.
Presentation is serious and some information is shared with the class.
Presentation is serious and much information is shared with the class.
Attentitive listening/
respect
Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with limited effectiveness.
Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with some effectiveness.
Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with considerable effectiveness.
Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with a high degree of effectiveness.

Spelling words and homework.

Spelling words are:

  1. la chenille
  2. la chèvre
  3. le chocolat
  4. chuchoter
  5. le chateau
  6. la chose
  7. le choix
  8.  le mouchoir
  9. la cheminée
  10. le cochon

Homework:

We have been learning about non-fiction texts (les textes et livres informatifs). This week, students are asked to find a non-fiction book and identify a minimum 5 elements of this genre of writing. For example, there might be a glossary, bold type, maps, and photos. 

Wednesday, 7 December 2016

Tomorrow's field trip!

Tomorrow is our much anticipated class trip to the Théâtre Français to see "l'Île au trésor". 

A very heartfelt thank you for returning permission forms and money so quickly.

We will leave the school by 9AM and travel by school bus.  We will return between 11:30 - 12:00.

Students will not be able to bring a snack (no eating on the bus or in the theatre), so you may want to feed the kids a very hearty breakfast!

Thanks for your support on this trip:)

Friday, 2 December 2016

Dioramas

It's taken a little while for all students to bring in shoe boxes and materials for their diorama. I think we're pretty much there now, so next week we'll use our science periods to begin making them. If you have any extra materials you've been collecting, send them in for Tuesday.
Here are some more examples:





Thursday, 1 December 2016

Spelling words and homework.

The sound of the week next week is "in"/"im". The words are:


  1. grimper
  2. la main
  3. impossible
  4. maintenant
  5. peindre
  6. demain
  7. le lapin
  8. le sapin
  9. le train
  10. le requin

Homework:
This week, students are bringing home the final tasks for their project. The sections are Adaptations to the Environment and Interesting Facts. An example of adaptations to the environment for a dolphin might be:
  • It has a streamlined shape so it can move fast in the water to get away from predators
  • It has excellent hearing to protect itself from predators, and 
  • It swims with other dolphins to protect itself from predators.
Students are also bringing home their cover page. This is to be glued to the front of their yellow folder. Students should draw a realistic picture of their animal, write the name of their animal, their own name, and the date that they drew it.

This is a short week and I haven't had a chance to read one-on-one with every student so I'm not sending home book bags.

Also, the deadline for sending in trip forms and money is this coming TUESDAY!