Homework week of October 22.

There are three pages of homework this week, plus studying for spelling and daily book bag readings.
Some of the vocabulary this week is as follows:

le céleri - celery
l'épicerie - grocery store
le citron - lemon
les épices - spices
la cire - wax
une scie - a saw
la racine - root
la cime - the top
une façade - a facade/front
le cil - eyelash
la commode - chest of drawers
la noce - wedding
le laçage - lacing up
la cerise - cherry
les ciseaux - scissors
le cèdre - cedar tree
l'océan - ocean
le pouce - thumb
le cigare - cigar
la piscine - swimming pool
nager - to swim

Science - animals.

This week we also started our unit on animals. To that end, the students discussed what animals are, and what characteristics they share. Following this, we brainstormed how we could group animals according to shared characteristics and differences. Here are your children, hard at work...

Learning how to study for spelling tests.

I give the students ample time during the week to study their spelling words - while also expecting that they will spend a few minutes every evening doing the same thing! We have talked about different ways to study and this week I put them in pairs with white boards, markers, and socks (never worn ... and used to wipe the white board clean!) to practise with each other. Great fun and good learning ensued!

Measurement

This week we started a new unit on measurement, beginning with using non-standard units. They started with using straws, then coffee stirrers, and yesterday their hands and feet to measure just about everything in our classroom. Next week we'll start to discuss standard units of measure. Stay tuned! 

Homework

To clear up any confusion, I'm going to give a little further explanation regarding homework for the class.

Each week the children will have a spelling test. They will copy the words into their agenda and are expected to study them ready for a test every Friday.

The children will also bring home a book bag. These must be returned on Thursdays and it is hoped that you will read with your child every day.

The red homework folder contains reading and writing exercises.
On the first page, children are to read the poem and then practise saying the letter combinations in large print at the bottom of the page.
On the second page, children read and copy the syllables on the left hand side. They read the words and phrases on the right hand side. At the bottom of the page is a list of words and two phrases that they read and also copy.
On the third page, children read the words in the rectangle (1). For 2., they write down the word that corresponds with the picture. For 3. they copy the phrase.
On the fourth page, children identify and write down the word that corresponds with the picture.
On the fifth page, children circle the hard "g" sound (1). For 2., they write the syllables. For 3., they colour only the pictures that contain the hard "g" sound.
On the last page, children complete the words using the syllables on the left hand side to correspond with the picture.

Each week, the homework will follow much the same pattern.

Some of the vocabulary in this week's homework is:
le gâteau - cake
guéri - cured/better
la guêpe - wasp
le guide - guide/way
la gare - station
galope - gallop
le figure - face
fatigué - tired
rigole - laugh
une bague - a ring
regarder - to look at
gâté - spoilt
l'église - church
carotte - carrot
le garage - garage
le sofa - sofa
les raisins - grapes
le locomotive - train
le gant - glove
la galette - cookie
la langue - tongue

I hope that this is helpful!

We're going on a trip!

Hopefully your child has brought home a trip form by now. If you haven't seen it, have a good look in his or her backpack.

On November 5, three of Clairlea's grade 2 classes will be going to the Royal Winter Fair! I'm already excited. There will be so much to see and do - and it will be a perfect complement to our upcoming science unit on animals.

Remember to complete the forms as soon as possible and to send them back along with payment.

I'll be needing a couple of volunteers to help to chaperone the children. Please indicate on the forms if you'd like to come with us for this exciting day!

International Day of the Tree

Actually, it was International Day Against Tree Monocultures which you can read more about here:

http://www.foei.org/en/blog/international-day-against-monoculture-tree-plantations-september-21

In short, this is a day that raises awareness of the harm plantations cause to biodiversity and ecosystems around the world.

In our classroom, we recognized it by thinking about and discussing the many things that trees do to benefit our lives and the world we inhabit. Here's a small sampling of the student work. Enjoy!

Some students focused on how trees provide foods such as fruits, nuts, and maple syrup.

Some thought about how we use trees to make paper.
This brought on a discussion about the need to recycle so that we can preserve our trees.

Trees help to clean our air by stopping airborne particles, reducing heat,
and absorbing pollutants like carbon monoxide. 

Trees are a natural source of shelter and habitat for birds, animals, and insects... and they provide us with shade too!

Tree roots are important because they hold water and reduce flooding. If you were able to dig out an entire tree, you would see that its roots are as big as the tree itself. 

Roots are made up of large roots, small roots and rootlets. As tree roots grow they make large channels for water to move through. 

Tree branches and leaves stop raindrops from hitting the ground too fast so the soil has more time to absorb the rain water.  

Less water will run off the surface and that will reduce soil erosion. 

Trees provide shade so that less water evaporates from the soil.

Our schedule.

Now that things have settled down in our new classroom - here's some information to help you stay organized:

Day 1: 

• Health with Mr. Kryzanowski

Day 2: 

• Music with Miss Wright

Day 3: 

• Physical education with Mme Pare 
• Drama/dance with Mr. Poon 
• Library/computers with Mme Paré

Day 4: 

• Drama/dance with Mr. Poon

Day 5: 

• Visual arts with Mme Demeter, 
• DPA/health with Mr. Kryzanowski

Currently, Mondays are Day 4.

Students must be wearing running shoes for gym. This is for safety reasons. If your child has no running shoes on Day 3, s/he will have to sit out.

Don't forget to bring recorders for music on Day 2!

Class jobs.

We also came up with responsibilities for each week. Every student has a job that s/he does on a weekly rotation. We switch jobs at the beginning of each new week so that everyone gets a turn. So far the favourite job is to feed our class fish. We named him today and he now proudly sports the title "M. Arc en ciel".

Our class rules.

Les règles de la salle 103.

The whole class collaborated to decide upon rules and expectations for Room 103. None of the rules came from me... well... except that we must speak French all the time! The students all signed the rules and even added a thumb or fingerprint - which I turned into insects and other strange creatures!

Recounts.

This week we started to learn how to write a recount of a personal experience. The children have discussed the importance of including the "who", the "where", the "when", and the "why". We have also looked at how to put our thoughts down in order.

So what did we do? First of all, we needed a personal experience to write about so... we all went a mini-excursion to Edge Park! The children were asked to pay special attention to what they saw, what they smelled, what they heard. When we came back to the classroom, we reflected upon what we had experienced and we used our recount rules and processes to record our shared experience.

Here is what we came up with:

Lundi matin, Madame Paré et la classe sont allées à Edge Park. Il a fait beau, donc nous n'avons pas porté nos manteaux. Nous avons quitté l'école en ligne et nous avons été silencieux. Tout d'un coup, quand Mme a ouvrit la porte, la classe a couru et a rigolé. Pendant notre visite au parc, nous avons vu des papillons jaunes, des oiseaux, et deux bébés. Nous avons entendu les voitures et les élèves qui rigolaient. En plus, nous avons entendu des élèves qui criaient " Madame ! "  Toute la classe a joué.   On a été très bien amusé !  C'êtait excitant et on veut y aller une autre fois !

Running towards Edge Park.

Almost there...

First sight of the park!

Je suis un lapin au parc Madame!

On joue sur le bascule.

On explore.

Regarde-moi Madame ! 

On s'amuse avec les balançoires.

On monte et descende la colline.

On a vu des bébés.

Voici notre belle classe !

On explore la petite forêt.

Regarde parmi les arbres !

On retourne à l'école.

Madame - regarde tout le sable dans mes souliers !

The students are also working on drawing pictures of their favourite moment during our mini-excursion. Here are some that were finished today:

Homework and book bags.

HOMEWORK PROGRAMME

Our homework programme will begin this week and run through to the end of the year.  Your child will be given a homework folder and the work inside will coincide with a sound being studied in class.  Each week, students will have some reading and writing exercises to do at home.  The homework will always be read through, described, and discussed before going home.  The following week, students will have opportunities to ask questions if they are unclear or stuck.  Work will always be discussed before going home: the material will never be new.

Homework folders are sent home every Friday.  They are due back the following Thursday.

A reminder that homework is part of our assessment for report cards, and I will be tracking work that is incomplete or late.

BOOK BAGS

This week we will also start our book bags.  Every week, students will be assigned a book and may choose a second book from our class and/or school library.  My expectation is that every child practise reading each book every day at home.  I encourage you to sit with your child while s/he reads, and ask questions (What was this book about?  What did it remind you of?  Or, predict what it will be about?).  Your involvement in the reading programme will be very important in supporting, motivating and encouraging your child to read daily. 

Each book bag will have a tracking sheet where students will write book titles and the date that they are due back.  I ask that you sign the tracking sheet every week, as confirmation that you have read with your child.  A big thank you for your anticipated support and involvement, in our reading programme.

Book bags go home every Friday.  They are due back the following Thursday.

Call for volunteers.

I'm hopeful that our homework and book bag programmes will start at the end of this week and am looking for a parent or guardian to come in once a week to help to organize it. If you have the time and the interest, could you please write a note in your child's agenda, or send me an email? Thanks!