Farewell...

Dear parents and students,

I've had a wonderful year with your lovely, smart children. They've had fun, worked hard, and formed lasting friendships. It was the nicest class I could have hoped for this year, which is my last at Clairlea. Next year, I'll be teaching junior and intermediate students at another school... It is with a heavy heart that I leave - but perhaps you'll see me at your Grade 8 grad?!

All the very best to everyone,

Kati.

Our final week

Next week marks our last 4 days of school.  We'll be celebrating the successes of our Grade 2 year with several fun activities.

On Wednesday, June 28th (weather permitting), we will be walking over to Parma Park to use their splash pad.   For those who are not familiar, Parma Park is about a 10 minute walk west of us on the other side of Victoria Park.  We will leave school after 9AM and return for 11AM.

Students must bring:

• a sunhat & wear sunscreen
• swim wear or a change of clothes
• water shoes (flip flops are fine)
• a towel

I'm looking for parent volunteers who can walk with us and help supervise at the splash pad.  Please email me if you are available: katalin.roughton-pare@tdsb.on.ca

If the weather is unsettled, we will simply stay back.  Please check the blog for updates.

Library books and book bags.

Library books may no longer be signed out this year. Please look carefully at home to see if you might have any books lurking around... Ms. Vincent is planning to send home overdue reports before the end of the year and fines may be possible if books are missing!

Regarding book bags: I am collecting them all in. As with library books, please make sure that you don't keep any at home. I certainly won't fine anyone, but the fewer we have every year, the fewer next year's students have access to. Thanks!

Spelling words and homework

Spelling words for next week:

1. j'aime
2. j'ai froid
3. bonjour
4. il fait beau
5. mercredi
6. la couleur
7. demain
8. c'est beau
9. il pleut
10. beaucoup

Homework: Social studies projects are due Monday. If anyone needs help over the weekend, send me an email and I'll get back to you. Presentations will be done over a few days next week, so if some of you don't bring them in exactly on Monday, it's not the end of the world.

Have a lovely weekend!

Spelling words and homework.

Sight words!

1. Après
2. J'étais
3. L'école
4. Aussi
5. Quand
6. Mais
7. Aujourd'hui
8. Parce que
9. Chercher
10. Toujours

Homework:

Continue with the Social Studies project. If your child needs help with vocabulary or the process, encourage him/her to come and see me... remember, this isn't meant to be stressful (for you either!).

Track and Field tomorrow!

Just a reminder that tomorrow is Primary Track and Field. It's going to be a little chilly in the morning but 19 by the afternoon... so have your child dress in layers. Also, think about bringing sunscreen, a hat, and a water bottle.

Online reading support.

I came across this website today. It has read-along texts at grade level. Our class should choose from the first selection (1er cycle). Enjoy!     read along texts

Spelling words and homework.

Sorry this is a bit late! Here are the spelling words...

Être (to be) in the imperfect tense... aka I was, you were, he/she was, etc.

j'étais               nous étions
tu étais             vous étiez
il était              ils étaient
elle était          elles étaient
on était

Homework:
Your child has brought home a Social Studies project outline that explains that they are to research the traditions and celebrations of the country they picked on Friday. Each student has glued their country into their agenda. As noted in the outline, while parents are obviously going to help with research, this must be YOUR CHILD'S OWN WRITTEN WORK please. Don't be tempted to use online translation tools as firstly, this isn't your child's own work, but also because they're no good. They give literal translations that make little sense.

Two good online dictionaries are reverso.com and wordreference.com. I expect written work to be of a Grade 2 level not university!

If you have questions or concerns, please do let me know - this isn't meant to be stressful for anyone! Here is an example of a level 3 (B) poster. There's plenty of time to ask questions; I am happy to help along the way!

Spelling words and homework.

I can't believe that we'll already be in June next week! This year has flown by! ... sigh... anyway; here are the spelling words - another verb conjugation:

1. je fais         nous faisons
2. tu fais         vous faites
3. il fait           ils font
4. elle fait       elles font
5. on fait

Homework: In class today, we watched a video on home fire safety and the importance of having a family evacuation plan. For homework, students are to collaborate with their family to create a plan.

Spelling words and homework.

Spelling words. In the same vein as this week, the students will conjugate a verb in the present tense and make simple sentences. The verb is "avoir".

J'ai           Nous avons
Tu as       Vous avez
Il a           Ils ont
Elle a       Elles ont
On a

Homework is to complete the worksheets on capacity.

Happy Victoria Day!

Clairlea's got talent!

Here's a copy of the "Clairlea's got Talent" flyer that should have come home last week. If your child would like to perform: practise, practise, practise!

I'm not yet sure when we'll have our class presentation to see who goes forward to the final, but I'll let you know soon!

Last night...

...was AMAZING! I'm so very proud of all the students. They worked hard and extremely enthusiastically to present wonderfully last night. I also have to say that during the loooong wait before and after our turn, their behaviour was exemplary. Great job everyone!!

Next week's spelling test focuses on the verb to be (Être) in the present tense. Students will be given 9 simple sentences, each requiring that they conjugate the verb.

Être
je suis        nous sommes
tu es          vous êtes
il est          ils sont
elle est       elles sont
on est

Homework: Students are bringing home a blank family tree. They are to fill it in with the name of the person, the person's title (e.g., grandmother), and their place of birth. Some students have asked if they can do a more complex one than that which I've handed out - of course they can! Students will present their family tree at some point during next week.

Wishing everyone a fabulous weekend!

Concert!

The day is almost here! Three important things to remember:

1. Please have your child in our holding room no later than 6:15.
2. Students must wear their pink tie-dye t-shirt and black (or dark) pants.
3. Being in the holding room is boring - feel free to send in quiet activities. Electronics are discouraged, however if you do choose to allow them, it is your child's responsibility to keep them safe and secure.

See you tomorrow night!

Concert clothing

The students have decided that they would like to wear their pink tie-dye t-shirts on Thursday... so... that's what we're going to do, paired with black (dark) pants.

Encourage your child to keep practising!

Spelling and homework.

Spelling reviews the sound [ai]:

1. Aimer     
2. aider     
3. la fraise     
4. le balai     
5. le lait     
6. laisser     
7. une semaine    
8. la maison     
9. jamais     
10. la laine

Homework:

For one last time, students are to practise, practise, practise our concert song and dance ready for Thursday night!

Don't forget to have your child arrive at SATEC by 6:15! If you wish, you can have him/her come with a quiet activity such as colouring to avoid boredom during the long wait for their performance. I don't recommend electronics as they may get lost.

Next week.

Spelling:

1. un ouvrier
2. un pommier
3. le premier
4. un entier
5. le policier
6. un voilier
7. un collier
8. un cahier
9. février
10. Prix Peuplier

Homework:
Students are bringing home a math problem to solve.

Themed basket:
As I mentioned in a post last week, on the night of the concert, themed baskets are being raffled. Our theme is film night. Please, please try to send in something for our basket as so far, we have nothing!

Dance practise:
Here's a link to the song we're dancing to for the concert in case your child fancies practising! Ca fait rire les oiseaux

Field trip:
We're off to the Science Centre on Thursday, May 4. Make sure your child arrives at school on time! Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to come with us!

SPRING CONCERT IMPORTANT NOTICE

The Spring Concert is approaching fast!  Our class is performing on May 11^th, at SATEC. They will be required to arrive no later than 6:15pm.  The concert will likely wrap up by 830pm.

Please have your child wear black (or other dark coloured) pants and a white top.

As well, on Tuesday, May 9^th, your child’s class will be walking to SATEC in the morning for a rehearsal. Classes will start walking after O’Canada or just before.  We will rehearse at SATEC rain or Shine so please dress your child accordingly! 

All students are asked to make arrangements to eat their lunch at school on this day if they normally go home. Everyone will be heading back to school sometime around noon, they’ll get to eat their lunch and head out to play.

Donations please...

On the night of our Spring Concert, raffle tickets will be sold to win themed baskets. Each class is responsible for collecting items to place in their assigned basket. Ours has a MOVIE NIGHT theme. It would be great if everyone could donate at least one thing for us to put in our basket. If you cannot, a small cash donation would be fine. Ideas are:

• Movie tickets
• 2 for 1 coupons
• Popcorn
• DVDs
• Movie themed toys or clothing
• 3D glasses
• Candy
• A bottle of wine and some glasses?? ... thinking out of the box a little? 

Any ideas you have I'm sure will be great! 

Thanks!

Spelling words and homework.

The spelling words this week use the "c doux" sound [s].

1. est-ce que
2. parce que
3. le ciel
4. une pièce
5. une cerise
6. un citron
7. un cylindre
8. ici
9. voici
10. la façon

Homework: Students are to memorize the second verse of Comme des Enfants.

Volunteers please!

Yesterday, your child came home with a permission form regarding a class trip we are taking to the Science Centre. We're going on Thursday, May 4. Please consider volunteering to come on the trip with us! You can indicate your willingness to join us either on the trip form, by leaving a comment here, or by sending me an email. Thanks!

Easter basket-making.

Here's some of the mess we made and the fun that was had! Students will be bringing home their baskets and treats today. Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it!

International Day of Pink

Here is my fabulous class all sporting their tie-dye t-shirts and showing solidarity for all people everywhere.

Homework and spelling.

Spelling for this week reviews c dur [k].

1. une coquille
2. un cube
3. une cloche
4. beaucoup
5. encore
6. une carte
7. une école
8. un crayon
9. couper
10. une culotte

Homework: Memorize the first verse of "Comme les Enfants". Here's the link again: our concert song

Papier Maché

To recognize Easter, we are making baskets using napkins and papier maché. I must be crazy because there's paste everywhere!!! The students are loving it though, as evidenced by their animated conversation during the project. If the baskets are dry in time, they'll be coming home for an Easter egg hunt this weekend! :)

Homework and spelling.

Spelling. The sound of the week is the soft "g".

1. un genou
2. le gymnase
3. une girafe
4. manger
5. dangereux
6. partager
7. une bougie
8. le fromage
9. la magie
10. une orange

Homework:

Students need to write down and memorize their address and the telephone numbers of parents and/or home. This is important in case of an emergency situation where your child may need to identify him/herself. As we're writing letters, it has become clear that many of the students would not be able to do so!

Tie-Dye!

Well here we are making a mess! Everyone wore one of my husband's old shirts so that I didn't send students home with pink clothes! I'm not sure how these t-shirts are going to turn out (a lot of the dye ended up everywhere but on their t-shirts), but it's for a good cause and the students LOVED the activity!

A huge thank you to our Grade 7 helpers. We couldn't have done it without them.

Students are going to wear their pink t-shirt on International Day of Pink next week Wednesday.

Tin cans please!

Hello everyone - please could you send your child in with a clean, empty, tin can before the end of next week? Ms. Vlacho-Daskalakis will be using them for an art activity. (Perhaps try to ensure that there are no sharp edges if at all possible). Also, it would be helpful to write your child's name on the bottom with a Sharpie.

Spelling words and homework.

Spelling words are reviewing the hard "g" sound.

1. gaspiller
2. un garage
3. un magasin
4. un gâteau
5. une gorille
6. le langage
7. la langue
8. dégoutant
9. une bague
10. une guêpe

Homework:

Students are to write a short letter to mum, dad, or both expressing thanks for something... or as one little man requested... can he write a letter of apology? Most certainly!

Some useful words might be:
Cher / Chère / Chers

Grosses bises

Amicalement

Gentil / le

Aime

Merci

Désolé / e

Number practise.

We're counting money and students are very rusty with numbers above 69 as well as the teens. In November, I posted a video which you can review here:

Numbers audio and video

Please get counting!

Letter writing unit.

Since March Break, we have started our letter writing unit. It's important that your child knows her/his address. Please help your child to learn it by looking at envelopes and letters that come in the mail.

Spring Concert!

The date for Clairlea's Spring Concert has been set as May 11 and it will be held at SATEC Collegiate Institute.

Today, we started learning a song that we will be performing during the concert. If you would like to help your child to learn the words and the melody, click here:

Comme des Enfants

Have fun!

International day of pink.

On Wednesday, April 12, we will be celebrating International Day of Pink. This is a Canadian anti-bullying event. The story behind it is this:


"The event started when students David Shepherd and Travis Price saw another student, who was wearing a pink shirt, being bullied in their Central Kings Rural High School in Nova Scotia, and deciding to show support for the student by getting everyone at their school to wear pink the following day.

The initiative inspired youth at Jer's Vision who founded The International Day of Pink, an effort to support their peers internationally with resources and ways to make their schools safer.

In 2012 over 8 million people participated."   (Wikipedia)

To recognize this important initiative, we are planning to make tie-dye t-shirts to wear on April 12. 

PLEASE SEND IN A PLAIN WHITE T-SHIRT (old or new) BY APRIL 5, with your child's name marked with a Sharpie on the inside neck (so it doesn't wash off). 

If you cannot find one, please let me know as soon as possible.

Spelling words and homework.

Spelling words:

1. une paille
2. la taille
3. un détail
4. le railles
5. une médaille
6. se batailler
7. un caillou
8. travailler
9. une écaille
10. un maillot
    Plus there will be a surprise sentence using one of the spelling words.

Homework:
Try to find 10 different ways to represent one dollar, e.g. 10 dimes. Students can draw the coins (a circle with a 10 inside it), or simply write down the value of the coins they are using (10).

Spelling words and homework.

This Friday our dictée we will be on the sound [ouil].  The words and phrases to practise are:

1. chatouiller, 
2. une grenouille, 
3. des nouilles, 
4. une citrouille, 
5. mouiller
6. Une grenouille est un amphibian.
7. Je mange des nouilles pour le dîner.
8. Il veut chatouiller le bébé.

Spelling words and homework.

The dictée structure for next week will be a bit different.  There are only five words to study plus three sentences. Watch out for capital letters and punctuation!

New sound [euil]

1. un écureuil
2. une feuille
3. un fauteuil
4. cueillir
5. un portefeuille
6. J’ai une feuille de papier.
7. Un écureuil a des poils.
8. J'aime cueillir les fraises.

Homework:

Write a concrete poem about a rainbow.

Bon weekend!

Spelling words and homework.

Spelling words:

1. le soleil
2. une oreille
3. une abeille
4. un orteil
5. se réveiller
6. un appareil
7. une bouteille
8. le meilleur
9. une corbeille
10. le sommeil

Homework:

Students are to conduct an interview with their families to identify three important celebrations and then to note a tradition, a food, and (if relevant,) music that is related to each celebration.

Our trip to the Aga Khan Museum.

Below are some highlights of our trip to the museum yesterday. Students were exposed to many examples of Islamic culture and history. They transferred their learning of artistic expression to their own works through making decorated tiles. These should be coming home soon!

A heartfelt thank you to our three parent volunteers - we couldn't have handled the TTC without you!

Wall hanging constructed from silk and millions of gold and silver pins.

Illustrated manuscript.

A page from The Blue Koran.

Marble fountain.

Students sketching patterns in shapes, foliage, calligraphy, and figures.

Illustrated fiction.

Students making clay tiles.

Spelling words and homework.

Spelling words (sorry this is late!)

1. une introduction
2. une option
3. la récréation
4. attention
5. l'addition
6. une collation
7. une opération
8. une portion
9. une invitation
10. une détention

Homework: Students are to write an acrostic poem entitled "Ma famille" to celebrate Family Day.

Field trip tomorrow!

Our class trip to Aga Khan Museum is on Tuesday, February 21.  Please ensure that students arrive on time at 8:40AM, as we will leave immediately after attendance.  Please also ensure that students are dressed for the weather as we will be walking from school, north to Eglinton Avenue where we will catch the bus.  We will then have a short walk from Wynford Drive to the museum. 

We will be going rain or shine!

Field trip forms and winter activity day.

FIELD TRIP FORMS
Please have signed permission forms returned to me no later than Wednesday, Feb 15th.

WINTER ACTIVITY DAY
February 16th will be the Primary Winter Activity Day.  Students will participate in planned activities around the school all day (crafts, yoga, games, a movie).

Spelling words, homework, and Valentine's Day.

Spelling words are the sound [gn].

1. Se cogner
2. un agneau
3. une enseignante
4. une montagne
5. mignon
6. une araignée
7. gagner
8. une baignoire
9. saigner
10. une ligne

Homework:

Using some (not necessarily all) words from the spelling list, write a rhyming poem and illustrate it.

Valentine's Day.

I'm proposing that we have a small party on Valentine's Day so that students can exchange cards. I'll send home a list of names (today if I remember!) or on Monday. 

Regarding the party - please don't send in candy or junk food. You don't need to send in food unless you'd like to offer fruits, vegetables, or home baked items (that are nut-free).

Field trip!

On Tuesday, February 21st (AM ONLY) we will be travelling to the Aga Khan Museum for a hands-on workshop.  The theme is cross-disciplinary: examining patterns (math) with art (visual art) and culture (social studies).  Permission forms will be going home next week but I am looking for parent volunteers.  First come first served!  Please email me or send a note in your child's agenda.
Thank you!

Spelling words and homework

Spelling words focus on the hard g sound.

1. la guitare
2. un igloo
3. les gants
4. la glissoire
5. les légumes
6. la gomme
7. regarder
8. rigoler
9. la grenouille
10. la griffe

For homework, students are bringing home a worksheet on which they are to conduct a poll [sondage] on the favourite sport of their friends and family. Using the data they gather they are to make a bar chart [diagramme à bandes], referring to the success criteria on the back side of the page.

Please remember that book bags are due on Thursdays.

Spelling words and homework.

This week's sound is [ou].

1. la roue
2. la boue
3. bonjour
4. un hibou
5. une chauve-souris
6. un tambour
7. une fourmi
8. la moutarde
9. la poupée
10. le foulard

Homework.

In math, we are studying data management and more specifically, this week, bar charts. Students are bringing home a bar chart with comprehension questions. 

Book bags.

Please remember that book bags are due every Thursday (Wednesdays on PA day weeks) otherwise I cannot be sure to have time to read with your child.
Thanks.

Spelling words and homework.

Spelling words focus on the sound [z].

1. une valise
2. un lézard
3. la musique
4. le zoo
5. douze
6. le gazon
7. un oiseau
8. quatorze
9. une fusée
10. une chemise

Homework: Students need to find one of each of the simple machines in the home or garden, draw it, and label what it is. E.g. Draw a pair of scissors for lever (Levier) and label it "les ciseaux". Happy hunting!

Scientist in the School.

This morning we had Scientist Shari come in to host a workshop on simple machines. The students engaged in 5 hands-on experiential activities. The learning was wonderful, not to mention the fun that was had. Please enjoy photographs of your children fully engaged in science!

A very big thank you to all the parent volunteers who came in to help us today!

Levier, pivot, charge, et effort.

La poulie.

Levier et poulie.

Roue et axe.

Levier.

La vis.

Levier, pivot, effort, et charge.

La roue et axe.

La vis.