How is it already December?! The countdown is officially on -- there are 15 days left of school until the Winter Break and you can feel the excitement in the air!
There are a lot of events happening in the next 3 weeks...
School Council - School Council is looking for a Community Volunteer member
Please check the school blog to learn more about this position. As well, the next school council meeting is Monday December 4th @ 7pm in the school library. Items on the agenda include: Winter Open House, Sick Kids hosting Science workshops, parking and signs, cost share technology, outdoor classroom and playground, PRO-grant night, Subway lunch, and movie night.
Food Drive - Our food drive is well underway! Please help out by donating non-perishable food items such as canned and boxed foods.
Coats For Kids - This year we are collecting winter coats/jackets/snowpants for men, women, and children. The Lions and Lioness Club runs a program called Coats for Kids. Please send in your gently used and clean winter coats/jackets/snowpants. We are collecting for men, women, and children. We will be collecting from November 27th through to December 15th
Holiday Open House - Our Holiday Open House is on Thursday December 14th, beginning at 5:30pm. The classrooms will be open from 5:30 - 6:30pm for you to enjoy and then we will be heading outside to the front lawn with hot chocolate to sing holiday songs together as a community. Dress warm! We hope to see you there!
Student Council - Our grade 6 students have been invited to join student council. Through this leadership opportunity, students are able to have a say in their learning and what happens in their school. Students who participate on student council help by being MC's for assemblies, running spirit days, and announcing cultural, religious, and spiritual days, and much more! Student council is a great leadership opportunity -- ask your child if they joined!
And finally... in our classroom...
Student Led Conferences
Our first round of student led conferences were a great success! Here is some of the feedback... straight from the mouths of the students!
There were some great "positive" moments...
"I liked getting feedback from my parents."
"I like that I got a chance to speak. I was involved in the conversation."
"I got to control how the meeting went"
"It was just me and my dad. He listened to me. He didn't listen then go to the teacher, he actually listened to me".
"I like how I know what my mom is thinking."
"I liked that I could tell my mom what to focus on"
And, of course, there are the learning curves...
"I was uncomfortable talking about myself"
"I was nervous, but I don't know why"
"I liked hearing what my parents had to say, but I didn't like writing it down."
If you have any feedback you would like to share, please email me!
Literacy
1. Book Talks
Students have begun to present their book talks. They worked on these for 2 weeks during their in-class Literacy periods, and are reminded daily to practice at home. Students receive two marks for this presentation -- one in Reading and one in Oral and Visual Communication. The expectations, the rubric, and teacher samples were shared with students prior to their work periods. Please ask your child when they are presenting and ask them to practice with you at home. Due to privacy issues, the schedule cannot be posted to this blog.
2. Newspaper Article Presentation
Each Monday we listen to two presentations about current events from around the world. Students are working on these presentations at home. Students are marked on their Oral and Visual Communication. The expectations, the rubric, and teacher sampled were shared with students. Please ask your child when they are presenting and ask them to practice with you at home. Due to privacy issues, the schedule cannot be posted to this blog.
3. Literature Circles
We have begun Literature Circles. Students in both grade 5/6 classes have been divided into groups of 5 or 6. Each group reads a book, and completes a section of work. On Tuesdays and Thursdays students get together in their groups to discuss the reading and share what they have worked on for that meeting. Each student was provided an individualized package that reflected their book, and their jobs for each meeting. They are encouraged to read this book and work on their job at school during Independent Reading each day. Please ask your child to see their Literature Circles package.
Math
1. Data Management
Our unit on Data Management (Graphing) is complete. Grade 6 students were given their feedback last week and asked to bring it home to share it with you and get it signed. Many students have not returned their unit. Please ask your child about this.
2. 2D Geometry
We are well into our unit on 2D Geometry. We are learning to use protractors correctly to measure angles, and construct regular and irregular polygons. As well, we are thinking about real-life applications where we might need to estimate or measure angles.
3. Measurement
Our next unit will be on Linear Measurement. This includes measuring lines, calculating area and perimeter, and converting units in the metric system. (km, hm, dam, m, dm, cm, mm)
Social Studies
1. Canada's Actions at Home and in the Global Community
Students in grade 5 are working on National Issues, such as First Nations Education, First Nations Water, and the Lac Megantic Disaster. Students in grade 6 are working on International Issues, such as the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Clean Water in Haiti, and Education in Afghanistan. We have also discussed the Rights of Children, according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and how some children's rights may not be being met due to these issues. Please ask your child which issue they are working on becoming an expert in, and discuss other National and International Issues of interest.
NEW
Homework Reflection Sheets - As discussed in September, students may have some homework each night. Generally, homework is work that has not been finished in class, but may be supplemented. Students who do not complete their homework in a timely or efficient manner will be asked to fill out a Reflection Sheet. This sheet will come home for a parent to sign and must be returned to school the following day.
Please remember...
© Homework
will always be written on the white board at the front of the classroom, and
students are expected to record their homework in their agenda books
daily. The agenda book will come home
with students at the end of the day, and must accompany them to school each
morning. Please look over your
son’s/daughter’s agenda book with him/her each evening, and if necessary, aid
him/her in completing the required homework.
© Students
should be spending between 30 and 60 minutes completing homework each
weeknight.
© In
addition to homework, students are also expected to read a text (e.g., books,
magazines, newspapers, instruction manuals), for 30 minutes each evening.
© Homework
will be checked for completion regularly. Failure to complete assigned homework
on a regular basis will affect student’s Learning Skills, as per the Ontario
Report Card, and has a strong impact on student learning.
© If
students do not have assigned homework for the evening, it would be beneficial
for them to practise their math skills or
their keyboarding skills. Free websites
are available online. Some examples are http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/, and http://www.nimblefingers.com
© If
students are unable to complete their homework due to extenuating
circumstances, they are expected to have a note in their agendas from parents
explaining the circumstances.
Thank you for your interest in our classroom and in your child's learning! I hope you have a happy and safe holiday season with your family and friends!
Mrs. Longo
