Monday's Christmas hat day in support of Syrian refugees

This Monday is a board wide dress down day in support of the Syrian refugee campaign.  Students encouraged to wear Christmas gear and Santa and elf hats for a small donation (1-2$).  

LOTS OF REMINDERS FOR THE 2 WEEKS AHEAD

The two weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays are always SUPER busy.  Here are some reminders for the weeks ahead.

Tuesday December 8 - This is the last library before the break.  Please return all books so they can be re-shelved before the new year.

Wednesday December 9 - All gift card tree ballots and money are due into school.  Volunteer sheets for the craft day are due in as well.

Friday December 11 - Hot lunch orders are due.

Monday December 14 - Craft Day for grades 1 - 3 (Block 3 and 4)

Wednesday December 16 - PR Sing-a-long (Block 3)

Thursday December 17 - Christmas Social (starts at 6 pm)

Canned food drive part 1 and 2

The Social Justice Club's canned food drive for The Shepherds of Good Hope finished up last week.  Each class needed to make a structure with their cans and boxes.  Here's a picture of our snowman structure.

The yearly canned food drive for the Richmond Food Bank starts this week and continues until next Tuesday.  Any non-perishable food items that can be sent in would be greatly appreciated and used within the Richmond community.

Grade One Graphing

The grade ones have been learning all about different types of graphs.  They are now ready to collect their own data and organize it in a graph of their choice.

Here are a few pictures of the data collection process...

R Controlled Vowels (Bossy R)

As we continue to learn more word wall words, we have come across words that have Bossy Rs.  Take a look at the videos below that we've been using to help us understand how an r can change a vowel sound.

Learning coin names and values

We have started to work on learning the names and values of our Canadian coins.  When you have some spare change, work with your child to identify the coins.

Once we've mastered the names and values, we will begin to count money amounts up to 20 cents.

Here is one of our videos we've been using to learn about the penny, nickel, dime and quarter.

Long Vowel Sounds

We have been working on understanding some of the rules that help to create the long vowel sounds in the words we read.

Take a look at a few of the videos we've been using:

Wear red on Monday

We will be having our Remembrance Day ceremony on Monday November 9th at 10:50 in the gym.  Students are encouraged to wear red.  Poppies will be handed out this day as well.

PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Progress reports are going home Tuesday November 3rd.  Parent-Teacher interviews will be held Thursday November 12th.

I do have availability for all parents to be able to book an interview and hope that you are able to make it!  Please use the link below to book.  If you have any questions, let me know.

https://kelly-burguete.youcanbook.me/

Pumpkin Investigations

On Friday, we worked together with our group to investigate pumpkins.  Take a look at some pictures from our afternoon. 

Our four seasons murals

We've started our murals of the four seasons.  Students were busy mixing paint this afternoon to create their sky and ground.  They did a great job working together as a team to begin their masterpieces! 

Learning About Sentences

The grade ones have been working hard to learn how to write a good sentence.  Take a look at one of the videos we used to learn all about sentences:

We also worked together to create our Sentence Checklist that we will be using throughout the year.  

Planting tulips

The grade ones and threes teamed up on Thursday to plant some tulips around the school!  We can't wait until springtime to watch them grow!

Painting Next Week

The grade ones have been working hard to research one of the four seasons.  They will be working in expert groups to paint a mural to showcase what they've learned.  We will be painting daily next week.  Please send your kids in clothes that you don't mind them painting in.  We will do our best to stay clean!

Check out some pictures below of the group planning today!

Our Patterning Math Wall

We have spent the past few weeks learning all about patterning.  Check out our math wall that shows a lot of our learning.  Math books will come home in the next few days so you can take a look at your child's work.  Please send it back as soon as you can so we can continue to add to them!  

Planting tulips on Thursday

The grade ones are buddying up with the grade threes to plant tulip bulbs this Thursday. Please send kids to school in clothes that are okay to dig and get a little dirty in! Thanks! 

www and Library Book reminder

We had too much to write on Thursday!  Just a reminder that WWW homework and library books are both due on Tuesday!

Tulip bulbs and Thanksgiving wishes!

Tulip bulbs were sent home today on behalf of the gardening club.  These are for your family to plant together!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Tech Permission Form

On Thursday, a technology permission was sent home to each child in the class.  If you have any questions about the technology I am hoping to use in the classroom, please let me know and I will be happy to clarify!

Reading Conference Books

Our black and white reading conference books were sent home Thursday.  This book should be a "just right" reading book for your child.  That means, they should be able to read it independently, using their strategies on a few tricky words (i.e. use the pictures, stretch it out, etc.).  The book is to be practised until your child can read it with ease.  When they are ready, bring the book back to school.  They will complete a reading conference with myself or a classroom volunteer.

The levels (letters) on the books do correspond with the levels on RAZ Kids online program.  Please note, sometimes children progress quicker on the online program because of the "read to me" feature.  We will continue to work with the black and white levels when they don't match.

If you find your child's book is too difficult or too easy, please write a note in your child's agenda and I will do my best to sort it out.

Each time a child reads his/her book, it can be included as part of their Sens reading cup minutes!

Thanks for your ongoing support!

Signs of Fall

This weekend, the students are asked to collect different signs of fall as part of our science unit.  They can take and print pictures, draw pictures or even bring in items (i.e. leaves, acorns, etc.).  We will be exploring what we brought on Wednesday!

Picture day Thursday

Just a reminder that picture is this Thursday! 

Dream box clarification

If you're using the Dreambox app, once you've downloaded it, you should just need to enter the school code to get it:

 bau5/stp

Choose our class: kburguete and find your child.  

The picture password written on the side of the RAZkids paper lets you know your child's picture password.  

If these steps don't work, let me know and I can try to help out. 

Weekly Word Wall Homework

Our word wall homework program started this week.  These activities are intended for students to practise our 5 new words we learn each week.  Students should be practising their words daily so they can recognize and read the with ease.  The homework will be structured similarly week after week so students can begin to gain independence in their homework routine.

I will also be sending home a print out with our word wall words each week.  These words can be cut up and used to practise at home.  With these word wall words you can:

- Chant them...cheerleader, robot, hula, volcano, hockey, etc. (ask them about our chants from class)
- Flashcards
- Make a second copy and play memory
- Sort them alphabetically
- Make silly sentences
- Find rhyming words

October Reading Cup

Our October Reading Cup was sent home on Thursday.  As mentioned on Meet the Teacher Night, this is our class reading program we use.  Students keep track of the minutes they read.  The goal for this month is 160 minutes per student.  If we meet the goal as a class (3200 minutes altogether) we will be entered into the Sens at School monthly draw!

RAZ Kids and Dreambox

RAZ Kids and Dreambox login information went home Thursday.  Both of these programs can be used as an app or on their websites.  If you're using the websites, you can use the links on the right hand side to get there.

RAZ Kids - Currently, all students are set to level A.  I wanted them to get started with it as soon as possible but will be adjusting levels over the next few weeks if needed.

Dreambox - if using the app, the school code is: bau5/stp 

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Short Vowel Sounds

This week, we started looking at the short a sound.  We will continue to go through each short vowel sound over the next month.  Below is a short vowel video we are using in class to help us remember the sounds each short vowel sound makes.

Scholastic Orders Due Tuesday

Just a reminder for those interested, Scholastic orders are due Tuesday September 29th.

Meet the Teacher Night

It was great meeting so many parents last night!  If you were unable to make it, the pamphlet will be sent home in the agenda today.

VOLUNTEERS - if you're interested in helping out with our reading program, keep an eye out for the note coming home in the next week.

If you have any questions about the topics covered in the pamphlet or last night, please let me know.

Sorting Fun!

The grade ones started working in their math groups this week.  They worked with their group to explore the different attributes we can use to sort items.  Here are a few pictures of their sorting...

Welcome to Grade 1

We have a fantastic start to Grade 1 getting to know our new classmates and learning our new routines.  LOTS of notes went home today.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

As mentioned in one of the notes, students need a pair of indoor running shoes.  Any donations of Kleenex, large Ziplock bags and/or plastic spoons would be greatly appreciated.

All grade 1 and 2 classes have been given tables this year instead of the traditional desks.  Students are welcomed to keep pencil cases in their school bags or left at home to use for homework (coming in October).  Students will have all of the pencils, colouring utensils, scissors and glue they need provided for them in class.

I look forward to meeting many of you on Tuesday September 22nd for our Meet the Teacher night.