Dear Parents,
Thank you for visiting our classroom website/blog. I hope that this will be a useful tool offering you updated weekly information. Be sure to check regularly for posts of class work and pictures of your children.
Any questions can be sent to me directly using the Contact page or emailing me at [email protected]
Kind Regards,
Ms. Melissa
Thank you for visiting our classroom website/blog. I hope that this will be a useful tool offering you updated weekly information. Be sure to check regularly for posts of class work and pictures of your children.
Any questions can be sent to me directly using the Contact page or emailing me at [email protected]
Kind Regards,
Ms. Melissa
Week 1 : August 11 - 15
We had a GREAT first week of school! We spent the week learning class routines, class procedures, and most importantly getting to know each of the members of our classroom. We played games to introduce ourselves, we played name bingo to help us read each others names, we built name puzzles to learn how the names of our classmates are written.We are learning that we all share similarities (we live in the same place, attend the same school, like the same snacks, etc) as well as differences (language that we speak at home, nationality, foods, etc). We learned that we are each unique individuals and that makes each one of us special and we respect each other regardless of our differences. In the following pictures you can see us: creating an Owl that we used to help us introduce ourselves to our classmates, homeroom teacher, and instructional assistant. Playing "Red Rover, Red Rover" during P.E. which helped us learn each others names, as well as fostered team work. In Math we learned about tallies, and we had the opportunity to work in pairs, rolling dice and keeping track of the numbers that we rolled using tally marks. We were also introduced to counting by 5's. We worked together as a class to come up with our classroom rules, which we all signed in agreement that we will try our best to follow at school.
We had a GREAT first week of school! We spent the week learning class routines, class procedures, and most importantly getting to know each of the members of our classroom. We played games to introduce ourselves, we played name bingo to help us read each others names, we built name puzzles to learn how the names of our classmates are written.We are learning that we all share similarities (we live in the same place, attend the same school, like the same snacks, etc) as well as differences (language that we speak at home, nationality, foods, etc). We learned that we are each unique individuals and that makes each one of us special and we respect each other regardless of our differences. In the following pictures you can see us: creating an Owl that we used to help us introduce ourselves to our classmates, homeroom teacher, and instructional assistant. Playing "Red Rover, Red Rover" during P.E. which helped us learn each others names, as well as fostered team work. In Math we learned about tallies, and we had the opportunity to work in pairs, rolling dice and keeping track of the numbers that we rolled using tally marks. We were also introduced to counting by 5's. We worked together as a class to come up with our classroom rules, which we all signed in agreement that we will try our best to follow at school.
Week 2: August 18-22
This week we started to learn about each of our families. We read books, and brought in pictures of our families to share with the class. We learned new vocabulary and how to write important terms such as "Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, etc". This week we were introduces to Class Dojo, our class management tool for the year. We are quickly learning how this system works, and are excited to earn points that add up to prizes. In math we learned the names of the different parts of a clock, and how to tell time to the nearest hour. Continuing to build our class community we collaboratively wrote and signed our class mission. We are learning how to behave in the cafeteria, sit and eat our lunch, and how to clear our tray when we are done. This week we also started our 15 minutes of silent reading in the morning, which all of the elementary school grades have every day. In P.E. we played more team building games, such as "Hot Potato". At QISS the Expected School wide Learning Results is very important and this week students have been learning about one of the ESLR's every day. In class students were explained what the ESLR of the day was, and it's meaning. We also read a book where students could find and point out examples of that ESLR in action. Students worked in partners to color the posters of each ESLR that would later go up on our classroom wall.
This week we started to learn about each of our families. We read books, and brought in pictures of our families to share with the class. We learned new vocabulary and how to write important terms such as "Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, etc". This week we were introduces to Class Dojo, our class management tool for the year. We are quickly learning how this system works, and are excited to earn points that add up to prizes. In math we learned the names of the different parts of a clock, and how to tell time to the nearest hour. Continuing to build our class community we collaboratively wrote and signed our class mission. We are learning how to behave in the cafeteria, sit and eat our lunch, and how to clear our tray when we are done. This week we also started our 15 minutes of silent reading in the morning, which all of the elementary school grades have every day. In P.E. we played more team building games, such as "Hot Potato". At QISS the Expected School wide Learning Results is very important and this week students have been learning about one of the ESLR's every day. In class students were explained what the ESLR of the day was, and it's meaning. We also read a book where students could find and point out examples of that ESLR in action. Students worked in partners to color the posters of each ESLR that would later go up on our classroom wall.
Week 3: August 25-29
This week we continued learning about ourselves, what we like and what we don't like. We learned how to express our physical characteristics and we learned all about "Our Hair". We reviewed the colors, and learned terminology like "long, short, curly, straight, etc". We had fun making heads out of paper plates and adding the kind of hair that we would like to have. We used these heads to present to our classmates. This week a few of us started attending ELL (English Language Learners) support during our morning literacy time. The students who do not attend have started learning how to work through the four literacy stations. During Literacy time we get the opportunity to work on our spelling, writing, letter making, and personalized reading groups lead by Ms. Melissa. In Math we are learning to tell time to the nearest half hour, and also working with word problems that we come up with ourselves and solve as a class. This week our P.E. teacher Mr.K has arrived from the U.S.A, we will no longer be doing P.E. with Ms. Melissa.
This week we continued learning about ourselves, what we like and what we don't like. We learned how to express our physical characteristics and we learned all about "Our Hair". We reviewed the colors, and learned terminology like "long, short, curly, straight, etc". We had fun making heads out of paper plates and adding the kind of hair that we would like to have. We used these heads to present to our classmates. This week a few of us started attending ELL (English Language Learners) support during our morning literacy time. The students who do not attend have started learning how to work through the four literacy stations. During Literacy time we get the opportunity to work on our spelling, writing, letter making, and personalized reading groups lead by Ms. Melissa. In Math we are learning to tell time to the nearest half hour, and also working with word problems that we come up with ourselves and solve as a class. This week our P.E. teacher Mr.K has arrived from the U.S.A, we will no longer be doing P.E. with Ms. Melissa.
Week 4: September 1-5
This week we learned in depth about the different countries where our class members come from. We learned that countries are grouped together and these groups are called Continents. We learned the names of all seven continents and had fun pointing them out on our world carpet, finding countries on the globe, and watching an animated film about the continents. This week, in addition to our Class Dojo points we are receiving "Train Tickets" as a class. These tickets are an elementary school wide initiative to promote creating "Mindful Hearts". Each time that we show one of the ESLR's (Compassion, Vitality, Intelligence, Courage and Sensitivity) we receive a train ticket. For every 20 train tickets our class gets a train cart with a letter. Our goal is that by the end of the year we can build a train with the words "Mindful Heart". As a class we came up with ideas of how to celebrate each time that we reach 20 train tickets, we are very excited! In math we are learning about money (American US Dollar). We are working with Pennies, Nickels, Dimes and Quarters. We pretend to buy items by coming up with different combinations of coins that add up to the value of an item. This week in P.E. we started swimming!
This week we learned in depth about the different countries where our class members come from. We learned that countries are grouped together and these groups are called Continents. We learned the names of all seven continents and had fun pointing them out on our world carpet, finding countries on the globe, and watching an animated film about the continents. This week, in addition to our Class Dojo points we are receiving "Train Tickets" as a class. These tickets are an elementary school wide initiative to promote creating "Mindful Hearts". Each time that we show one of the ESLR's (Compassion, Vitality, Intelligence, Courage and Sensitivity) we receive a train ticket. For every 20 train tickets our class gets a train cart with a letter. Our goal is that by the end of the year we can build a train with the words "Mindful Heart". As a class we came up with ideas of how to celebrate each time that we reach 20 train tickets, we are very excited! In math we are learning about money (American US Dollar). We are working with Pennies, Nickels, Dimes and Quarters. We pretend to buy items by coming up with different combinations of coins that add up to the value of an item. This week in P.E. we started swimming!
Week 5: September 9-12
This week students continued learning about continents by using their 3D models that we made on Friday. On Tuesday students worked collaboratively in their groups to take turn painting the models, as well as making little "Face Pins" of each student in the class. Students had the opportunity to use vocabulary such as the names of the continents and of countries as they placed each "Face Pin" on their respective place on the model. Students are not able to use the names of the continent and countries represented in our class very easily! We are currently taking the opportunity to write our own books about where we are from. We look forward to sharing these books with you during our Key Assignment day in a few weeks. In Math we have continued with out study of coins and are now adding money by observing the pictures of the coins. We are also practicing sorting money manipulatives and then adding them as well. We learned a rhyme to help us identify the penny, you can ask your child to recite it to you.
This week students continued learning about continents by using their 3D models that we made on Friday. On Tuesday students worked collaboratively in their groups to take turn painting the models, as well as making little "Face Pins" of each student in the class. Students had the opportunity to use vocabulary such as the names of the continents and of countries as they placed each "Face Pin" on their respective place on the model. Students are not able to use the names of the continent and countries represented in our class very easily! We are currently taking the opportunity to write our own books about where we are from. We look forward to sharing these books with you during our Key Assignment day in a few weeks. In Math we have continued with out study of coins and are now adding money by observing the pictures of the coins. We are also practicing sorting money manipulatives and then adding them as well. We learned a rhyme to help us identify the penny, you can ask your child to recite it to you.
Week 6: September 15-19
This week we continued with the study of our families. Thank you to the parents who emailed me the pictures of your family members up to three generations back. Students made their Family Trees to help them understand about who makes up a family. Students had the opportunity to also practice reading and writing key terminology such as father, mother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandfather, and grandmother. Next week we will be sharing our family trees in class, and taking a deeper look into the roles of each of the family members are in our family and society. In math we continued with coins using them for addition and subtraction. Students are applying the knowledge of coin value to solve simple word problems. Our classmate Ivan brought in real money to share with us, and we practiced our counting by 1'2, 5's, and 10's. Every chance that we get (walking to lunch, to recess, to P.E. or dismissal) we practice counting by 5's up to 100. Students are then able to apply this knowledge to the adding on nickels. This week we had our LS monthly assembly where Mr. Page recognized two students from each grade. Lucy received an award for having the most points on Class Dojo, and Eric was voted by the class for showing a Mindful Heart and having the most Mindful Hearts train tickets.
In our Literacy block students are transitioning independently from one station to the next. Each morning from 9:00 - 10:15 students get a turn on the computer to read on Raz-Kids for 20 minutes, then they work on their spelling books for ten minutes, writing book for 10 minutes, and they work in groups of two/three with my on guided reading. At 10:00 we all do independent silent reading for 15 minutes. I am starting to see more and more students develop an interest for reading and slowly students are making the effort to read the words and not only flip through the pictures. This week was our last week of Swimming during P.E. Starting next week students will be starting a Fitness unit.
This week we continued with the study of our families. Thank you to the parents who emailed me the pictures of your family members up to three generations back. Students made their Family Trees to help them understand about who makes up a family. Students had the opportunity to also practice reading and writing key terminology such as father, mother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandfather, and grandmother. Next week we will be sharing our family trees in class, and taking a deeper look into the roles of each of the family members are in our family and society. In math we continued with coins using them for addition and subtraction. Students are applying the knowledge of coin value to solve simple word problems. Our classmate Ivan brought in real money to share with us, and we practiced our counting by 1'2, 5's, and 10's. Every chance that we get (walking to lunch, to recess, to P.E. or dismissal) we practice counting by 5's up to 100. Students are then able to apply this knowledge to the adding on nickels. This week we had our LS monthly assembly where Mr. Page recognized two students from each grade. Lucy received an award for having the most points on Class Dojo, and Eric was voted by the class for showing a Mindful Heart and having the most Mindful Hearts train tickets.
In our Literacy block students are transitioning independently from one station to the next. Each morning from 9:00 - 10:15 students get a turn on the computer to read on Raz-Kids for 20 minutes, then they work on their spelling books for ten minutes, writing book for 10 minutes, and they work in groups of two/three with my on guided reading. At 10:00 we all do independent silent reading for 15 minutes. I am starting to see more and more students develop an interest for reading and slowly students are making the effort to read the words and not only flip through the pictures. This week was our last week of Swimming during P.E. Starting next week students will be starting a Fitness unit.