Grade 1- Hickory, Dickory, Poem!

Students in grade 1 are finishing their work with the nursery rhyme-- HICKORY, DICKORY, DOCK.  They created their own rhyming poems-- and created an image to go with their new poem.  Please ask your child to share their new poems with you. 

Grade 4- Let's Investigate (Science)

Today the literature group (4A) met to read using a "reader's theater" format.  We then answered the comprehension questions that accompanied the story. 

New Vocabulary:

Hypothesis
Observation
Theory
Scientific Method


Main questions-- Are you a scientist?  What makes you a scientist?  Are all scientists' theories correct?  What are some things that you want test or find some answers to?

(4C) Communication

We worked on communicating verbally -- complete sentences, restating the question, answering with WORDS and details.  One of the activities that was completed required the students to ask questions to other students (Grade 1 students)-- it was a really great experience for the older students because the little ones are very open and inquisitive, they made the Grade 4 students COMMUNICATE.  :)

Grade 8 and 9- Reflections for Story Starters (Impromptu Day)

The story starters that were created and shared last week were inspired by the few phrases that were provided, and the students did quite well with expressing some creative ideas.  On Tuesday, the students had an opportunity to view pictures that accompanied the titles and brief statements that they wrote about last week.  They were then asked to write a reflection related to the differences and similarities between their story starters and the pictures provided-- would they have written something different if the illustration was provided before they were asked to write? 

Grade 6-- Reading with Grade 1

During one of our class sessions, the Grade 6 students were each able to read to a small group of Grade 1 students. The Grade 6 students were really nervous about doing this, and didn't quite know what to expect. It was very entertaining to observe how the Grade 6 students interacted with the Grade 1's. The little ones were definitely more critical and vocal then the Grade 6 students thought they would be-- but I think that everyone learned something. It was a good experience for both groups of students, and I hope that it will happen again very soon.

Grade 2- Three Billy Goats Gruff (continued)

Grade 2 students are still working with the story of THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF.

This week the students will travel to three new stations; creating reader's theater props, nonfiction reading about goats (practicing fluency), and writing (summarizing, editing stories, making words, and describing characters).

Homework will be sent home each day -- and needs to be completed in order to advance through the stations that are set up. Please practice reading, reviewing, or writing with your child (using the EAL journals that are being sent home).

Grade 1-- Hickory Dickory Dock

We ended the Green Eggs and Ham stations with a tangram activity-- students retold the story using tangrams depicting the story elements.

THIS WEEK: Grade 1 students are working with still practicing rhymes and short vowel sounds. We will be working with nursery rhymes and poems-- as a way to practice and review new English words.

The first station involves an introduction to new words, whole group sorting of these words (with explanations as to why they are placed in the chosen categories), an exploration of how the words fit together, and a group challenge to create a story or rhyme using the words. At the end of this station students will be familiar with all the words in "Hickory Dickory Dock". Their homework will be to practice and learn the rhyme for the next lesson.



You can practice with your child-- they have to rhyme in their journals/notebooks.

Grade 6-- Among the Hidden

Chapters 1-3 -- In these chapters Luke and his family life have been introduced. What are your thoughts about the main character so far?

1. How would you feel if you were Luke?
2. What would you do to make your situation better?

Grade 9-- The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Grade 9 students have just been introduced to their next novel. Predictions have been made, discussions started, and background knowledge is being built. Students will receive their books this week and should begin reading nightly.