Looking at our community

What a busy day in room 6!

We are looking at maps and communities right now in Social Studies. Today, students spent some time looking at Google earth and we talked about what things they might find in their community. We had a great time 'flying' to different places in Calgary.

'Zooming' in to where we live on the Smartboard

How do you get to school?

Students were then asked to think about and draw how they get to school. They started drawing a 'bird's eye' view map of their route to school.

We also started new math centres today, focusing on numbers and counting to 100, went outside for gym, practiced reading with someone (making sure we sat elbow to elbow, knee to knee) AND we read for 12 minutes on our own! Phew - what a great way to start our week together!

Writing about our classmates

Today, students started a weekly writing activity: writing about a classmate.
Each week, one classmate is invited to the front and students are able to ask him/her questions about themselves. Questions from today included: What is your favourite food? What is your favourite toy? What do you want to be when you grow up? 

After learning about their classmate, students write about them and colour a picture. Their work will be made into a class book that will be sent home later in the year.

We also spent some time 'racing to 100' as well as playing 4-square in gym. 

Finally, we had a sneak peek at Google Earth. This starts our discussion about mapping and communities. Next week, students will continue to learn about what things and people make up a community. 



It was wonderful seeing so many people at Sherburger tonight! 

Counting with Number Lines

Students went on a number scavenger hunt today. They were asked to find number lines hidden around the classroom, and to fill in the 'missing' numbers on their recording sheet. They enjoyed being detectives, and it was a wonderful opportunity to practice number counting skills.

What are the mystery numbers? 

Figuring out 'what comes next' 

Using our number lines to find the missing numbers 

Tomorrow, students will be reading on their own for a full 10 minutes. They continue to work on choosing good spots to read and to read the pictures and the words. We also brainstormed about topics we can write about in our journals - there are some great writers in our class!

Please remember to send back picture forms and return library books for our book exchange tomorrow afternoon.


Finally, Thursday night is Sherburger. All families are strongly encouraged to come enjoy a free dinner - students have been practicing how to introduce their parents to their teachers! Friday will be Parent-teacher interviews. Please call the office to book your appointment.

Terry Fox Run

What have we learned about Terry Fox? Why do we have a Terry Fox run?

We run because we want to beat cancer. Mackenzie

Terry Fox is a good man. Kaleb

He is a great runner. Abdullah

He was a great man. Shauntae

He was a great basketball player. Adrianna

He almost ran the whole way across Canada! He got cancer in his lungs and he had to go to the hospital. Arthur

But he knew someone would finish it for him. Skie

When he was young, he played soccer. Cadence

He was a very good basketball player. Hope

Terry Fox loves playing soccer. Dorinda

We have to run so we can raise money to help people with all types of cancer. Justin

Terry Fox ran because he had cancer and knew what it felt like and he wanted to beat it. Skie

Terry Fox died. Abdullah

He wrote letters to loads of people.Erdas

This let people know he was raising money. Mackenzie

Picture Day

Students were all smiles coming into school today as they got ready for Picture Day! 

Today was our first library visit of the year. Students had the very important job of choosing 2 books that were 'just right' fits. We talked about how to pick a book using the acronym 'I Pick', which continues our journey into the Daily 5 literacy skills: 

I choose a book.

Purpose - what is the purpose of reading this book?

Interest - does this book interest me? 

Comprehension - can I understand what the book is trying to tell me? 

Know - do I know most of the words? 

Students also practiced counting backwards from 100 and then played a game with partners using the hundreds chart. Give it a try! 

1. Start with a blank hundreds chart 

2. Choose one number to start at - for example, 35. 

3. Each player takes a turn recording the number above, below, one more than or one less than. 

As play goes on, students start noticing patterns in the chart

You can count by 1's

This group started skip counting by tens

Terry Fox

Today, students started working on posters about Terry Fox with a partner. They listened to part of a story about Terry as a little boy and then watched a short video clip about his run across Canada. We will continue working on these posters tomorrow.

Students continued practicing reading to themselves. Today we read for 4 minutes on our own! We then worked on journal entries about what types of books we like to read. Tomorrow will be our first library book exchange.

Launching reading to ourselves

Today in room 6, students were introduced to their book bins. Each student has their own book bin that had two books in it for them to read. As a class, we talked about what it sounds like and looks like when you read by yourself. The students did an icreadible job practicing two strategies of reading books: 
1. Reading the pictures 
2. Reading the words 

We are excited to become super readers!  Reading every night at home will help students continue to use all of the new reading strategies they are learning. 

Students also worked on creating puzzle pieces for a giant, class map of Canada. This shows that all Canadians are connected in many different ways. 

Please note: our first library book exchange will be on Wednesday. More information will be coming home in the next few days. 

- Ms. Ketcheson

Check out our classroom! 

Students created their own 'buckets' to help remind us to be bucket fillers

How can we be 'bucket fillers'? 

Working hard at our self-portraits, with the question 'Where will our feet take us' guiding our work

 Colourful desk name tags