This Week's Spelling Words

... well, technically the final test will be on Monday due to Agribition and Three-Way Conferences.

Spelling pattern: Silent letters

comb

sign

hour

wrong

knife

island

walk

whole

hole

write

right

knew

know

new

no 

pneumonia

This Week's Recap

 This week we worked hard....










....Really, we did! We had our very first  non-Mathematics test and I was quite happy with your students' work! Most had clearly prepared and I was happy to hear that the graphic organizer helped some students to see the 'big picture' of the unit.

As we wrapped up our Science units for the term, it was time to consider what we might like to do for Social Studies. There are 3 outcomes (goals) for Grade 4s associated with the next unit on economy and wealth and 2 outcomes for Grade 5s. Each outcome has a series of indicators which can be used to show student knowledge. Students below are starring the indicators which sound the most interesting to them to help guide my planning.

In Daily 5 news, we have instituted more formal groupings to ensure that students are experiencing writing, reading and spelling opportunities. Here students are working on Friday with Bananagrams (like Scrabble but more free-from). The groups seem to be working fantastically and I am quite happy most students are getting started right away and working the whole time.

I thought I might share the picture below which shows our class' 'Wall of Excellence'. Each student's collection is growing steadily ....

Upcoming events:
-Report cards home today (November 21)!
-Special Lunch orders due November 21 (if returned by Monday, I should be able to squeeze them in!)
-Live auction of Mr. MacKenzie's items at McDougall's Auction November 25 at 6pm
-Agribition November 27
-Three-way conferences November 28*
-Silent Auction November 28 (in the gym)

* Conference times were sent home in a letter with report cards. If your time does not suit, please email me as soon as possible to arrange another time.

Poems About Report Cards

OH YAY! OH YAY! OH YAY!

Miss Foell finished report cards yesterday

She doesn't have to mark one more thing

Hip hip hooray, let's play outside today!

Now that she gave some marks, 

Let's go to the store and buy an ark.

-Ilhan

I am so excited for reports today

I scream hip hip hooray!

I am so excited to see the look on kids' faces

but I look down and tie my shoe laces. 

I am so happy to say

Hip hip hooray, report cards are coming today!

-Nabeel

I am excited that report cards are over

I never thought I would live

There was so much paper

I could not find the paper shredder

And, worst of all, I lost my cheddar. 

-Tim

I know Miss Foell

Wants to write four pages about me

Because I'm great and I'm kind and I'm a bit silly.

She is excited because it involves little ol' me.

-Ava

This Week's Spelling Words

Pattern this week: Plurals (also looking at how to predict when to add 's' vs. 'es')

pencils

trucks

flowers

prizes

bridges

matches

patches

blotches

foxes

boxes

sizes

babies

cooties**

soothers

**student-selected, just to clarify

Weekly Recap

Sorry for the delay in posting - I have been busy with additional training and reports this weekend!

We had a short, but lovely week for the most part. We have had to introduce 'The Recess Club' which 'meets' at morning recess. This particular group is for students who have outstanding assignments or worksheets. It does seem to be helping and I do plan to continue the club as missing marks are becoming more of a problem.

In Math, the Grade 5s & I were all impressed with how much more flexibly we can think about numbers as compared to September. As a warm-up, I listed a number on the board. Students thought of as many different questions that would yield the answer listed. The results were fantastic!

We have also begun division. On Friday, students used the app EduCreations to describe three ways to solve a division question. The results were interesting and very helpful. From my perspective, the student-created lessons yielded much more data than the traditional homework sheet. Students have practiced using the following methods for division:

1. Repeated subtraction
2. Estimation
3. Long division
4. Modelling with place value blocks

In Science, we have discussed how to study. This can be an overlooked skill. I have decided to try different study suggestions so students have a chance to see what works best for them. This term, we created concept maps linked to 'Human Body' or 'Habitats'. I asked students to hang these study sheets on their walls & read them over at least once per day. I've suggested to some that perhaps reading aloud might help them remember.

 On an unrelated note, some students may require more Post-Its....

In Grade 5, we had a brief overview of the musculoskeletal system. We learned that muscles work in pairs to move our bodies.

Notices for this upcoming week:

• Writing assignments due by Tuesday
• Science test on Tuesday (both grades)
• The Used Clothing & Book Drive runs until Wednesday
• If not yet done, please return the MacKenzie Art Gallery & Agribition permission forms and payments as soon as possible
• Progress Reports issued Friday (Three-way conference dates will be sent home as well at this time)

This Week's Recap

Quote from the bus to swimming on Friday:

"Miss Foell, do you have any special plans for this weekend?

Wait. Let me guess: report cards."

What astute students you have! It is that magical time once again as we prepare for progress reports to be issued. Although the upcoming week is short, there are still many things that students will need to be focused on. Please keep an eye on agendas this week to ensure that any work sent home gets completed.

This week, Grade 4s began designing their habitat dioramas. These dioramas will showcase their knowledge of shades and tones and, as an added bonus, will contain a student-created creature with at least 3 structural adaptations and 2 behavioural adaptations.

Grade 5s this week looked at the art of collage as used in Pop Art. Students will finish their art work next week. As an example, I created the following with Christmas adverts collected November 5....

In Grade 5 Math, we began looking at dividends, divisors and quotients! We began by using concrete materials to model division questions and then introduced the idea of repeated subtraction of groups. There is a great explanatory video in Unit 3 of the eText that you & your student may chose to watch to review.

We had a very busy Friday this week. We began the morning by making symbols of peace: the paper crane. Thank you so much to our student-teacher Isaac! Our Remembrance Day ceremony was a beautiful tribute and your students were marvellous. They showed respect, responsibility and patience. After examining In Flanders Fields in class, it certainly was wonderful to see Mrs. Riou's class' shadow play version. I feel that it helped my understanding and was quite happy to sign our class card thanking her for her efforts.

After the ceremony, we ventured to swimming ... in the protection of our timely buses! Our bus driver commented after the students got off that he has never been thanked that many times. He was quite pleased with the thoughtfulness of your students!

And after all that activity (and a French lesson), we made our way down to reading buddies. Our Kindergarten buddies helped us to glue tissue paper petals to pre-prepared painted backgrounds to create some beautiful poppies. Your students should keep an eye on the bulletin boards downstairs for their work!

I hope you enjoy your time together & look forward to seeing everyone again on Wednesday. Finally, welcome to our newest student! We are excited to have your ideas, talents and skills in our classroom to share!

This Week's Spelling Words

Featuring the prefixes 're' and 'un'!

repaint

unhappy

unclear

recall

replace

uncertain

uneven

reclaim

reinstate

untouched

uncool

remarry

redo

undo

refill

reincarnate