Celebration of Learning

Due to the "CELEBRATION OF LEARNING" next Thursday interviews for this report card will be running differently. The Celebration of Learning is meant to be a replacement for parent teacher interview so that it is a student directed showcase of what your child has been doing.

I will still be requesting individual interviews outside of the "Celebration of Learning" with some parents. But most parents I will not need to see for an individual interview. However, if you are WANTING to do an interview with me you are more than welcome to come in and meet with me.

I will be sending home interview time slots in a letter for you.

YOU WILL NOT BE SIGNING UP FOR A PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEW WITH ME USING CONFERENCE MANAGER FOR THIS REPORTING PERIOD.

Challenge question - Feb 29

Geometry review....

Draw 3 different pentagons.

Draw 3 different hexagons.

Draw two congruent triangles.

Draw two rectangles that are NOT congruent.

CHALLENGE QUESTION FEB 28

Aiden W has a book that is 723 pages long.

He reads 267 pages of the book.

How many pages of the book does he have left to read?

WEAR A PINK SHIRT TOMORROW TO SUPPOR THE "STOP BULLYING CAMPAIGN".

CELEBRATION OF LEARNING

WE ARE HAVING A CELEBRATION OF LEARNING NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT (MARCH 8)

FROM 6 TO 7 pm.

Where: Our classroom

PLEASE COME AND SEE WHAT YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN UP TO AT SCHOOL AND HELP THEM CELEBRATE THEIR SUCCESS AT SCHOOL!

Problem of the Week

A new problem of the week is coming home with your child today. IT IS DUE ON FRIDAY!

Parent Survey

A green parent survey came home with your child today. Please take the time to fill it out and return it to me.

Challenge Question - Feb 27

Mrs. Barker's birthday is coming up on Thursday this week.

If Mrs. Barker has a birthday cake with 564 burning candles. The window of the classroom is left open and 213 candles blow out.

How many candles on the birthday cake are still burning?

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DOUBLE BONUS QUESTION FOR FUN: How old do you think Mrs. Barker will be turning on Thursday?

No Spelling This Week

There is no spelling this week.

Regular spelling routine will resume next week.

Squirrel Story

The kids wanted me to put up a picture of the "killer squirrel" I encountered on my honeymoon while golfing in the desert.

Ask them to fill you in on the story and my crazy reaction!!!

NO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK

THERE IS NO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK!!!

BACK TO SCHOOL ON FEBRUARY 27th.

Problem of the Week

PROBLEM OF THE WEEK IS DUE TOMORROW (FRIDAY)!

NEW WEBSITES TO CHECK OUT

HERE ARE SOME GREAT NEW WEBSITES FOR LEARNING....

http://www.learningchocolate.com/ - Learning Chocolate (vocabulary building website)

http://www.speakaboos.com/ - Online Website for stories and literacy

http://www.kerpoof.com/ - Building online stories and characters

http://www.literactive.com/Home/index.asp - Online stories with downloadable material (all ranges of reading levels)

http://www.storylineonline.net/ - Stories read out loud by famous people. Great for listening to.

http://www.storyplace.org/ - The ultimate children’s digital library

http://www.cmlibrary.org/bookhive/ - Digital Library

http://www.wordgames.com/spiderman-2-web-of-words.html - Spiderman word building game! SUPER FUN!

CHECK THEM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Math Problem of the Week

“Math Problem of the Week”

We have been working a lot on problem solving in math class. Problem solving is a skill that is developmental for children. It takes children a lot of practice to feel confident with different problem solving strategies. Therefore, the more practice your child gets with different problem solving tasks the more they will develop as a problem solver.

Beginning this week, your child will be getting a “problem of the week” sheet to complete at home each week. Problem of the week sheets will go home on Monday and they will be due back on Friday. Please feel free to assist your child, but please do not provide them with the answer. I need to see where they are making their mistakes so that I know how to help them at school. If we simply provide children with the answers, they do not have to work through the different steps that are required to solve a problem solving question. It is my goal that with these “problem of the week” sheets that your child will gain confidence using different types of problem solving strategies.

There is not one specific way to solve a problem. There are many different approaches that your child can take to solve these problems. Please encourage them to use different strategies. Allow your child to use whatever tools they need to problem solve. Please make sure that when providing assistance to your child that you are not giving them the answer. It is important for me to see where your child is making mistakes and having difficulties.

Tips for problem solving:
Have your child identify the important information from the problem (we underline all the important information when we are working on problems in class).
* What does the problem ask?
* What words will help you solve the problem (in all, left, how many more)?
* What facts will help you answer the question?

· Have your child draw a picture that represents the problem.
· Have your child write a number sentence that shows what the problem is asking.
· Use the guess and check method.
· Use manipulatives (items that can be moved around…e.g. Pennies)

MATH FACTS INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Knowing the math facts quickly is directly linked with repetition. Therefore, the more your child sees a particular question the more likely it is that they will remember the answer. Subtraction facts are an area where students often have difficulty so please be sure to spend an adequate amount of time on subtraction facts. As well, we are beginning multiplication facts so please practice these with your children at home (your child needs to know multiplication facts up to 5x5). Memorization is a key factor in knowing the basic math facts well. The more practice your child has the quicker they will become at recognizing the answers to basic fact questions. So I am starting an incentive program in the classroom. This is not a mandatory program for homework, just extra practice ideas to help your child.

WEBSITES FOR PRACTICE:

http://www.mathfactcafe.com/

http://www.aplusmath.com/

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/additiontest.html

http://exambank.com/
Username:leth.mmh
Password: post

***Math 3 Under the Sea Website is great for practicing lots of the different concepts that we are learning in math. It has some really neat games and interactive sites to help kids grasp math concepts.
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/me3us/flash/index.html

Challenge Question: Feb 7

Make a list of 10 kind things that you could do for someone you love!!

Winter walk tomorrow at 1:30 pm.

DRESS FOR THE WEATHER BECAUSE WE WILL BE OUTSIDE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

Parents are more than welcome to join us. Meet us at the classroom at 1:25 pm.

:)

No School FRIDAY.

THERE IS NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH BECAUSE IT IS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY FOR TEACHERS.

Spelling

IMPORTANT: SPELLING THIS WEEK IS DUE ON THURSDAY BECAUSE THERE IS NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY AS IT IS A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY FOR TEACHERS.

catch

pitch

watch

sandwich

ditch

pinch

scratch

bench

stretch

coach

sketch

crunch

match

itch

ranch

Tic Tac Toe homework due THURSDAY.

Spelling test on THURSDAY.

Building Bridges....

We are ARCHITECTS!!!

Next generation of bridge builders!!!

VALENTINE'S DAY SKATING PARTY

WE NEED DRIVERS FOR OUR VALENTINE'S DAY SKATING PARTY.

A LETTER IS COMING HOME WITH YOUR CHILD TODAY.

PLEASE HELP US OUT IF YOU CAN. PARENTS AND SIBLINGS ARE WELCOME TO SKATE WITH US!

:)

Sugar cube castle materials

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT SUGAR CUBE CASTLE BUILDING MATERIALS NEED TO BE AT SCHOOL ON MONDAY, FEB 6.

*One or two boxes of sugar cubes.
* GOOD QUALITY WHITE GLUE (Tacky Glue works the best)
* Cardboard


THANKS FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS!!!

Whoo hoo...HERE WE COME PERU!!

MRS. BARKER IS SUPER EXCITED TO SPEND A MONTH IN PERU WITH HER 25 FAVORITE KIDDOS!!!!

LOOK OUT PERU HERE WE COME!

Challenge Question - Feb 2

The kids are building a bridge out of popsicle sticks. They use 564 red popsicle sticks and 279 green popsicle sticks.

HOW MANY POPSICLE STICKS DID THEY USE ALTOGETHER TO BUILD THEIR BRIDGE?

To Do: NS, WS

WE FLY TO PERU TOMORROW.

I WILL BE TAKING YOUR CHILD ON AN ADVENTURE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY.

WE ARE OFF TO PERU TOMORROW!!!

We will be building SUGAR CUBE CASTLES starting on Monday, FEBRUARY 6 for our building unit in science.

For Monday, February 6th your child will need to bring in:
1) A piece of STRONG cardboard that measures 11 inches by 13 inches. Cereal boxes work well for this.
2) One or two boxes of sugar cubes (one is required for sure, but some kids like two boxes to make the walls of the castle taller).

3) A bottle of GOOD QUALITY white glue (there is tacky glue at Michaels in a gold colored bottle that works great – I can’t remember the exact name of it). A good glue is the most important for this project being successful so any good white glue will work.

Your child can bring in the materials anytime between now and February 6th.

This is a super fun activity for the kids. You will be amazed at the masterpiece castles they create out of sugar cubes.

I was not able to log on to the blog for the first few days this week!

So....if your child was telling you that there is no spelling this week they were RIGHT. We will be back to spelling next week!

WE ARE ALREADY INTO FEBRUARY...CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!