April 10-14

A short week this week and then the break!  It's hard to believe that when we come back there will only be one week left of April and then it's just May and June!  Where did the time go?!

Notes:

• There is no school April 14 for Good Friday. 
• Easter break is from April 17-21 - no school
• April 24 is a learning day for staff - no school for students
• Gymnastics starts April 25 - please send proper gymnastics clothes (see note that went home)

Curriculum:

• Math - Finishing up decimals and then we will have an assessment on fractions and decimals on Thursday.  The patterns booklet that went home last week is for practice.  I recommend the kids work on it bit by bit rather than all at once.  These are important skills to build moving forward in math.
• L.A.
• Spelling: Lesson 14 begins today and new words are being sent home.
• Writing: We didn't get to typing our essays last week but we will this week!  We will also begin a unit on puns.
• Science: We will build our robots today and the Waste in Our World test is on Wednesday.  A study guide is coming home today and the answers are here on the blog.
• Social: We are taking a break from social this week as we have interruptions and other things we need to catch up on.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday Letters due
• Gymnastics note coming home
• Science study guide coming home

Tuesday:

• Library Books Due
• Learning Clicks careers presentation
• School Council meeting 6:30 p.m.

Thursday:

• Energy Day Assembly 12:45

Friday:

• No school - Happy Easter!  See you back on April 25!

Week of April 3-7

It's not the most spring-like weather to start off the first week of April, but I'm sure winter will be done soon!  Lots of kids didn't have warm enough jackets to be outside for recess today.  This is a good opportunity to encourage kids to be responsible for looking out the window and checking the weather so that they can dress themselves appropriately for the day!

Notes:

• A letter is going home today requesting recycled items to build robots with!

Curriculum:

• Math: This week our exploration of decimals will include looking at equivalent decimals in the tenths and hundredths (0.5 = 0.50), and then adding and subtracting decimals to the hundredths place.  You can help at home by giving your child two handfuls of coins and having them write the amounts in decimal format (e.g. $0.65) and then adding the two amounts together.
• L.A.
• Spelling: Lesson 13 continues, assessment on Thursday.
• Writing: We will finish our essays this week and typed them up during our computer period.
• Science: We have just a little bit to finish up this week including the "Garbage R's."  Ask your child what they all are.
• Social: Our geography travels are at an end, but our journey through time has just begun!  This week we go back to the beginning of human history in Alberta and find out what the First Nations way of life was like. 

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday Letters due

Tuesday:

• Human Sexuality health lesson 1
• Library books due

Wednesday:

• Human Sexuality health lesson 2

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday

Week of March 27-31

It's Spring Concert week!  We are in "go" mode getting the final touches put on our concert. 

Curriculum:

• Math: We are beginning with decimals this week, first tenths and then hundredths and then comparing them.  You can help at home by having your child find hundredths in real life.
• L.A.
• Spelling: New list #13
• Writing: We will be learning how to write a good persuasive essay this week.
• Science: We started learning about water last week and will continue this week in our discussion of the waste water treatment plant.  We will also learn about "green" cleaners following up what we learned about hazardous materials.  You can help at home by talking about your family's water usage and asking your child if they have any suggestions for improvement!
• Social: We are taking a flying "staycation" through the Grasslands Region this week.  You can help at home by talking about this beautiful region we live in - the landforms, bodies of water, climate, animal life, vegetation and natural resources.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Friday letters due

Tuesday:

• Tone It Up Tuesday
• Hot lunch
• Family Fun Night 6:00-7:15 p.m.
• Library books due

Wednesday:

• Energy Day Assembly 12:45 p.m.

Thursday:

• Spring Concert dress rehearsals (last names A-K at 9:00 and L-Z at 1:00)

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday

Saturday:

• Spring concert at Park Meadows Baptist Church
• Last names A-K at 1:00 p.m, doors open at 12:30 p.m.
• Last names L-Z at 3:30 p.m, doors open at 3:00 p.m.

Fractions of a Set

We have worked really hard over the last couple of days to understand fractions of a set.  Many students are still struggling with this concept so I have sent home some questions in the textbook to practice.  We found it very useful in class to use counters as a physical representation.  Any object will do.  I have also collected some YouTube videos to help out in case hearing it another way helps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQUgBAsW2KA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbKAmtiO-8M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSPgBzWzfrw

I hope you find that fractions can be friendly!

I love spring ahead!  Well, actually, it does play a toll in our lives!  I think the students will be quite tired tonight.  It's always a few days to catch up to the reality.

NOTES:
-Celebration of Learning is this Thursday night from 6-8.  I would love to see all of you come with your child for them to share their learning with you!
-Please return report card envelopes (signed)

Curriculum:
Math: continuing to learn about fractions of a set.  For example 1/2 of 6 = 3.  Or 1/4 of 12 = 3.  We will then talk about would you rather have 1/2 of "this pie" or 1/2 of "that pie".
Science: the students started to learn about worms.  Ask them about the story we read today.
Social: finishing our journey in the Canadian Shield Region
LA: new spelling words (week 12)
       - continuing to work on persuasive writing

This week at a Glance:

Monday

• Friday letters signed and returned
• Report card envelopes

Tuesday

• Eva Olson Presentation at Wilson Middle School, 9 a.m. http://www.thememoryproject.com/stories/1993:eva-olsson/
• library books due back
• Home Alone Program (registration required)

Thursday

• Book Fair
• Celebration of Learning 6-8 p.m.
• Choir after school

Friday

• No school for students

Week of March 6-10

It looks like we have another week of winter weather!  I love Southern Alberta!  Please remind your kids to dress for the weather each day. 






Curriculum:

• Math: We continue our journey into fractions.  We are learning about benchmarks and fractions of a set.
• L.A.
• continue in Lesson 11
• Writing: Connected with our Waste in Our World unit in science we will be learning how to write persuasively.
• Science: discussing the topic of landfills and what sort of waste is in the garbage.
• Social: taking a quick trip to the Canadian Shield Region to learn about the landforms, bodies of water, climate and vegetation.

Monday:

• Friday letters
• District School Council at the board office 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday:

• Library books returned

Wednesday:


Thursday:

• spelling assessment today (week 11 words)
• choir after school

Friday:

• dress for Frolicking Friday
• Report cards go home

Week of Feb. 27- March 3

I hope everyone had a restful break and were able to spend some quality family time.  I sure enjoyed a few extra days to spend with my kids and Teachers' Convention was insightful and worthwhile.


Notes:

• Registration forms for next year were sent home TODAY.  These are due back by FRIDAY.  Please be sure all information is correct and everything that needs to be signed is signed.
• New homework calendars will be sent out this week.

Curriculum:

• Math: We have begun learning about fractions!  You can help at home by talking about how you use fractions in your daily life at home or at work. 
• L.A.
• Lesson 11 words went home today.
• Writing: Connected with our Waste in Our World unit in science we will be learning how to write persuasively.
• Science: With the Wheels and Levers unit finished we will begin the Waste in Our World unit this week.
• Social: The Boreal Forest unit took a little longer to travel through than expected (it is after all 50% of Alberta!) and so we will finish up this week and then head way north to the Canadian Shield Region.

This Week's Schedule:
Monday:

• Registration forms sent home

Tuesday:

• Homework Journals due
• Tone It Up Tuesday
• Family Fun Night 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the gym
• Library books due
• Assembly 12:35 p.m.

Thursday:

• Choir after school

Friday:

• Frolicking Friday