Wednesday 12 December 2018

Mrs. Garlow's Classroom Blog

Holiday Concert

Our class will be performing in the Primary Holiday Concert tomorrow! 

Here are some important things to know:

  • There are two performances in the gym.  The first one is in the afternoon beginning at 2:30 pm and the second one is in the evening beginning at 6:30 pm.  All families are welcome.  Students will be performing at both.
  • Parents should drop children off in room 224 at 6:15 pm on Thursday night.  There will be staff members present to supervise students until they are ready to perform.  Parents can find a seat in the gym to watch the evening performance.  After the performance, please return to room 224 to pick up your child. 
  • Students are encouraged to wear "festive colours" for both performances.  That could include wearing anything red, green, black, white, or something shiny and sparkly. Santa hats, or other festive accessories are welcome!  Students should wear or bring their festive outfits to school on Thursday.

    

Monday 10 December 2018

Mrs. Garlow's Classroom Blog

Holiday Concert 

This Thursday at 2:30p.m. and at 6:30p.m. we will be having a Holiday Concert for the primary division.  Your children have been working very hard with Mr. Alexander.  We hope you're able to make it!

Skate Sale

Winter Electives Volunteers

If you are interested and available to volunteer with our primary winter electives at The ROC on January 9th and at The Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex on January 24th, please let me know.  You will need to have a current VSC completed which you can pick up in the office.  We need volunteers who can skate and help students on the ice as well as volunteers to help tie up skates, assist with putting on helmets, supervise tubers, and tobogganers.


Math

Students have been busy investigating and developing their understanding of addition and subtraction in the context of measurement.  A study guide with specific expectations will be coming home to help support and prepare your child for an upcoming quiz next week.  



 




Social Studies

Students have been busy creating dioramas to depict their inquiries on early communities in Canada and how Indigenous peoples used the resources from the land to survive.  Here is a look at some of the work in progress on various First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities...





Word Study

We will begin revised follow-up activities for our word study program starting this week.  Here is an outline of the activities.  Please have all word study books completed and returned to school by Friday.



Monday 3 December 2018

Mrs. Garlow's Classroom Blog

Reading

In reading, students are continuing to set reading goals for themselves.  Some students are working on using comprehension strategies such as envisioning or retelling, while others are working on attending to punctuation to read with greater fluency and expression.  This month we will monitor our progress towards achieving these reading goals.  The Grade 3s have also been learning about figurative language.  They have been studying figurative language through our weekly poems as well as through our mentor texts.   Some have also been using it in their true stories.  It’s so exciting to see!

Writing
In writing, students are continuing to revise and edit their true stories based on a small meaningful moment in their personal lives.  They are using feedback from their self-assessments, teacher feedback as well as feedback from their peers to improve the quality of their written work.  It’s truly amazing to see these young authors at work!  Our focus will shift from editing to finally publishing these stories.   We are hoping to have all narratives complete before the holidays so we can invite all families into our classroom community for an author celebration!


Math

Students have been working hard on learning how to add and subtract with three-digit numbers with and without regrouping through the context of measurements (length and perimeter).  Our mathematicians have been working on developing efficient strategies by using tools such as an open number line and a table.  Please regularly review basic addition and subtraction facts with your child at home. Quick recall and proficiency of these basic facts is essential to their success with adding and subtracting larger numbers.


As in all math units, an emphasis will be on problem solving and justifying answers. Students must be able to explain their thinking. The Grade 3s have been working on solving problems in a variety of ways, making their thinking visible and using mathematical vocabulary.


Science
Our scientists are about to start another mini-inquiry into historical structures that have stood the test of time.  Students will research about what made these structures strong and stable and endure various forces.  Students will then move onto experimenting with materials to strengthen and stabilize structures. Throughout their learning, students will be reminded to consider the impact of the structures on the environment and the impact of the environment on these structures. 


Social Studies

Students have researched how Canada is made up of many different environments and how the environment and land affected the ways of life in communities. The Grade 3s have also learned how Indigenous peoples shared their knowledge of using the resources from the land to survive such as food, medicine, shelter, as well as transportation.  Students have been busy creating dioramas to depict life in a First Nations, Metis, or Inuit community to present to the class.      


Winter Electives

Our grade 1 - 3 students will be given the opportunity to enjoy two, fun-filled days.  The first outing has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 9th at The ROC in Georgina, Ontario and the second outing has been scheduled for Thursday, January 24th at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex.  Sign up your child for skating, tobogganing, or tubing.  Registration packages outlining all the details have been sent home with every student.  Please make your payments using School Cash Online and return your completed forms by December 7th.  We are also in need of volunteers in order to make this happen.  We will need help with supervision, helping students tie on their skates, assisting students while they are on skating on the ice as well as with tubing and tobogganing.