Important dates to remember:
Wednesday, September 27: PJ’s and Pancake Day
Thursday & Friday, September 28 & 29: 3WLC at homeroom 1321
Monday, October 2: Mid-Term Break starts
Dear Parents,
Time truly flies. I cannot believe it’s nearly the end of my assignment covering Ms Owen’s class. Take a look at what has happened this week:
Literacy / Inquiry
2B students continued to finetune their procedural writing skills after learning how to make some origami bookmarks and trying out different vegetables with Mrs Donaldson’s Hummus Dip. (I was so amazed by their veracious appetites and risk-taking, trying out a whole box of vegetables with this delicious dip. The class consumed an entire BIG tub of vegetables in less than 10 minutes!)
Next week, they will be documenting their journey in this genre of writing to show what they have learned so far.
In reading, the class learned how to use the strategy “I PICK” in order to select the right level books for individual independent reading.
P-PURPOSE: Why do I want to read?
I-Interest: Does it interest me?
C-Comprehension: Do I understand?
K-Know: Do I know most of the words?
We also helped the students consolidate their comprehension and accuracy skills, by utilizing the following strategies:
–Back-up, and re-read
–Check for understanding by looking for picture cues
–Use prior knowledge to make connection
and for Accuracy:
-Look for “Abundant easy reading” materials in the class and at home
–Look carefully at letters and words when trying to make sense of the text
–Flip the words (to check if it’s short or long vowels)
Math & Inquiry
There were LOTS of hands-on measurement activities this week. Students learned how to weigh things in both grams and kilograms.
We investigated ways to resolve problems related to weights in our “problem solving” station and looked at backpack safety tips which are so relevant to their health and well-being at this age. The class had to weigh themselves and their bags in order to find out if their bags fall into safety range of no more than 10-15% of their body weight. Thankfully, almost all the students passed this test.
We also looked at other backpack safety tips such as distributing weights evenly in their bags, how to pick a safe backpack which will promote healthy posture, and discussed ways to carry less each day.
To address with our emotional well-being, Ms Chutke helped us look at how positive and negative feelings may affect our mental health. She read us a story on ways to deal with negative thoughts and worries. The students then all wrote down their concerns on a piece of paper which were then taken away by Ms C. We learnt how these negative thoughts can be replaced by positive affirmation of something the students are great at. Check out a green heart somewhere at home and ask your child to share their feelings with you!
As a follow-up from our Hummus Dip activity, we discussed
the importance of having enough fibre in our system, its health benefits and of course a note of caution regarding having too much of it too.
Big thanks to Annika for being 2B’s first Star Of The Week. We have so enjoyed listening to your sharing and are glad to have learned more about you!
Finally, a big round of applause to Carlos and Daisy for being amazing risk-takers in performing at the grade 2 assembly!
To view more photos from this week, please click
here.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Best regards,
Rachel Donaldson 🙂
