“No snowflake ever falls in the wrong place.” --  Zen

Dec. 20th - Jan. 5th Happy Holidays from my family to yours!  Thank you Mrs. Roth for the adorable tree!

Dear Families,

I hope you’ve enjoyed this wintery, snowy weekend with your dear child.  What special activities did you do?  I spent much of today (Sunday) getting cool, crisp fresh air by shoveling my driveway and going for walks in my snow covered neighbourhood.  It was great!  I love Sundays, a time to relax and reflect upon the upcoming week with my amazing students.  I always look forward to Mondays as I see their rosy cheeks, bright smiles J and eager hearts/minds to learn, Learn, LEARN!  It’s our last week before the winter holidays, can you believe it?!  WOW!

Health:

Our Learning Goal for health focuses on "Healthy Eating."  A well-balanced diet with the right amount of daily exercise helps energize our minds and bodies to help us think and learn.  To reinforce learned concepts from school, your child will be bringing home their health duo-tang (yellow) Monday evening and is asked to complete the following charts, please see below (due on Wednesday).  Thank you for your support in this task.  We are becoming more and more informed about making healthy choices with what we eat and how it contributes to our health and well-being.

Health Chart #1

Health Chart #2

Speeches:

Last week, your child brought home a duo-tang with his/her speech package in it.  I do hope this will serve as a useful tool in organizing his/her thoughts on a topic of choice.  I encouraged my students to select a topic that interests them and/or they are passionate about.  Some students have already gotten a wonderful start on their speeches and are eagerly writing down their thinking, well done!  Daniel is writing about his passion which is dance!  Erin’s speech is on animals!  Ryan enthusiastically shared his topic with me which is all about braces!  I am really looking forward to my students’ speeches J  Please see a link below of a video that I shared with my class about a young boy named Dalton Sherman who delivered a speech to 20,000 school staff.  My goal for showing this video was to help inspire my learners to share their passion with an open heart and mind.  Dalton Sherman has had a deep impact on me not only as an educator, but as a human being.  Each day, I strive to believe in my colleagues, students, their families and ... myself ...  Thank you Dalton for your powerful words and message, I will carry this with me always!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMe8Nil2i20

This summer I visited India and spent some time in a pre-school helping children.  A moving experience!

Artist Visit:

We are excited to invite Mr. Sean Dawson into our learning community this Thursday!  We are really looking forward to having him join us for a morning filled with artistic fun!  I had the pleasure of having Mr. Dawson visit my Gr. 5/6 classroom last year, my students thoroughly enjoyed his talents and passion for art.  I could not pass up the opportunity to have my Gr. 4's to have this experience too.  I will ensure that I take photos of your child so you can see their creation J 

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”  -- Pablo Picasso

Website of the Week: 

A ministry initiative website where students log in to view tutorials related to specific math related curriculum.  Students are connected with a certified teacher from 5-9pm every night to assist with homework questions. Excellent at home resources!

https://homeworkhelp.ilc.org/secure/login.php

Quote:

“First we have to believe, and then we believe.”  -- G.C. Lichtenberg

Namaste,

Miss Gill

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

Dear Families,

Last week, we remembered and honoured a remarkable leader, activist, reformist, and human being – Mr. Nelson Mandela.  Mandela’s legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of many men, women, and children across our beautiful globe.  It is my hope that we lovingly remember and carry with us his powerful teachings of forgiveness, peace, compassion, and creating oneness with humanity.  Personally, Nelson Mandela has been an inspiration for me as an educator as I strive to create and maintain a classroom community which is accepting and embraces all students for who they are.  Each child in my classroom is truly a valued, cherished and loved member who makes our days lighter and brighter!  Some students shared their memories of Nelson Mandela and our discussion was very moving and heart-felt, thank you boys and girls! 

“Courage” Recipients:



Carrie-ann & Daniel - congratulations!

Congratulations to Carrie-Ann and Daniel for being recognized for displaying Courage – “We do the right thing even when it’s difficult” in your thoughts, words, and actions.  You both have worked diligently hard to demonstrate this trait and I am so very proud of your efforts!  Continue to be your best selves in all that you do. 

T.W.A.S. Writing

 The students and I would like to once again extend our thank you for all your contributions in our weekly T.W.A.S.’s.  Seeing their faces light up when they read your response in class is remarkable J  Thank you for all your energy, time, efforts and love that goes into your letters, it is making a significant difference in their letter writing!  They thoroughly enjoy this writing process and sharing all their new learning and goal-setting with you! 

Last week, I had the students’ partner up with a friend(s) and share their most proud piece of T.W.A.S. writing and listen to the feedback (stars & arrows) their peers had for them.  This activity was very meaningful as each learner had the opportunity to listen to and be inspired by their peers’ feedback and writing to help their achievement.  I noticed an improvement in various students writing as they are working very hard at extending their paragraphs and adding pertinent details to engage their audience (readers).  Each week in class, we will continue to share and celebrate our growing writing skills!

Please take a moment to enjoy the pictures below of our wonderful writers as they work together to get the job done!


Eryn & Trista

Daniel & Owen

Anjoli, Paige & Josie

Steven & Xavier

Bradley & Jax

Carrie-ann & Izzy

Grace extending her thinking prior to sharing with her group

Alexandra & Mikaila

Sammi & Julia

Eagen & Wyatt

Jakob & Alexander

Ryan & William

Trista's introduction



Alexander's writing

Jax's writing and his brother Luke's response

Josie's Writing

Math

On Friday, we finished up our Patterning & Algebra Assessment.  This week, I will be sending home the “Student Self-Evaluation” form.  I am encouraging families to sit down with their child to go over their test with them to celebrate their stars (what they did well in our patterning unit) and arrows (areas in which they require continued support in).  This self-assessment is a powerful tool for your child to use to recognize their successes and next steps in this strand of mathematics.  Thank you for your support in this endeavor. 

Our next math unit focuses on Number Sense & Numeration.  I sent home a math note (it was blue) last week with the new learning goals and success criteria.  We will be focusing on this unit for the next 3 weeks.  Your child will be bringing home their “Extra Math Practice” homework this Tuesday and you will see there is an emphasis on working with the addition, subtraction (of decimal numbers), multiplication and division of numbers.  We are working on building our confidence in applying mental math strategies to recall basic facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  Thank you for supporting your child in his/her math skills. 

Please visit the Student Centre – “Try it Out Questions” on the following website for additional practice:  http://www.mathk8.nelson.com/math4/default.html

Website of the Week:

As promised, here is another fun, interactive, and engaging math website that gets children practicing various mathematical concepts in a ‘gaming’ format.  Try it out! 

http://www.hoodamath.com/games/

Quote:

Before I share my quote, I would like to say thank you to Julia, Josie, Wyatt, Jakob, Owen, and Grace for taking the time to share their favourite quotes with me!  They had asked me, “Miss Gill, if we have a special quote, can we share it and then make it the quote of the week?”  My response, “Of course!  What a great idea!”  If you and your child find a quote that is meaningful to you both and wish to share it with me, please write it down in your child’s agenda and I’ll be sure to share it with the rest of the class!  Many students find our quotes inspiring and have independently kept a list of them in their own agenda J    

“If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal.  Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.”  -Nelson Mandela

Namaste,

Miss Gill

Happy December Everyone!

“The Beauty that will save the world is LOVE!”

Dear Families,

WOW!  Time sure flies by when you’re having the best year ever!  It’s already December, can you believe it?!  I feel like our school year just began and here we are 20 days until the holidays!  I hope you’ve had a lovely weekend with your family and are geared up for another wonderful work week!  I spent my weekend relaxing at home catching up on some sleep and spending quality time with friends on Sunday sipping delicious lattes and eating yummy sushi watching the Sens game.  I now feel re-charged, re-energized and re-juvenated for our upcoming learning week, hope you are too!    

Commit to Character:

On Monday we are having a recognition assembly at 9:15am celebrating November’s Character Trait of ‘Courage – We do the right thing, even when it’s difficult.’  Congratulations to our recipients whom I will be sure to take a pic of and post on our blog next week!  I am so proud of my students for consistently striving to be the best they can BE in and out of the classroom. 

“There is within each one of us a potential for goodness beyond our imagining for giving which seeks no reward; for listening without judgement; for loving unconditionally.”

December's Character Trait is EMPATHY “We think about the feelings of others!”

Demonstrating Empathy - "From one 'Roo' to another ... we can learn from nature"

Makayla Peca:

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize one of my past students whom I taught last year in Grade 6, her name is Makayla (Izzy’s older sister).  Each week, Makayla assists me in my classroom to organize my students' weekly bell work and word study homework.  I am truly grateful for her kindness, generosity of her time/efforts and mostly her unconditional nature of giving to others.  I value, cherish and adore all your help!  I look forward to our weekly meetings as it’s an opportunity to spend some quality time with you and hear about all your new learnings in Grade 7 with Mr. McCann (he’s fortunate to have you in his class).  From my heart to yours … THANK YOU!!!

Marvelous Makayla - Thank you for all that you do!  Thank you for being YOU!

The 4 Parts to a Recount:

In Language, we have been going deeper into our thinking when we write a personal Recount.

The Learning Goal for a Recount is:  We will learn, write, and remember the 4 parts of a recount. (Thank you Grace for helping our class develop this learning goal).

Success Criteria:

_ I will include a title for my recount.

_ I will explain the orientation (when, who, where, why?).

_ I will have a logical sequence of events (what happened? First, then, next, finally).

_ I will evaluate and provide a personal comment (how do the events make the writer feel?).

Using this Learning Goal and Success Criteria, students will complete a Recount and they will share their writing with a peer and provide each other feedback.  I am looking forward to reading and celebrating their growing writing skills!

The Main Idea:

In Science, we have been reading non-fiction text to find the main idea and providing supporting details (evidence).  Most recently we read a text titled - "Helping Animals Cross the Road."  Please ask your child about this engaging and informative reading.  As a class we talked about what the ‘Main Idea’ really means and here are some of the students' responses.  Jax said, “The main idea is what the author talks most about.”  Julia – “It’s the author’s BIG message.”  I then chimed in and said, “It’s what the author wants us to learn.”  After this, various students then remembered that when we state a main idea we must always provide ‘evidence’ to support our thinking!  RIGHT ON!  As we read, it is important to think about what the author’s purpose is and who it is intended for.  As you read with your child at home, please ensure that you ask your child about what they think the author’s message is and why.  Thank you for your support in this reading is thinking endeavour!

Xavier's Notes - Thank you for sharing!  Well done :)

Developing 'Success Criteria' for Patterning & Algebra:

As stated in a previous post and to many parents at the Student-Led Conference, in class, I have my students co-create a ‘Success Critera’ to improve their achievement.  For example, at the end of a unit in math, we brainstorm all the important ideas from that unit and break it down into steps with examples which they may then use when they write their assessment.  I am not looking for memorization of facts/concepts, I am encouraging for my students to use strategies to help their thinking, a Success Criteria is a strategy/tool to aid a learner's thinking.  Here is an example of Josie’s Success Criteria for Patterning (Josie and I had a moment together upon her completion of her work and she shared this, she said, “Miss Gill, I am very proud of my criteria, I worked hard on it.”  So am I!  Well done!)  This coming week, I will have my students use their Success Criteria (checklist) to demonstrate their understanding of our Patterning Unit.  Good luck boys and girls!

Josie's Success Criteria for Patterning & Algebra - a level 4 effort indeed!

New!  Check this out!  Website of the Week (WOTW):

Each week, I will do my best to provide a website/or video for you and your child to check out together that reinforces concepts taught at school.  Curriculum Link:  Science – Habitats and Communities.

Click on the link below for a fun and interactive website that engages students in helping our forests and endangered species of our planet!  Enjoy :)

http://www.seussville.com/loraxproject/

Quote of the Week (QOTW):

“Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible.”  -- Dalai Lama

Namaste,

Miss P. Gill

STAND UP for Bullying Prevention!



Stand UP!  We are building, promoting, and celebrating our HAPPY, STRONG HEARTS!


Dear Families,

Nov. 18th-22nd was dedicated to Bullying Prevention!  This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart and as your child's teacher, I am reinforcing the importance of creating, building upon, and maintaining happy hearts in and out of our classroom.  Our Community of Learners Agreements help guide us everyday - Attentive Listening, Mutual Respect, NO PUT DOWNS, Right to Participate, Right to Pass.  We regularly refer to this agreements as a reminder for us all to treat our peers, friends, and family with kindness, dignity, and respect.  I feel this will help in creating a happy, safe, and caring world.  I believe in all my students and their abilities to reach out to do their part in making a positive difference for our today and tomorrows ... together we can help put an end to bullying!!!

Activity:  Happy to Scarred Hearts:
In our class, we did an activity to create an Awareness to how deeply affected one can be when they are put down and bullied.  First, I had the students draw a large heart on a piece of white paper.  Next, I had them observe their 'Hearts.'  Then, I asked them to crumple their paper and throw it to a peer across the room.  Finally, each student opened up their peer's heart to see what it looked like.  Following this observation, we had a powerful discussion of how once you hurt someone's heart you create "crumples or scars that remain with that person that are difficult to heal and bring back to its original happy state."  We also discussed the term "Bystander" and what it means.  A bystander(s) is a person or group of people who see bullying happening yet don't do anything to help.  In other words, they witness the bullying and walk away which ultimately continues and promotes this unkind cycle of hurt.  As a class we signed "The Pledge to End Bullying" to help do our part!  My class is part of a beautiful, loving community of learners and it is our hope we will continue to be so and encourage other students in our school the importance of no put downs!

Please enjoy a few pictures from our lessons last week for Bullying Awareness!  Each student participated with an open heart and mind ... thank you!!!

Justifying Jax offering his thoughts, feelings, and emotions about his peer's heart

Marvelous Mikaila and Justifying Jax comparing a happy vs. scarred heart

Strategies your child can use to help him/her persevere with a difficult/challenging task!

When our heart is bullied, the scars remain with us no matter how hard we try to "uncrumple" them.

Thank you Jolly Julia for gifting our classroom with this meaningful book!

Thank you Mrs. Bell (Daniel's Mom) for donating this uplifting, powerful read aloud to our classroom library! 

Thanks again Mrs. Bell for your donation!  We're celebrating our differences - UNIQUENESS!  We're all one of a kind :)

The Pledge!  Our Pledge!  Starts NOW!

Sensational Steven, Jovial Josie, Terrific Trista saying "together we can and will make a difference!"

Quote:
"Your thoughts become your words.  Your words become your actions.  Your actions become your destiny."

With All My Heart & Namaste,
Miss Gill    
        

Dear Families,

Is it mid-Nov.?!  WOW, the temperature this weekend was feeling more like spring!  I don't know about you, but I adore the warmer climate, but do appreciate the snow for all the winter fun like snow-shoeing, skiing and snowboarding.  I spent the weekend 'winterizing' and ensuring my home is ready for the cooler weather which will be here oh so soon :-)  I hope you had a delightful weekend with your loved ones and enjoyed the beautiful weather. 

Student-Led Conferences:
It was a true pleasure meeting with all my students' families last week.  Thank you for taking the time to attend and help celebrate and enjoy all your child's achievements thus far in the school year.  I was so proud of each learner as they diligently led the interview beautifully by sharing their self-assessment (Progress Report), and their "Star" and "Arrow" pieces of work.  It was their chance to shine and they certainly lit up our hearts and minds!  Throughout the Conferences, I experienced many heart-warming moments with parents and I deeply appreciate and value all your positive and constructive feedback.  I will use it to continue to provide my best as an educator for your child's academic, social, and behavioural needs.  Meeting the needs of my students is of utmost importance to me and I will always work hard to ensure they receive a compassionate, caring, and safe environment to learn in.  Again, thank you for your support, cooperation, and understanding.  If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the school.

Here are a few pictures of my students working on their Progress Reports in class and contributing their thinking to our Success Criteria for Learning Skills.  Enjoy :)

Gracious Grace, Wonderful Wyatt, Outstanding Owen

Steven, Grace, Owen



Owen ensuring his thinking 'Looks Right!  Sounds Right!  Makes Sense!



Izzy sharing her criteria for Self-Regulation

Terrific Trista goal-setting!

Brilliant Bradley ready for the camera and starting his self-assessment!

Jovial Julia always putting in her personal best to achieve her goals!

Mrs. Roth:
I would like to introduce you to a very special educator, mentor, friend and person in my life.  There are many parents who may have heard about "Mrs. Roth" in their homes through their child's T.W.A.S, Mother Earth Treasures, The Talking Stick, Love Can Build A Bridge, colourful bandanas, her visit to our classroom and seeing her at our Cooperation Assembly. 
Mrs. Roth is a cherished member of our Learning Community.  She has contributed her time, efforts, love with us all.  Her passion for helping children grow into their best selves is most admirable and valued.  She came into our Learning Community to help celebrate your child at our Character Education assembly.  I know it meant a lot to the students to finally meet her and get to know the compassionate, caring, and thoughtful person she is.  Thank you Mrs. Roth for consistently supporting, loving and caring about our learning!  We HONOUR YOU.  xo.


Wonderful William and attentive Mrs. Roth sharing a moment about the 'Golden Rule!'

Mrs. Roth had each learner provide feedback about their experience performing 'Love Can Build A Bridge.'

We did it!  So proud of my students for their excellent performance at the Cooperation Assembly!

Sensational Sammi, Respectful Ryan, Amazing Alexandra - thank you Mrs. Roth for the delicious treats!

Love Can Build A Bridge - we are the EVIDENCE! 

Cooperation Recipients:
Congratulations to Steven, Julia, and Trista for demonstrating cooperation in your thoughts, words and actions!  You are a model for 'Working Together To Get the Job Done!'  Thank you for setting a positive example in and out of the classroom!

Our Cooperative Recipients - Spectacular Steven, Jolly Julia, and Terrific Trista!  Well done!

Letters to Parents:
Last week, I sent a number of letters home to parents regarding the various New Learnings for different subject area.  For example, I sent home a note about our Social Studies, Health, and Math (they were stapled together on coloured paper).  Please do take the time to sit with your child and discuss the new Learning Goals for these subjects as this provides you both with key information that is being discussed at school.  Thank you in advance for those families who do this, it makes a remarkable difference in your child's learning.

Multiplication:
Last week's "Extra Math Practice" focussed on multiplying numbers.  In class, we are learning various ways/strategies to multiply numbers: namely - repeated addition, using arrays, creating groups, the Lattice Method, practicing with flashcards.  When I was growing up as a child, I spent a lot of time practicing my times tables at home over and over until I memorized my 1x - 12x tables.  However, in my classroom, I am doing my best to provide as many ways for my students to practice and review their multiplication so they can become more confident in this area of math.  Having your support at home is greatly appreciated and valued.  Thank you.

Quote:
"Enjoy the little things - for one day you will look back and discover they were the big things."  Thank you to Mrs. Roth's sister Heidi for introducing and sharing this beautiful quote with us!

Namaste,
Miss Gill

    

Goal Setting to Improve Student Achievement!

Dear Families,                                                                           

This morning all staff and students participated in a Remembrance Day assembly to express our love, honour and gratitude to all those who have, are and will serve our country.  We truly are blessed to live in such a safe, caring and beautiful Canada.  As you know, each day as a whole school we sing O'Canada, as a teacher, during this time, I ensure that my students and I demonstrate our utmost respect and take time in our own way to say 'thank you' for being part of a wonderful community, country, and world.

'Success Criteria' for Learning Skills & Work Habits:

In my last post, I had mentioned that I would like for you and your child to go over the 'Learning Skills' and 'Work Habits' portion of the Progress Report.  I hope you enjoyed this process over the weekend.  In class, I had my students work in small groups to collaborate as a team to come up with their own 'Expectations' and 'Criteria' of what each Learning Skill "Looks Like, Sounds Like, and Feels Like."  The purpose of this activity is to encourage my students to set goals to help them improve their achievement in the areas of Responsibility, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, Organization and Self-Regulation.  We will be referring to their 'Criteria' that they've established throughout the school year.  I believe in the importance and value of having my students' input and voices heard.  I strongly feel this activity will serve as a purposeful tool in helping my learners put effective work habits into place to help them achieve their personal best in their academic, social and behavioural learning.

Here are some pictures (I apologize for most of them being sideways) of what the students came up with!  We'll have a closer look at these when I see you in our Learning Community for our Conference.

Self-Assessment:
Last week, I also had my students write their own 'Progress Report' as a way for them to self-assess, celebrate their "Stars" (things they feel they do well), "Arrows" (areas of need) and 'Set Goals' for themselves in their learning.  Upon hearing that their teacher was getting them to write their own report card, many students' faces lit up as they felt it was their Chance to SHINE!  YES it is, as all my students are glowing lights :) Your child will be sharing his/her Progress Report (self-assessment) with you at the Student-Led Parent/Teacher Conference this week!    

Here are some students working hard at 'Goal Setting' to improve their achievement!  

Wonderful Wyatt!

Sensational Sammi!

Spectacular Steven!

Jolly Julia!

Anjoli, Sammi, Grace - sharing their 'Stars & Arrows'

Daniel, Owen, Wyatt - attentively listening to one another's achievements!

Alexandra, Carrie-ann - delighted to be partners to share their thinking!

I look forward to seeing you this Thursday (afternoon/evening) and Friday (morning) for our Conference.  It will be an exciting opportunity for us to celebrate your child and all the wonderful learning he/she has achieved thus far!  Until soon ... keep smiling :-)

Quote:

"Everyone you meet is fighting a battle which you may know nothing about.  Be kind.  Always."

Namaste,

Miss Gill