Welcome to Miss Gill's 2013-2014 Classroom Blog

Dear Families,

First off, I would like to say I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with your dearest loved ones!  In class, I look forward to hearing about your family's 'Thankful Stone' sharing experience.  They were extremely excited to bring home their 'Thankful Bags' and share them with you! 

Next, welcome to our Classroom Blog!  I'm delighted to begin this online journey with your child and YOU - providing you with updates/news of our exciting learning and upcoming events from our "Classroom Community" to your "Comfy, Cozy Home."  This blog is another avenue for US all to communicate, share, and celebrate your child's extraordinary learning in Grade 4!!! 

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude to all the parents who have actively supported and engaged in their child's learning at home thus far - together, we can make a significant difference by working together to help your child achieve their academic, social and behavioural goals/needs.  I could not do this without your unconditional love and support, it is greatly valued and cherished!

Language:
In Language Arts, we have focused on a variety of literacy activities to build upon our reading and writing skills.  Namely, I have been reading a short novel titled, "A Courage to Try" which is Canadian based (Barrie, Ont) and honours Terry Fox's courageous 'Marathon of Hope' endeavour and raising awareness about the importance of cancer research.  Ask your child to summarize / highlight the important parts of this powerful read aloud and what writing tasks we have worked on in class.  Many students used the reading comprehension strategy of Making Connections to connect their life experiences to this story.  It was amazing to hear students' moving experiences and how Terry Fox has impacted their thinking and life.  We are onto the final chapters this week, we are eager to see how "Maggie's journey" concludes ... stay tuned :)

Word Study:
Each week when your child brings home their red duo-tang with their "Word Study" homework pages, please take a moment to go over their words and the goal with them.  Thank you for supporting your child in our "Word Study Program," I am so pleased with their progress and taking responsibility for homework completion.  Please continue to initial and leave a comment in your child's "Word Study Test" notebook when it comes home.  I see how much they value reading your 'notes of encouragement!' 

T.W.A.S.
This has been an amazing communication and accountable learning tool between parent-child that I have ever experienced in my teaching career.  WOW!  I am grateful to each and every one of you for taking the time to read and lovingly write back a letter to your hard working child.  Seeing their beaming faces as they read your letters in class, uplifts and delights them beyond my mere words here!  Thank you!  Thank you!!!  We will continue working hard in class to improve upon our letters so they remain purposeful, meaningful and engage you as the reader :)

Math:
At the beginning of every new math unit, I will be sending a 'Math Note' home with your child.  Please take some time to sit down with them to read over the Learning Goal and some of the strategies/games you can do with them at home to support this new strand of math.  We have completed our Number Sense and Numeration Unit.  I will be sending home your child's math test with a student self-assessment form (blue) for you to complete with them.  Please carefully read over the form and their test as this will serve as a meaningful and powerful tool to assist your child's math learning.  Over the next few weeks, our new unit focuses on "Data Management" (E.g., graphing).

Last week, we started our "Extra Math Practice" homework (green duo-tang) which is designed to further support your child's math learning and gives you (the parent) an idea of what concepts we are/have covered in class.  Thank you for taking the time to help your child when he/she requires it.  I have already noticed an improvement in their reading of decimal numbers to hundredths :)

Science:
In science, our learning goal is "Habitats and Communities."  Students have enjoyed reading non-fiction articles in our Nelson Literacy texts and working in small groups to complete animal and habitat activities.  Your child is a scientist who is diligently investigating and discovering intriguing facts about Rainforests, Wetlands, Grasslands and Mountain areas.  Ask your child about which kinds of animals inhabitat these areas.  We will continue to explore with our eyes, ears and hearts! 

The Arts:
In art, we have worked on our "Art Portfolio" folder which will serve as a keeper of all your child's brilliant works of art this school year.  We have one new item to put into our folders called "Hand Art."  Your child will be sharing his/her 'hand' with their peers.  It is always so exciting to see their faces light up when they share their creative works of art!

Thank you for taking the time to read my first blog post :) I look forward to sharing more news, updates, learning and pictures in the next post!  Please visit my blog when you see "Blog Update" written in your child's agenda, this indicates a new post for you and your child to enjoy and celebrate their learning! 

Until soon ... 

                              "May you continue to grow gracefully, creatively, and joyously..."
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                  Namaste,
                                                                                                                          Miss Gill