Miss Gill's Extraordinary Ones!!!

Dear Families,

I apologize for my later post on a Friday night, I found out at the end of the day that our school was being locked at 5:30p so I had to scoot out of there. I took my notebook home and have written this post cozily by my fireplace listening to the Spa tunes on Stingray Music, ahhh bliss!

Can you believe that we’re soon upon our last week of January next week, wowza! Time sure flies when you’re having a blast! Your child truly brings me such joy and happiness daily. We are all thinking, learning, and growing with each other – an uplifting feeling!

Family Literacy Day:

Happy Family Literacy Day!!

Today as a whole school, we celebrated Literacy Day! It was a real treat seeing all the creative, wonderful book characters! I have shared with my students that ‘Reading is Power,’ and it is a tool that must be embraced, cherished, and celebrated J Thank you to everyone who dressed up as their favourite book character! It was great to try to figure out who your child was portraying J I was Jeremiah from the book Jeremiah Learns to Read. One of my all time favourite books! Ask your child about this read aloud and what the author’s message is (what was the author trying to teach us?)

In addition to literacy celebrating, I am delighted to share with you that every day, I meet with one group to do a Guided Reading lesson and every child is READING!! I have let my students also know that everyone is at a different level and that is OK, as long as we’re learning and growing at our own pace. I have had a few parents ask this so I am going to share it on here now, the expected reading level by the end of Grade 1 is level 15/16. I am optimistic that we CAN and WILL reach this goal. Thank you to all the parents who continue to reading diligently with your child every evening and having them complete the 1 page of Word Study Homework, it is making a significant difference in their learning and growing!!!

Spirit Assembly:

Our school’s leadership team did an excellent job organizing an assembly linked with celebrating reading! They made a green screen presentation about the famous Dr. Suess book called Green Eggs and Ham. All students were so engaged during this presentation and loved seeing the older students perform. Following this, we had a house challenge where each team had to unscramble and answer a question about the book. Congratulations to the Blue House for finishing first, then Yellow House, after that Green House, and finally Red House! It was a fun challenge and everyone displayed character throughout it J At the end of the assembly we played a powerful song called “Gotta Keep Reading.” I have shared the link to the song, take a moment to listen to it with your child, ENJOY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psby0mI6ZLY

Brody, Cassius, Nolan, Alexander and I at the Spirit Assembly!

Ben and Leah in their representation of Green Eggs and Ham using our school's green screen. Amazing work!

Yellow House's Challenge

Collaboration at its best - goooo Chargers!!

Working together to get the challenge done!

Congrats Blue House on finishing first!

Yellow House came in a close second place!

Ms. Doka & Mrs. Draper also demonstrating spirit and honouring literacy!

Jeremiah! Some students called me this for the day, and that was okydoky :-)

More Engaging Measurement Learning:

This week, we have been continuing exploring, investigating and recording our linear (length, width, height) measurements. Students used a strip of long white tape paper to measure their height and then used used non-standard units to measure and compare their heights. They have also been introduced to a metre stick as a benchmark when comparing heights of various objects to themselves and others. Please ask your child how many centimetres are in a metre?

Ava & Brody measuring Alexander's height

Karina & Kurtis measuring Miika's height

Nolan & Jacob measuring Ashlee's height

Carissa & Emma measuring Kaden's height

They did it! Cassius, Conrad and Layla all set to measure now using non-standard units to measure/compare their heights

Emma & Kaden get Karrington's height


Away they go! Using links to measure a peer's height.

Ashlee using foot prints to measure

Carissa & Kaden use straws to measure

Lovely Layla using snap cubes and is a focused counter to ensure she is accurate :)

Karrington using straws to measure

Minds On: ordering heights from tallest to shortest

Ava using links to measure her height

Procedural Writing:

Beginning our Procedural Writing

In writing this week, I have been doing a modelled lesson on writing a Procedure. The purpose/goal of this form of writing is to provide instructions on how to do or make something. I had the students work in pairs to create a construction paper snowman step by step, and then as a whole class, we came up with the title, a goal, the materials needed, and steps/instructions to build the snowman. The students are enjoying this process and when we have our creations completed along with the writing piece, I will be sure to post our results! Stay tuned J

Music with Mrs. Czerny:

In music, Mrs. Czerny has had the students learn how to use boomwhackers! They are enjoying this new musical instrument and have been very successful in learning familiar songs such as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. On Wednesday, I returned early from my planning time and acted as an audience member to watch them play this song. I was SO IMPRESSED!! They did and so beautifully. Thanks boys and girls for using these instruments safely, effectively, and joyously! Mrs. Czerny spends a lot of time and energy into preparing fun and engaging lessons, this is cherished by one and all, thank you!!!