Friday, December 16

Have a wonderful winter holiday!

Reminders:

• Complete your board game project
• Bring your band instrument
• Bring in your skating notices and ask for parent drivers (We g on our fieldtrip on the 2nd day back.)
• Work on your reading journal
• Read for 30 minutes

 

Thursday, December 15

Gingerbread trees!

Reminders:

- bring in secret Santa gift

- bring in Skating form and money and we need drivers

- games and food for party

- wear red and/or green tomorrow

Wednesday, December 14

We learned a lot about First Nations art during our trip to Vancouver International Airport.

"Celebrating Flight" by Don Yeomans at YVR

Div 1 in front of "The Spirit of Haida Gwaii" by Bill Reid

Reminders:
- we are visiting the Book Fair tomorrow so bring money if you are interested in purchasing something

- band class will be having a party (no instrument, bring food)

- bring candy and foil wrapped plate for buddy gingerbread activity

- bring Secret Santa gift

- bring inside shoes/slippers

Tuesday, December 13

Bring your inside shoes or fun slippers so our floor stays clean and dry. 

Reminders:

1. Come to the outside door of the library at 5:30 pm for the concert
2. Wear black and white for the concert
3. Ms. Kooner's group: page 104 #4 A and B
4. Ms. Grewal's group: page 57 of workbook
5. Field trip tomorrow, please bring lunch with you
6. Make sure you have  a simile in your paragraph
7. Bring your Secret Santa gift
8. Return the skating notice by Friday  
9. Reminder to bring candy and tin foil wrapped plate for Thursday

Monday, December 12

The Snow Surprise!

Reminders:

1. Bring gifts for Secret Santa
2. Bring paper plate or a piece of cardboard covered with tin foil and candy for decorating on Thursday
3. Wear black and white for the concert
4. Bring inside shoes
5. Get signed report cards back
6. Complete the rough copy of your weather paragraph
7. Ms. Kooner's math group: page 104 # 1and 2
8. Work on your reading journal
9. Please drop of your child around 5:30 pm at the library on Tuesday evening
10. Read for 30 minutes 

Friday, December 9

Here is chapter 35 of The Wild Robot.

Reminders:

- finish Gustav Klimt style art with writeup for Monday

- sign and return report card letters (parents, please sign into Freshgrade and leave a comment for your child)

- band Monday

- "weather" descriptive writing rough copy due Monday

- call the office for a parent teacher conference; early dismissal is on Wednesday

note: Due to our fieldtrip on Wednesday, we will be returning to school after the early dismissal bell, closer to 2:00.  The earliest parent-teacher conference will be at 2:00.

Thursday, December 8

Reminders:

• Math quiz on lesson 3.1 and 3.2- tomorrow 
• Work on rough copy of descriptive writing (Weather)
• Work on your French 
• Bring gym strip
• Bring your Secret Santa gift by Wednesday
• Band concert on Tuesday

Wednesday, December 7

Today, students spent a part of the afternoon learning about Gustav Klimt and in particular, his artwork titled, "The Tree of Life."  They are working on producing a tree of their own in Klimt's style. 

Reminders:

• Bring your band instrument
• Math test on Friday
• Complete your French 
• Work on your reading journal
• Bring Secret Santa gift by next week
• Silent read

Tuesday, December 6th

For math review:

Reminders:

- study for math quiz on Friday

- WordWork for group A

- ask about parent drivers for next week's fieldtrip

- French work is late for: Wasif, Mohammad, Anmol, Jaspreet, Jayden, Perneet, Sahil, Karan, Nikolei, Jaspaul, Priya

- ask about your attendance to the band performance next week at 6:00

- bring any materials you need for the Klimt art tomorrow

Monday, December 5

Let it snow!  Let it snow!  Let it snow!

Reminders:

• Ms. Kooner's group: page 98 #1-4
• Ms. Grewal's group: page 98 # 1-3
• Bring your gym strip 
• Bring concert money if you are coming as soon as possible 
• Check with your family if are coming for the concert at 6pm 
• Secret Santa gift by next wednesday

Thursday, December 1st

Thank you to everyone who came to our Storytelling Evening.  It was a great success.  It was an evening of laughs and learning and I especially enjoyed the stories told by the parents in attendance. Here is one special story told by someone who couldn't be at the evening performance.

Reminders:

• Ms. Kooner's math group: page 53 and 54 in work book
• Gym strip for tomorrow
• Writing is due tomorrow
• Work on your reading journal
• Wordwork group: Lost Riders
• Read for 30 minutes 

Tuesday, November 29

Reminders:

Oral story telling in the gym 6-7 pm tomorrow (please bring earbuds)
Dress formally for the story telling event
Ms. Kooner's class : page 94 #3 C and D
Ms. Grewal's class: page 94 #1-3
Complete self reflection and evolution
Work on your reading journals
Read for 30 minutes

Monday, November 28

Here is the video we watched about the evidence for evolution:

Afterwards we had an animated and interesting discussion on DNA which devolved into a conversation about scientists designing creatures, cloning, and the sanctity of life.  Phew! Everyone had an opinion but the discussion about ethics was a difficult one.

Reminders:

~Read 30 mins
~Notices for Evening of Music
~Reading journal
~Band log
~Ms.Kooner's math group text book pg. 94 #2
~Upload your story if not done yet

Friday, November 25

Today, we had an airplane challenge with Ms. Grewal's class and Anmol in Division 1 (us) was undefeated! Yay! (not that we are competitive or anything...)

Reminders:
~Storytelling evening next week on Wednesday, 6 -7 pm (bring your earbuds)
~Read 30 mins
~Ask for parent drivers for our field trip
~Finish self reflection
~Math Ms.Kooners group W.B pg 51
~Reading Journal (you, yes all of you except Jasmine, need to complete this!)
~Upload oral story: Chhavi, Gurjaap, Vizon, Jayden

Thursday, November 24

Drum roll please.... The airplane that survived... no... triumphed The Airplane Evolution Challenge was made by Anmol!  His airplane's distance travelled easily surpassed everyone else's. Congratulations!

Reminders:
- gym strip for tomorrow
- post your Science reflection on The Airplane Evolution Challenge on your portfolio
- Ms. Kooner's math group: math textbook page 88, 1-5
- Ms. Grewal's math group: math workbook page 51
- you MUST upload your oral story to your portfolio
- Breadwinner group be ready for wordwork tomorrow
- practise your songs for band
- read 30 min.

Tuesday, November 22

Today, in the afternoon we learned about evolution through the making and flying of paper airplanes.  

Reminders:

~Read 30 mins

~Make a paper airplane that will survive our classroom habitat without a need for mutation or descent from modification

~French test tomorrow 

~Upload oral story to fresh grade before friday

~Band log

~Reading log

Monday, November 21

~Read 30 mins
~Return notice
~Natural Selection questions Q and A
~Upload oral story on fresh grade
~Reading log
~Freedom train word work test tomorrow
~French test due on friday

Friday, November 18

~Read 30 mins
~Math test on monday
~Practice french test
~Upload oral story on fresh grade if your ready
~Band log
~Reading log
~Tell 3 facts about evolution, natural selection, and common descent

Thursday, November 17

Here is the video for evolution that we watched earlier this week. The natural selection video is on yesterday's post.

Reminders:

~Read 30 mins
~Make 3 questions for natural selection for our science game
~Upload oral story to your portfolio if you feel ready
~Sign and return notices
~Math test for Unit 2: Integers is on Monday

Wednesday, November 16

Here is the video on natural selection that we watched in Science.  We will discuss the ideas in depth during next science block.  

Remember to practice your oral story tonight. Please invite your family for the evening of November 30th (6 - 7pm) where Divisions 1 - 4 will be hosting a Storytelling Evening.  Please return the form to RSVP.

Reminders:

~Bring back notices

~Read 30 mins

~Reading journals

~Band test tomorrow

~Practice oral story with device

~French test next week

~Breadwinner word work

Tuesday, November 15

Reminders:

- fill out your storytelling sheet to help you plan out your oral story - practise your expressions and gestures, remember to have a conclusion

- Group C Lost Riders be ready for WordWork test

- Ms. Kooner's math group:

• Write a subtraction question that would give each answer. (Please do not use 0 in the question) How many questions can you write each time?
• a) +2
• b) -3
• c) +5
• d) -6

- Ms. Grewal's math group: Workbook page 36-38

- Movie Night on Friday (the money raised supports Grade 7 fieldtrips)

November 14 2016

We had a lot of fun learning about subtracting integers today. We had a showdown of integers where students needed to explain their answers to the class.  Way to go to Suhail and Sahil, the first challengers!

Photo Credit: Mïk Flickr via Compfight cc

The afternoon was another one of laughter and learning.  We learned about the survival needs of organisms as well as learning why the ancients worshipped the sun.  Here is a nugget of wisdom from the afternoon: Me: "Where do eggs come from?" Student (whose name shall remain anonymous but starts with a D and ends with an N): "Eggplants!" That was fun!

Some (6 actually) important notices went home today about upcoming fieldtrips and PAC events.  Please read, sign, and return.  Thank you.

Reminders
~Read 30 mins
~Band practice
~Ms. Kooner's math group: text book page 69 #1, 2, 3
~Reading journals
~Share notices with parents
~Mrs. Grewal's math group: page 62 #2 and 7
~Ask parents about a family story to share
- "Shabash" novel group be ready with WordWork list
- "Lost Riders" be finished reading chapters 1 - 5

PAX: Teacher Reading Last chapters

Here are the links to the chapters being read aloud in class.

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32 and 33

Chapter 34   Oooooh! This is a good one!

Wednesday, November 9

What an emotionally draining day today.  We had a beautiful Remembrance Day Assembly and our class presented a piece titled, "Light Is."

In the afternoon we had a presentation by the RCMP and Mr. Jordan Buna (EndGangLife.ca) which was intense and filled with useful information.


Reminders:
-no school tomorrow and Friday (see you on Monday!)
-reading journal
-band practice log
-Tuesday, December.13 band concert 1pm-6pm
-Freedom train read finish reading chapter. 3-4
-always read 30 min!
- my math group: page 36-38 workbook

On the upside, a rarely occurring event was photographed.  The teacher's desk was clean! Here's a photo so there is proof!

Tuesday, October 8

Reminders:

Here is a link for the election results (feel free to use others as well):

Election Results Live from CBS

-Find 1 interesting fact about the U.S. election

-Read 30 min.

-Wear black and white clothes for the assembly

-Work on reading journal

-Band practice log

-Math workbook page. 36-38 for Monday

-Math textbook page. 62-63 #1-5 for Monday

-Tuesday December 13th Band concert 1pm and 6pm

Monday, November 7

Mr. Long teaching the art of storytelling. 

Everyone handed in their Early Human projects.  We had a lot of different ways of showing learning. We even had a song!

Reminders:

- math page 34-35 workbook

- polish your family story, remember to use gestures, facial and hand gestures and intonation

- answer Padlet question 

-Reading Journal

- tomorrow group A for Daily 5

Thursday, October 3rd

Reminders:
- have a personal story ready to share in groups for Mr. Long's storytelling workshop (beginning, middle, end, character development, setting description, theme)
- my math group workbook page 23-24
- band instrument
- Early Man project due on Monday
- no school tomorrow
- remember your words for the Remembrance Day assembly presentation (Wednesday, November 9)
- students reading "Freedom Train" read chapter 2 and complete setting description
- students in Group E be ready to spell your words
- work on reading journal

Wednesday, November 2nd

Phew! It's been a whirlwind of a day today!  We practised our presentation for the Remembrance Day Assembly, had a visit from Mr. Long, the storyteller, participated in a Mystery Skype with Michigan in the morning and had a surprise visit from some Surrey Eagles hockey players.  In the afternoon, we had French with Ms. McQuillan and then yet another Mystery Skype with New Zealand. The school was called Masterton Intermediate School.  Guess what day it was in New Zealand?  Thursday! It is also summer there.  We learned about time zones and the international date line. They also danced an indigenous dance for us and showed us their money and talked about their favourite athletes and sports.

Reminders:
- band instrument for tomorrow
- work on your reading journal
- blog about the Mystery Skype (where, similarities, differences etc.)
- Social Studies project due on Monday
- Friday is a Pro-D (Curriculum Day)

Tuesday, November 1st

Today, during math we pondered the following question:

Surprisingly, this was a real challenge for most students as they tried to add, subtract, multiply or divide the numbers to find the age of the shepherd.  We discussed the need to understand the question thoroughly.  For homework, students are to create a question that could be answered with the information provided above.  We already had the question of, "How many sheep does each dog need to guard if they guard the same number of sheep each?"

Also, here is a video showing how common this error in math problem solving is:

Reminders for tomorrow:

- read for 30 min

- finish your word work

- work on Social Studies project (due on Monday)

- band practise log

Monday, October 31

Today, we had a spooktacular day of learning and fun.  In the morning we had reading, writing and math and in the afternoon we participated in  The Amazing Race. We went through a maze, solved riddles, walked blindfolded through "landmines" and much more.  It was a lot of fun!

Please have a SAFE and happy Halloween!

Reminders:

- math test tomorrow

 

Friday, October 28

"Parm-time!" (secret word for ____) 

We never got a chance to finish reading the Edgar Allan Poe poem, The Raven, so here is a video for you to watch instead. 

Reminders:

- Halloweem on Monday, feel free to bring a costume

- band instrument

- math page 23-24 in workbook

- Amazing Race on Monday

- social Studies project due on November 4

- read 30 minutes

Thursday, October 27

Today, in math we learned how to solve algebraic equations using algebra tiles. Everyone in my math group should have uploaded a video of themselves solving an algebraic equation onto their FreshGrade portfolio.

In Daily Five, the word work group should be studying the words that they've been having difficulty with. 

Tomorrow, Woodward Hiill Elementary will be celebrating Diwali.  Everyone is encouraged to wear their cultural clothing.

Reminders:

- gym tomorrow

- Ms. Grewal's math group: page 23-24 math workbook

- read 30 min

- bring "secret Parm-time stuff" (shhh....! 😂)

Wednesday, October 26

Some of Our Self Portraits

Today, we started day 1 of our Daily 5 rotation.  Each student is reading a novel in a group.  Here is the list of novels and groups.

Freedom Train	Shabash	Lost Riders	Breadwinner	Iqbal
Vizon Gurleen Taj Claudea Friyana	Ann-Joelle Sahil Gurjaap Mackenzie Jaspaul Parm	Mohammad Jaspreet Anmol Hillary Jovan Halina	Jayden Jasmine Joel Nikolei Dylan Karan	Ana Perneet Suhail Chhavi Priya Wasif

Tomorrow, we will continue the same Daily 5 rotation, as we ran out of time due to our guest speaker.

We were lucky enough to learn about some drama and storytelling techniques from Gordon Long, an experienced teacher and storyteller.  

In buddies, we worked on rangoli art in celebration of Diwali. 

Reminders: 

- band instrument for tomorrow

- bring Social Studies materials

- read for 30 min.

Tuesday, October 25

Today, we had a busy day with another Mystery Skype with a school in Alexandria, Virginia.

  We also learned about musical instruments made from recycled materials during a performance by the performing arts group SAM2. 

We had a lot of fun sharing stories during our oral storytelling time. Tomorrow, we will be having a professional storyteller come and teach us techniques for storytelling.

Reminders:

- bring supplies for Social Studies project

- finish Word Work

- read 30 minutes

Monday, October 24

Today, we discussed our Daily 5 Language Arts program.  Everyone was given a handout detailing the five activities outlines in the program.  We spent some time talking about Word Work and the novels that we will be reading.  Please go over that handout so that you are familiar with all of the parts of the program.  (It will become clearer as we go through the week, as well.)

This afternoon, we had the first of six blocks which will be devoted to working on our Early Humans projects.  Remember, the criteria is to use your time well during this time and to create an authentic project that shows your learning (cite your sources, please).

Our class will be participating in an oral storytelling workshop.  Our first class will be this Wednesday.  As a beginning exercise, students need to come to school with a personal anecdote from their life to share orally.

Reminders:
- gym strip for tomorrow
- work for 30 minutes on your Social Studies project
- enjoy your 30 minutes of choice reading

Thursday, October 20

Yay! Our grad hoodies arrived!

Reminders:
- Friday is a Pro-D
- good copy of your paragraph should be on your blog by Monday
- math page 36 #1, 2, 8
- bring any extra shoe boxes you might have
- band on Monday

Wednesday, October 18

Reminders:

- finish transition words #3 and #4

- finish Math page 44 # 1 #8 and page 17-19 in the workbook

- choose a topic to research for Early Humans Unit

Monday, October 17th

Today, we started working in math groups.  We reviewed divisibility rules and patterning.

Here is a video to help you review divisibility rules (remember that we talked about the rule for 7 and 8 in class):

For homework, students are to complete number 1-3, 5-7 on page 44. Here is the link to the textbook.

Here are screenshots of the questions as well. 

 

In Social Studies, we reviewed how the last ice age affected the migration of early humans. We also set out the criteria for our unit project. 

Reminders:

- practice band instrument

- read and enjoy those 30 minutes of bliss!