Jan. 6

In Math, we have been working on understanding our numbers to 100 and over the last two days, we have learned how to spell and write numbers up to 20.  We have been doing this through stories,  student created word searches and technology.

Look at the excietment on their faces using IXL

We are really excited as we now have an IXL membership for each student.  IXL is an interactive math site that allows students to practice skills we are doing in class and provides immediate feedback if they get an answer wrong.  We started using this in class today to practice number concepts, but you are welcome to use this at home too.   This allows students to have more practice and you to see what we are working on.  Please check your child's backpack for their sign in information for this site.

Coming up:

• Denise Miller: Indigenous story telling on Tuesday
• Glenbow Field Trip Wednesday
• Mrs. Jordan away Friday

Jan. 5

In Reading, we are focussing on understanding what we are reading through a variety of strategies. One of those strategies is by retelling.  We have read many stories and looked at what most stories have in common: a beginning where we meet our critical characters and setting, a middle where we are introduced to the problem, and the end where the problem is solved.

We have been retelling with more and more detail and eventually this will lead to us using these elements for our own storytelling.  Over the last two days, we have been dissecting the story: The Mitten by Jan Brett.  We practiced retelling the story using ordinal numbers (first the mole went into the mitten, second...).  Today we practiced retelling the story by acting it out.  This was a great way for students to practice retelling the story with the help of their peers to ensure they got all the key parts.

Coming up:
Field trip forms and report card envelopes tomorrow
Denise Miller: Swansong Storytelling - Tuesday
Glenbow Field Trip - Wednesday

Jan 4

Thank you to everyone who already sent back report card envelopes and field trip forms! We got over 1/3 of them back already today!

Over the last couple of days, we have been doing a lot of review of important classroom routines and talking about why we do what we do each day. For example, today we had an excellent classroom discussion about why it is important to read. Many of us realized that we need to read in order to understand text messages, we read for enjoyment, and we read to learn new things.  We also talked about how we become better readers and we once again revisited this amazing diagram that shows that the best way to to become a better reader is to READ!

During reading, many of us had the chance to set some new reading goals.  We reviewed our previous reading goals and discussed what some new goals would be.  Some of our new goals include: using our knowledge of word sounds and applying them to new words, using a dictionary to learn the meaning of new words, and using punctuation to help us add expression to our reading.  Over the next few days, each of us will get to read with me, confer about reading and set some new goals. Please chat with your child about what these goals are and don't hesitate to contact me if you want more information about how to help with these goals at home!

Coming Up

• Field trip forms and report card envelopes due Friday (you can keep the report card)
• Glenbow Museum Field Trip - Jan. 11

Jan. 3

Happy New Year!!  I  am excited for what 2017 will bring to our classroom and our learning!  We had an excellent start to this new year today.  The students came to school excited and smiling and eager to learn.  It was nice to see all of the students and hear all about their winter break.  I know the students were so happy to see each other too!

Today you should have received field trip information and consent forms for our field trip to the Glenbow Museum next week.  We will spend all day on January 11 at the museum doing two different programs that connect directly to our social studies curriculum. This is a great opportunity for both students and volunteers as most of the class has not been to the museum before!

Please read through all the information carefully, sign the forms and send back by Friday.  If you are able to volunteer, please email me or send back the purple forms ASAP.  We will need two volunteers from our class in order to go.  Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about driving there or your police clearance.

Coming up:

• Glenbow Field trip - January 11
• Mrs. Jordan away Friday January 13 at Learning Leader Meeting

Dec 16

Just a quick note to say happy holidays to everyone!  It has been an amazing few months at Ken Taylor school and I can't wait to see what 2017 will bring to us all!

I also wanted to congratulate all the students on their hard work. Report cards went home today and it was a pleasure to write them and provide all of you with a little more information about your child's progress at school. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. Although I won't be checking email for the next week, I will respond when I have access to email again:)

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. Have a restful and relaxing break!

Dec. 15

We will be going on a field trip to the Glenbow Museum on January 11 which is quite soon after the break. We are just finalizing all the forms now but thought we would put the bug in your ear early. In order to go on this trip we will need quite a few volunteers so please let me know if you would like to attend and if you have a police clearance on file already (unfortunately it's too short of a window to just begin the police check for this trip but we have 2 more later in the year as well). Due to the cost of busses and the maximum capacity already being met by just the students and teachers, we are asking for parent volunteers to drive themselves down to the museum and meet us there.

Our trip to the museum will be focussing on the program:

Our Community Our People: Who Built Calgary

(Social Studies)

Who were the individuals that helped build our first communities? Whose ideas led to the creation of our unique city? Based in the Mavericks gallery, this program allows students to explore with artifact handling and photographs and discover the pioneering men and women who first settled the West and began building our great city ... Calgary!

Students will also have the opportunity to explore other exhibits in the museum with a guide. Please email me at smjordan@cbe.ab.ca  if you are interested in volunteering for this trip. Thanks so much!!

Coming Up:

• Pyjama day tomorrow! Wear your PJs, slippers, and robes!
• Carolling tomorrow at 8:30. Our class performs!!
• Report Cards go home tomorrow
• Early Dismissal tomorrow
• 
  

Dec 14

What a fantastic day we had!!  I can honestly say that this day will go down as one of the best ever in my teaching career so far.  The excitement, smiles, and energy that we all had this morning made this such a perfect morning.

We started this morning by getting our room set up and ready for baking.  We tied our baking into our science unit on Liquids and as we mixed our recipe, we recorded some of the things we observed.  For example, what happens when we mixed two liquids?  A liquid and a solid? Two solids?

We each had a turn to add an ingredient, mix the ingredients, roll it, or cut out a cookie.  As we went, we smelled the different ingredients such as cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and even our dough.

Smelling spices

Smelling spices

 

 

Mixing Liquids

Mixing Solids 

 

Once we had our dough mixed, rolled, and cut, it was time to bake them. This was special for the class as we had the chance to go into the staff room.  Here we spent some time recording our observations, creating our own gingerbread kid, and reflecting about what we learned about solids and liquids.  We also did some writing using our sense of smell and sight that we will use tomorrow for some poetry.  

 

 

 

Finally they were ready!!! We offered some to our office staff and they all agreed they were delicious... but were they? When would the students get a chance to try them?  The delicious smells were making all of our tummies growl!

 Finally when we got back to class, we had a chance to try them.  They were flavourful, healthy, and decilious!!We started by only taking 1 bite and after our bite, we looked at what part of the gingerbread man we bit.  We used this to make a tally. This information will be used to make our own graphs. Stay tuned...

Coming Up:

• Red and Green Day tomorrow
• Early Dismissal Friday
• Report Cards home Friday
• Our class performs a dance at Caroling on Friday. Starts at 8:30
• Pyjama Day Friday
• Winter Holidays start Friday at 11:30am!!