Hello everyone,
Well, the first week back at school has come to an end. We have covered the rules and routines this week, and gotten all of the "getting to know each other" activities out of the way. Next week, my students will be starting their first novel study for term one, begin writing entries for their reading response journals, and commence their spelling programs. We are also going to examine different genres of literature (fiction, non-fiction, legends, diaries, etc). It is going to be time to get down to business!
Today, we finished watching the students' What's in the Box presentations, and my students have gotten better acquainted with each other. We also re-arranged our desks and seating chart, re-visited our classroom expectations, and Art paintings from yesterday were completed. We took up both the Grade 5 and 6 Math homework, and continued our units on Patterning. In Gym, I introduced the game of Powerball to the students. We ended the day with a visit from our Grade 2 Reading Buddies with whom we drew pictures of each other and wrote our names above, in order to introduce ourselves to the buddies we will be working with each Friday.
An application form for Student Accident Insurance was sent home today, as it was missed in our communication envelopes on Wednesday.
I wish everyone a safe and restful weekend, and I will see you all on Monday!
Homework Assigned Friday September 7, 2007:
Grade 5
-Read 20 minutes each day and get parents to sign agenda as proof
-Finish your "M, A, T, H" letter and pattern rule on your large graph paper if it was not finished in class
Grade 6
-Read 20 minutes each day and get parents to sign agenda as proof
-Math Textbook page 6, questions #5, 6
Friday, September 7, 2007
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Thinking Outside of the BOX
Hi everyone,
Today we started off with Chair Aerobics for our Daily Physical Activity. None of us realized that it was actually possible to break a sweat while sitting in a chair! My students were definitely wide awake and ready to learn after this workout.
I presented my own box to the class, in order to model the proper oral communication skills they should use when presenting to the rest of the class. The students then got into pairs and practiced presenting to that one person, and gave tips on how they could improve toward a Level 4 quality of presentation. As students presented their boxes, the rest of the class used outstanding audience skills, actively listening and asking questions. At the end of each presentation I have been asking the audience to raise their hand if they have something in common with the person who just presented their box. This has been a great way for my students to get to know more about each other, and start building new friendships based on their common interests.
During Math, the Grade 5 students worked on creating different sizes of letters using graph paper and square pattern blocks, in order to find patterns in the number of new blocks added each time the size of their letter increased. The Math Workbooks were handed out, and homework was assigned (see bottom of this blog entry). The Grade 6 students took up their Patterning review sheet and last night's homework with me, received their Math Workbooks, and homework was assigned (see bottom of this blog entry).
Thursdays end with Art class. Today we painted Colour Wheel influenced patterns, and I encouraged the students to take my assignment and make it their own by adding their own creativity. Grade 5 students worked with primary colours (blue, red, yellow) to mix secondary colours (purple, orange, green), and made patterns using complimentary colours - colours that are on opposite sides of the Colour Wheel (blue & orange, red & green, yellow & purple). Grade 6 students also used primary colours to mix secondary colours, but went one step further and mixed a primary colour with a secondary colour to make a tertiary colour (blue-purple, blue-green, red-purple, red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green). Students will have a few minutes to finish-up their art work, if they complete tomorrow's assigned work during class time.
Homework Assigned Thursday September 6, 2007:
-Read 20 minutes and have parents/guardians sign your agenda as proof
-Those students who did not present their Box today, should be ready to present tomorrow morning (make some additions tonight if you need to bump your presentation up to a Level 4)
-Grade 5: Math Workbook page 1, # 1-5
-Grade 6: Math Workbook page 1, # 1, 2
-Arrow Book Orders are due next Thursday September 13, 2007
-Return signed forms and communication envelopes as soon as possible
-$5 Agenda fee + $10 Math Workbook fee as soon as possible
Today we started off with Chair Aerobics for our Daily Physical Activity. None of us realized that it was actually possible to break a sweat while sitting in a chair! My students were definitely wide awake and ready to learn after this workout.
I presented my own box to the class, in order to model the proper oral communication skills they should use when presenting to the rest of the class. The students then got into pairs and practiced presenting to that one person, and gave tips on how they could improve toward a Level 4 quality of presentation. As students presented their boxes, the rest of the class used outstanding audience skills, actively listening and asking questions. At the end of each presentation I have been asking the audience to raise their hand if they have something in common with the person who just presented their box. This has been a great way for my students to get to know more about each other, and start building new friendships based on their common interests.
During Math, the Grade 5 students worked on creating different sizes of letters using graph paper and square pattern blocks, in order to find patterns in the number of new blocks added each time the size of their letter increased. The Math Workbooks were handed out, and homework was assigned (see bottom of this blog entry). The Grade 6 students took up their Patterning review sheet and last night's homework with me, received their Math Workbooks, and homework was assigned (see bottom of this blog entry).
Thursdays end with Art class. Today we painted Colour Wheel influenced patterns, and I encouraged the students to take my assignment and make it their own by adding their own creativity. Grade 5 students worked with primary colours (blue, red, yellow) to mix secondary colours (purple, orange, green), and made patterns using complimentary colours - colours that are on opposite sides of the Colour Wheel (blue & orange, red & green, yellow & purple). Grade 6 students also used primary colours to mix secondary colours, but went one step further and mixed a primary colour with a secondary colour to make a tertiary colour (blue-purple, blue-green, red-purple, red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green). Students will have a few minutes to finish-up their art work, if they complete tomorrow's assigned work during class time.
Homework Assigned Thursday September 6, 2007:
-Read 20 minutes and have parents/guardians sign your agenda as proof
-Those students who did not present their Box today, should be ready to present tomorrow morning (make some additions tonight if you need to bump your presentation up to a Level 4)
-Grade 5: Math Workbook page 1, # 1-5
-Grade 6: Math Workbook page 1, # 1, 2
-Arrow Book Orders are due next Thursday September 13, 2007
-Return signed forms and communication envelopes as soon as possible
-$5 Agenda fee + $10 Math Workbook fee as soon as possible
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Day Two is in the Books
Hello everyone,
Today my Grade 5/6 class started in the Library, where we had an orientation session and checked-out our first books for the school year. Needless to say, several of my students are now on the waiting list to check-out the new Harry Potter novel when it is returned.
During French class... I mean, "le Francais", the Grade 5/6 students received their yellow duotangs, and had their first lesson of the year. Bonne chance!
Agendas and student timetables were handed out to all students, and we reviewed how to effectively use the agenda to keep ourselves organized. If your $5.00 agenda fee has not been received yet, please bring it to Mr. Wood as soon as possible. I will do my best to sign each student's agenda every day, to ensure no student forgets their homework. Please note that this blog will be updated every day to include that day's assigned homework, so students and parents can keep track of what is due. Parents/Guardians, please try to sign your child's agenda each night to ensure they have completed what was assigned (especially their 20 minutes of reading which should be done every night - even weekends).
I showed my students how to access this blog online, and explained the letter I sent home today for their Parents/Guardians to be able to access it also. Parents/Guardians have also been asked in that letter to email me at graham.wood@tel.tdsb.on.ca, so I can add their emails to our e-newsletter mailing list. My goal with our classroom blog and newsletter, is to provide my students' Parents and Guardians with a window into our classroom life.
Both the Grade 5 and 6 students began their first Math unit today - Patterns & Algebra. Homework was assigned (see the bottom of today's blog). In Science, we made paper helicopters to learn about variables - things we can change purposely change in an experiment that will alter the outcome of the experiment. Whenever students had free time today, they worked on their BOXES, which they will present tomorrow and Friday.
The new Communication Envelopes were sent home today. Inside you should find:
-Medical Information Form 511E
-Physical Education Information and Intramural Information/Permission Form 511K (2 pages)
-Walking Excursion Form 511H
-Vradenburg Jr. Public School letter (2 yellow pages)
-Supervision During Lunch letter and Lunch Information form (2 pink pages)
-Student Media Release Form E: 006B
-Safe Arrivals Procedure Form
-Junior Internet Access Permission Form (purple)
-Vradenburg PS Elementary School Year Calendar
-Severe Weather Conditions Permission Form (Grade 6 students only)
-Mr. Wood's Blog Information Letter
-Arrow Book Order form
-Highlights Magazine Order Form
Please complete, sign and return all applicable forms to Mr. Wood in Room 201 as soon as possible.
Homework assigned Wednesday September 5, 2007:
Grade 5 and Grade 6 students
-Read for 20 minutes.
-Finish your "What's in the Box?" assignment and be ready to present it tomorrow. Use the Oral Presentation Rubric you were given today, to make sure you are doing everything required to get a Level 4.
-Get your Communication Envelope forms signed and returned.
-Arrow Book Orders due next Thursday September 13, 2007.
-Bring $5.00 Agenda fee and $10.00 Math Workbook fee.
Grade 5 Math:
-Finish Math Text page 3 # 1, 2, 3 if not done in class
Grade 6 Math:
-Finish page 3 # 1, 2 if not done in class.
Today my Grade 5/6 class started in the Library, where we had an orientation session and checked-out our first books for the school year. Needless to say, several of my students are now on the waiting list to check-out the new Harry Potter novel when it is returned.
During French class... I mean, "le Francais", the Grade 5/6 students received their yellow duotangs, and had their first lesson of the year. Bonne chance!
Agendas and student timetables were handed out to all students, and we reviewed how to effectively use the agenda to keep ourselves organized. If your $5.00 agenda fee has not been received yet, please bring it to Mr. Wood as soon as possible. I will do my best to sign each student's agenda every day, to ensure no student forgets their homework. Please note that this blog will be updated every day to include that day's assigned homework, so students and parents can keep track of what is due. Parents/Guardians, please try to sign your child's agenda each night to ensure they have completed what was assigned (especially their 20 minutes of reading which should be done every night - even weekends).
I showed my students how to access this blog online, and explained the letter I sent home today for their Parents/Guardians to be able to access it also. Parents/Guardians have also been asked in that letter to email me at graham.wood@tel.tdsb.on.ca, so I can add their emails to our e-newsletter mailing list. My goal with our classroom blog and newsletter, is to provide my students' Parents and Guardians with a window into our classroom life.
Both the Grade 5 and 6 students began their first Math unit today - Patterns & Algebra. Homework was assigned (see the bottom of today's blog). In Science, we made paper helicopters to learn about variables - things we can change purposely change in an experiment that will alter the outcome of the experiment. Whenever students had free time today, they worked on their BOXES, which they will present tomorrow and Friday.
The new Communication Envelopes were sent home today. Inside you should find:
-Medical Information Form 511E
-Physical Education Information and Intramural Information/Permission Form 511K (2 pages)
-Walking Excursion Form 511H
-Vradenburg Jr. Public School letter (2 yellow pages)
-Supervision During Lunch letter and Lunch Information form (2 pink pages)
-Student Media Release Form E: 006B
-Safe Arrivals Procedure Form
-Junior Internet Access Permission Form (purple)
-Vradenburg PS Elementary School Year Calendar
-Severe Weather Conditions Permission Form (Grade 6 students only)
-Mr. Wood's Blog Information Letter
-Arrow Book Order form
-Highlights Magazine Order Form
Please complete, sign and return all applicable forms to Mr. Wood in Room 201 as soon as possible.
Homework assigned Wednesday September 5, 2007:
Grade 5 and Grade 6 students
-Read for 20 minutes.
-Finish your "What's in the Box?" assignment and be ready to present it tomorrow. Use the Oral Presentation Rubric you were given today, to make sure you are doing everything required to get a Level 4.
-Get your Communication Envelope forms signed and returned.
-Arrow Book Orders due next Thursday September 13, 2007.
-Bring $5.00 Agenda fee and $10.00 Math Workbook fee.
Grade 5 Math:
-Finish Math Text page 3 # 1, 2, 3 if not done in class
Grade 6 Math:
-Finish page 3 # 1, 2 if not done in class.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
The First Day
Hello everyone,
Meeting the grade 5 and 6 students at Vradenburg today was amazing. What a positive group of students!
Today we discussed the school and classroom routines, played some ice-breaker games to get to know each other, brainstormed our classroom expectations, and delegated responsibilities on our class job board.
An Art/Oral Communication assignment was given to both the Grade 5 and 6 students today, in which they were each given a box to decorate 5 sides in whatever way they choose, to represent 5 different things about themselves (e.g. sports, music and other interests they have). Students were also asked to find one object of significance to them, to put inside the box. On Thursday September 6 and Friday September 7, each student will present their box and talk about themselves and the choices they made for their box.
During the oral presentations, I will be looking for the following:
-loud & clear speaking voice
-maintain eye contact with audience
-organized sentences describing themselves
-explanation of choices they made for their box
-confidence speaking about a topic they are experts on (themselves)
Homework Assigned Tuesday September 4, 2007:
-complete decoration of three sides of your box, using any creative technique (make it your own)
Meeting the grade 5 and 6 students at Vradenburg today was amazing. What a positive group of students!
Today we discussed the school and classroom routines, played some ice-breaker games to get to know each other, brainstormed our classroom expectations, and delegated responsibilities on our class job board.
An Art/Oral Communication assignment was given to both the Grade 5 and 6 students today, in which they were each given a box to decorate 5 sides in whatever way they choose, to represent 5 different things about themselves (e.g. sports, music and other interests they have). Students were also asked to find one object of significance to them, to put inside the box. On Thursday September 6 and Friday September 7, each student will present their box and talk about themselves and the choices they made for their box.
During the oral presentations, I will be looking for the following:
-loud & clear speaking voice
-maintain eye contact with audience
-organized sentences describing themselves
-explanation of choices they made for their box
-confidence speaking about a topic they are experts on (themselves)
Homework Assigned Tuesday September 4, 2007:
-complete decoration of three sides of your box, using any creative technique (make it your own)
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