Addition and Subtraction Strategies

This week we are busy working on our addition and subtraction strategies when working with 2 and 3 digit numbers. The first strategy students have been introduced to is called number hops. 

In this strategy, students start at the first number. They then draw out their "hops" to find the solution. In the question above, students draw two big hops back to take away the two groups of ten, then draw six smaller hops to take away the ones. They record the numbers as they count back, finally arriving at the solution.

This strategy is great for students who still need to see the process to fully understand how to arrive at the correct solution.

Another strategy we have been using is called "Tens and Ones".

In this strategy, students start out with the whole first number, 75, and then take away the 20 from 26. Once they have calculated that solution, they take away the remaining ones to come up with the final answer. Over the next few weeks students will work on subtracting, using these strategies, or a personal strategy that they can use and explain correctly.

If you ever have any questions about these, or any other strategies, please let me know and I can help explain.

We Love to Read!

With the month of February just around the corner, we welcome in I Love To Read month and all the activities that go along with it. There will be an assembly in the gym Monday morning at 9 am, which all families are welcome to attend. I also hope to see most of you at the Family read In on February 4 from 6-7 p.m.

In Social Studies, we are currently learning about the 7 continents. Students have been listening to a song which provides facts about each continent, as well as using a special children's atlas to record facts about each continent.

In Science, we have continued to use magnets to explore how they work, as well as ways we use magnets in our every day lives.

In Math, we have continued to work on graphing and writing story problems. We have also really been working hard on some open-ended problem solving. This has proven to be very difficult for students, especially when it comes to showing and organizing their work, and clearly explaining their thinking. This will continue to be an area of focus throughout the year, as we attempt to integrate problem solving in to our daily routine and across subject areas.

DAYS TO REMEMBER...
assembly Monday
library book are due Tuesday
early dismissal Tuesday

Baby, it's cold outside!

It has been a cold week with lots of indoor recess. Students have lots of options for indoor recess such as the gym, cup stacking in the library, go noodle in the French room, walking club on the main floor, or visiting friends in other rooms.

This week we have begun writing story problems during our math and writing periods. All students are working on putting capitals in the correct place and writing in complete sentences. We have also continued to work on putting data on to a bar graph, and writing sentences about the information displayed.

In Social Studies we have continued to explore maps if the world, and are learning to identify the equator, North Pole, South Pole, Northern hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.

Drawing our own maps during free time.

Creating owls in art using oil pastels and watercolour paints.

Pattern blocks continue to be a favourite activity for many!

Next week library has been cancelled due to some inservicing happening. Early dismissal on Tuesday.

Back to School

Welcome back, I hope everyone had a restful winter break, all the best for 2016! We have been busy starting new units and getting back into the swing of things. There were lots of tired faces to start the week, but it was wonderful to see everyone.

As the weather gets colder, please remember to have your child dressed appropriately for the weather. Ski pants and boots, scarf and hat, and water resistant mitts are what I hope everyone is wearing outside. Indoor recess occurs when it reaches -28, with or without the windchill, and it can be cold especially over the longer lunch recess.

We have started our new unit in Science...."Forces That Attract and Repel". We begin this unit looking at magnets, their uses and how they work. And of course, we have lots of fun playing and exploring with them!

We also wrote New Years resolutions this week, and did some peer editing with classmates.

In Math, we have started working on data management. Students are learning how to collect and organize data on to a bar graph, as well as write statements comparing and contrasting the information shown.

Next week, we will continue to focus on data management, and will begin writing our own story problems. We will also continue to work on problem solving and mental math.

In Social Studies, we have begun our unit "Exploring the World". We begin by looking at maps and globes and learning the names of the continents and oceans. We will then move on to comparing our lives to the lives of children in other parts of the world.

The best week EVER!!!

Next week is our last week of school before the winter break. This week we have been busy wrapping up reading groups, solving "12 Days of Christmas" word problems, and working on several different art projects.

Designers, builders and painters working on the box. This week we painted the outside, made the chimney and window, and made flowers and bushes for the side of the house. The next steps are painting our hands to decorate the roof, add the brick detail, and attach the flowers and bush.

This week we took apart flowers. We looked at the petals, pistil and the stamen.

We started to make some holiday books about what we do in the wi tear at our winter centres.

Next week, there is early dismissal at 3:10 on Tuesday, and library books are due on Thursday.

Graphs and Seedlings

We are staring to work on graphing and data management in Math. While students are generally able to collect information and put it into a graph fairly easily, the questions about the information tend to be more difficult.

On this graph, most students could easily answer which ornaments the reindeer had the most or least of. Questions such as "how many more glittery bows than paper snowflakes do they have?" and "how many more paper snowflakes will the reindeer need to make to have 20 in all?"are the most difficult, and these will be the types of questions we will be focussing on in the the few weeks and into the new year.

Other things to work on include counting forwards, backwards and skip counting. Students in grade 2 can practice with numbers up to 100, and skip counting by 2, 5 and 10, forwards and backwards, at multiples and non multiples.

Students in grade 3 are working on counting forwards and backwards with numbers up to 1000. You can also start practicing counting by 3 and 4, in order to get ready for multiplication.

We started to plant some beans in a bag wrapped in paper towel and soaked in water. When they started to sprout, we planted the ones that were growing in soil. This week, one of the seeds we planted sprouted out of the soil! This is called a seedling. Some of our seeds grew, and some of them did not. We think it is so cool how they look when they are sprouting.

Shared writing project with students.....our first shared blog post!!!

We had so much fun singing at the winter concert. We worked really hard to present our songs to everyone. We felt so proud of the Winter is Fun song because there were lots of different parts, like instruments, dancing, chanting and signing. Also, we wrote it ourselves!!

Winter Concert

Winter Concert rehearsals are in full swing! Students have been busy learning songs, dances, and adding in instruments. Please mark your calendars for December 2. Students are asked to wear their "holiday best".
There will be a brief intermission between the K-3 show and the 4-5 show. If you wish to watch the 4-5 show, we ask that you please pick up your child in the classroom between shows.

It was a pleasure to see so many of the families come out to conferences either Thursday evening or Friday morning. If you were unable to attend and would like to meet, please send me an email or call the school, and I an happy to arrange a time that works for you.

Library books are due Tuesday next week.