Bio-Bags

In case anything mysterious happened to your child's Bio-Bag on its way home from school yesterday, here is a little overview of what it is, and what goes in it:

The purpose of the Bio-Bag is to give the students a chance to share who they are with the class. Students can place 4 to 6 artifacts (these can be objects, pictures, art, music, etc.) in their Bio-Bag to represent different aspects of their life. The artifacts can share something about a student's favourite activities, cultural heritage, family, etc.

I hope you enjoy helping your child assemble their artifacts and I look forward to hearing about what they chose. If your child's sharing day is on Monday, we will find time to work their sharing into either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Have a fantastic long weekend!

Themed Sharing

Themed Sharing

We are beginning Themed Sharing next week. Themed Sharing gives students a chance to practice their speaking and presenting skills and to share their knowledge of a particular subject. Sometimes students will be asked to bring in an object that relates to a theme, or to just come prepared to share information orally.

It is very important that students are prepared to share on their day, as it may not always be possible for students to make up missed sharing on another day due to time constraints. However, if students do not have class on the day their sharing is scheduled (a professional day, for instance), we will make time throughout the week for those students to share. They can bring in their sharing the subsequent day and it may stay at school a day or two, or until they have had a chance to share. I will tell the students their topic, as well as post it on the blog, the Friday before their sharing week begins. The first topic (and probably one of the most involved) is the Bio-Bag, which will go home tomorrow.

Here is the sharing schedule:

Monday:

Olivia, Kiran, Mathew, Will, Roya,

Tuesday:

Jai, Lucien, Veer, Rachael, Carden

Wednesday:

James, Linda, London, Mischa, Tasha

Thursday:

Poppi, Jacob, Makella, Keston, Nadia

Friday:

Teyah, Gursher, Caitlyn, Eric

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Mrs. Startup

Story Building!

Home Reading Program

Just a review of our Reading program: We have Guided Reading from 8:50-9:30 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Nightly homework sheets are placed in the students folders on the "R" side. September beginning units sometimes do not have homework for each night and if this is the case, you can review the previous night's homework, or read a Library book, or home book. We will be reviewing students reading levels in October to ensure that students are in the appropriate levelled groups. 

As there is no Guided Reading on Thursdays, we will be doing a Home Reading book exchange in the classroom, beginning on September 26th. Students will be helped with appropriate book selection and will be able to select two books. This is done at 8:50 on Thursdays. You are welcome to come in between 8:35 and 8:50 to help your children if you like. Tomorrow a handout titled, Is this the "Right" book for me? will be sent home that assists children in selecting books. This is a helpful tool when selecting books in the classroom, at the library, and at home. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Terry Fox Run

Just a reminder that tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon is the Terry Fox run. It looks like the current forecast is calling for sun! Please make sure your child has the appropriate footwear.

Homework

Guided Reading began this week and the children received their homework bags. Many have been eager for homework to start and have been asking how long until they get to bring some home! The reading homework can be found in their folder and homework can be recorded each night. There may not be homework every night, so please read with, or to your child, for 15 minutes from another book you may have at home when this is the case (we do not have Guided Reading on Thursdays). 

Each group has been working on "finger tracking;" the homework sheets reflect this skill. The children simply touch the black dot and read the picture or the letter sound they see. For example- "s" is read as "sss" while long " e" and "ee" say their own name and are read as "e." Some students may find what they are reading to be too easy at this time, but we are starting everyone at an easier level to get them started and to familiarize them with the program.

I appreciate you taking the time to support this program!

Terry Fox Run

Next Thursday September 26, the students of Brooksbank will be participating in the Terry Fox run. A Toonie collection has been started in the office if you wish to contribute. Classroom visitors have also been visiting to collect donations directly from the students. They have been taking down student names and entering them in a draw to win a Terry Fox t-shirt. We will be reading books and discussing Terry's legacy over the next week.

Patterning

On Friday we visited our "outdoor classroom" to create patterns using natural materials. We brought a few patterns inside to snap a couple pictures before the wind blew our creations away:

As we continue to explore patterns in class, please continue to do so at home as well!

Welcome!

Welcome to Division 12's classroom blog! Under "Pages" I've attached a class list, as well as a curriculum overview. Keep checking in for other updates!