Week of Sept 21-25

A few reminders this week.  If you have not got your Terry Fox run permission forms in yet, please do so by Wednesday.  We run on Friday afternoon.  There is some information coming home today with your child.  Also, you will notice there are three tabs  above the current post.  One of them is Agenda.  You can click this link to view all of the previous agenda messages.  The other important tab is Spelling Words.  This tab takes you to the weekly spelling words.  I am going to post them there instead of on the main blog.


Language Arts

Writing:

In addition to our weekly independent journal writing, we have started our first unit in our writing program. In this unit we are introducing the difference between Expository/Informative writing and Narrative writing.  Expository/Informative writing is a form of writing where the purpose is to inform the reader, giving them some specific information about a topic.  The purpose of Narrative writing is to entertain the writer.  Typically we use non-fiction as informative, and fiction as narrative.  We will be learning how to effectively write using both types, learning strategies and techniques no make our writing original and detailed.

Math

This week our focus will be on predicting elements of a repeating patters. We will be finding missing elements as well as repeating pattern cores. These are some of the math terms your children need to know in this unit.

Pattern Core - The pattern core is the part of the pattern that repeats. ex. if the pattern is ABACABACABAC, the pattern core is ABAC.

Elements - An element is any part of the pattern.  ex. ABCABCABC has a core of 3 elements and if we extended the pattern the 10th element would be an A.

Attributes - Pattern attributes are the different ways we can describe the elements in the pattern. ex. The pattern attributes of the following pattern (↓←↓←↓←↓←↓←↓←) are colour and arrow direction. This pattern has a core of ABCD. Red arrow down, Red arrow Left, Blue arrow down, Blue arrow left.

Social Studies

In social this week we will be finishing up our mapping review unit. Our focus has labeling a compass rose, as well as reading a map using a legend and symbols.  The students need to be able to find places on a map using directions and the legend.

Science

In science this week, we will be experiencing and experimenting with properties of magnets.  We will be creating our own magnets and testing how strong we can make them.  Some of the types of magnets we have learned about are temporary magnets, electromagnets, natural magnets and man made magnets.  We have also learned that magnets have two "poles", a north and a south pole.  Opposite poles attract and like poles repel.  Poles, attract, and repel are terms that we will be using lots in this unit.


The students already know, but I will not be here on Wednesday this week as I am attending a PD session.  I hope everyone has a great week. Happy first day of Autumn on Wednesday, Sept 23.

Mr. Aasen

Week of Sept 14-18

Good afternoon  everyone. I hope you had a fantastic weekend.  We have another short week this week (meaning the students) as there is no school this Friday, Sept 18, for students. Also a reminder that our library day is Thursdays, so if you could make sure that if your child wants new books they must return their old books on Thursday.


Language Arts:

Spelling

Our spelling words for this week are as follows;

let   his   had   ask   old   took   also   sat   fell   get

Also as there is no school Friday, we will be writing our spelling test on Thursday.

Reading

We are going to be implementing the Daily 5 program in many of the classroom here at East Elementary.  Essentially this means that every day, students will engage in 5 different activities each day.  One of these activities is called "Read to Self".  Reading every day helps us to build reading stamina.

Math:

We just started our unit on patterns.  A note from our math program went home regarding the learning goals for this unit.  They are as follows;

• I can describe, extend, compare, and draw repeating and increasing patterns.
• I can create new patterns.
• I can sort a set of objects, using 2 attributes, and explain the sorting rule.

Science:

We have begun to look at the properties of magnets.  We started talking about how magnets have 2 poles and that when you put 2 poles together they either attract or repel, depending on which 2 poles you put together.  We have also looked into what materials magnets are attracted to.  Students will be getting some more opportunities to work with magnets and explore their properties in more detail.

Social:

We are working towards finishing up our mapping review unit.  The students have been working on directions (a compass rose) as well as symbols we may find on a map or in real life (a legend) that will give us information about a place.

I hope everyone has a great week and a wonderful "3 day" weekend.

Mr. Aasen

Week of Sept 8-11

Good day everyone.  Welcome to another school year at East Elementary. It has been an exciting time here in Classroom 2A getting pumped up for a great year of learning.  There is lots to take in for the students and these first couple of short weeks there will be lots of working on routines and getting back onto positive habits.


There have been a couple of forms to go home already.  A welcome back letter stating lots of important info regarding class 2A.  There was a package with many forms that needed to be signed regarding things like FOIP and being able to share information and post pictures of students.  This needs to be returned as soon as possible.  Also, hot lunch will begin in October every Friday.  The form informing you how to order hot lunch went home today.

Language Arts:

Spelling

 This weeks spelling words are as follows;

fox   cut   hill   wind   put   all   moon   saw   tell   new

The spelling tests will be conducted every Friday.  I encourage you to practice the spelling words with your child as often as you can.

Reading and Writing

Reading and writing are very important skills to have as you grow.  I have already began to assess where each students reading and writing abilities are.  I will be conducting some more assessment  this week and in the coming weeks to gauge what our focus needs to be on.

Math:

This week in math we will be doing addition and subtraction review.  Your child may come home with some questions that need to be completed.

Science:

We have started our first unit in Science, Magnetism.  The students got to explore the classroom, "sticking" magnets to things, to get an idea of some of the properties of magnets.  We will be getting into more details this week.

Social:

We are starting a review unit in mapping, to get the students more comfortable using maps before we delve into our first unit, Exploring Places.



I hope you have a wonderful week.  Do not hesitate to phone or email if you have any issues or need anything.

Mr. Aasen