May is literally flying by!  We have been very busy covering several concepts in math this past month, as well as reviewing  math strands learned earlier in the year, in preparation for EQAO.  A reminder was sent home today in the backpack, but I will reiterate that the dates are Tues. May 28th - Thurs. May 30th. We will be administering the test during the first and second blocks of the day, and give the students some well-deserved activity time in the afternoon. A light snack will be available for each student each morning during the test, but please try to encourage your child to get a good rest, and eat a nutritious breakfast before coming to school.

As a culmination to our science unit on flight, we will have some special visitors come to share their knowledge with us.  A scientist will be here on Tuesday June 11th in the afternoon.  Students will be involved in a variety of  activities and experiments related to air and flight.  We will be needing a few extra pairs of hands to help out on that day, so if you are available please send a note in the agenda.  Also, a parent, Mr Everson, who is a pilot will be joining us to share his knowledge. 

Thanks to those parents who were able to help with track and field last week.  We had great weather and saw students having lots of fun running, jumping and throwing!  The county track and field date is Friday June 14th.  Students who make the team will bring home the appropriate permission forms soon.

Let's hope for continued summer-like weather!

CH

We are very busy here in Portable 9!  Even though we have had short weeks recently, students have been working hard on a variety of activities.

In math, we had a quiz today on surface area and volume, which is a combined geometry and measurement unit. Tomorrow we will begin a unit on fractions, ratio, and decimal and percent equivalents.  Expect a little more homework to be assigned in the next few weeks, as we finish covering the math curriculum before EQAO testing the last week of May.  More information will be coming home on the testing in the next few weeks.  Please continue to encourage your child to use the "At Home Help" box, which is on most homework pages.

In English, we are finishing a unit on biographies and persuasive writing. Students will also be completing their last CASI reading assessment of the year soon, before reviewing a variety of forms of reading and writing in preparation for EQAO.

In Social Studies, students are finishing up our Trading Partners unit and will have a test next Tuesday, April 30th.  Duotang, title page and a crib note will need to be completed by then.  Students should have a good understanding of the expectations around those items. They are also completing a brochure on a country of their choice as part of their social studies.  Thanks to Mrs McLarnon, we have the wonderful opportunity to present our brochures to David Tilson, our local MP, mid May, when he will come for a visit to our school!  A science unit on Flight will follow. I have invited a scientist to come present some activities around this topic in June and will be looking for some parents to join us for an afternoon.

In Phys Ed, we are patiently waiting for the track and pits to dry up, and then we can begin track and field activities.

Thanks for your continued support around homework and returning forms and evaluations in a timely manner!

Think spring!

CH

Finally, each day is feeling a little more like spring!  We still have lots of snow on our yard, so students need to continue wearing appropriate outdoor footwear.

Our student teacher, Ms Pogson, has had a very successful training session over the past several weeks in our classroom.  Sadly, her practicum ends this Thursday.  The students have really enjoyed working with her and will no doubt miss her.  We wish her well in her final weeks as a student.

We have begun a new math unit, measuring the area of rectangles, parallelograms and triangles. This will lead into geometry, specifically 3D shapes and determining their surface areas and volume.

We have also finished up our electricity unit and will begin a social studies unit on Canada's trading partners next week.  Science tests and notebook rubrics went home in the agendas yesterday, so please sign and return these when you see them.

In language, Ms Pogson is teaching a unit on persuasive writing, including writing paragraphs, announcements, letters and brochures. We will begin a reading unit on biographies next week as well.

I hope everyone has a peaceful, relaxing and enjoyable Easter!

CH

More crazy weather!!  Just a short update, students will have a multiplication quiz tomorrow to see what they understand up until this point in the unit.  It will cover prime and composite numbers, factors and multiples, estimating and calculating (paper/pencil) 2 digit by 3 digit numbers.  We will not have our electricity test until after the March Break.  Students have a few more experiments to complete and will then be expected to create a proof of study sheet that includes the main concepts of the unit, and to complete their notebooks.  A firm date for the science test and notebook completion will be set next week.

Students worked last week and this week with Ms Pogson to create news casts based on an event in our novel study.  Newscasts were filmed on Tuesday, and will be shared with the class by the end of this week.  They quite enjoyed this role-play activity!

We are currently preparing for our annual dance a thon to be held next Friday.  Students are asked to bring in food items for the local food bank, or a cash donation for the same.

Let's hope for spring like temperatures to melt all this recent snow!

CH

Yet another snowy day!  I would like to extend a big welcome to Karlie Pogson, a student teacher, who will be working alongside me in the classroom for the next several weeks. I think she will enjoy her time with us!

Thanks to parents for supporting your child with his/her speech presentations over the last week or so.  All students have now presented, and I was very impressed with not only the quality of topics and speeches, but on how well the speeches were delivered!!  Brodie and Julia represented our classroom very well in the gym competition last Friday, way to go!!!

We are continuing to work on our novel study, focusing on plot and character development.  This week students will be creating "news reports" to share a shocking development in the story! We have extended last week's Working With Words until this Friday, when students will need to have completed 8 activities using the words.

In math, we are working on multiplication and division, and more specifically, on developing strategies to estimate and calculate multiplying and dividing large numbers and decimals.  As usual, students will work through a variety of real-life problem-solving situations using these concepts.

In science, students are currently working on posters supporting a specific energy source and we will soon be working with batteries, bulbs and wires to see how current electricity works. We should be ready for a unit test just before March Break.

Thanks to those people who have signed and returned the report cards and envelopes.  Please do so asap if you have not yet done that.

Finally, I hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing family day weekend! And here's hoping for an early spring!!

CH

Wow!  This weather is CRAZY!!

We have had lots of indoor recess days in the past 2 weeks, and I have to say, the kids are coping quite well and continue to be very productive.

Speeches are moving along well, and you should see them coming home next week either on cue cards ready to practice orally, or ready to be put on cue cards.  Again, students wanting to be considered for the school competition need to meet the time requirements of 3 to 5 minutes and be prepared to present in class on Monday, Feb 11th at the latest.

We are working on geometry in math and should be ready for a unit test by the end of next week. Check the agenda for exact date.

We are finishing up our explorer simulation, where students are part of a ship's crew, and have experienced, in role, some of the hardships the real explorers went through.  We begin an Electricity unit in science next.

The students are enjoying our class novel, Tuck Everlasting.  It will be a few more weeks before we have completed this unit.

There will be a Grade 6/7/8 dance on Feb. 15th.  More details will come home in the agenda.

Let's hope Mother Nature decides whether it is stilll winter, or spring, or the middle of the Arctic soon!

CH

Happy New Year!

Students have returned well rested and eager to share their holiday activities!

We have begun our measurement unit, with the expectations including students being able to choose appropriate units, measure accurately with a ruler to the nearest millimeter, convert a measurement to a different unit, (for example 2.4m = 240cm )and measuring the perimeter of a variety of polygons. As always, there is a strong problem-solving component in the math program with students working on being able to understand the problem, apply appropriate strategies to solve the problem and communicate their solutions effectively. This is a short unit and the test will be early the week of January22nd.

We have completed the classroom work on our Explorer's unit in Social Studies and will have a test late next week.  Again, students will be expected to complete a one page crib note of important information which they can use during the test.  Some of that work will need to be completed as homework.  Exact dates for both of these evaluations will be in the agendas. 

Today we started a novel study with the focus being to on plot development and character analysis.

Please expect an outline to come home this week regarding speeches.  It is self-explanatory.  Once you and your child have agreed on a suitable topic, please return the planning sheet only with your signature.  Keep the outline and rubric for reference.  The school competition date is February 15th, so we have sufficient time for all steps in the process.  Only those students interested in the school competition are required to write and present a speech between 3 and 5 minutes.  Expectations are different for those not interested in the competition, however it is expected that everyone present in class.  The best way to support your child through this assignment is to offer an ear during the oral practice stage, and to offer positive feedback and encouragement.

Thanks for ensuring all students have appropriate outdoor footwear, coats, snowpants, etc for this winter weather.

CH