We have a busy week in front of us as we continue to collect cans for the needy. On Monday the primary grades assemble to celebrate the second Sunday of Advent. On Wednesday we will join three other grades to make sandwiches for the poor. On Thursday we go swimming for a second time and our school choir sings at 5pm. On Friday morning we will have an Advent mass followed by Reconciliation. Then St. Peter's band will perform for us. I hope our Super Three Fours will recognize some of the musical concepts from our lessons! 

Our Religion studies focus on Advent, it's meaning, and how it can be a part of our daily living. There are many sites on the internet to start discussions or activities!  In Math the Grade 3s will have their Test on figures and solids, and then they extend their sorting knowledge in our unit on Data Mangement to include three attributes! Draw three intersecting circles and have your child place objects in them as you guess how s/he is sorting them - then switch roles. You may want a second adult to check that your child's attributes allow for objects to be placed in all sections and that s/he does so correctly (otherwise this can be as frustrating as going out to pick something up only to learn that the store never had the item you needed in the first place!).  For Science the Grade 3s will take a walk around the school to find actual forces and sort them into types (gravity, buoyancy, muscular...) and finding the most common one. The Grade 4s will perform experiments/talks to discover the properties of light and sound - for example, they will use shadows and balls to see how light travels in straight lines and a tuning fork and salt to 'see' sound vibrations. Have your child continue to bring home Science notes to review with you on an evening that you are not too busy or ask what activity was done (see class schedule for when Science occurs). In our Magical Land of Staff Music audio story, the staff is introduced and students begin to model with instruments the notes and dynamics. The Grade 3s Healthy Living looks at bicycle safety while the Grade 4s extend this to the planning for possible problems around bicycle safety. We begin a unit on scooters in Physical Education which will involve balance and gross motor movements to manipulate objects while moving on a scooter. In Language we continue creating two voices (eg the dog's point of view and the dog bicuit's point of view) while studying different forms of poetry, such as haiku. Have your child speak from multiple points of view when talking about feelings (this is very beneficial when dealing with sibling conflicts!).  

Our Religion study of how the Catholic community can live as a digital citizen concluded with students understanding how to care for one another through electronic means, protect themselves, and use proper "netiquette".  For example, students learned to never give out personal information without a parent's agreement. Discuss good habits when on the internet.  In Math the Grade 3s are labelling and sorting figures based on the figures' definitions. Give your son or daughter challenges such as what figures could you draw that are trapezoids? How do you know they are? They begin studying three-dimensional solids and their features (edges, face...) this week. The grade 3s are beginning a study of forces in Science. Gravity, magnetism, wind and other forces will be presented as pushes and pulls. Their uses and problems will be discussed. Grade 4s begin learning about two forms of energy: light nd sound. We will look at how they interact with our environment (eg refraction) and how we use them in our lives. Again I suggest to have your child bring home Science notes to review with you on an evening that you are not too busy or ask what activity was done (see class schedule for when Science occurs). Also check out the links page for Grade 3 and 4 websites to play games and refine understanding of concepts. In our Magical Land of Staff Music audio story, the "note" people (whole, half, quarter and eighth note kids) must follow Mr.Bass Clef and Mrs. Treble Clef to make music by stepping on the correct lines and spaces cooperatively. The Grade 3s Healthy Living focusses on water safety, as we will be swimming on December 4, 11, and 18. (letter coming home).  Moms and Dads will be more than welcome to join us to perform the taxing job of sharing a bus ride, monitoring the change room, and relaxing by the poolside, chatting, and watching the students swim. In my three years of this program no parent has ever had to get wet ;-)  Grade 4s finish learning about nutrients (fats, carbohydrates, proteins...), especially vitamins, and we will discuss how our diet goals are going. This week our Language Poetry study shows the diversity of poetry and its descriptive nature. Help your child to use descriptive words when talking about feelings, items, or events.  

Thank you for your donations for poppies. They are still available if you wish to get one for your child. Please have your child wear his or her poppy - I suggest they put a small piece of tape on the sharp end of the pin to prevent accidental pokes or poppies coming out and being lost.

In Religion the Grade 3s are discussing managing feelings through reflection of Catjholic values and consideration of others' needs. The Grade 4s are discussing those they need for comfort or assistance. Both grades are relating learning how the Catholic community they live in is like a family whose members help one another. Reinforce this idea when giving advice, help, or comforting your child. Try to catch your child helping others too! Grade 4s also continue to explore their bibles through scavenger hunts. Try asking your child to look up a book, chapter and verse (example: John 2:4). In Math the Grade 3s will be tested on skills at using number patterns to add and subtract in their heads. Give your son or daughter problems like those on the practice sheets to solve with tree diagrams or number lines using the make ten strategy, add tens then ones strategy, or other strategies that help solve problems mentally. They begin studying two-dimensional figures and their features (angles, side lengths...). The grade 3s are studying in Science how animals such as moles, ants and worms aerate soils. Erosion and weathering is being reviewed with the grade 4s along with strategies to limit it (windbreaks, landscape fabric...). Have your child bring home Science notes to review with you on an evening that you are not too busy (I know, I know!). Since units are long in Science, reviewing notes is worth doing once a week. In our Magical Land of Staff Music audio story, the "note" people (whole, half, quarter and eighth note kids) are creating noise in place of music, now that their king and queen are missing. Mr.Bass Clef and Mrs. Treble Clef arrive to save the day. Through this part of the story, students practice reading conventional musical notes, define terms used (staccato, decrescendo...), and reflect on the role of music in shaping our ideas and feelings. The Grade 3s Healthy Living study continues with tooth health care. The key nutrients (fats, carbohydrates, proteins...) and how we make choices are being discussed through diet goals and chllenge questions in Grade 4 . Ask why your Grade 3 child the names of the teeth and what each is used for, and the parts of a tooth and how a cavity is formed. Ask why your Grade 4 child the names of the major nutrients, such as protein, and the most important role of each. For example, carbohydrates provide energy; simple ones give fast energy, while complex ones give longer-lasting energy). This week our Language Poetry study begins! Students have already created poems focusing on a word (theme) such as tiredness. Help your child to brainstrom ideas for a topic (all the reasons you could be tired, silly things you might do if tired) and think of a funny one for a last one (being so tired you can't remember why you're so tired, or being so tired of being tired!) Our Media projects should wrap up this week followed by presentations of  student iPad Pic Collage works.

From Disgusting Recipes to Gum-Blowing Self-Portraits

VOLUNTEERS: PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO A SCHOOL ASSEMBLY, OUR PUMPKIN DAY WILL BEGIN AS PLANNED FIRST THING FRIDAY MORNING BUT WILL CONTINUE THIRD BLOCK INSTEAD OF SECOND BLOCK. WE WILL NEED VOLUNTEERS ONLY FOR THE FIRST BLOCK. DON'T DRESS FANCY FOR THIS EVENT!


In Religion the Grade 3s will learn of St. Vincent and how this poor boy grew up to care for others in spite of  his falling into the hands of pirates! Grade 4s continue to explore their bibles through scavenger hunts. Reinforce this by asking your child to look up a book, chapter and verse John 2:4 . In Math the Grade 3s are developing skills at using number patterns to add and subtract. Give your son or daughter similar problems to those on the practice sheets in his or her duotang. The grade 3 and 4 Science units join as we discuss erosion and weathering, with the grade 4s problems solving situations related to it. We continue listening to The Magical Land of Staff, a story of "note" people that teach through musical adventures the notes and their values. The Super Three Fours have already learned how to play a whole, half, quarter and eighth note. Grade 3s knowledge of good and poor food choices are now being applied to how they affect their teeth and how teeth must be cared for. The key nutrients (fats, carbohydrates, proteins...) and how we make choices are being discussed through diet logs and self-assessments in Grade 4 Health. Ask why your Grade 3 child needs to brush and floss before bed (and not before a meal) or why your child is choosing to eat a certain snack at a certain time (bored, TV, sweet, habit...). This  week  our Language study procedural texts ("How to Chew Gum") got displayed with Art works - Modigliani portraits blowing 3D bubbles (pictures coming soon!). We are looking forward to enjoying the student's  disgusting recipes which will be presented throughout the week.   Take a walk down the hallway next time your around the school to view them!

Welcome back to our class blog! A quick thanks to all the parents helping out with class materials and student learning. We are blessed to have a parent maintaining and preparing supplies, another three helping students pass learning hurdles and extend learning, and another two run the Home Reading Club. As the year progresses, I will send out invitations for parents to join us on trips and special activities. 


We have been focusing for some time now on developing responsible habits and organizing time, materials, and work for success in school. I will highlight using italic letters some examples of how students can do this. Feel free to discuss with your child how they are being responsible and organizing time, materials, and work (modelling attentive listening at mass, setting up for work quickly and avoiding distractions, keeping their desk organized, asking when unsure about work - but only after reading the directions and trying the work independently, bringing home and returning to school homework materials, returning supplies, planning work in notebooks and with the agenda. 

This Wednesday our class will learn how to curl using the program Rings and Rocks. Friday we have the school Harvest dance (see letter). Students are working hard on writing disgusting recipes (procedural writing) to present at a later date. They are practicing using specific reading strategies when reading self-selected texts. Many students are using tools (whisper phones, dictionaries, finger-reading) to improve their attention.  Encourage your child to use strategies to solve words and better understand texts when reading at home. Last week in Math we learned that we can use hundred charts to count (like a calculator). The trick is to see the patterns! For example, we learned that to add ten on a hundred chart we simply move down one square because this is the same as counting on ten squares! We practiced counting on hundred charts by 2s, 5s, 10s, and now we extend to higher numbers counting backwards and by 25s. Students are welcomed to use base 10 materials, the Math Strategy Board words, and to receive help from desk buddies as they work. Clear page set up and organizational strategies such as using vertical ruler lines to space digits are routinely encouraged. 

Our Einstein questions are being praised by others in the school! They are a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn to research a topic and to teach that school is just the beginning of their learning. While a few of the questions don't lend themselves easily to the program (eg "Are mothers always right?"), most do have clear answers and greatly appeal to the class. Students are developing initiative and follow-through on their natural curiosity. The questions are also providing an opportunity for the class to become familiar with technology. For example, the class is learning to navigate the internet (perform efficient searches, use history to recall websites). Typically, students research questions every two weeks in school and are encouraged to add to their notes on the weekend at home. On top of developing these skills, the students a getting an opportunity to increase their comfort level with presenting orally - many students at this age feel shy when presenting, but the short, high-interest, and quirky nature of the questions seems relieve this stress greatly. Your child is welcome to practice presenting his or her answers at home. Thank you for supporting this program!

As the wet season approaches . . .  What am I talking about? It's already here! - I highly recommend that you send in a tied bag of extra clothes to hang on your child's coatroom hook. Every year I see students wishing they had done this. Please make sure your child is dressed warmly enough when the colder days arrive. The temperature can change quite a bit from day to day. 

Welcome to our class blog where you will find highlights of interesting activities our class has been doing, comments that inspire and celebrate learning, and discussion starters for home.  I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with your family!

This week we look forward to a Thanksgiving mass at 10:30 on Thursday and our grade fours receiving bibles blessed by Father Krystian. Our first Religion study focusses on how we gather in one spirit as Catholics (Grade 3) and how in this gathering the Church hands on the good news (Grade 4 - why they receive bibles). Reinforce this by noting when you gather as a family to share daily challenges and successes, hopes and dreams, and perhaps how your faith has directed decisions. In Math we are using the Base ten knowledge from the last unit to find patterns in number charts. If you get the chance, plan your weeks etc using a calendar while noting patterns such as how moving down a square increases the number by 7. We have wrapped up our Language study of recount texts (the students' My Summer Flip Flop  texts are still on show outside the classroom), and are learning about procedural texts. Have your child join you in baking or putting together something using a manual. We are halfway through our first Science unit (Soils, Rocks and Minerals) and you'll receive the Mid-Unit Test soon to review with your son or daughter. The Magical Land of Staff is a story of "note" people that teach through musical adventures the notes and their values. The Super Three Fours have been listening to this story in Music and will soon apply this knowledge using musical instruments. If you get the chance, point out whole, half, quarter and eighth notes, as well as dynamics such as how volume is increased ("crescendo"). We continue discussing colours and lines in Art as students create Modigliani portraits to accompany their practice procedural texts they'll be writing (pictures coming soon!). How foods get from nature to our table (eg processing - Grade 3) and identifying the importance of key nutritients (fats, proteins) for our health (Grade 4) continue to be the focus in Health. Feel free to look at packaging, nutrition labels, ingredients and discuss how foods are healthy to eat, as well as which ones should be limited. Meanwhile, the students are enjoying active strategic games in Physical Education which demand not just hand eye coordination and various movement skills, but also teamwork and planning. Ask about some of the games and what strategies help your child's team to win them!