Week 7!

A few updates from this week...

In literacy, we have started working on our descriptive text project on monsters!  Each student has to visualize what they want their monster to look like, and there aren't really any criteria for what theirs should look like - it is an open-ended creative task :)   This week we read a few different books with examples of descriptive texts about monsters, and looked at a few during shared reading as well.  I asked students to come to the front to underline nouns and adjectives in the text and it seems like they are starting to become more familiar with these concepts.  Students finished up their brainstorming sheet about what their monster looks like, what his personality is like, what he does, what he eats, and finally they had to think of a sentence to encourage people to buy their monster at "Le Monstrerie" store.  This week they will be using that brainstorming sheet to write their rough drafts and we will likely finish up the good copies and illustrations of their monsters next week. I am hoping to put it all together in a class book when it is finished.  

In math, we have been working on adding and subtracting two-digit numbers with carryovers and borrowing.  This concept has proven to be challenging for some students so it would be a good idea to practice it at home. We are about halfway through our second Module and will likely have our Module 2 test the week after this coming week. 

We started playing basketball during gym class, working first on basic drills (passing, dribbling, shooting...) and then did some short games.  

We will be starting our science unit on structures and stability this week.   We will also be working a bit more on our short skits for drama and then I will have the students present them in front of the class. 

Reminder:  Our first swimming day at Dovercourt is happening next Tuesday, October 29th. I am looking forward to it and the students are as well! 

Thanks to those who are following the blog!  As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions...  alyssa.macmilan@ocdsb.ca  :)

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Weeks 5 and 6 !

My apologies for those of you who looked for a blog entry last week. I was away for the weekend and didn't get a chance, so I thought I would cover two weeks in one, this time!

Now that I am sending home the weekly Plan de Devoirs, there is a section on there for notes to parents, and I am not sure how many of you are regularly reading this blog so that might be a better way for me to get important messages out to you.  I will keep updating this blog though and it is nice for me to have as a memory too!  Thanks for your support with the Plan de Devoirs so far.  There is a note in this week's (sent home today) about our upcoming science unit on structures and stability.  We will be building a structure as the final project, so we are in need of materials for that (details in letter) - thanks in advance!! 

In literacy, the grade 3s have just finished a writing assignment about what they are thankful for, following the thanksgiving theme.  It was really neat to sit back and watch your children brainstorm different things that they are thankful for and then write a few sentences about their reasons for choosing each one.  Family made it onto many lists, so know that your children really are thankful for you even though they may not always express it!   We have also started reading the 3rd book in the Mademoiselle Charlotte series - the majority of the students really do seem to love these books.

The first module math test went quite well, and we are now into our second module, which focuses on number sense and numeration (adding and subtracting). We are reviewing the addition and subtraction of one and two digit numbers (up to 20) right now, and after thanksgiving we will be moving into addition and subtraction of two and three digit numbers.  

Last week we did an art activity that focused on primary and secondary colours, and it was a painting of different coloured fish.  Painting in the portable (without running water!) proved to be quite the challenge but seeing the students really enjoy the painting process made it worth it. 

We are now working on short skits to present in front of the class for the week after thanksgiving.  It is just a chance for the students to get some practice with the dramatic arts, and I think it will be fun for us all to watch the different groups present their skits. 

For those students who are on the cross-country team, the meet is happening this coming Wednesday morning (October 16th) so please send a water bottle that day! 

I hope you all enjoy a beautiful thanksgiving weekend! :)