The First Week!

Our first week is over, and what a week it has been!  I hope you are all enjoying a restful weekend with your families. 

We have enjoyed getting to know each other this week and have done many activities together to help with that process.  We also read a story called "Un Bon Point pour Zoé" (by: Peter Reynolds) about a young student who felt she had no artistic abilities.  When she was asked by her teacher to draw a picture on a piece of paper, she drew all that she knew how to draw - a dot.  Her teacher asked her to sign her work of art, and the next day when Zoé walked into the class, she saw that her teacher had framed her artwork on the wall.  I love this story because I believe it helps students to see that their abilities/strengths are all different, but all very valuable!  After reading this story, all of the students in our class drew their own "dots", which turned out very well.  

We have also done some math activities together as part of a review of grade 2 concepts.  On Friday, we looked at counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s, and we practiced counting by those intervals starting at different numbers (i.e. counting by 5s starting at 6... 6, 11, 16, 21, etc.) which proved to be a tricky concept for some (it is a new concept in grade 3).  This would be a good concept to practice at home, and it seemed to be helpful for the students to see the numbers visually on a hundreds chart, which you can print from here if you are interested: http://www.classroomjr.com/printable-number-charts/hundreds-chart/ 

We will be starting to use our agendas on Monday (for those who have paid) so if you have not yet sent in the $5 for the agendas, it would be very helpful if you could do that. 

If you need to contact me for any reason, my school email address is currently alyssa.macmilan@ocdsb.ca .  

Technically, that email address is incorrect, as my last name is supposed to have two "L"s in it, so I will see what I can do to change that.  For now, alyssa.macmilan@ocdsb.ca seems to be the email that is working. 

Thanks for your cooperation in filling out parent surveys for those who have done that.  For those who haven't yet, if you get a chance to fill them out, that would be great!  I have read several of them so far, and it is very helpful to get a bit more background information about the students in my class. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekends! 

Bienvenue en 3e année!

Here is a copy of the first day letter I will be sending home with my students on Tuesday, September 3rd:

September 3, 2013

Dear Parents/Guardians,

         Bienvenue à une nouvelle année scolaire!  As a new school year begins, it is my pleasure to welcome you and your child back to Woodroffe Avenue Public School.  I hope that everyone had a relaxing summer and feels refreshed for the year ahead.  I’m very happy to be teaching Grade 3 and it is my first year teaching at Woodroffe Avenue.  

         I look forward to meeting all of you in the near future.  I have attached a questionnaire for you to fill out and return at your convenience to better acquaint me with the academic and social strengths and needs of your child.  I would also like to know of any changes going on at home, which might affect your child’s behavior.  I will communicate with you by posting regular updates on our class blog and also through your child’s agenda, if needed.  Our class blog can be found by typing this URL in the address bar of your internet page: http://classedemadamealyssa.blogspot.com        

        More detailed information will be coming soon, but for now, I would ask that you would please ensure your child has a pair of indoor running shoes that can be kept at school.  I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you of our “Nut-Free School” policy, as we have students in our school (and class) with severe allergies. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
         If you need to reach me, please do not hesitate to write a note in your child’s agenda or to contact me at the school (613-722-6585).  I am looking forward to a wonderful year!

Sincerely,               

Madame Alyssa (MacMillan)