UPDATE! Winnipeg Harvest Field Trip_POSTPONED

NOTICE: Our scheduled trip to Winnipeg Harvest has been postponed due to no busses being available to us for transportation on this day.
I am attempting to reschedule and will let you know what alternate day we've secured. My apologies.

Hi folks! You may have heard your child talking about our upcoming hunger project called Empty Bowls. To help us kick-off our look at hunger and poverty in Manitoba, we will be going to Winnipeg Harvest to learn about how they help feed people in our community, as well spend a few calories helping sort and prepare food packages for those in need.

To facilitate this important trip, 5A is seeking 1-2 parent volunteers to come along and help supervise.

Family Vacations and Time Away from School

Each year, around this time, many families plan vacation time away and I often receive parent inquiries about missing school work and requests to 'send home work in advance'. For this reason, I included in our September newsletter my policy on extended time away from school. You can access it HERE.

If you still have questions or concerns, please let me know. Thanks!

Kids In The Know Safety Program

Kids in the Know is an interactive safety education program for increasing the personal safety of children and reducing their risk of sexual exploitation. (Click HERE to access their website).

Students in 5A will be participating in this valuable program. Most students in class are already familiar with many of the topics and ideas presented in the program from previous years. Due to the nature of the content and potentially 'sensitive' topics covered, I have sent home an informational letter for parents to sign and return. The Kids In The Know program is supported across all schools within the P.T.S.D. Any questions or concerns, please let me know. Thanks!

...and that's a wrap.....almost!

Cold weather, indoor recess, report cards, holiday concert planning, practicing and performing, milk helpers, deli helpers, composters, patrols, digestive systems, arrays, pizza lunch, inquiry project, more practice for concert, dioramas, Wonder poems, bones...did I mention indoor recess?

And that was just yesterday. Phew! It has been a busy, busy time here at LM. Students have been involved in several 'larger' projects leading up to our first round of report cards as well as preparing for our year-end holiday concert. Students have really worked hard and I am very pleased what we were able to accomplish. I am really starting to get to know the students and enjoy seeing their confidences build every day!

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year

Our holiday break this year is from December 23rd to January 3rd. School resumes on Monday, January 6th. At this time, I would to extend from my family to yours the very best. We have so very much to be grateful for! I am most looking forward to some quiet time with my wife Tracy, and my littlest angel - Lauren. Although only 2yrs old, she is already super pumped about Santa somehow (hmmm).


Ms. Acquisto - Teacher Candidate (U of M)

Ms. Acquisto finished a successful teaching block with our class this past week. As she moves forward into her final term of studies (and teaching practicum), we wish her the very best of luck! For her next teaching block, she will be working in one of our grade 2 classrooms (an experience she greatly looks forward to)! Bonne chance!

In the new year....

Math

We will be undertaking a formal unit on multiplication. Students have started building arrays to represent multiplication statements in a variety of different ways. We return to our place value work (flats, rods) to help us create/draw our representations! So far, so good!

While our mental math work continues (automaticity, estimation, adding/subtracting larger numbers), we will be introducing a formal (and weekly) focus on problem-solving. Here, students will be taught different strategies to solve  word-based math problems. Each strategy will be taught during class time, however, completion of each weekly 'problem' will be often occur independently (i.e. outside of school). More to come!

ELA

Our Inquiry Projects are off to a great start! Students are choosing the 'content', while I teach them how to frame a proper research project! We are learning to ask (and evaluate) good research questions as well as evaluate different sources of information (books, online, media, etc., ).

Our word work work also continues! I am very impressed with our early results of this spelling program. Sharing during my recent PLC (with other teaching professionals), they too agree that this is an impressive program that is garnering very good results.

SCIENCE AND SOCIAL

Our look at healthy bodies will wrap-up with a quick look at the muscular system. In social studies, we embark on a brand new area of learning - European Exploration! A very fun unit indeed!

That's it for now! As always, any questions or concerns? Contact me via email or call and I will get back to you a.s.a.p.!

Have a GREAT holiday break and see you next year!!

Sincerely,

Mr. A

Our Digestive Systems!

Students used a wide variety of materials from whoopee cushions to pantyhose to build their models of the digestive system! What a fun way to learn!

 



Winter has arrived...

Hi all! Just a few items for your consideration!


Winter Wear

Well, we did pretty well, but the snow has finally found its way here (sorry to all those cross-country skiers and snowmobilers out there). As we do each year at this time, we ask parents to PLEASE make sure their children are coming to school prepared for the winter weather. This means proper 'outside' boots, hats, and mittens. For some reason, there are students who think it is 'cool' to try and slip outside at these times only wearing their sneakers and a sweatshirt. Please talk to your child to make sure they are doing their part in getting ready for the cold months ahead.

University of Manitoba - Student Candidates - Teaching Block 1

Ms. Acquisto's first teaching block is off to a great start! She will be with us from Nov. 12th till Dec. 13th. She will be leading the kids in a novel study using literature circles. Ms. Acquisto will also be spear-heading an interesting First Nations group project that focuses on early lifestyles and cultures of our first inhabitants. Good luck Ms. Acquisto!

Winter Concert

This year's winter celebration has been scheduled for Thursday, December 19th. There will be a show at 1:30pm and 7:00 pm. Our theme this year is a "Linden Meadows Olympic Tribute." Stay tuned for more information in the upcoming weeks.


At-Home Supports - XtraMath and ReadTheory.Org

Thanks to all the parents that have supported our new at-home supports. As mentioned, these two sites can be accessed at any time, and both work very well to further develop key math and literacy skills. If you haven't yet seen these sites, please ask your child to show you!

In the classroom..

ELA.

Our Words Their Way work is off to a terrific start! This is a specialized (and proven) word study program for phonics, vocabulary and spelling instruction. Currently, I am in a PLC (Professional Learning Community) that meets each month with other teaching professionals with the unique focus of developing, implementing and evaluating this exciting new process. Although we are still 'early' in its implementation, I can tell you that I am very pleased with what I've seen so far, especially the student engagement! Our Word Work activities occur 4x/cycle and are individualized to the student. Progress is charted often and students are moved through a series of stages based on what they already know! How cool is that? Makes me wish this was around when I was learning these skills....





Literature Circles
As mentioned in a previous agenda message, our R.A.W (Read Around the World) program is temporarily on hold due to our literature circle novel study with Ms. Acquisto. Students have been given a new novel to read/respond on for the next 4 weeks (including some home reading). Once completed, we will return to our R.A.W. program formally.


MATH

Our "Vacation Destination" assignment is wrapping up. Students have been planning/budgeting a trip to Florida for a family of five including flights, accommodation, attractions, food and fun. To be successful, students have to use (and explain) different methods of estimation to complete each step of their booking and budgeting process. Don't be alarmed if your child comes home excited that they could actually get you there and back with the best deals!

Automaticity

Our work to achieve automaticity with our math facts to 81 continues to pay good dividends. Several students in 5A have reached this goal, with many 'on the doorstep." Remember, I have provided several resources on this blog (including Xtramath) which students can visit each night to help further develop these skills.

That's it for now! Thanks again to all parents for your support in making this year so successful so far!

Mr. A

At-Home Supports Now In Play

XtraMath

All students in 5A now have their own XtraMath account and password. This is a terrific site that focuses directly on building basic math facts. Through this site, I (the teacher) am able to track individual student progress (and accomplishments)!

XtraMath can be accessed from HOME at any time. Please take a moment to find the XtraMath link on this blog. Ask your child HOW they are to access the site with their individual codes! Remember, my email address is maalcock@pembinatrails.ca when logging in!

ReadTheory.Org

This is another great site that students can access at home, at any time to help build their reading and critical thinking skills. All students have been provided with a user account and password. We will be spending some time during class to get 'up and running' with this powerful learning tool, but it is my hope that parents also participate at home and use ReadTheory as part of their child's learning development.