Welcome 2013!

                                                      Hello to the New Year
Welcome back everyone! Hope the holiday season was restful and that you are looking forward to 2013. I always find that after Christmas the children look a little taller and some skills begin to consolidate much more quickly now. Thank you to everyone who had a chance to look through pencil cases and replace those little things that have gone missing, dried out or just needed to be labelled. Also thank you for the kind notes or wee gifties that were bestowed to me in December. I did send thank you cards in the mail but if your child did not get one, please let me know. I think modelling sending 'thank you' cards is a good skill for students to see. As well, I really did feel spoiled. Will be wearing a few of my 'purple' items in the next few days.

                                                         Author of the Month: Jan Brett
                                     
This month we will be enjoying the author and illustrator Jan Brett. You may have read some of her more well known books such as 'Gingerbread Baby' or 'The Hat' but she is really such a prolific author that there are enough fabulous books to last us the whole month of January. I love the Scandinavian designs in her illustrations and students love that the books have such a wide range of animals in all of them.

                                                                    Weaving

I would like to do some weaving with the class using paper, wool or found materials. If you have a chance, I would really appreciate some styrofoam trays (largest possible but smaller ones are fine too). Although I have some of my own materials to contribute, it would be great if anyone has a family member that knits who might be able to send in some wool. Any thickness or colour is fine...we aren't picky! Over the holidays I managed to make a few woven items myself which I will share with the class. Wish I could bring them to my house to show them the large counterbalance looms. Oh to be Ms Frizzle and be able to travel by Magic school bus!

        Will be sending more information about 'Guided Reading', 'Math' and 'Writer's Workshop' soon.
                                   Have to get myself back into the swing of things too!

My Gift to you

                                                     Holiday Concert
The excitement of Christmas is upon us. The children performed at the Holiday Concert with enthusiasm and energy. As I'm sure they will tomorrow as well. Behind the scenes (the part you don't see), there is always a lot of hustling to get everyone in place, on stage, and in 'performance order' with their bells and sunglasses on!  Somehow it all works and you never quite know how but it comes together.

                                                        My Gift to you...
I have been trying to think of a way to do a blog give- a- way for Christmas. Then it hit me what I could do. I know the next few weeks are busy but I would like to give you the gift of time spent doing something fun with your child. So, I am willing to post my super, secret (about to be not so secret) Ms. Fink never fail chocolate chip cookie recipe. As you may or may not know....I like to cook. This recipe is a favourite at my family gathering...also known as `Fink Fest`.

                                                    Ms. Fink`s Best Chocolate chip Cookie recipe
1 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
Cream these 3 ingredients together

Beat in 2 eggs and 2 tsp Vanilla
Combine in 2 cups  of all purpose flour ( I have used whole wheat and it is fine too), 1 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt

Blend all of this into the creamed mixture

Add 2 cups oatmeal ( I use about 4 packages of the instant quick cooking oats but any kind works)

Add 2 cups Chocolate chips ( here is my secret... I buy the mini hershey kisses chocolate chips...you have to look carefully for this package in the baking aisle)

Optional - 2 cups nuts ( I add walnuts or pecans)

Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes.I make the dough about the size of small golf balls,  Let them continue to cook on the cookie sheet. I never let them brown in the oven.
                                             Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

                                                         Elf on the Shelf
Our elf Sparkle has been up to more antics this week. Here are some pictures for you!
                                                      Sleeping in our Kleenex box!

                                      Trying on the sunglasses from the Grade two performance!

Elf on the Shelf, Holiday performance, Letters to Santa

                                                                  Elf on the Shelf
I'm sure you have heard some talk about the antics of our 'Elf' named "Sparkle, Holly Elfa" by our class.
                                                           
Each day the students have found a letter on our smartboard and a strange hiding place for our elf. Of course our elf knits! Today she got into the band-aids and on Monday she was into the sparkles! It has been a little bit of fun as well as an opportunity for modelling 'letter writing'.

                                                             Santa letters
This week, our class used the laptops to write e mail letters to the North Pole. Using our Halton chatt system, we discussed how to send e mails, as well as how to write a basic letter. Using the graphic organizer below, we discussed how a letter is composed. We also discussed how Santa or the Snowman (students had a choice who to write to) would never enjoy a letter that starts with: "I want, I want, I want etc." Some of the letters are very cute. I will send the rough copies home for you to see. As well, all e mails sent will get a reply from Santa or the Snowman. It is always exciting when a student has a flag in their e mail box with a reply waiting for them. Great excitement in the computer lab!
                                              
                                                    Holiday Performance
The Holiday Performance is next Thursday December 13th in the afternoon. We hope you are able to come and see our students perform. Thanks for sending in the bells and props. I know the students are practising and excited...they often spontaneously break out in song while working in the classroom. It is those happy little moments that are the reason I like teaching primary children!

                                                    A funny story for you!
Today during gym, one of my students slipped a rubber chicken into my large purse. Not realizing it, when I went out to lunch today, I opened my purse, only to surprise the cashier (and myself ) with a rather large yellow rubber chicken! I had to explain, while laughing how a rubber chicken got in there. I'm still not sure if she believes me but the other teacher I was with believed every word!

Subtraction, Building Mountain Climbers` in Science

                                                      Subtraction Fact Strategies

We have started subtraction! Although we are starting it now, we will continue to do addition and subtraction all year to further consolidate those skills necessary for quicker computation and deeper understanding. If your child is struggling, don't worry as it is early days. I will be starting 'borrowing' or 'regrouping' with subtraction with the Grade Two students in particular. I will share more information about that as we get further into the unit. For now here are some great strategies to help your child with this skill:

1. Counting back - start with the bigger number and count back (11 - 3 + think 11, 10, 9, 8)

2. Zero Facts - when you take away all, 0 is left. 7-7 = ___think : take away all, 0 is left

3. Doubles - if you subtract half a number, think of the doubles pictures 14 - 7 = __ picture days in 2 weeks

4. Use a Ten-Frame - when subtracting 9 or 10, think of your 10 frame 10 - 4 = ____fill it up, take away
                                     4  and 6 are left
                                             



5. Counting Up - when the numbers are close neighbours, count up...11 - 9 =   think 9, 10, 11---that`s 2

6. Think Addition - think of the related addition fact...if it is 13 - 8 = ___ think 8 = (what) = 13  8+5=13,
                                 so 13-8=5

                                                                Science: Building Mountain Climbers

                                                                           
                                                    
The Grade One students are learning about Energy! Recently, the students in both grades built their `Mountain Climbers`to demonstrate the use of `muscle power`to move their mountain climbers. If you know me...you will know that I occasionally suffer from `malapropism`. So, I kept admiring the students  `muscle men` or hairy mountain men`, only to hear a chorus of MS FINK, IT IS CALLED A MOUNTAIN CLIMBER!!!...Oh well, here is a video...

Interviews, Bullying Awareness Week and Trips

                                                                Interviews

As mentioned in the previous blog, this week is student-led interviews. The students have worked hard preparing their portfolios for you to view. We have added one sample piece of writing with a 'two stars and a wish' critique. This means we have discussed two great things about this piece of writing to share with you and one wish for how we will improve it for next time. There will also be one sheet with goals as well as some thoughtful writing about learning skills. I decided not to add math as it has been going back and forth regularly and you have had a chance to see the work and feedback I have provided. As well, you have worked with your child so are probably well aware of areas of strengths and need. Having said this, of course if you have any concerns or questions please feel free to bring them up at the interview. We have a very tight timeline (especially on the Thursday night) so I hope you will understand if I am keeping an eye on the time and will be keeping things flowing along.

                                                   Bullying Awareness Week

A focus this week has been on 'Bullying' or rather the fact that we are looking at ways to build awareness and understanding about the different forms of bullying behaviour and what to do if this happens to any of our students. A big focus has been on demonstrating 'kindness' and 'compassion' as a school. Did you know that our students created cards for the veterans? Did you know we are having a school wide canned food drive for 'Compassion House'?  It is so wonderful to see older students model the organization of food drives or lead assemblies for the younger students. We are looking forward to a school-wide assembly tomorrow and a group activity with Mr. Earl's class.

                                                          Trips

Safety Village for Grade Two is scheduled for December 3rd. Great fun driving around in those jeeps!

Next trip for Grade One will be in February at the Halton Children's Musem

Reports, Learning skills, and Chris Van Allsburg

                                                                   Progress Reports

Progress reports will be coming home on Monday November 19th. Inside you will find the progress report and a note letting you know when your interview will be. We have tried to coordinate sibling interviews where possible and have also tried to accommodate requests for time-slots as best as we can. The interview will start with you and your child looking at their portfolio. This folder will contain work that they have deemed as their 'best work' to show you. As well, each child will have a 'Learning Skills' booklet where they  have reflected on their own school performance and will share this with you. I have always found that the best dialogue comes from the discussion around learning skills because this is an aspect of the report card that a child can control. After this initial 10 minutes of student led conference, then I will join the discussion. At this time, if you would like to talk with me alone, then you are most welcome to do that. On the back page of the report there is a section for goals and next steps....please feel free to talk about this with  your child prior to coming to the interview.

                                                                   Learning Skills 
What are Learning Skills??? Well, on the front of the report card there is a section describing Learning Skills and Work Habits. Here are the headings:
                                      Responsibility
                                      Organization
                                       Independent Work
                                       Collaboration
                                       Initiative
                                       Self-Regulation
In class we discuss each of these headings and try to make sense of what these big words mean to us. Here is an example of a chart that we co-created. While I helped with the phrasing the students came up with the ideas.

                                                 
Here is a Grade one student sample of what it meant for them. Although I think there is some confusion on meaning still, I do get a kick out of the pictures of me! I love how skinny I look and the hair!

             
                                                               Chris Van Allsburg

You may have heard of the Polar Express or Jumanji! Did you know that Chris Van Allsburg is the author that has written both of those books (later made into movies). Well, our class LOVES the books he has written and I am amazed at how well the students listen to even the longest story. Of particular interest was the book 'Queen of the Falls' which was the story of a real woman that went over Niagara Falls in a barrel in 1908. Ask your child about what Chris Van Allsburg hides in all his books! They will know.

                            Looking forward to talking with all of you during parent teacher interviews!
                                   

Remembrance Day

As long as I have been teaching, I have always grappled with the concept of how to teach primary students about Remembrance Day. In Grade Two, we talk about 'Traditions and Celebrations' as part of the curriculum. The conversation usually involves pointing out to children that Remembrance Day is not a celebration but there are traditions that we do to observe the sombre occasion (the assembly being held this Friday at our school is an example of that).  At this point, I am usually staring at blank faces. So, how do I teach students even slightly what this day is about while walking that delicate balance of 'not scaring them' and 'making a lasting impression'?

     I usually start with a version of the story of Sadako. 

                                                              

        

There is a story book and a chapter book and Mr. Cann our wonderful school librarian has them all. If I am teaching Grade 3, I usually go for the chapter book but since I am teaching younger students I will be reading the picture/story book. This is a sad story as it is a non-fiction account about a little girl living in Hiroshima after the war. Although, the story doesn't get into too much detail the children are always interested in seeing the real pictures of Sadako's monument in Japan and all the paper cranes.

                                                                

 I look at this story as 'planting the seed of understanding' with my students. I have always found that as students get older they always come back to tell me about how they read the book again or in one case a student actually went to the monument and thought about me reading her this book in Grade Three (she is now in University...I feel so old). 

So tonight, as I organize interviews, proofread reports and make dinner...I am also folding these....just to help students remember...