April where did you go?

HI everyone,
I cannot believe we are almost done of April. Two months of school! EEEKKK! We still have so much to do it seems! 

Aprils ice cream reading log is due this week. Thank you to those of you who have already sent them in. Way to go! I have done most English words and French sentences already, there are only a couple kids left to get their bowl and spoon. Everyone is working hard and have been eager to read their words and sentences. For those who haven't yet read please keep working on this at home with your child. 

The reading packages will go home this week, please send in the Pink books if it is not in your reading package. Library is on Monday April 29th. Mme Fiona praised the students a couple of weeks ago for being the only class in the school to bring all their books back, now that want to keep that going haha so here is the advance reminder.
We also have computers for the first time this week....Wish me luck! This is a lot fun but can also be hectic seeing that many of the sweet children lack patience with logging in and lose sight of the only one Madame to help!
Mme Holly has borrowed a class set of Djambe drums. Our class has signed up to go three times in the next two weeks. The students are learning about the origin of the drums, what the drum symbolizes as well as the different sounds the drum can produce. We will work on beat and rhythm as well as coping following a rhythm.
Wednesday May first is Hats on for Mental health. Students are allowed to wear their favorite hats to school by donating $2.00.
Be sure to get your spring fling order forms in by  April 29th if you want to eat pizza. Spring fling is on Thursday May 2. The students always have a great time and its always great to get to see you all again before the end of the year.
Mme Jacqueline's class is having their annual movie night to support another great cause. I sent home the ticket order forms before break. Those are due May 7th. It tends to sell out fast so be sure to get your orders in. The movie night is on May 16th.
We have the opportunity also to have Mme Elaine come to our class one afternoon in May. She use to be our artist in residence for a couple of years. She is very talented and in all its a fabulous learning experience for the students. 

Have a great week everyone! Lets hope there's no more snow!

Hello April!

A late Welcome back. I hope your breaks were great, restful and you were all able to spend some quality time together. We stayed here for the first time, it was great. I was very productive on Monday then Netflix got me! 

Three months left, can you believe it! The month of April is an exciting one in grade one. We will be learning about our environment, how to protect it, what can we do to save endangered species. We will brain storm ways how to make the school more environmentally aware as well as what we can do at home and in or around our community. The students will take part in a comparison study, where we will read the Lorax by Dr.Seuss, watch the original cartoon and if time watch the new release. We will compare all three and the differences of each, what parts did they take out, what did they add to make the story more juicy and so on. (Beginning, middle and end)

In French, the students will be learn about farm animals. They will learn the proper names for male, female and baby animals along with where they live, what they eat and the sounds that they make. I sent home a yellow sheet with all the information that they will learn in the coming weeks. We have also started to learn about singular and plural words. I am not all that sure they have grasped this concept yet, seeing that there can be many indicators of plural words. ( les, mes, tes, ils, elles, chantent, animaux, hiboux)

In English, we have started writing our own short stories with the help of picture prompts. We brain storm words we may want to use then the students are allowed to write whatever they want, based on the picture. They have been doing a great job using the word wall but are still hesitant to take a shot at their best try spelling. If you are writing at home have them try to sound words out first.

Science, we continue to work on building things. We have also started our new math unit on geometry which ties in nicely with building things.

Social studies had a little break it seems and are now back on track learning about Canada, the provinces, territories and Canadian symbols. Students continue need clarification on the difference between province and country. With each new province we watch the tourism video. They were super impressed with Alberta's and we pretty proud to be from this province. 

This week the students have the opportunity to partake in the Youth Singers of Calgary. Our group is singing Everybody wants to be a cat from the Aristocats. If you have the chance practice the song at home that would be a huge help. The pace is a little different but its the words that we are having trouble with. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rrXR6n0RTY

You are invited Monday April 15 to one of the two showings. The first one is 1pm until 1:45, the second is from 2:00 until 2:45. I would come early to either showing because there will be limited space, seeing that all grades as of now will be in the gym for both shows.

This week we also have the felting lady coming in on Thursday morning. She will be starting right away i believe so please try to be here on time.

The students have also won 100 points by working together. They have chosen to watch a movie, in their pj's with their favorite stuffy and eat popcorn........They made sure to get the most out of these 100 points LOL! I hope to do this before Easter break. Once i look at my schedule Ill let you all know the date. 

Just a note, a lot of the students have been complain in the pm that they are hungry, i think we have a growth spurt on our hands or it could be that they are too chatty at lunch and not eating. If  they are coming home with food, let me know and I ll make sure they are eating it sometime during the day. 

That's all for this week. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me anytime. Hope reading is going well and you are seeing improvements daily.