Week of Feb 23-26

 Learning Intentions:

• I can add doubles up to 12 and find their sum.
• I can use strategies like doubles to help me add quickly.
• I can practice my addition by using songs and games.
• I can add numbers quickly and recognize patterns.

In Math this week, the students were building their number sense, focusing on doubles. Students practiced this skill through songs, stories, independent work, and games such as the “Bus Board Game” and “Snakes and Ladders”. Students worked on seeing patterns in numbers with doubles (they are always even numbers) and doubles plus one.

Learning Intentions:

• I can tell you why we recognize Black History Month.
• I can learn about remarkable Black Canadians.
• I can talk about how to be kind and fair to everyone.
• I can learn about how Black Canadians contribute to our country.

In Literacy this week, our focus was on Black History Month and Pink Shirt Day. We learned about remarkable Black Canadians such as activist Viola Desmond, singer K’Naan, former Calgary Flame Jerome Iginla, and Alberta rancher John Ware. Students learned from stories, videos and poems about Black history and culture.

On Wednesday, the Grade 3/4 classes hosted the Pink Shirt Day Assembly. This celebration of learning featured traditional First Nations drumming and songs in the Blackfoot language. Our presenters also shared their poetry and perspectives on the importance of being kind. In the classroom, we made kindness crowns, bookmarks, and mindfulness colouring pages to recognize Pink Shirt Day.

Next week in Science we will continue with our Build a Toy project. Please help our class out by sending materials. Please ask your student, again, what they are making and what materials they will need to build it. Here is a list of materials we need.
- felt                                -twist ties
- cardboard                     - pipe cleaners
- tissue paper
- cotton balls

At Home Learning:
Math – Practice doubles addition with dice or cards. Games like cribbage are good for practicing quick addition.

Literacy – Practice simple sentences, making sure to use proper capital letters and punctuation. Also, practice rhyming short sentences (you write one, then they write one).

Spelling Words for March 6: Assigned (leftt), Puffins (middle), Blue Jays (right)

This Week in Photos:

Week of Feb 17-20

 Learning Intentions:

• I can add numbers to make a sum of 10.
• I can use strategies like counting on or doubles to help me add.
• I can practice my addition with songs and games.
• I can explain how I solve addition problems.

In Math this week, the students started learning number facts, focusing on addition facts that make 10. They practiced through songs, stories, independent work, and fun games like “Balloon Pop”. Students worked on seeing patterns in numbers and using strategies such as counting on and using number lines and charts to solve problems quickly and confidently.

Learning Intentions:

• I can tell you what matter is.
• I can describe materials using words like hard, soft, bendy, stretchy, or strong.
• I can sort materials by their properties.
• I can draw a plan for a toy I want to build.
• I can choose materials that will work best for my toy.

In our Grade 1 & 2 Science learning, we read the story “Be a Maker” and started thinking like inventors! The students discussed what the term “matter” means and explored different kinds of toys. They drew diagrams of a toy they would like to build, learned about materials and their properties (hard, soft, bendy, strong, rough, smooth, stretchy, etc.), sorted materials, went on a materials scavenger hunt, and made a list of supplies for their “Build a Toy” project. This hands-on learning helps students connect science and math ideas as they plan, create, and problem-solve like real engineers. Be sure to ask your child about their planned project!

At Home Learning:
Math:
To support your child’s Math learning at home, you could find pairs of objects that add to 10 (7 crayons + 3 crayons) or use snacks, LEGO, or other toys to show numbers and ask, “How many more to make 10?”

Science:
Have your child do a materials scavenger hunt around the home by giving them a list of properties (hard, soft, stretchy, flexible, rough, smooth, etc.) and have them find objects with those properties. Then talk about what each item is made of and why that material is useful.

Literacy:
Review the “FLOSS Rule” (words that end in ff, ll, ss, zz after a short vowel like hill, miss, buzz, off) by having them go on a Floss Word Hunt in books around the house. They can write down any words that follow the rule and then read them together.

Spelling Words: Test Feb 26
(Puffin group now has 10 words!)

Blue Jays (left)    Puffins (right)

This Week's Captures

Lunar & Chinese New Year

Go Team Canada!

Week of Feb 9-11

 

Learning Intentions:
- I can read and write words with WH and PH sounds.
- I can use activities like cutting, sorting, and searching to help me learn new words.
- I can write simple sentences using my phonics skills.

This week, students continued building their reading and writing skills by practicing digraphs, with a special focus on the WH and PH sounds. Through cut-and-paste activities, word searches, and sentence writing, students showed growing confidence using these sounds in their reading and writing. 

Learning Intentions:
- I can practice my math and literacy skills through fun learning games.
- I can solve puzzles and challenges by thinking carefully and trying my best.

The grade ones and twos also had a wonderful time during our Valentine’s Learning Centres! Students reviewed and practiced many skills learned this term, including graphing, fractions, digraphs, reading, and writing. These learning activities were combined with fun challenges such as riddle decoding, mazes, and pixel art, keeping everyone engaged and motivated.

Learning Intentions:
- I can name my feelings and notice how others may feel.
- I can use strategies to help manage my emotions.

Students wrapped up the Health unit by continuing to explore emotions and how we express our feelings. Students shared ideas, reflected on their experiences, and practiced healthy ways to understand, manage, and express emotions, both verbally and non-verbally. Their final activity was an emotions sort challenge.

At Home Learning:

Literacy:
Look for WH and PH words together at home (what, when, phone, photo). Try making short sentences using one of the words. You can also play games like “Word Detective” (try to spot WH and PH words, read the word out loud, try writing or using it in a sentence) together while reading books or signs.

Math:
Try creating a simple family graph (favourite fruit, pets, colours). You could also practice fractions by cutting various foods into halves. 

Health:
Talk together about feelings at the end of the day using questions like: “What made you happy today?” or “What was tricky today?” Practice calming strategies such as deep breathing, drawing or taking a quiet break.

Spelling:
We did not get to our spelling lists this week. Valentines activities kept us very busy. We will practice once in class together next week. They will be sent home February 17th. Their next check-in is on February 20^th. My apologies.

Week of Feb 2-5

  Learning Intentions:

• I can tell you about the Canada Food Guide
• I know how to make a balanced meal
• I know that exercise/physical activity is important for my body
• I know different ways that I like to be active
• I know how to take care of my body
• I know how good hygiene helps me to stay healthy
• I know that emotions can look different on other people
• I know ways to help me manage my emotions
• I can practice healthy habits to help me be a better version of me

This week, the Grade 1/2 students explored various healthy habits. We reviewed our 7 Habits of Happy Kids that we started the year with to begin our conversation. Over the week, they learned about healthy eating, physical activity, good hygiene, and how to manage emotions. Through various videos, discussions and hands on activities such as making hygiene posters and reflecting on their own healthy habits, students were engaged and interested in how they could better take care of themselves. As a reminder, all students have a homework assignment due on Monday (extended from Friday) where they need to record their eating for one whole day. 

Learning Intentions: 

• I can tell you that fractions are parts of a whole
• I can tell you that fractions are parts of a set
• I can describe wholes and halves (Grade 1)
• I can describe fractions up to the tenths (Grade 2)
• I can compare two fractions and tell you which one was greater or less than

Over the last two weeks, the students have been exploring fractions through independent tasks, games, hands-on activities, videos, and songs. The grade ones continued to explore wholes and halves and being able to divide a shape or set into equal parts. The grade twos explored fractions to the tenths through activities such as the fraction friend they built and analyzed. They ended the week with a check-in to show what they know. 

Supporting Your Child at Home:

Math: Students can use food or playdough to divide things into equal parts.

Literacy: Help sort words with digraphs in words with th, ch, sh. When you are reading together, point out words with these letter combinations.

This Week in Photos:

Week of Jan 26-29

Learning Intentions:

•  I can find and represent halves.
• I can identify if parts are equal.
• I can make and name unit fractions.
• I can compare fractions.
• I can build one whole.
• I can identify the numerator and denominator. 

In Math this week, students started a unit on Fractions. Grade 2 students are learning to recognize and read fractions including halves, thirds, fourths, fifths and sixths. Grade 1 is learning about halves and dividing things into equal parts.

And, when the numerator and denominator are equal, students can identify that it makes a whole. A variety of engaging videos, interactive games and lessons were used to help them understand how numbers can be divided or shared. Fractions are important for kids because they help form the foundational understanding of numbers, ratios and division.

Learning Intentions:

• I understand that communities can be our school, our neighbourhood and our city.
• I can describe that communities have members that play different roles.
• I understand that we need both helpers and leaders in communities.
• I understand that in a team everyone has a job to do.
• I understand that working together helps us solve problems in communities.

·       In Social Studies this week, we explored the unit called “Working Together”. Topics in this unit included: communities, roles and responsibilities, leaders and helpers, teams, and why we need rules. We learned about how we belong to more than one community (For example: TRS, Montgomery, Calgary). Students recognized that whether they are in our classroom, playground or lunchroom… rules help keep us safe. During our cup stacking activity, students assumed the roles of leaders and helpers. Working in groups of 4 to 5 students, the leader needed to guide their teams to work together and get the task done.

SPELLING WORDS

(Sorry that I didn't get this out on Thursday!)

Supporting Student Learning at Home
Math: Students can use food or playdough to divide things into equal parts

Literacy: Help sort words with the “bossy R” in words with ar, ir, er, or and ur. When you are reading together, point out words with these letter combinations. 

Please remind students not to bring toys or treasures from home to school. They can easily get lost or damaged.

Your child’s minds and bodies are growing rapidly at this age. Please try to pack enough food for lunch, a morning snack and an afternoon snack.

Week of January 19-23

 Learning Intentions:

• I can write a sentence with a capital letter and a period.
• I can reread my writing to make sure it makes sense.
• I can retell a story using pictures and words.
• I can talk about a character and describe their actions and feelings.
• I can make connections between a story and my own life.

This week, students have been building their literacy skills through journal writing and literacy centres. In their journals, students are practising writing clear sentences using capital letters, periods, and descriptive words. They are learning to read their writing to themselves before sharing it to check for meaning, capitals, and punctuation. The students enjoyed literacy centres based on the story “Sneezy the Snowman.” They had multiple opportunities to revisit and deepen their understanding of the text. Through activities such as mini-book retellings, word work, character analysis, rhyming, and making connections, students explored story elements, vocabulary, and sounds in meaningful ways. Students considered Sneezy’s actions and feelings, identified rhyming words, and connected events in the story to their own experiences. These centres support comprehension, early writing, phonics, and oral language development in an engaging, hands-on format.

Learning Intentions:

• I can estimate how many objects there are and explain my thinking.
• I use clues to help me make a good estimate.
• I can compare numbers and say which is greater than, less than, or equal to. (Gr 2)
• I can add and subtract 1 and 2 to find a new number.
• I can collect and compare groups to see which has more, less or the same.
• I can talk about my math thinking using math words.

In Math, students strengthened their number sense through estimating, comparing, and reasoning about numbers. They participated in several Esti-Mystery activities, using clues and logical thinking to estimate the correct number of objects shown. They played the Dozen Domino Dilemma Game to compare quantities and discuss which sets were greater than, less than, or equal. Grade 1 students worked on exploring adding and subtracting by 1 and 2, while Grade 2 students played the Collect and Compare Game to represent numbers, compare quantities, and justify their thinking. These activities help students build strong foundational number sense and mathematical communication skills.

Students had a great visit, and learned alot, with Blackfoot Elder Sandra. This was our second visit with Sandra. It was nice to hear the Blackfoot language being spoken and sung. Students enjoyed some songs and dancing. We hope to visit again with her soon!

At Home Extension:
Literacy:
Have your child draw and write about a favourite story or character. Ask them to write one or two sentences using capital letters, punctuation, and at least one descriptive word. Then read their writing aloud to check if it makes sense.

 Math:
Throughout the day (or evening), invite your child into quick math conversations, such as “Which has more?” “How many do you think?”, or “What if we had one more or one less?” These simple discussions help build number sense and confidence in explaining math thinking, using everyday situations.

Spelling:
At the end of the week, students will take home spelling words to study for the following week. Please support your child and help them practice the words. One idea is to do “Rainbow Words.” Write each spelling word several times using different colours.

 This Week in Pictures

Have an amazing weekend!