Nov. 29th-Dec. 6

This week the students continued with their literature circles, examining a novel together and coming together in a small group to discuss the novel. We have also begun a research project that combines social studies, science and language. The grade 5's are researching a health issue that effects Canadians, while the grade 6's are researching an environmental issue that effects the world. In social studies we have also learned about the levels of government, and maps for the grade 6's. In math we began studying geometry, looking at different shapes and measuring angles with a protractor. 

Two pieces of work came back this week: a math test on patterning and a persuasive paragraph. Please take a minute to talk to your child and reflect on their understanding of the concepts. Part of this week's homework addresses a need that I noticed in the students' writing: many students need to create more varied, complex sentences with stronger word choices. 

A reminder that next Friday is the Willy craft sale. Please send in your donations ASAP. As well, I will be taking the students to Malvern High School on Thursday the 5th to watch their concert from 1:30-2:30. If any parent would like to come with us, you're more than welcome. Please email me if you're able to join us. We'll be leaving just after lunch. The Malvern students put on a fabulous show, and it's inspring to see what our former Willy grads are now able to do!

This week's homework is as follows:

Daily:

• typing practice

• reading for at least 20 minutes (literature circle book or own book)

• times table practice: 12 times tables and review all others

Divide up during the week:

• vocabulary enrichment ( a dictionary is needed)

• cloze activity- fill in the blank with the most appropriate word

• creating more varied sentences

• math- geometry

• cursive

Dates to remember:
Monday: literature circle meeting
Thursday: homework due,  literature circle meeting, walking trip to Malvern concert 1:30-2:30
Friday: pool and library, craft sale

Best,
Bronwyn Davidson

Nov 22-28

This week we began literature circles in language, which is similar to a small book club. Students chose books to read from a group of books, and are in a group of 4-6 students. The groups will meet every Monday and Thursday to discuss their reading and to fulfill a role within the group. Students need to come prepared to each meeting with the book read to the agreed upon page and their role sheet filled out. 

Here is the homework for the week:

Daily:

• typing practice
• reading for at least 20 minutes (literature circle book or own book)
• times table practice: the 10 and 11 times tables- easy!!

Divide up during the week:

• antonyms and synonyms
• cloze activity- fill in the blank with the most appropriate word
• spelling- silent letters; semicolon worksheet
• math- patterning
• cursive

Dates to remember: 

Monday: literature circle meeting

Tuesday: math quiz on patterning

Thursday: homework due and literature circle meeting

Friday: pool and library

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Nov. 14-21

Thank you to all parents for coming to the student-led conferences this week. The students did a really good job of evaluating themselves and presenting, which are both complex skills. 

All week the students were engaged in a great deal of self reflection and self evaluation, which I believe is very important to growth and learning. They continued to prepare for their student-led interviews, evaluated and examined their success on the CASI test, which is a reading comprehension test, and evaluated their own persuasive paragraphs. I have been very impressed with the students' abilities to accurately access their strengths and weaknesses, and also their ability to address next steps.

This week we looked at the CASI exemplars, and noticed the differences between level 1, 2, 3 and 4 answers. The class reflected that by adding more details from the text they could have written better answers. We also discovered that, as a class, they needed more work on antonyms, synonyms, the parts of speech and punctuation. This will continue to be a focus in class and in homework.

This week's homework is as follows:

Daily:

• read for at least 20 minutes. I cannot overemphasise the importance of this! Students, take a minute to talk about your reading, make connections, predictions and wonder. Remember that reading is thinking. 
• continue to practise typing
• practise the 9 times tables and review 2-8

Divide up during the week:

• math patterning
• synonyms and antonyms worksheet
• cursive practice
• cloze activity- fill in the blanks with words that make sense

Remember, practise and persist! :-)

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Nov 8-14

This week the students prepared for their upcoming student-led interviews by reflecting on their strengths and needs as learners and by preparing notes and a portfolio for their interview. They have also been working on persuasive paragraphs, which they brought home to finish as a final copy for Tuesday. 

Today we looked at an interesting graph and map, that I've shared below, on math success in various countries and provinces. After some reading and investigation, we discovered that the students in countries that do better than Ontario in math do so because 1) they practice basic skills more and 2) they persist longer with problems. 

Following today's lesson I created this chart for the class:

Students, here is the homework for the week:

Daily:
- practise the 9 times tables and review all others
- read daily for at least 20 minutes
- practise typing for 5-10 minutes (ensure that you are using proper form, so that you have a chance of beating me on Nitro Type ;-)  )

Divide up during the week:
- finish final copy of persuasive paragraph (due Tuesday)
- math patterning
- capitalization practice ( a simple, yet necessary review)
- reading comprehension and vocabulary work- Remembrance Day theme
- cursive

Practise, practise, practise and persist. :-)

Best,
Bronwyn Davidson

Nov 1- 7

This week we have continued our work in science. The grade 5's have begun creating life sized drawings of the skeletal system and will be drawing the digestive system next week. The grade 6's went outside to classify deciduous and coniferous trees on the Willy property. They also began a web quest on biodiversity. They asked some great, level 4 questions, like, "Are humans an invasive species?" We'll continue to investigate more next week.

In language we're working on writing persuasively, and applying the "COPS" editing strategy, remembering to check for capitalization, organization, including transition words, punctuation and spelling. In math we're practising patterning, and looking at different types of patterns in math.

The students have also created some beautiful, fall themed watercolours that focus on the concept of line. They began by drawing with glue and allowing it to dry, which created strong lines and interesting texture.

This week's homework went home today. Students, here is the work for the week:

Daily:

• typing practice
• reading for at least 20 minutes
• times table practice: the 8 times tables

Divide up during the week:

• mad libs
• the use of commas
• reading comprehension and vocabulary work- thinking forward to Remembrance Day
• math patterning

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson