Jan 16-23

This week in math the students completed a quiz on data management. It was sent home on Thursday to be corrected and signed. We will take it up on Monday. We have started a new unit on number sense and have begun with fractions. You can help your child by talking about fractions used in real life, such as cooking. 

In language students have been working hard on their PSA or news clip on a social studies issue. Students have been filming themselves and others and using imovie. We will watch the final products next week.  

On Monday students participated in Scientists in the School. Grade 5s learned about structures and mechanisms while grade 6s learned about flight. Both groups have now been assigned a "design and make" project that will be completed in class. I've asked that students gather materials from home, but that no work be completed at home, as I want to see the process. 

On Tuesday we had a Toronto Urban Studies field trip to Eastern Commerce. Students practised the inquiry process and investigated the school and area's past using primary documents from the school and from the Toronto archives. It was hard work and I was pleased with how focused the students were all day. Many thanks to Ellie and Bea's dads, Arthur and Mark, for coming with us and helping bring history to life.    

Important upcoming dates:

Mon., Jan 19th: bring science project materials to school

Wed., Jan. 21st: pool

Thurs., Jan 22nd: homework due

Fri, Jan 23: PA day

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. You will complete a "retell, relate, reflect" on the book that you are currently reading next week in class. 

2) Practise the 9 times tables and review up to 8. 

3) Complete the fractions work for math. 
4) Gather any materials needed for your science project. Bring them on Monday. 

5) Complete the learning skills self-assessment. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Jan 9-15

This week in math the students continued to learn data management skills. Students learned how to read and create broken line graphs and line graphs, and how to interpret pie graphs. Students also learned how to find the range, mean, median and mode in a set of data. There will be a quiz on data management next Wednesday. 

In language students worked on independent writing pieces and read texts related to social studies in guided reading. We watched several public service announcements and news clips and identified the key features of each. Students worked on a script, and some have begun the filming process. Students will use imovie to create their PSA or news clip on a social justice issue. 

We continued our investigation of our inquiry question, "What is power?" and read two picture books, "The Promise" and "Let the Celebrations Begin."  I was so impressed with the deep thinking and accountable talk that the students were engaged in! Ask your child about these books and how power was used differently in each.  

Important upcoming dates:

Monday, Jan. 12th: scientists in the school (AM), independent writing due

Tuesday, Jan. 13th: field trip to TUSC- all day
Wed., Jan. 14th: pool, math quiz

Thurs., Jan 15th: homework due

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. 

2) Practise the 9 times tables and review up to 8. 

3) Complete the graphing work for math. 
4) Read the text entitled, "Craig Keilburger," and answer questions provided. 
5) Complete independent writing if it is not yet complete. (due Monday)

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Happy Holidays! Dec. 20- Jan 4

I hope that all the room 21 students and parents have a wonderful holiday. There is no homework over the break, but I do encourage daily reading, preferably in pyjamas. See you in the New Year on Jan. 5th!

Upcoming dates:

Wed, Jan. 7th: pool
Monday, Jan. 12th: scientists in the school
Tues, Jan. 13th: TUSC field trip

Best,
Bronwyn Davidson

Dec. 12-19

This week in math the students continued to work on geometry skills.  Students wrote a quiz that will go home to be signed on Monday. Next week we will start a new math unit on data management, focusing on creating and interpreting different types of graphs. 

This week continued their work in literature circles. The last literature circle meeting will be next Tuesday. Students will work with their group members to give a book chat to the class. Students finished their second piece of independent writing and began their third piece.

We also began our second inquiry, during which we will investigate the question, "What is Power?" We will investigate who has power and who is most powerless, as well as how we as citizens can exercise our power to create change. Students began a social studies project on a social issue. Grade 5s will investigate an issue in Canada, while grade 6s will explore an international issue. We watched this video on the issue of homelessness in Toronto to get us thinking about social issues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8KQlhwmsII&feature=youtu.be. 

Last but not least, we finished our read aloud of "I am Malala." It was a hard book for me to finish because I enjoyed it so much. We now have quotes by Malala up on our window to remind us of her strength. We also watched part of Malala's Peace Prize acceptance speech. You can see her full speech here: http://community.malala.org/malala-nobel-prize-speech-871079750.html. Additionally, we read a beautiful picture book entitled, "Malala, A Brave Girl from Pakistan; Iqbal, A Brave Boy from Pakistan. Ask your child about this book and what he or she learned from it. 

Important upcoming dates:

Tuesday Dec. 16th:  last literature circle meeting

Wed, Dec. 17th: pool

Thursday, Dec. 18th: homework due 

Friday, Dec. 19th: last day before the holidays; pyjama day

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. This can be a book of your choice or your literature circle book. 

2) Complete your role sheet for Tuesday's meeting. 

3) Continue to collect quotes from your book. (7-10) In class next week you will complete your assignment, which will be to create a page of quotes, as well as write a paragraph on your opinion of the book.

4) Complete your research notes for your social studies project. Take point form notes on your topic that answer the questions in the assignment. Remember to write down your sources. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Dec. 5-12

This week in math the students continued to work on geometry skills.  Students wrote a quiz that went home to be signed. They also worked on comparing triangles based on side length and angles, as well as finding and labelling parallel lines in polygons. The grade 6s began to learn how to use a compass to create triangles with specific side lengths. There will be a second geometry quiz next Friday that covers the same material as the first quiz, plus comparing triangles, identifying parallel lines, finding lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry. 

This week the students finished two culminating tasks to wrap up our unit on overcoming challenges and learning from failure. Students finished both their paragraph and art piece on overcoming challenges. This work is now on display in the hall. Students continued their work in literature circles. I'm happy to see everyone engaged in their book and doing great accountable talk around their novel. 

Important upcoming dates:

Friday, Dec. 5th: PA day

Tuesday Dec. 9th:  4th literature circle meeting, Scholastic book fair browsing

Wed, Dec. 10th: Holiday concert (band, strings and choir for rm. 21 students)

Thursday, Dec. 11th: Scholastic book fair shopping 

Friday, Dec. 12th: math quiz , Holiday Sale, 2:10-2:40

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. This can be a book of your choice or your literature circle book. 

2) Complete your role sheets for Tuesday and Friday's meetings. 

3) Continue to record important sentences from your novel on your "literary luminary" sheet, in preparation for your literature circle assignment, which will be completed in class. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Nov. 28- Dec. 5

This week in math the students continued to work on geometry skills.  Students learned how to create polygons with specific side lengths and angles. There will be a math quiz on Tuesday that will cover measuring, creating and labelling angles (acute, obtuse, straight, right, reflex), and creating polygons using a ruler and protractor. 

This week we have begun two culminating tasks to wrap up our unit on overcoming challenges and learning from failure. Students are writing a paragraph and answering the question, "What have you learned about overcoming challenges and learning from failure that you will apply to your life?" Students also began to create a piece of visual art that communicates their feelings, ideas and understanding of overcoming challenge. They are in the planning stage of their work. 

This week we started literature circles. Students were given several books to choose from and were put in groups based on their preferences. Students will take part in meetings on Tuesdays and Fridays. (Next week it will be Thursday due to the PA day.) Literature circles are like book clubs, in that they promote the joy of reading and focus on talking about books. Take some time to talk to your child about their book. 

Important upcoming dates:

Friday, Nov. 28th: first literature circle meeting

Tuesday Dec. 2nd: pool, 2nd literature circle meeting, math quiz

Thursday, Dec. 4th: math homework due, 3rd literature circle meeting, spelling quiz

Friday, Dec. 5th: PA day
Dec. 10th: winter concert (The only junior students involved will be those in band, choir and strings. Rm. 21 will perform in the spring concert.)

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. This can be a book of your choice or your literature circle book. Complete your role sheets for Friday, Tuesday and Thursday's meetings. 

2) Study this week's spelling words: your own personal list, and the 7th 10 spelling demons. There will be a quiz on Thursday.

3) Practise the 8 times tables and review up to 7.  

4) Complete the geometry work for math and prepare for the quiz on Tuesday.  
5) Play the geometry game that's been added to the blog. This will help you get ready for our next unit in geometry. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson

Nov. 21-28

This week in math the students began a new unit on geometry. We reviewed how to classify shapes by the number of sides and by the length of those sides. Students also learned how to measure and create different types of angles using a protractor. 

This week was bullying awareness week, and, as such, students were involved in a variety of activities around the topic of bullying and standing up for oneself and others. On Monday they listened to a speaker on internet safety, and were introduced to our school prefects, a few of whom are in our class. On Tuesday students participated in a presentation by De Santos on standing up for yourself. On Friday the students watched a live theatre performance entitled, "Frenemies," and were also introduced to our positive space room, which is now room 4. Please take a minute to talk to your child about these rich experiences. 

Important upcoming dates:

Tuesday Nov. 25th: pool

Thursday, Nov. 27th: homework due
Dec. 10th: winter concert (The only junior students involved will be those in band, choir and strings. Rm. 21 will perform in the spring concert.)

Homework for this week:

1) Read for at least 20 minutes each night. 

2) Study this week's spelling words: your own personal list, and the 6th 10 spelling demons. There will be a quiz on Thursday.

3) Practise the 8 times tables and review up to 7. 

4) Complete the editing and cursive work. 

5) Complete the geometry work for math. 
6) Write a persuasive paragraph on an opposite opinion to your own, using my example. 

Best,

Bronwyn Davidson