This Academy Award Winning Week in Room 108

Hurrah for 100! Scroll down for pictures from Hundreds Day and also Scientists in the School. This is a long post, so go get some coffee and settle in.

Hello there,

Here's what we're working on this week:

Language: After many false starts due to short weeks, pancakes, working on our play, etc., we're pushing on with report writing. At home, you can give your child different statements and ask them if it's a fact or opinion: e.g. "Kiwis are the best fruit in the world - fact or opinion?" Or "The centre of the earth is called the core - fact or opinion?" We will be be working together on a report, before students will write their own. We're really working hard on writing these days and I've seen confidence levels grow since we've returned from the holidays. Have your child write at home, whether it's a grocery shopping list, or a fun short story.

Math: After starting money, we had to take a side trip back into addition and subtraction for both grades. You'll see on the homework sheet that I'm encouraging families to work together on addition and subtraction: Grade 1s adding and subtracting numbers up to 20, grade 2s are working on double digit adding and subtracting (without regrouping). Have fun at home with this.

Science: We are looking at construction materials this week, with special attention to materials that are: rigid, flexible, transparent, translucent, and opaque.

Social Studies: We are looking at Mali as part of our contribution to the African Heritage Concert. The concert is this Wednesday afternoon. It was rescheduled to to pancake day last Friday. A videotaped performance of our class telling The Magic Gourd will be shown (fingers crossed). The concert is at 1 p.m. in the Clairlea gymnasium, but it's standing room only. I'll try to get the video on the blog.

Have a great week,

Erin Hawkins
And now - more photos!

Are you still here? Go home! Just kidding. That was a Ferris Bueller's Day Off joke. Here's some shimmering electro-pop to listen to as you view the pictures from our Scientists in the School workshop. Enjoy!

Wonderful Day

Hello there,

We had so much fun learning about shapes and structures with Scientists in the School this afternoon. I took some pictures which I'll post once I've recharged the batteries in my camera.

Thank you to the family members who were able to help out today as well as the amazing girls from Ms. Vincent's class: Natasha, Saima, and Ashna. I was lucky enough to teach these girls when they were in Grade 5 and it was so great having them back - if only for half a day.

Erin Hawkins

Family Day Fun

Hello there,

Well, we survived a busy, short week. Thanks so much to all the kids who brought in Hundreds Day Collections on Thursday. I ran out the door without my camera that day, so I'll take pictures next week. If your child forgot to bring in a collection last Thursday, they can bring something in on Tuesday.

We have Scientists in the School coming in on Wednesday, Feb. 22 in the afternoon. I only heard back from one parent who is able to help out. I am aiming to recruit some Grade 7s and 8s from the school to help us out. We need newspapers, so please send some in with your child.

Our Director of Education, Chris Spence posted this CTV link for Family Day activity ideas. I hope everyone gets out and has fun together.

All the best,

Erin Hawkins

The Next Two Weeks in Room 108

Stop the press! Students in Room 108 create weird poems using newspapers and assorted words found around the classroom. Laughter ensues.

Hello there,

The next two weeks will be short and busy ones. As I tend to over plan the week, I thought I'd share what we'll be working on over the next eight days. We will have a crafting party on Valentine's Day. If you'd like to send treats along with your child, please send peanut-free sweets that students can easily take home with them. If your child is bringing in Valentine's Day cards, I ask that they give one to everyone in the class so that feelings don't get hurt. Here are the names of the students in Room 108: Harishan, Nathan, Kyra, Jasmine, Cadence, Mahad, Faith, Rachel, Rishi, Shemanta, William, Aliya, Kyia, Christina, Sahil, Ali, Alishan, Zen, Cloe, and Brett.

We will start working on our play for the African Heritage concert this week. We will likely have our performance videotaped and played at the concert. The concert will be Friday, February 24th following morning recess. Families are welcome to attend, but with the whole school in attendance, the gym gets pretty full. I'll try to get our performance on this blog so you can watch it from the comfort of your own home.

In Language, we have started report writing with scaffolded activities to support research gathering. So far, we've done this for Chinese New Year and textiles. We will begin learning about how to gather information from non-fiction texts. We will be reading non-fiction texts that link to Social Studies and/or Science for both grades.

In Math, we will continue working on money. Grade 1s are expected to add coins up to 20 cents while grade 2s add money up to 100 cents.

In Social Studies, we will continue working on mapping.

For Science, students will continue investigating energy, solids, liquids, and gasses.

Homework will be lighter over the next two weeks. See the sheet in your child's homework bag for details.

Have a great week. Below, you'll find more pictures from our "found" poetry writing sessions.

Here's a song for Valentine's Day.

Ship Building

As part of our investigation into the bouncy world of buoyancy, your kids recently built boats that they believe should float. Stay tuned...

Hundreds Day Ideas

Here are the hundred collections brought in by my class from last year. Click here.

This Week in Room 108

Students recently sorted their lunches/snacks into the four food groups as part of Health and Data Management in Math. I was really impressed by all the healthy food you're sending in. Bravo!

Hello there,

Here's what we're working on this week:

Language: Writing/Grammar - We are revisiting antonyms and learning about synonyms this week. We are also revisiting nouns and learning how adjectives can bring writing to life. We ran out of time on wrapping up poetry last week. We'll aim to complete our poetry portfolios and experiment with found poetry.

Reading: Guided reading groups will meet and we will be reading poetry and song lyrics.

Math: As you may have gathered from the homework, we've started our money unit. Students will have the opportunity to "shop" with play money and learn more about adding and subtracting small amounts of money.

Science: buoyancy and energy continued. I hope to merge both grades of science to see how sound energy (vibrations) can be observed on the surface of water.

Social Studies: mapping Ontario

We are celebrating Hundreds Day one week later (Feb. 17th). Please help your child find an eco-friendly hundreds collection to share with the class that day.

Scientists in the School are coming to our room soon. I'll be looking for a few volunteers to help out. Look for a note coming home.

That's all,

Have a great week,

Erin Hawkins