February News

NEWSLETTER NO.6

2 ième année

Classe de Madame Villeneuve

February 2011

Bonjour parents:

LANGUAGE ARTS

We were very busy throughout January and certainly got many projects completed and others well underway. Take a few minutes to ask your child the following questions and see what he/she remembers, worked hard on or may want to work harder on in the coming months.

Tell me one thing you learned about dinosaurs.

Did you enjoy learning about a Canadian animal?

Tell me one thing about the habitat of the animal you researched.

What would you see on the tundra in Nunavut that would help you find your way?

How do you write “Inuksuk” in plural in “inuktitut”.

Can you name an artist who paints northern landscapes in bright colours?

Can you name an artist who lived a long time ago and painted a Starry, Starry NIght?

Do you sometimes choose the center “Atelier de Lecture”?

Are you choosing library books that you are able to read?

Can you count to 100 in French with confidence?

Are you trying hard to speak French with your classmates?

Do you have enough pencils and other supplies in your desk?

Do you always put your shoes on and tie them up?

Is your desk organized?

What does it mean to think Win-Win?

Are you being a good listener and always doing your best work?

Do you know what to do when your work is finished?

Who do you like to play with at school?

What do you like best about school?

SPELLING

Since we sent home the January newsletter, a school wide spellathon has been planned. As a result, the review spelling challenge that was mentioned in the January newsletter will now take place on Tuesday, February 8. The list of 40 words on the review challenge are words that the children need to consistently spell correctly in their daily writing.

The following sentences will also be on the review challenge.

J'ai un frère.

Mon oncle marche.

Mon ami regarde le livre.

Les garçons mangent.

Mes amis parlent.

Spelling tests for February 18 and February 25 include words for the school wide spellathon happening on Wednesday, March 9. Watch for information about the spellathon to come home on Monday, February 14.

LANGUAGE ARTS

We are finished our study on dinosaurs as well as the research project on a Canadian animal. The children had wonderful creative ideas for the pizza box research dioramas. Bravo! The children’s Arctic dioramas are displayed in the library. Our themes in February are “Friendship and Valentines". We are continuing to focus on sentence writing, capitals, periods, review of letter sounds and alphabetization skills and continuing a focus on adjectives or describing words. We will also be beginning testing for report cards this month.

QUOI DE NEUF

To prepare for “Quoi de neuf” presentations, I have once again attached a sheet which will help the children with their sharing time. The children should think about what they can say about their item or simply what they would like to tell the class and print at least two sentences in French that they can read to the class. The questions on the sheet are to guide them in thinking about what to say and to anticipate what questions others may ask. Please use this exercise as a practice in sentence writing (eg. capitals and periods) as well. Items such as Webkins and Pokéman toys are not approved "Quoi de Neuf" items.

Super work preparing for January “Quoi de neuf”. Bravo!

Girls “Quoi de neuf”-February 4

Boys “Quoi de neuf”-February 18

MATH

Madame Hill writes:

We are working on double digit addition and subtraction. We begin by using manipulatives such as base ten blocks, the 100 chart, or an abacus. From there we continue to develop the concept of place value in order to introduce the notions of what we used to call "borrowing" or "carrying", though those terms are no longer used. Ask your child to teach you how to play SKUNK.

With Madame Villeneuve we are continuing our unit on adding and subtracting to 18. I will be assessing the children’s progress in this area for this reporting period.

READ-AT-HOME PROGRAM

Keep marking your reading. Remember the goal is 25 hours of French reading by the end of June. Some children have already achieved this goal. Great work! Once they have achieved 25 hours the children are to continue to read to see how many hours they can record by the end of the school year. Please have your child bring in their record book on Thursday, February 17 so that I can see what progress they are making.

SOCIAL STUDIES

We are continuing to explore our three Canadian communities with a focus on culture and tradition. We have been focussing on Iqaluit.

SCIENCE

We will complete our study of “Hot and Cold Temperatures”. Watch for a practice test to come home near the end of the month.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

We will continue to skate and cross-country ski when the weather and conditions permit. The children have been doing very well being dressed properly for these outside activities. Thank you to my ski helper parent who has been helping tie skates and ski boots.

VALENTINE’S DAY

We will be making Valentine Envelopes and they will be hung in the classroom. Those children who wish to make valentines for classmates may bring them starting Feb. 7. The children will bring the valentines home on February 14. The children do not have to bring valentines for their classmates but if they choose to do so they need to bring one for each child in the class. I have attached a class list. If you would be interested in sending a snack for the children on this very special day (Monday, Feb. 14) please let me know. Please remember to be allergy aware. Due to the district nutrition policy, healthy snacks are recommended, but not mandatory for special celebrations. Wear red and white to help us with the celebration.

THANK YOU TO .................

ALL THE PARENTS WHO WERE CLASSROOM, SKATING AND SKIING HELPERS,

ALL THE PARENTS WHO SUPPORTED THEIR CHILDREN IN CREATING THEIR CANADIAN ANIMAL RESEARCH PROJECT. THE PROJECTS ARE CREATIVE AND SHOW FACTS ABOUT THE ANIMALS.

WE LEARNED BY DOING OUR OWN PROJECT AND LOOKING AT OUR CLASSMATES’ PROJECTS, SUPER SYNERGY.

ALL THE PARENTS WHO SENT IVORY SOAP AND SHOEBOXES.....THE DIORAMAS LOOK AWESOME......

ALL MOMS, DADS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO HAVE BEEN HELPING BY ENCOURAGING THE CHILDREN TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THEIR BELONGINGS, LISTENING TO THEIR CHILDREN READ AND HELPING WITH HOMEWORK.

HOMEWORK

Remember to:

Practise for the review spelling challenge on Tues. Feb. 8,

then start practicing for the spellathon words.

Read daily.

Practise counting by twos, fives, tens and twenty-five.

Practise basic facts.

Prepare what to say for “Quoi de Neuf”.

Think about what to write in your journal on Monday mornings.

Make sure your name is written on all your outdoor clothing and boots.

Madame Villeneuve