November 24

Dear Parents and Guardians,

  We continued to work on Instructional Writing this week. Have your child read our Wall Story to you. As they read, listen for fluency (smooth reading, at a good speed, with expression).

Home Reading Reminder: As you are reading with your child each night, please have them read the book at least 3 times. This will assist your child with increasing their speed, fluency and expression. Also, if your child makes a reading error, please have them reread the WHOLE sentence with correct word inserted, as this will help to develop their ability to self-correct mistakes.

We started a new art project that we will be completing next week. Here is a sneak peek. Ask your child to tell you what they drew and what medium they have started to colour with.

Today we had our first Flex Friday. The students created a project based on the book "The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds. Ask your child which teacher they worked with.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

In math we have been working on skip counting. You can help your child practice at home by having them count the following ways:

• By 1s to 100 from 0
• By 2s to 20 from 0
• By 5s and 10s to 100
• Backwards by 1s from 20

You may wish to use the following videos to help your child practice at home. Please note, you may wish to set up the video before watching it with your child, as we have no control over the commercials that appear at the start.

By 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TgLtF3PMOc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJwK226dqQs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3txltaYkTyE

By2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCxvNtrcDIs

By 5:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh8YmvJuJ8A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56eWo7QbLT4

By 10:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7stosHbZZZg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd5DBkP9avw

Reminders:

Scholastic book orders: Please do not feel any pressure to order as this is a completely optional program. If you want to order books, please fill out the form, with your child’s name, as well as their selections, and return it to school by November 22. I am requesting that you make payments using ONLY the online option (I will NOT accept cash or cheque) To order online follow the steps below:

1.     Go to: parentpay.scholastic.ca (search for Laura Witczak at Kenneth D. Taylor) Please include the payment reference # on the order form that you submit to school.

Finally, if you order, please send me an e-mail (lawitczak@cbe.ab.ca) so I know to check your child’s backpack.

From the Office:
Please disregard this message if it does not apply to you.  Your child will be bringing home an invoice for any outstanding school fees you may have.  These fees can be paid online using your MY CBE account. https://webapps.cbe.ab.ca/MyAccount/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fmyaccount

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week we have continued practicing our sight words and poems. The students are loving reciting the poems every day!

 We have also continued working through our literacy centres, where the students are practicing their alphabet, rhyming, and word manipulation skills. 

Over the last two days we have been learning about instructional writing. The students were asked to explain how to brush their teeth as a class, and were required to be very specific to avoid misunderstanding. 

This was their first copy we completed as a class yesterday:

Today, we read our instructions again and noticed that we used the word "put" five times! So, we focused on  using "transitional words" and other "action words" to make our writing more interesting. 

Here is our revised copy that we created as a class:

Here is a full list of transitional words we came up with as a class:

The students then began writing their own instructions for brushing their teeth. They were required to include a title, a list of materials, and a list of steps.

In science, we have been learning about our eyes. Last week, we learned about the purpose of the iris and the pupil. This week, we discussed the function of rods and cones, learned about blindness, and explored what it means to be colour blind.

Here are some questions you can ask your child:

- What do rods help us see?

- What do cones help us see?

-What does it mean to be colourblind? 

- Can a person who is colourblind see any colours at all?

- What does it mean to be blind?

- What are some ways that people who are blind can move around?

- What is Braille?

As a class, we have been learning how to count backwards and forwards, as well as how to skip count. 

Please practice counting the following ways at home:

1. By 1s to 100

2. By 2s to 20

3. By 5s and 10s to 100

Today we read a book called "Size of the Problem." We discussed small, medium, and large problems and then decided how we could deal with them appropriately. Have your child describe a small, medium, and large problem and an appropriate solution to that problem.

Message from the Office:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Last week, The Fundraising Association sent home our latest fundraiser. Until November 23rd we will be selling beautiful poinsettias, Christmas wreaths and arrangements. Last year this fundraiser was a great success!  For each item sold the school receives $7-9.  These funds will be used for such things as the playground, technology for the school, books, school presentations and other school items for the classrooms.

Please see the attached colour order forms.  Plant order 2017.pdf 
Thank you for you continued support. Any question can be sent to councils.kennethdtaylor@gmail.com

Kenneth D Taylor Fundraising Association

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Today we had our Remembrance Day ceremony. Ms. Moore and I are very PROUD of the respectful behaviour the students exhibited.

 Here are a few pictures of work we completed yesterday and today:

In science, we have started to learn about our different senses. Over the past few days we have been investigating the sense of sight. Ask your child to tell you what they learned about their pupil and iris.

Your child will be brining home their "Very Hungry...." story today. The students were provided with the following "I Can..." rubric to assist them with completing their work. As you look through your child's work, check to see if they completed the following:

You should notice an increase in the number of correctly spelled high frequency words (he, she, ate, but, was, etc...) throughout the book. Please note, that the students were encouraged to use "bubble gum" spelling (sounding out their words) for words that are not high frequency words. As you read your child's book, have them find the number word on each page and spell it for you.

Things you can practice at home:

• sight words
• home reading and poetry books
• subitizing (playing card and dice games so that your child can instantly recognize different forms of numbers)
• creating tally marks, ten frames and writing the number words for #1-10
• writing in a journal

Reminders:

• Picture retakes are on November 15
• No School for students on November 17 
• The Kenneth D. Taylor Christmas Market is on Saturday, November 18 from 10am-3pm

Dear Parents and Guardians,

  On Monday,  as part of our science curriculum we learned about how some animals are camouflaged to help them survive in their habitats. We examined a variety of bugs and discussed which environments they would be best suited to live in based on their appearance.  We also learned that some bugs were used to make jewellery and paint in the past!

  **Have your child tell you what the word "camouflage" means and ask them to provide you with an example of an animal that can camouflage. Also, ask your child to explain the words migrate and hibernate to you.

  We also learned about the sounds the letter Ii makes and practiced printing it.

In math, we learned how to represent the number 6 in lots of different ways.

** Have your child show you all the ways they can represent the number 6.

  Yesterday, we started our morning by exploring different literacy stations. The students were very excited as we now have a NEW iPad station where they are learning to use Raz-Kids!

  We also found out how a "cold" and the "flu" are spread. We learned that we can help stop the spread of each by washing our hands properly. The students were then asked to complete a writing piece that addressed the following outcomes:

I can....

• tell you why you need to wash your hands
• tell you how to wash your hands

 
We also learned about different landmarks in Calgary.

  Today, we continued writing our "Very Hungry....." stories.

Reminders:

• As written by one of our students, please continue to send healthy snacks/lunches for your child to eat.

• Remembrance Day assembly on Friday. If your child participates in Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Girl Guides, etc.. they are welcome to wear their uniform on Friday. 
• Poinsettia forms came home yesterday. If you wish to order, please return the form by November 23.