October 28th, 2015

This morning we continued with our Daily 5 session.  Some students had the opportunity exchange their home reading books, also they were able to share their writing work with a number of student teachers.  The student teachers were very impressed!!!!

After snack we created a setting story map from the book "Daisy Comes Home".  Please see the video below for a description of our learning.

This afternoon we went on our first "Community Walk" to the pond.  In our inquiry into descriptive words students were required to draw the area in and around the pond and then explore descriptive words that represented each nature piece.  Please see Makenna's video explaining this process, as well as I have uploaded a bunch of pictures to our class website in regards to the community walk.  Also, a number of students found a powder on some of the trees.  They have been asked to go home and try to figure out what the powder is and what it can be used for.  Some of the students were discussing that the powder could be used for sunscreen.

Hreem's video talking about the powder on the trees.

Notes:
1) Scholastic Book Orders are being sent home.
2) Original Art Work painting pieces were sent home today.  If you would like to purchase your child's art, which can be placed on a mug, shirt, mouse pad, etc., please bring back the information provided in his/her folder.
3) Also, if anyone would like to volunteer tomorrow morning please send me an email.

Notes from the office:

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Grade 1-4 Students can choose to dress up for Thursday, October 29^th in the afternoon. Kindergarten students will come to school in their costumes. To minimize disruptions, Grade 1-4 students will need to come to school with costumes in their back packs and dress themselves up.    For safety, no masks or play weapons and costumes need to be age appropriate.  

Have a great night!

October 27th, 2015

This day just flew by!!!!!

In the morning we completed three sessions of Daily 5.  A number of students have started a new guided reading book. Please ask your child which new book they have started to read.  Also, as part of one of our CAFE strategies we discussed "Prior Knowledge".  We read the story "Big Al", which was a good representation of people being kind to one another.

We are continuing to read our Wonder book.  There are a number of great parts in which the story talks about kindness, make sure to talk to your child about this.  We tweeted a question to the author; however, we are still waiting for a response.  Remember to follow us @learners82.

In the afternoon we finished our Original Art project.  Please listen to Anukula for a description of this project

After art the students in room 82 are in the process of creating surveys to ask individual what they believe best represents Canada.  Below Owen describes the process of this.

HOMEWORK: Create one question that the class can put on a survey that has to do with Canada.  Remember that the answers from the survey could be represented on our Canadian Flag.


Thank you for everyone that has helped to cut out our coding blocks!!!!

October 26th, 2015

HOMEWORK:
Jack Will and Auggie - 
What did Jack Will think that Auggie should do when kids stared at him?

https://kidblog.org/class/mrs-quilleys-class/login

This morning we continued with our picture prompt writing.  Some the pictures included; a giraffe climbing a tree, an elephant staring at a cat, a chipmunk giving a warning, and a treehouse. Some of the tools that we were practicing were dialog, descriptive words, adding detail, similes,

This afternoon we started an art project.  First we got a piece of paper and then cut tape in half and placed it on the paper.  We then made two lines representing the grass and the colours of the sky.  Next we painted the different sections.   Please see Marin's video for an example.

As I'm not teaching half of my class math I decided to investigate to try and find out what they are learning.  Please see below for a math video with Emma in it.

Notes:

Cranston Peace Ambassadors will be starting a drive for Jacket Racket beginning Monday, October 26th and running to Friday, November 6th. This is a wonderful opportunity for all students to help other children here in our city, by donating warm outerwear that they no longer need. It is a valuable experience for our students and reinforces Cranston School’s commitment to peace and citizenship education. Please take some time with your children to go through their winter items. It is that time of year when we all realize that hats, mittens, boots, snow pants and coats have been outgrown! Please give them a wash and put them in a plastic bag to be brought to school. If you could list the items and sizes on the outside of the bag, it would help the students with the sorting process! We also accept adult sizes, as many older students need help to stay warm in the winter as well!

Have a great night!

Room 82

October 22nd & 23rd

Yesterday was an exciting day as we started our new inquiry project.  We will be working with an organization called "One World Classroom Art Exchange".  http://www.oneworldclassrooms.org/programs/k12art/ 

Cruz's video talks about part of our new inquiry project.

Once the students finished adding descriptive words to their Canadian flag about what makes Canada unique we had a KBC (Knowledge Building Circle).  While we were having a knowledge building circle I documented everything that the students stated.  The question that was posed to the students was, "What do you think it means to be Canadian?".  Please see below for a a verbatim conversation that the students had during our KBC.  I was very proud of my students' ideas!!!!

********************

Hreem: it means having freedom.

Isabella: it means to be peaceful

Leighton: it means that this is your country

Sam: it means that you are safe

Marcus: you are creative

Morgan: it means you are free to do what you want

Marin: it means that you are peaceful

Makenna: it means that everyone that are hopeful that everyone is that

Sam: it means that you can be proud of your country

Nawfal: to have love

Cruz: it means that you can think that you want to think and chose what you want

Anukula: religion you are allowed that you can do most things in that religion

Danyal: you get to vote

Leighton: it means that you are free

Owen: you get to pick what you want to do

Marcus: it means to be playful and the righto to go to school

Emma: it means that you are loving

Elora: no one tells you what you want to do

Morgan: boys and girls can both go to school

Dayna: you can be who you want to be

Emma: boys and girls can have the same right

Leighton: it means to have the right to be a child

Hreem: it means that no one can be mean to you and tell you what to do

Anukula: in Canada there is nothing like child labour

Sam: it means everyone in the country can have his or her own rights

Marin: girls have the right to do things

Leighton: it means that you are in a peaceful community

Owen: you can buy stuff more often

Sam: it means that you can have the elderly will have more care

Makenna: treat others how you want to be treated

Hreem: means no matter how old you are treat everyone the same

Emma: no one should be teased by how they are looked

Mackenna: Acts of Kindness

Sam: you are free to do what you want

**********************

HOMEWORK:  Please post on the blog as we will discussing your answers Monday.

If you could ask a student in a different country to place something on their art work what would it be?

On Thursday, Mrs Bowles class joined our class to talk about blogging rules and etiquette.  We watched an informative video on blogging.  The following is the link we watched https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UshQial8-KU

Elora discusses some of the blogging rules and etiquettes that we talked about in class. 

Notes:

1. I am looking for a few volunteers next week to help cut out some computer programming blocks, as we are going to be starting our coding lessons.  If you can please email me if you are available next week that would be great.  There is an option to cut out the blocks either in school or at home.

Please see below for some of the Cranston notes:

1. Intramurals will start soon.  We are interested in having your input, regarding students' interest in intramurals. Parents, please sit with your children to fill out this quick 2 question survey.  http://goo.gl/forms/KFPdNs7tQihttp://goo.gl/forms/KFPdNs7tQi
2. Calgary Flames and CBE have partnered up again to offer 'Press Level' seating to families at a discounted price.  $36 for a ticket, and $10 from each ticket purchased goes right back to Cranston School.  Go to www.calgary.flames/studentnight for more information.  Remember to choose Cranston from the drop down menu.  Tickets sell out fast, so please order soon!  
3. We are in need of 5 more babies, ages 6 months and younger, to participate in our Roots of Empathy program.  If you have family members, friends or neighbours who would be willing to volunteer 45 minutes/month with their babies to the school we would love to talk to them!  Please contact Mrs. Susanne Jones at the office 403-777-6267 ext. '0' for further information or if you would like the school to contact them directly.  Thanks so much!  Roots of Empathy begins in classrooms over the next two weeks and we would love to go forward with a full complement of 14 baby teachers!

October 19th, 2015

This morning we had three sessions of Daily 5.  A few people were able to show their writing on their Kid blog website.  Parents if you have the opportunity please respond to your child's blog.  You can either comment or ask a new question for your child to explore.  Students finished working on their word work for this week and completed a spelling test with their words.

www.kidblog

We continued to read our Wonder book.  With our class twitter account we posed the following question to Mrs. Bowles class.... Q1  Why was Auggie upset with Jullian?  As a class we want to pose a question to R.J. Palacio (the author of Wonder) through Twitter.

HOMEWORK:  Please come up with a THOUGHTFUL question that we can ask the author of Wonder.  Remember that the question needs to be less than 140 characters.

During math we explored Fibonacci's number sequence... 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13,......  Please ask your child in more detail about this sequence.

Notes:

1) SLLW will be held Wednesday and Thursday evening from 6:00-7:30pm.  If your last name starts between A-L you will be attending Wednesday.  If your last name starts between M-Z you will be attending Thursday.

2) Fun lunch is this Wednesday.

October 16th, 2015

What an exciting day!!!!

First thing this morning we finished our political party platform presentations.  Then shortly after that we had our student vote at Cranston.  Please see some of the student vote pictures shown below:

During art we started our Pablo Picasso cubism art project.  Please see below for some pictures.

HOMEWORK: Students please respond to this question, from our Wonder book, on your KidBlog website...  https://kidblog.org/class/mrs-quilleys-class/posts:

Explain this simile:  I was so nervous that the butterflies in my stomach were more like pigeons flying around in my insides. What does this tell you about how Auggie is feeling? (This comment was during the First-Day Jitters chapter)

Notes:

October 21 - Fun lunch

October 21/22 Evening - Student lead learning walks

October 29 - Halloween Howler

Have yourself a great weekend!!!!

Mrs. Quilley

October 15th, 2015

This morning a few of our students presented to three other classes information about the Liberal Party.  Please see below for a of snippet of the presentation.

After the presentation as a class we had a bit of laughs while we created a couple of Mad Libs.  Please ask your child about the two funny stories we created.

Our class continued to read our Wonder book.  We are all enjoying this book a great deal.
Owen summarized a small piece of the book "August went to the school for a tour"
Hreem stated that "The kids that went with August wouldn't look at him"  this made Hreem feel sad for Auggie.

Students please respond to this question on your KidBlog website:

Explain this simile:  I was so nervous that the butterflies in my stomach were more like pigeons flying around in my insides. What does this tell you about how Auggie is feeling? (This comment was during the First-Day Jitters chapter)

After lunch we had a safety assembly talking about how to cross the street.  Then we practiced our first lockdown of the year.  We were all scrunched into our reading corner trying to stay quiet/awake.

HOMEWORK:
For homework the students are asked to create a "handler" name.  Right now the name is called @learners82; however, it would be better if we were able to come up with a name as a class.  Please post a name that you believe would work well for us.  We will use our democratic responsibility and vote for the name on Friday.

Also, parents please post to your son/daughter's blog on kidblog.org

Notes:
1) Please bring back your Halloween Howlers
2) Student Vote is tomorrow

Blog created by the students of room 82

Wonky Wednesday

Today was a very busy day as we tried to complete all of our election inquiry projects.  Everyone was able to finish their projects.  Included is the website URL of the students that worked on the website.  Within this website is the video that the students created, as well as the podcast.  I believe the students did a fantastic job!!!!

http://macjeliberalpartykids.weebly.com


We did have a bit of time to work on our writing for our Wonder book.  Students wrote about

1) If you found a magic lamp and could have one wish, what would you wish for?
the following questions:
2) What would August's one wish be?
3) August says "The only reason I'm not ordinary is because no one else sees me that way." Explain this statement.
4) How do August's mom and dad view him?

Some of the students wrote their answers on the kid blog website, while some wrote it in their journals.

https://kidblog.org/class/mrs-quilleys-class

As a class we were able to find some time to talk about setting up a twitter account.  Right now this account is linked to our classroom website.  If you would like to follow us please do so as we have "tweets" we would like to share.  Also, we are following the author of our read aloud book Wonder.

HOMEWORK:
For homework the students are asked to create a "handler" name.  Right now the name is called @learners82; however, it would be better if we were able to come up with a name as a class.  Please post a name that you believe would work well for us.  We will use our democratic responsibility and vote for the name tomorrow.

I hope everyone has a great evening!

Students "Random Acts of Kindness" jar after 5 days of introducing the topic. 













Mrs Quilley

Tuesday, October 13th, 2015

This morning we continued to work on our inquiry project.  The students' projects are coming along great.  Please see below a couple of videos and pictures of what the students have learned through this process.

This is the podcast group:

Below are a number of pictures and a video of the video group.  Also, please see the URL for the Liberal Party video  https://youtu.be/ISH-ZygvvHU 

We continued to read our Wonder read aloud book.  As a class we continued to talk about "Random Acts of Kindness".  Students are encourage to complete "Random Acts of Kindness" at home, on their walk to school, at school, within their community, etc.  Please talk to your child about diverse types of acts of kindness your child can complete.  Please see below a picture of our "Random Acts of Kindness" jar filling up after one weekend.

During the first part of the afternoon the grade 4s worked on math while the grade 3s continued to work on their SLAs.  A couple of students worked on finishing their zoo project while the rest of the group started an "Op Art Cubism" project based on patterns.  Please ask your child what they decided to draw for a pattern.

Note:

1) Running Club members were given an order form for Running Club T-Shirts.  Orders and money must be returned to their homeroom teachers by Thursday, October 15th to ensure that we receive the t-shirts prior to our last running club day.

2) The Halloween Howler went forms went home today.

3) Also, we are looking for one volunteer for Friday morning as our class is going to be apart of the Student Vote on Friday.  Can you please email me if you are able to volunteer and the times. 

Thank you,

Mrs. Quilley

Friday, October 9th, 2015

This morning we continued to read our teacher read aloud of Wonder.  What a fantastic book!!!!  Please ask your child about Auggie meeting Mr. Tushman.  Once we read a bit of our book we started to look into "Random Acts of Kindness".  Watch Elora's video explain our group project on kindness.

The students continued to work on their inquiry project this afternoon.  The brochure, posters, video, speech, and website are all coming along really well.  I can't wait to see everyone present their project.

We talked as a class about "Random Acts of Kindness".  Please ask your child what this means.  I have asked the students to continue with these acts throughout the weekend and during the month of October (and hopefully beyond).  The students will write these acts of kindness on a piece of paper and place them in a jar.  I'm hoping over the course of October that this jar will fill up with little green pieces of paper.

Notes:

1. There is no school on Monday.
2. Scholastic book orders are due Tuesday.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend.

Mrs. Quilley

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Note:

1) I just wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow is our One World Drumming concert that the students will perform for their parents.  Our class will be presenting between 2 and 3pm.  Please have your child come to Room 82 at 2pm tomorrow.  The students have been really practicing hard and are excited to show your what they have learned.

2) Tomorrow is our O Canada performance.

3) Please have your child wear red tomorrow.

THIS NOTE IS FROM MRS. KINSMAN:

CRANSTON SCHOOL NEEDS 7 BABIES FOR ROOTS OF EMPATHY

We have 7 families signed up so far to participate in the Roots of Empathy program for this school year, and are in need of 7 more. Babies who are 6 months or younger are ideally suited to participate as 'baby teachers' in this most worthwhile program. Babies and and their parent(s) are asked to visit the school for a half hour per month to be present in classrooms with students, teachers and a trained Roots of Empathy Coordinator. We are need of babies for Mrs. Richardson, Ms. MacEwen, Mrs. Grummett, Mrs. Rumpel, Ms. Weldrick, Ms. Klein, Mrs. McEvoy and Ms. MacMillan/Mrs. Sedgewick's classrooms. If you have a baby in this age range, or know someone else who does, I encourage you to consider joining us once a month!  You do not need to have a child attending Cranston School to participate or be a resident of Cranston community - all babies are welcome :)

If you would like more information or to sign up for this fun-filled program, please contact Susanne Jones at the office, 403-777-6267 ext '0'.  We are hoping to begin the program the last week in October so please register as soon as possible.  We love our Baby Teachers!

Thank you!

Mrs. Kinsman

Please see below for some pictures of our inquiry work on the elections.  Our class is working to inform other classes on the Liberal party.  Each student has been placed in one of the following groups; brochure, poster, video, speech/podcast, or website.  Please ask your child which group they are in.  Also, I have asked the brochure and the poster group to print off some pictures they can include in their project at home.

Please see below for a video of our website group:

Some of the students were able to post onto their own blog this morning.  Parents, if you have an opportunity please respond to your child's blog.  The following is your child's blog website https://kidblog.org/class/mrs-quilleys-class/posts


I hope everyone has a great night.

Thank you,
Mrs. Quilley

Flashy Wednesday

This morning we started our day finishing off Frindle.  Mrs. Quilley needed help from a student to finish the book as she was about to shed some tears if she kept reading.

Once we finished Frindle we started on our Daily 5 sessions.  However, we started a new writing process via writing on the students own blogs.  The following is a link to the students' blogs.  The students have been informed on how to log in to their own pages.  I greatly encourage parents respond to their own child's blogs and/or ask questions to help them deepen their writing.

https://kidblog.org/class/mrs-quilleys-class/posts

Logon in the top right hand corner.   The students' passwords are their first name and the last four digits of their login number.  (ALL THE STUDENTS KNOW THEIR LOGIN NUMBER!!!)

Students are encouraged to log onto their blog this evening and see if they can post to their blog.  The topic is "If I was 20 years older I would....." (e.g. working, playing, creating, eating.....).  If your child is not able to complete/start/figure out this task that is OK as we will continue this process during Daily 5.

Please see below a video of Marin explaining the grade 4s zoo project.  HOMEWORK: The grade 4s have taken home their zoo project and have been asked to finish coloring their final blueprint and legend draft.  

We are starting a new novel study called Wonder.  Before reading the book students were ask to write about the following:

Have you ever felt different?

Describe a time when you felt different.  Who did people treat you? Describe your feelings.  Were they good or bad?

Please see pictures below of students working on their writing.

The book Wonder:  As a class we discussed that October is "Choose Kind" month and we will be following the hashtag #ChooseKind on twitter while reading this book.

NOTES:

1) Please fill out the National Anthem form and have your child bring it back tomorrow.

2) There is running club tomorrow.

3) Scholastic book orders are due Tuesday..... As I forgot we do not have school Monday!!!

4) Please keep the mystery numbers coming.  They are fun to guess!

I hope everyone has a great night!!!

Tuesday, October 6th, 2015

Today just flew by!!!!

NOTE: Tomorrow is picture day!!!!!

During Daily 5 the students received their new words of the week.  Once they received their words they cut them out, and sorted them.  Please ask your child what some of their new words were.

Please see below for an example of what is happening with the Grade 3 SLAs.

We needed a well deserved body break after the grade 4s continued on with their zoo project.  They are looking fantastic!!!  In addition, the grade 3s worked really hard on their SLAs.  Please see below for a snippet of a video of our body break.

During math class we continued on with patterns.  I presented the following pattern to my math class... 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8.... some of the students were able to figure out the rule to this pattern.  We will explore this pattern in greater detail tomorrow in regards to nature.

I hope everyone has a great night!
Mrs. Quilley

Monday Funday

This morning we continued to work on the Daily 5 sessions most of the students worked on their Word Work as we had a spelling test after snack.  Some of the students worked on writing, the following are some examples of the students ideas:

Dayna ~ "wrote about what my dream cat would look like."
Hreem ~ "wrote about a boy he was supposed to go on a trip to a desert, but on the way a sandstorm hit and the boy got stranded in the desert....."
Owen ~ "wrote about going to Disneyland."
Emma ~ "wrote about my dream horse."

During gym class we participated in a warm up where the students had to run around the gym and once they reached the main doors they had to conduct 10 jumping jacks.
"BOY WERE WE TIRED!!!!".  After the warm-up we played tag with batons and balls.

Please watch a video of Cruz explaining one of the exercises we completed in math today.

See below for a video of Makenna explaining our writing project for the day.

NOTES:
1) Please check your child's folder as there are a number of reminders in them.
2) Scholastics book orders are going home today.... they are due Monday, October 12, 2015.
3) Family Portrait Night is October 22, 2015.
4) A form in celebration and commemoration of the Flag of Canada's 50th Anniversary is coming home.  This form NEEDS to be SIGNED so the students can participate on Friday.  A recording of the students will be taking place at this time.
5) Picture day is this Wednesday, October 7th.

HOMEWORK:
Students will create their own mystery number and then solve three other students' numbers.  This is an example of one:
1) The number has to be greater than 0.
2) The number needs to be lower than 50.
3) The number has to be between 20 and 30.
4) You will say the number when you skip count by 5.

The title and the blog was written by the students of room 82.

Drumming Thursday

This morning we had a really productive Daily 5 session.  We continued to work with our Words Their Way word work.

After snack the class went to music and during music they sang the "Fight Song" as well as sang and danced a fun song with a partner.

During gym class the students ran to the windmill in order to show their support for Terry Fox.  Please visit our website to see how far we have run.  After our run we played an exciting game of tag.

http://learningstudio82.weebly.com/terry-fox-run.html

We continued to read our Frindle book.  Please ask your child what is happening in the book.

During math class we continued with our Pattern Rule game and the students worked on a new concept called algebra.

In the afternoon we went to drumming where the students learned a new drumming song.  Please ask your child where the drums are from.

We are continuing with our Liberal inquiry project.

HOMEWORK: Please keep bringing in the Liberal articles.

Blog and title created by the students in room 82