Mrs. Elliott's Montessori Classroom

 Today we had a STEM challenge where the students were challenged to build a launcher for a bouncy ball.  Tomorrow we will go outside and test our builds.  We will be outside for a portion of the day tomorrow to complete a couple of activities (as long as it is not raining) so please make sure that you are dressed for the weather.  In the afternoon the students enjoyed a variety of Halloween activities.   Homework tonight:  - Have a safe and happy Halloween!  - Field Trip Permission Form

 This morning we did some story writing involving the ghosts that we have created.  In our study of matter we talked about Non-Newtonian Fluids and made Oobleck.  To make Oobleck at home, you just have to mix cornstarch and water at a 2:1 ratio. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - word study  - dance tomorrow, food donation for entry, $5 max for concession. For those not attending please try to bring an empty plastic water bottle.  - Book Fair is on tomorrow after school, it ends Friday at lunch  

 Today we finished putting our ghost art together.  These should be dry to bring home for Halloween.  We went book browsing at the Book Fair today.  Our class will have the opportunity to buy tomorrow afternoon.  The book fair is also open after school with a parent. Homework today:  - home reading  - word study  - gym tomorrow  - Friday will be a PJ day for those who want to take part  - photo retake day tomorrow Have a great night!

 Today we talked about the Clock of Eras and took a closer look at the Paleozoic Era.  All of the students received new word study this week.  We continue our look at the vowel sounds and the combinations that make them. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - word study  - Unfinished WITW and Canadian Reader  - gym  - no library as we will be using this time for browsing at the book fair  - costumes on Thursday (food donation item for dance)  - bake sale tomorrow  - photo retakes are Wednesday Have a wonderful evening!

 Today we started learning about the three states of matter.  Please ask your child to tell you what they are.  We finished painting our value shaded pumpkins and ghosts and will be finishing and bringing home our art next week. Homework tonight:  - no school tomorrow for the students  - Wednesday is photo retakes  - Word Study package if not complete  - PAC Halloween Dance tonight Have a good weekend.  See you Monday!

Today we worked on our Memory Slides.  The students will continue to build these until June.  Today many of the children carried on painting their value pumpkins. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - word study dictation tomorrow Have a good evening!

 Today we continued our look at value shading by creating some ghost art.  This will be a multiple day project.  Today we also looked at an image of an old house and did some descriptive writing. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - word study  - art card orders coming home today - gym tomorrow Have a great night!

 We are going to be starting a unit on Matter.  The children are in the process of letting me know the questions they have on this subject before we start exploring.  We went to the library today and learned about Scratch Coding.  We then used this to program Edisons.   Homework tonight:  - Home Reading  - Word Study practice (dictation Thursday)  - No School Friday  - Inside/Outside Shoes  - library tomorrow  - gym tomorrow

 We did some movement activities with Ms. Erickson today.  She worked with small groups to share the importance of movement through activities such as walking, running, throwing and hopping.  We took part in Student Vote today as intermediate students in our school.  We have been learning about the voting process over the past couple of weeks. Homework this weekend:  - 4/6 math review package  - WITW PWHL article (5/6)  - Canadian Reader articles on Parks and Year Round School (4) Have a wonderful weekend!

 Today we learned about algorithms online.  We read a fake news feed about two fake politicians and had a class vote.  After the vote, we realized that not everyone was given the same feed to read and this led to a discussion about algorithms.  We also had a presentation in the gym today from the Earth Rangers.  We got to see some interesting animals. Information on becoming and Earth Ranger is also coming home today. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - word study if not complete  - word study dictation tomorrow  - Yr 6 Immunization forms due tomorrow  - Yr 6 vision screening information sent home Have a wonderful evening!

 Today the year 5/6 students worked on their oral language in French today.  They are sounding much more confident already!  It was a Work Block Wednesday in the classroom today.  The children all worked well at getting their tasks accomplished.   Homework tonight:  - home reading  - word study  - year 6 forms due Friday Have a great evening!

 Today for fine arts we did value shading using the Montessori Colour Box Three and paint.  Today we also started our word study groups.  Your child will be studying the spelling pattern in 20 words this week to be ready for their dictation on Friday. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - word study  - gym tomorrow  - Yr. 6 Immunization packing coming home today Have a wonderful evening!

 Today we had a cooperative STEM challenge today to build a tall tower using spaghetti and marshmallows.  The students worked very well and did some great problem solving during this challenge, even if it did not produce the results they were hoping for.  Today we also did our weekly Big 5 math check ins and word study dictations.  Next week we will be starting our word study focusing on different spelling patterns and letter sounds. Homework this weekend:  - home reading  - word study review if not complete  Have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Thanksgiving!  A reminder that there is no school Monday.

 Today we started looking at different forms of government.  We were separated into four different groups that demonstrated four different types of governments and then had to do a STEM challenge to build a tall tower using spaghetti and marshmallows.  We also worked with out little buddies today to help them with a thankful activity. Homework tonight:  - word study review  - word study dictation tomorrow  - home reading Have a wonderful evening!

 Today we logged on to Typing Pal for the first time.  This will be a program that we will use this year to learn proper keyboarding skills.  It uses videos to share lessons which is why your child will need headphones this year.  Today we also read Barnaby Unboxed.  We discussed what we thought was the main message the author was trying to share and wrote about this. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - word study practice  - health tomorrow  - book fair information coming home  Have a good night!

 Today we had our book exchange in the library.  We talked about value and shading in fine arts today.  We will be exploring this further in the next few weeks.   Homework tonight:  - home reading  - word study practice  - sign up for parent teacher interview  - open house letter from TRU  - gym tomorrow  - headphones/ear buds for tomorrow Have a good night!

 Today we had a lesson in the library and learned how to place books on hold.  The students will be coming home with a page today so that they can do this from home as well.  They can only have three books on hold at a time.  For Math Monday today we had an Estimation 180 question.  They had to estimate the number of almonds in a 1/4 cup measure. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - word study practice (this will be our last week of "No Excuse" words)  - library tomorrow  - gym tomorrow  - headphones for Wednesday please Have a wonderful evening!

 While the year four students were working on their FSAs the 5/6 students wrote a Comprehension Cliffhanger where they need to write the ending to a story.  We went outside this afternoon to do Physical Literacy with Ms. Erickson.   Homework this weekend:  - home reading  - My Mouth is a Volcano  - sign up for parent teacher interview Have a good night!

 Today went by so quickly!!!  In Health the children sorted sounds by guessing the sound.  All students logged into their Prodigy accounts today.  They have passwords in their agenda if they would like to play on these at home. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - word study (review work is homework if not complete)  - wear plaid tomorrow  Have a great night!

 Today was a BUSY work block Wednesday.  The weather was so nice today that the children were able to go outside for gym.  We had a lock down practice this morning and the students did a great job of sitting quietly.  The year four students also started their FSA. We also started our gratitude pumpkin for the month of October.  Each day the students will each share what they are grateful for and we will write it on our pumpkin.  Our hope is to fill the pumpkin by the end of the month. Homework tonight  - home reading  - word study  - email home regarding Parent Teacher Interviews  - headphones for upcoming Typing Pal work  - French Colours  - My Mouth is a Volcano activity overdue Have a great evening!

 I cannot believe that we are into October already!  The past month has flown by!  Today we did a "Would You Rather" math question.  The children need to work out both possibilities and then share which one they would choose and why.  We are nearing the end of our review words in word study, we should finish with this list next week.   Homework tonight:  - home reading (it is great to see these reviews coming in!)  - word study practice  - gym tomorrow  - photo form   - Yr. 4 - FSA Notice  - ear buds/headphones for next week.  No Bluetooth please! Have a great night!