Mrs. Elliott's Montessori Classroom

Today the grade five and six students worked on a word problem following the numeracy cycle.  We had our word study dictation this morning and our Big 5.  This afternoon we continued to work on our Heritage Fair topics.  Research at home will be probably needed for this project as well. Homework this weekend:  - home reading  - year six triangle package if not complete  - Young Authors' submissions due Monday March 3 Have a good weekend!

We had another work block day today.  The students are getting much better at planning out their days and staying focused.  The students had a health block today as well.  The students are bringing home a plant today.  We planted kindness as a school and today they are bringing sunflower plants home. Homework:  - home reading  - word study if not complete  - time package if not complete  - instrument reflection if not complete  -  Yr 6 triangle package should be almost completed Have a good evening.

Today we had a Pink Shirt Day Assembly.  It focused on the importance of being an upstander not a bystander.  It was a work block Wednesday in the classroom today.  The children were very focused and got a lot of work completed. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - time package is due for year 4 and 5 students Have a good night!

This afternoon we had a sharing opportunity with our instruments.  The children had to play a song they had practiced with their group.  In gym today they played Gaga Ball. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - gym tomorrow  - work block time for Heritage Fair research tomorrow (bring any items you may have at home)  - Pink Shirt Day tomorrow  - 4/5 Time Package due tomorrow Have a wonderful night!

What a fun day we had today!  We made our recycled instruments today.  The students worked really hard to create a plan and then build their instrument.  I was very impressed with the problem solving that I saw happening around the room today.  In the afternoon we practiced playing our instruments in small groups.  They will present their songs tomorrow afternoon. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - Pink Shirt Day Wednesday  - Lit Circles if not complete  - library tomorrow  - gym tomorrow   - spare change of clothes (the fields are wet) Have a good night!

Today we did our Big 5 check in for math.  The 4s and 5s focused on time and the 6s focused on angles.  We also wrote with a comprehension cliffhanger today.  For this, I read the start of a story and the students have to write the ending, keeping the tone of the original story.  We worked with a fractured fairy tale today of Jack and the Beanstalk.   Homework:  - home reading  - Lit Circles if not complete  - Instrument activity if not complete  - Instrument maker day Monday, bring your recycling! Have a wonderful weekend!

Today we had a lot of instances of silly behaviours in the classroom.  Can you please review with your child the expected eating behaviours in our classroom.  Today we learned about Lapbooks.  The students will each be creating a lapbook to accompany the novel they just finished reading.  In health today the students talked about healthy and unhealthy relationships.   Homework tonight:  - home reading  - Lit Circles if not completed, these are now overdue  - Dress Fancy Friday tomorrow (Spirit Day)  - Maker Day Monday, save your recycling to create your recycled instrument Have a good night.

Today was a Work Block Wednesday!  We are working to finish up our Lit Circle pages.  The final page is due at the end of the day tomorrow.  Books do need to be returned to the school as these have to be sent back to the libraries we borrowed them from Friday morning before school.  They had a very active gym class today and came back with flushed faces!  A reminder about our instrument maker day on Monday.  Please be saving recycling to send in for building! Homework:  - home reading  - recycling for Monday  - Lit Circles due tomorrow  - Fancy Friday Spirit Day Have a good night

This morning we confirmed our Heritage Fair Topics.  We looked at the school library for books on our topic.  Some people might need to take a trip to the Public Library for more book options.  We met for the last time today in our Lit Circle Groups.  The final reflection should be handed in this week on Thursday. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - gym tomorrow  - recycled materials  - Lit Circles 1-4 if not completed Have a good night!

Many of our class decided to go to the Valentine's Dance this afternoon.  Some decided to stay in the classroom to play board games.  We had a wonderful virtual writing workshop with the author David Robertson today!  He helped us to create amazing characters.  A reminder that there is no school on Monday for Family Day. Homework this weekend:  - home reading  - Lit Circle Week 4 if not complete  - No school Monday Have a great long weekend!

We discussed Kindness today and added to our school Kindness Garden.  Carrying on with the theme of our Kindness Garden we planted sunflowers today.  These will come home with the students at Spring Break.  The Intermediate Valentine's Day Dance is tomorrow from 1:15 - 2: 15.  Admission is a food donation for the food bank.  There will be a concession, please send a maximum of $5. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - dance tomorrow (food donation)  - PAC Family Dance Tonight  - Lit Circle Week 4 due tomorrow  - Word Study 11 if not complete Have a good night!  

 This morning we talked more about our Heritage Fair projects.  We discussed the difference between Primary and Secondary Sources and the importance of using both in research projects.  In gym today the students did Handball and Basketball. Homework tonight:  - home reading (read out loud)  - Word Study due tomorrow  - Lit Circles 1,2,3 if not complete  - Canadian Reader/What in the World if not complete  - Young Artist submissions are due tomorrow for those that are choosing to submit Have a good night.

Today we met in our Lit Circle groups.  The students should be completed the first four weeks of their Thinking Pages.  Many have some homework to do in order to get themselves caught up.  We had library and gym today.  The students have also written the names of all of their classmates in their agenda in case they decide to bring Valentines Friday.  Friday afternoon our school leadership group is hosting a dance.  This is optional for students to attend.  There will be a concession (maximum $5 brought for this). Homework tonight:  - home reading  - Lit Circles 1-3 if not completed.  Those not complete will be in at lunch until they are caught up.   - gym tomorrow  - Canadian Reader/What in the World articles if not completed Have a good night.

We finished our painting projects today.  We look forward to sharing these surprises with you soon!  Today for Math Monday we did a What Does Not Belong activity.  I was very impressed with some of the ideas that the children were coming up with.  Friday is Valentine's Day and it is up to the students if they would like to hand out Valentines.  I just ask that if they are handing them out, they hand them out to everyone. Homework tonight:  - home reading  - Lit Circle Reflections Weeks One to Three are now overdue  - library tomorrow  - gym tomorrow Have a great evening!

 Today we started to paint our projects.  This morning we wrote about perseverance.  A reminder that tomorrow is a non instructional day and will be no school for the students. Homework:  - home reading  - word study package if not complete Have a great weekend.