Weekly Update

 Hello families! 

I'm not sure if I will continue using this blog format for the rest of the year, but for now I think this is a pretty good place to keep you updated on how things are going in the classroom. I will also get a Google Classroom set up soon for you to access should your child miss school. 

We have been having a great week! We started a daily work activity called "Morning Math" where students are given a number and they represent it in different ways to build their number sense. They determine what one more, one less, 10 more, the next 5 numbers, as well as whether the number is even or odd and drawing a representation of the number. 

Throughout the week we have also been doing letter review with a program called Animated Literacy. We have been reviewing a letter each day. I really like this program because it provides a character, action, story and song for each letter. So far, we have learned about Polly Panda, Uncle Upton, Dr. Ollie Ostrich, and Mimi Mermaid. We have been practicing printing the uppercase and lowercase letters. Students who need an extra challenge have been encouraged to create alliteration sentences with the daily letter or to create their own character that matches with the letter. You might see some optional colouring pages with these characters coming home! Students have really been enjoying the ABC Mouse and Storybots Youtube videos about each letter. 

We've also started discussing some Indigenous ways of knowing and Indigenous culture. Here are some videos we have watched so far - we are even learning the Acknowledgement of the Land with actions. 

The Word Indigenous Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CISeEFTsgDA&t=1s

Canada Crew First Nations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztodE6_6qb4

Acknowledgement of the Land: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jqskc3man4&t=1s

I have also introduced a program called "Class Dojo." Each child has their own monster character and they collect points for positive behaviour in the classroom. We had a big conversation about my concerns with this program. I still want students to develop intrinsic motivation rather than extrinsic and I want them to do kind things for each other because it makes them and their peers feel good, not because they can get a point for it. With all of the new routines and procedures at school, I just thought it would be a little bit of fun added to our day and a way of focusing on the positive behaviours in the classroom. I only use this program for classroom management and don't invite parents to connect. 

Today we enjoyed watching Ask The Storybots about germs during snack time and students had fun learning more about each other and finding things in common. We've also been enjoying reading "Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Silly Smelly Bus" (adjusted the name a little!)


"Soft Entry"
Today we tested out a "soft entry." When students arrive at school in the morning, they will head straight to their normal doors (for us it is the blue doors on the East side of the school near the large playground). A teacher will greet them between 8:00-8:10 at the door and they will walk to their classroom. Students will be supervised in the hallways and classrooms as they enter. This will help reduce crowds of students entering the school in the morning to help support social distancing. If you arrive late and the doors are closed, please head to the front office. 

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