Hello Parents and Players!

This week the Homework will be a Reading Response (written in agenda as 'RR').  It will work the same way as a THRoW, meaning it will be given on Monday and due by Friday.  It consists of a reading passage followed by a series of questions; some multiple choice and some short answer.  The grade 2s will begin with a multiple choice only question format to begin.  I will slowly incorporate short answer questions as the weeks progress.  Please encourage your child to try to do this work independently.  If they have questions, assist them in working through it.  Goal for grade 3s - to answer the questions by referring to specific examples in the text when it states; Use details from the text to support your answer.  For grade 2 - the focus is to respond correctly in complete sentences.

MATH:   Please return signed Math tests.  We have already begun a brief unit on Geometric 2D shapes; describing properties of 2D shapes, how to compose and decompose shapes using other shapes, etc.  We will be having a quiz on Friday as well as a unit test the following week.  Your child might have incomplete math work to do if they did not complete their work in class.  If your child has their Math duotang in their agenda, check for unfinished pages.

ARTS:   This term, we will focus the following 3 strands of the Arts:  Drama, Music, and Visual Arts.  Please make sure your child keeps his/her recorder in their backpack EVERYDAY.  There will be a Music test this Friday on a piece of your child's choosing from their Music duotang.  Students will be assessed on posture, proper handling (left hand on top), keeping time with foot tapping, and reading and playing the correct notes.

SCIENCE:  We are learning about ...
Gr. 3 - Forces:  Gravity / Muscular / Friction / Erosion
This science unit is set up a little differently.  There will be a series of short videos that highlight key information that can be found on a review sheet in your child's green duotang.  Students will watch the video one day and have a short quiz on the next day.  This will continue until all 4 forces have been completed.  There will also be an end of the unit test that will be averaged with their quizzes for a final mark.  So, study up each night for the quizzes, it will help your child's overall grade!  I will post the videos as well if you wish to review them.
Gr. 2 - Liquids and Solids:  We will investigate the properties liquids and solids through a series of investigations and experiments.

Ok, that's all for now, off to play hockey!  (Yes, I do play organized hockey, but truth be told, I'm not exactly Wayne Gretzky!)

Coach Wilson

Secret Question:  What colour is the team that Coach Wilson plays hockey on?

Welcome back to the second half of our amazing year!  I hope you all had a chance to relax and enjoy some good quality family time over these past two weeks!  Sorry, it took me an extra day to get this blog up and running again, it seems I'm a little sluggish to get back into the regular routine!

This week....

Homework will be assigned on a daily basis and will likely be in Math or Science.  Please check the pages in Math or Science duo tangs marked with H.W. in pen at the top to know which pages your child should be completing for the following day.

Math test Friday - we will be wrapping up our unit on Data Management.  Focus on ...

Gr. 2 - Expected to be able to come up with a survey question, ask ten students in the class, collect the data on a chart, record the data using tally marks, create a bar graph, enter the data into the bar graph, correctly label the bar graph, and interpret the data in a variety of ways.

Gr. 3 - Is expected to be able to do the above as well as identify the MODE of a set of data (the number which appears most often), answer multiple choice questions about pictographs and bar graphs, compare date on graphs, and interpret the data in a variety of ways.

Also, as you noticed, we have switched from Song of the Week to Poem of the Week.  Be on the look out for the Great Poetry Challenge this weekend where students will be asked to read the poem of the week to as many people as possible.  The top three people who read the poem the most times will be selected to have a READ OFF in front of the class.  Then, our class will vote which student read the poem the best based on specific criteria (expression, time, pace, volume, eye contact, and use of body).  Winners will be treated to choose a prize from my prize box.  All readings must be signed by an adult to verify.  Happy reading!

That is enough for now...I want this to get to you as soon as possible!

Until later,
Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  What do we call a group of words in a poem separated by a space?

Dear Parents and Players,
        Well, today's luncheon was a huge success and enjoyed by all!  Thank you to all who made it possible by sending in desserts / plates / cutlery / napkins!  It was really nice to sit down together as a class team and share to what we are grateful for before sharing in a meal. Parents, you have beautiful children both inside and out.  I am blessed to be their teacher.  Thank you for the kind words and thoughtful gifts this week!  I am touched by your kindness.  Enjoy your family time these next few weeks!



Until next year,
Coach Wilson

Enjoy these pics from today!

Parents and Players,

         Second last day before Christmas holidays!  This week, we have been working mostly on Data Management in Math.  Students are doing a great job of conducting surveys, collecting data using charts, recording data with tally marks, entering data on graphs and interpreting the data in a variety of ways.  We have been using our Science/Social Studies block to work on this short unit in math, so we have almost completed the whole unit already!

Thank you to all the parents who came out to our Christmas Walk Through!  I don't usually put on recorder performances, but this was a huge success!  I am so proud of my players for diligently practising and preparing for performing Jingle Bells in such a short time!

Also, thank you parents who sent in forks, knives and napkins!   That will help with our Christmas luncheon needs tomorrow!  Please send your child in with morning and afternoon snacks as usual, but no lunch.   Pasta, buns, juice and desserts will be served!  I look forward to our Class Family meal together!

Yesterday, our players enjoyed decorating their very own "Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies', although may of them were quite beautiful!  I took pictures because they were eaten immediately afterwards!  It was a lot of fun!

Here are the pictures...

Also, here is a picture of all our amazing tuques we made this week!

Coach Wilson

That's all for today!

SECRET QUESTION:  Which feature of a bar graph tells us what the graph is all about?

Dear Parents and Players!

Yes, I DID tell students that they could leave their agendas at home for the rest of the week, however, we WILL need it for two more reasons...

1.  Blog draw answers
2.  Sign up for our Luncheon on Friday


Christmas Luncheon:

This Friday, I am treating Players on Team Wilson to a pasta lunch.  I will provide the pasta and buns.  I am looking for any parents willing to contribute the following items below.  If you are able to send in one of these items, please write it down in your child's agenda tomorrow or Thursday and I will take it off my list of 'To Buy'.  I thought it would be a wonderful way to celebrate our Team as we sit down together as a class family and enjoy each others' company with last meal before the break!


Items Needed:

• Juice boxes
• napkins
• paper plates
• plastic forks
• plastic knives
• veggies or fruits
• desserts

Thank you in advance!  I will tell the students what has been crossed off the list as the items come in!  

I hope to see you all tonight at our Christmas Walk Through!  Remember, our recorder performance begins promptly at 6:00 for those who can attend!

Coach Wilson

SECRET QUESTION:  What are the names of the notes in Jingle Bells? (5)