Riddle of the week: What grows up while growing down?

Reminders

Notices: All notices for division 3 students have now been returned! Thank you!

School Fees: We are still missing school fees from two students.  Please bring in your $25 before September 29th.

Agenda Fees: We are missing agenda fees from four students.  Please bring in your $7 as soon as possible.

Terry Fox Run: Monday September 25th ~1:15pm-2:15pm. Please remember to wear your Tyee t-shirt and appropriate running shoes!

Math

Math notebooks be due on Thursday this week.

Problem Solving is due on Friday.

***MATHLETICS

I know Mrs. Wallace and other intermediate teachers at Tyee have used Mathleticsin the past for consolidation, homework and diagnostic purposes.  This year, if our class decides to go ahead with accounts, I would be using Mathletics to reinforce concepts learned through the Albanesi program.  Mathletics would be a work cycle option when all work is completed and also an option for reinforcement at home. For more information about Mathletics visit www.mathletics.ca to view the website and see comments from parents and schools.  I am trying to gauge whether this is of interest for parents of students in division 3 this year. If you would like your child to have a Mathletics account please email me at hlangille@vsb.bc.ca before September 30th. 

Language

Spelling and spelling tests will be due on Friday, as usual.

Our first Writer’s Workshop assignment started last week.   The students have been paired and will conduct an interview of a student they are less familiar with.  This interview will lead to a piece of writing that will be then shared with the rest of the class.

This Writer’s Workshop assignment will be mostly completed in class (depending on time management skills).  The due date is October 13th.

Culture

This week the students came up with creative dramas to showcase their knowledge of the Montessori Great Stories of the Universe and of Life.  We began studying cells and the students were introduced to their cell poster project.  This project will carry into this week and is due on September 29th.

Current Events/Monthly News: due on October 4th

Physical Education

Tennis: Thursday September 28th at 10:10am

Classroom Community

Remember to bring weather appropriate clothing for our morning nature walks on Thursdays and indoor shoes for our cozy classroom.

Riddle of the week: What has a foot but no legs?

Reminders

Notices and School Fees: Please remember to bring in your signed notices and school fees!

Pro-D day: Friday September 22nd is a Professional Development day for teachers.  There is no school for students.

Grade 6 band: Tuesdays

Grade 4/5 library: Tuesdays

Library (4/5/6): Wednesdays

Music: Wednesdays

Math

Math notebooks and problem solving will both be due on Thursday this week because of the Pro-D on Friday.

***Mathletics

I know Mrs. Wallace and other intermediate teachers at Tyee have used Mathletics in the past for consolidation, homework and diagnostic purposes.  This year, if our class decides to go ahead with accounts, I would be using Mathletics to reinforce concepts learned through the Albanesi program.  Mathletics would be a work cycle option when all work is completed and also an option for reinforcement at home. For more information about Mathletics visit www.mathletics.ca to view the website and see comments from parents and schools.  I am trying to gauge whether this is of interest for parents of students in division 3 this year. If you would like your child to have a Mathletics account please email me at hlangille@vsb.bc.ca before September 30th. 

Language

Spelling and spelling tests will be on Thursday as well.

Our first Writer’s Workshop assignment will start this week.  The students will be paired and will conduct an interview of a student they are less familiar with.  This interview will lead to a piece of writing that will be then shared with the rest of the class.

Culture

This week we are starting our culture study with the Montessori Great Story, the Coming of Life.  We will be discussing cells, the basic unit of all life.  We will be comparing animal and plant cells and starting a cell poster project.  This will lead us into our study of microbiology.

Physical Education

Tennis starts this week!

We have tennis lessons Monday September 18th, Tuesday September 19th, and Thursday September 28th.

Classroom Community

Remember to bring weather appropriate clothing for our morning nature walks on Thursdays and indoor shoes for our cozy classroom.

Riddle of the week: What building has the most stories?

Reminders

• Please remember to have your parents sign both sides of the notices that were sent home last week.
• School fees ($25.00) and agenda fees ($7.00) are due on September 29th.
• Wednesday September 13th: Meet the staff potluck at 5:30pm

Math

Term 1: Operations and patterns

Term 2: Fractions and decimals

Term 3: Geometry

This Monday we will be starting the Montessori Albanesi math program.  Each student will be doing their own individualized program based on their math assessment from last week.  Each student is required to complete the 3 Albanesi cards in their math notebook by Thursday at 3pm.  If the student finishes early there is always opportunity for me to assign the next series of cards for their program.

Students will also receive their problem solving duotangs this Monday.  Students are required to finish their problem solving by Friday at 3pm.

Language 

Term 1: Spelling

Term 2: Etymology

Term 3: Grammar

Writer’s Workshop: Everyday we will be doing writer’s workshop where students will be learning the different writing traits and writing in their writers notebooks.  We are starting the year off with Ideas and how do we get ideas for writing.

Reader’s Workshop: We will be doing reader’s workshop everyday after lunch.  Students are expected to have a novel at all times for silent reading.  Reader’s workshop will involve learning the r5; read, relax, reflect, respond, rap.

• • Read and Relax (20 mins): silently reading anywhere in the classroom
  • Reflect and Respond (3-5 mins): thinking about what you’ve read, responding in RW journal, noticing metacognitive strategies while reading
  • Rap 1 (3-5): Sharing thoughts about book with partner 
  • Rap 2 (5-10): Sharing their partner’s thoughts about the book

Culture

This week we will be exploring growth vs. fixed mindsets and the zones of regulation as a class and in small groups.

Students will be creating a growth mindset affirmation to kickstart their year.  We will be doing a gallery walk on Friday afternoon so the students can share and appreciate each other’s work.

Classroom Community

Peace circles: every Friday afternoon we will be meeting as a class to have our peace circle.  This is a time for us to check-in with each other, recognize our peers, and address any issues that may have come up.

Nature walks: we will be going on nature walks first thing every Thursday morning through the community.  We will be going rain or shine so make sure you dress for the weather.

Indoor shoes/slippers: it’s always a good idea to have indoor shoes or slippers for the classroom.  It’s challenging to work in a space that is muddy and wet in the fall and winter.

Reminders

1. Math Expectations letter to be signed and returned
2. Please fill out/update all forms and return them to Tyee as soon as possible (these will be going home on Wednesday September 6th)
3. Tea Donation — it would be great to have a tea station this year and to make that happen we require some tea donations.  Any herbal flavors will do!

Math

This week, students in Division 3 will be completing math assessments to determine their ability within the curriculum.  On Monday, September 11, we will begin our Montessori Albanesi math program and problem solving based on these assessments.

Students are to finish the math assessments in class, using any materials they need, by Friday at 3pm.

Language

Students will be doing a portrait and writing project where they will be creating a portrait and hand writing of themselves over the course of 3 days using this self-assessment checklist: 3-day write portrait self-assessment

Dear Students of Division 3,

I write to you to let you know clearly and specifically about my expectations for Math—and learning lots of it–this year.

I love math! I love that there are many ways to look at one problem. I love the challenge of working through a problem until I can get it right. I love trying to identify patterns and seeing how these patterns spill over into nature, science, language and even art. Some of you feel this way, others—not so much. I hope to get each of you excited about math this year. I know that when you are excited about math, it is because you feel confident and challenged.

What Are the Expectations?

As always in a Montessori classroom, you will be expected to work at your own pace to master the math concepts that are appropriate for you (and expected of your grade level). Keep in mind that “working at your pace” means doing math work that keeps you confident and challenged—not too hard, not too easy. You are expected to put in a consistent and focused work effort.

Most of your math work will be guided by the materials and the corresponding Albanesi cards. You will be able to do much of the work independently, but will also need to find an appropriate time to get lessons from me or other students.

How Will You Show Your Math Progress?

• You will complete work in your math notebook each week.
• You will complete this statement “I am working on . . . “ each week.
• I will observe you working by yourself, in a group or with me.
• I may observe you teaching a classmate.
• You will complete Albanesi tests when you have mastered a particular skill.
• You will complete longer tests each term that assess grade level skills.

Is There Other Math Work?

Yes. In addition to weekly personal math work, you will be assigned weekly problem-solving. At the beginning of the year, this will involve studying different math systems (past and present) with special patterns and ways to show place value.

Notebook Expectations:

1) Each time you work in your notebook, include the following:

• Date
• Name of Material
• Name of specific activity or lesson
• Number of Albanesi card, if appropriate

2) Work neatly and legibly

3) Use the space well: filling the page but don’t squish your work.

3) Mark your own work in a different colour pen/pencil before you turn it in.

Write and complete this statement the first time your work each week: “This week I am working on . . . “

Here’s to a fantastic year of learning math!

Fondly,

Ms. Langille      

Dear students and families of Division 3,

Welcome back to Tyee! I hope you had a wonderful summer playing, relaxing and learning.  I am excited for our year ahead.

My name is Hannah Langille and this will be my second year teaching at Tyee Elementary School.  Last year I taught grade 1/2/3 in Taz Ismail’s classroom.  I am so excited to be continuing my career in such a supportive and collaborative learning community!

I am committed to using this blog platform as a way to communicate our weekly learning journey in Division 3.  Every Sunday (or earlier) I will update the blog with the upcoming weeks work and expectations.  I will also post reminders and anything pertinent.  Parents and students, please check the blog every Sunday.  It is your responsibility to know what our week holds. 

A little bit about me…

I grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick and was in the French immersion program during my time in public school.  I graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Science in Marine and Plant Biology.  I learned how to ski when I was very young and grew up ski racing in Atlantic Canada and so, after graduation I moved to Revelstoke, BC for its mountains and lived with a family as their live-in nanny.  I enjoyed Revelstoke, its mountains and the community so much I decided to stay for three more years!  I coached ski racing at Revelstoke Mountain Resort and worked for Community Connections Revelstoke Society as a Residential Care Worker.  I worked with developmentally disabled adults and elderly people and facilitated their home life as well as their involvement in the Revelstoke community.  I moved from Revelstoke, BC to Vancouver with my partner so both of us could go back to school.  I did my Bachelor of Education specializing in Montessori education at the University of British Columbia.

I enjoy riding my bicycle to school, skiing, yoga, knitting, making and eating ice cream, curling up on my couch and reading, and sometimes being silly!

If you would like to learn more about me and my learning journey please visit my professional blog:

https://blogs.ubc.ca/mslangille/