Homework Community

Since we do not have many commercial spaces within walking distance of the school, it would be REALLY great if parents could take some pics around town to send to me, digitally.  Pictures of the post office, drycleaners, grocery store, library, bakery, fire station, police station, etc.  Any places in the community that you visit during the week or weekend would be welcome.

You can email them to me at lmaclaren@sd44.ca

Thanks!

UOI Community

The Kindergarten students are working on an IB Unit of Inquiry that will last approximately 4 weeks.  During this time, students will be involved in inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning (integrating subject areas), to explore the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilization, from local and global perspectives.

IB PYP Transdisciplinary Theme:  Where We Are in Place and Time

The subjects that will be integrated into this unit:  Language Arts, Social Studies, and Social Responsibility

The Central Idea for the Unit of Inquiry:  A community is the people and places around you

Throughout this unit, students will participate in an inquiry into: 

What is a community?                             Why we have communities?

What are maps and how do we use them?    

Capilano Elementary School 1230 West 20th St. North Vancouver, BC V7P 2B9 Ph. 604-903-3370 capilanoschool.ca

Capilano Elementary School

Authorized IB World School

Attributes of the Learner Profile that we will be focusing on developing during this unit:

Inquirer                          Thinker

Attitudes that we will be focusing on developing during this unit:

Appreciation                   Curiosity                        Enthusiasm

How to assist your child throughout this Unit of Inquiry:

-   Exploring different places in our community.

-   Discuss and explore your family’s work place, home and surrounding area.

-   Talk to your child about what makes up a community. 

Earth Day

In honour of Earth Day, and a friend's birthday, some of our girls decided to construct a garden in the playground for "all the parts of the trees that fall down and need a new home."

Drama Classes with the Young Actors Project

We have been participating in the drama workshops - last one this Thursday.  It has been a great program so far and the children have show themselves to be real risk-takers.  There are definitely some budding actors in the bunch!

Fieldtrip Cancelled

Dear Parents,

The Kindergarten teachers regrettably must cancel the fieldtrip scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday April 24.  In addition to several last minute cancellations in all 3 classes, many necessary driver's forms (insurance, etc.) were not handed in early enough to be checked by Admin and for teachers to ensure that we have enough seats available for children.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause parents.

We ask that you please make time to visit the suspension bridge with your child in the near future.  Visits are free to residents in the V7P postal code.

Sincerely,

Lisa MacLaren

Happy Easter

The Great Easter Egg Hunt was a huge hit - what eggsellent little egg hunters these children are!!!!!

Have a speggtacular long weekend!!!!!!!

Outdoor School Open House

Every year, the NVOS holds an open house for families.  I highly recommend this as an annual adventure as it helps so much for both parents and children to be familiar with the facilities before their first trip in Grade 3.  It is a LOT of fun!

Outdoor School’s Annual Open House at the Cheakamus Centre
Sunday, May 4, 2014 between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
2170 Paradise Valley Road
Brackendale BC
More detailed information is available at

http://www.sd44.ca/ProgramsServices/OutdoorSchool/Pages/default.aspx

Reminder

Class photos take place tomorrow, Tuesday!

Phonemes

We began to learn about phonemes this week.  This is the act of breaking down the sounds in words so that we can ultimately try to print them to successfully convey a written message.  It is darned tricky!  Practice at home would be a wonderful thing.  Here is what practice looks like in class...

Using a given picture, we slowly say the word, one sound at a time.  It feels and sounds a lot like speaking in slow motion.  We want to stick to words with 3-5 phonemes.  Some are much easier than others, of course.  CAT is just c-a-t and most of them can spell this accurately when practicing phonemes.  However, BIKE would likely come out as b-i-k(or 'c') and this is GREAT too.  We talk about silent letters but do not study them this year so the phonemic awareness for that is on target.  As always I suggest, if practicing, show or tell them the correct spelling while praising them for hearing the correct sounds.

Happy Phoneming!

Extras from this week

We had a few extras this week that I snapped some pics of.
We went to an exhibition of technology projects from the Grade 6 classes earlier in the week.  It was amazing to hear Grade 6 students explain the technology behind an elevator or an astronaut's suit to a kindy...they did a GREAT job.

We also unveiled the sand/children learn how to sweep table this week!  Already a big, messy hit.  Lots of measurement type activities take place here, as well as building, imagination, and tactile activities.  Oh, and it is just plain fun too!

Lastly, we had the first installment of our drama workshop with the Young Actors Project.  It was fun to see them warming up their faces and bodies to begin, and then use movement to convey messages/characterizations to the class.  We are using this as a springboard in class to start creating plays and practicing our audience skills.  Fits it rather nicely with the current IB unit on stories.

Enjoy!

Independence Day

Monday, April 7th is Independence Day in  Kindergarten!  Starting Monday, please allow your child to walk themselves to class.  This might mean dropping them at the front door or further along down the hall, depending on your child's comfort level.

As a parent I know that many of you need the visual of them in the classroom before you feel comfortable enough to leave the building so feel free to saunter on down after they get in and take a peek...the window is another option.

Those who have already been doing this, love to tell me about how they came down the hall all by themselves so I know they will be excited to feel that their parents and I KNOW they can do it.

Thanks!

Home Reading

Our class is beginning our take-home reading program next week.  This book should be read nightly until your child feels successful in reading it.  Please make sure you make this a fun and positive experience for your child.  Remember, looking at pictures is part of the beginning reading experience. 

    Also, please remember that this is about your child enjoying reading and feeling successful and confidant.   This should take about 10 minutes each night.  Feel free to supplement these books with your own collection and/or the library.

    When you are ready for a new book, please return the one you have in your child’s backpack and they will trade for another. 

If you have any questions about the reading program, please feel free to email me.

When you begin each book, here are a few things to try:

      Picture walk—Before reading the book, read the title with your child.  Look at the cover and the pictures throughout the book.  Ask your child what they notice and to make predictions and connections with the book.

      Go back to the beginning of the book and read the title together.

      Make sure your child is touching each word as they read.

If your child cannot read a word, here are some strategies:

      Ask your child about the word they said:  Does it look right?  Does it sound right? Does that word make sense?

      See if they are able to recognize sight words.   The sight words in your child’s books should be ones that they have/are learning.  

      See if they are able to recognize a pattern in the text.   Are the words rhymes?  Can they figure out the mystery word by looking for rhyming or pattern clues?

       

Can they recognize the sounds we’ve learned in class?  Focus on the beginning and ending sounds.  This means they will sound it out.

New boundaries

FYI...starting Wednesday, Kindergarten students will have their play area expanded to the ditch and will have an area of the gravel field reserved for recess times on Fridays each week to allow for soccer games and whatever else they can come up with!

UOI 4 Stories

April 2014

Teachers: Ms. MacLaren, Ms. Rogers, Ms. Waterman

Grade:  Kindergarten  Div. 18/19/20

The Kindergarten students are working on an IB Unit of Inquiry that will last approximately 3-4 weeks.  During this time students will be involved in inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning (integrating the subject areas).

Theme:  How We Express Ourselves

 

Central Idea: Stories

Stories inspire us to express ourselves in a variety of ways (through art, drama, music, and play).

The subjects that will be specifically integrated into this unit:

Fine Arts - Creating and communicating, drama, dance, music, art

Language Arts - Developing abilities in writing, representing, reading/viewing, and extending thinking.

Throughout this unit, students will participate in activities focusing on:

-   Connecting to stories

-   Responding to stories

-   Creative action inspired by stories

Attributes of the Learner Profile that we will be focusing on developing during this unit:

       - Communicator: sharing ideas       

- Reflective: thinking about how ideas are connected

- Risk-taker: trying new things (drama, dance, etc.)

How to assist your child throughout this Unit of Inquiry:

-   Join and visit the public library.

-   Read a variety of stories to your child. Discuss meaningful personal connections that your family might have.

-   Suggested questions: Did this story remind you of anything that has happened to you?

Activities

-   Story-telling and retelling

-   Sequencing stories

-   Finger-puppet and puppet play

-   Young Actor’s Project (in-class workshop x3)