Week of October 10-15

Dear families,

I hope you're having a nice weekend. What beautiful weather we've been having this October!

This week we focused on the numeracy skill of Patterning. First, we talked about sorting and why and how we sort things. For example, we can sort by shape, size, colour, type, and many other ways. In the Computer Lab, Ms. Santiago guided the children's learning about sorting with the program "Sammy's Science House" which has several sorting activities. We then moved our learning to patterning, starting with the basic pattern ABAB. This week children played and explored at several centres in the classroom with various objects: sorting and then patterning stones of three different colours; using bingo dabbers on cardstock; threading and patterning orange, white and black beads (Halloween colours :) on pipe cleaners; different kinds and colours of dinosaurs and bugs; with various sizes and colours of popsicle sticks; with colourful wooden cubes, and with cube-a-links. The children also watched a Peep and the Big Wide World video about Measurement and Patterning on the Smartboard. The Juniors are learning the basic ABAB pattern and all the children are encouraged to describe and create more complex patterns such as AABAAB, ABCABC, ABBABB, etc. When we talk about patterns the children are prompted to explain their pattern using these letters. This is another important numeracy skill.

The children also glued the pattern of wooden sticks they created onto cardstock and made Halloween sticker patterns, writing the letters (A,B,C as appropriate) under the stickers. The children are encouraged to find patterns in our natural and man-made world (such as clothing) and to practise making patterns at home. We'll continue with patterning next week (but with a Halloween and Fall theme). In Literacy, Science and Art, the children are learning about Signs of Fall. They are encouraged to look for signs of fall in the natural world and have started reading and drawing Signs of Fall in a little booklet with their Reading Buddies. We are reading fiction and non-fiction books about the Fall as well. The children did a lovely job finishing their Fall Tree Art (on display in the hall), inspired by Barbara Reid's book, "Picture a Tree." They also learned about texture and used toothpicks to add details to the plasticine leaves. Once the weather gets a little chillier we've go for an Autumn Scavenger Hunt around the school to look for more signs of Fall.

The sight words of the week were THE and DO. The Jolly Phonics letter sound we are currently focusing on is "P."

The children had fun on Blue Jays Spirit Day, as well as Letter Day. LKS has spirit! The kids also enjoyed shopping for books at the Scholastic Book Fair in the Library! The classroom Scholastic Order is due next week. On Friday the children were treated to a performance of STOMP by the Grade 8 Music Class, and Ruby's Grandfather was our awesome Mystery Reader this week, reading "Harry the Dirty Dog" (a classic!) and "How to Babysit a Grandpa." Thank you so much!

I have booked a Scientist-in-the-Classroom visit for November 10 from 8:45-11:20. We will need 4 parent volunteers. If you have already signed up for a classroom craft party please allow parents who have not had this opportunity to volunteer on November 10th. Thank you.

A reminder that LKS is collecting non-perishable nut-free food for the Daily Bread Food Bank over the next two weeks before Halloween. Each teacher has a box outside his/her classroom for the food items. Thank you so much.

In Friday's mail bag you received the Special Person of the Day Calendars from November-June. If you need to make any changes and need to switch with someone, just email them and please cc me so I can make the change in my Day Plans. Thank you.

Next week we will continue our patterning, learning about Fall, and will start some fun literacy and numeracy Halloween activities and centres.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Mrs. Tyndall

Week of October 3-7

Dear families,

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend. The children were so proud of the "stained glass" votive candle holder they made for you. We read "The Thankful Book" by Todd Parr and the children wrote about what they are thankful for. The number one answer was "My Family." They also learned the poems "Gobble, Gobble," and "Five Little Turkeys."

The letter sound of the week was "P." The sight words were IN and SEE.

The children brought home their "Pete the Cat Loves Colours" folder. Please encourage your child to tell you about their work and to read it with you.

Ms. Zappi. Ms. Sunde and myself are organizing a "Scare Hunger" food drive for the Daily Bread Food Bank. LKS is collecting non-perishable and nut-free foods for the next 2 weeks. Thank you for your support!

On Wednesday it is wear BLUE JAYS clothes to school day at LKS. Baseball caps are allowed woo hoo!

Thank you to Caelan's mom who was our Mystery Reader this week. She read some Curious George stories to the class.

With our Grade 4 Reading Buddies the children made a construction paper tree. When it's dry they will be adding fall-coloured plasticine leaves to follow up on our Barbara Reid book study of "Picture a Tree." www.barbarareid.com These will be put on display on the hall bulletin board.

The Scholastic Book Fair is this week. Group 1 goes on Thursday, Group 2 on Friday. If you would like your child to purchase a book/s, please send money in a plastic zip-lock bag marked with your child's name.

Our classroom Science Centre has changed from Simple Machines to Signs of Fall. Once the leaves turn a litle more, we'll go on an Autumn Scavenger Hunt in the Shale Pit and around LKS. The children are also painting "magic" sight word leaves for our big tree in the dramatic centre. This is easy to do at home. On white cardstock, write sight words with a white crayon. When your child paints it, the word will magically appear!

That's the news for this week! Happy Thanksgiving - we have so much to be thankful for.

Mrs. Tyndall