To all our families celebrating Christmas...
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! We hope your day is joyful and peaceful.
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! We hope your day is joyful and peaceful.
Thursday 25 December 2014
Thursday 18 December 2014
If Your Family Celebrates Hanukkah...
Best wishes for a Happy Hanukkah!
We hope your holidays have started well,
and you are enjoying the celebrations
with family and friends.
Sunday 14 December 2014
What's Been Happening in Room 110?
It has been a while since we last posted to our blog, and you've probably been wondering what has been going on in Room 110? Here are a few highlights from the past 4 to 6 weeks:
JK In-Class Visits & SK Student-Led Conferences
It was great to meet with all the parents for the Progress Reports. The students were all very excited in anticipation of their families visiting the classrooms. We enjoyed watching the students showing their parents their work and showing them around the room. Well done, everyone!
Our Class Pet
As you may of heard, we have a new addition to our class! Leo, the betta fish, is our new class pet.
Way back in October, we let the students know that we would like to have a class pet. Through a survey, most of the students in our class agreed that they would also like to have a pet.
Then we posed the question: What kind of animal would make a good class pet? We brainstormed lots of ideas, and we researched information about some of the animals. For example, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, horses, turtles and fish.
As we learned about the needs of the different animals, the class came up with a list of criteria that a class pet would have to meet to be suitable for our classroom. Here is some of the criteria:
1. The pet would have to be calm and quiet;
2. The pet would like to be inside; and
3. No one in our class is afraid of the animal.
In the end, we discovered that fish would be the most suitable pet for our class, and that's how we got Leo, our betta fish!
Math: Patterning and Geometry
At home, you can help your child to recognize and describe the patterns that are all around. Your child may find patterns in clothing, in wallpaper, in tiles and in nature. Have your child try to identify the features of the pattern that repeat.
(From Doing Mathematics with Your Child: Kindergarten to Grade 6, A Parent Guide)
Geometry
We have also been working on learning about 2-D shapes. We have been learning to identify, name and describe the features of shapes such as circles, ovals, squares, rectangles, diamonds, rhombuses and triangles.
Just like patterns, we have noticed that shapes are everywhere! You can help your child notice the shapes in his/her environment by playing games like "I Spy...". For example, you could say "I spy something in the kitchen that is a triangle." Or you could focus on the features of the shape by saying, "I spy something in the kitchen that has 3 straight lines and 3 points."
(We'll be sending a 'Shape Detective' page to do at home this coming week. Please look for it in your child's communication bag.)
Cooking in Kindergarten
One of our students wondered if we could eat the seeds that were in our pumpkins at the Pumpkin Scientist Centre. After doing a little research, we found out we could if we roasted them first. So, we roasted the pumpkin seeds and tasted them. Here are the survey results to the question: Do you like the pumpkin seeds?
Of course, we also had to bake some pumpkin pies. Students were invited to help make the pumpkin pies. After reading the recipe, we measured and added the spices and other ingredients. We stirred and mixed everything together and put the pumpkin mix in the pie shells. After the pumpkin pies baked, we tasted them. While many of us liked the pumpkin pie, the pumpkin seeds were more popular.
(This coming week, we'll be doing some more cooking in our class. We plan on making some latkes, baked rather than fried, and some cupcakes.)
Sharon, Bram and Friends Concert
It was a cold day in November when we went to see Sharon, Bram and Friends perform, but inside it was warm and lively. We had fun singing and dancing along with the performers. Here are a couple of photos:
JK In-Class Visits & SK Student-Led Conferences
It was great to meet with all the parents for the Progress Reports. The students were all very excited in anticipation of their families visiting the classrooms. We enjoyed watching the students showing their parents their work and showing them around the room. Well done, everyone!
Our Class Pet
As you may of heard, we have a new addition to our class! Leo, the betta fish, is our new class pet.
Way back in October, we let the students know that we would like to have a class pet. Through a survey, most of the students in our class agreed that they would also like to have a pet.
Then we posed the question: What kind of animal would make a good class pet? We brainstormed lots of ideas, and we researched information about some of the animals. For example, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, horses, turtles and fish.
As we learned about the needs of the different animals, the class came up with a list of criteria that a class pet would have to meet to be suitable for our classroom. Here is some of the criteria:
1. The pet would have to be calm and quiet;
2. The pet would like to be inside; and
3. No one in our class is afraid of the animal.
In the end, we discovered that fish would be the most suitable pet for our class, and that's how we got Leo, our betta fish!
Math: Patterning and Geometry
In math, we have been noticing, creating, extending and describing repeating patterns using colours, shapes, actions and positional directions. We learned that it is a pattern when we are able to predict what comes next.
We are also using what we learned about patterns to notice the patterns in our number system. For example, if '10' is written as a 1 and a 0, and '20' is a 2 and a 0, then '30' must be a 3 and 0.
Here are some photos of the patterns we made in class:
 |
At home, you can help your child to recognize and describe the patterns that are all around. Your child may find patterns in clothing, in wallpaper, in tiles and in nature. Have your child try to identify the features of the pattern that repeat.
(From Doing Mathematics with Your Child: Kindergarten to Grade 6, A Parent Guide)
Geometry
We have also been working on learning about 2-D shapes. We have been learning to identify, name and describe the features of shapes such as circles, ovals, squares, rectangles, diamonds, rhombuses and triangles.
Just like patterns, we have noticed that shapes are everywhere! You can help your child notice the shapes in his/her environment by playing games like "I Spy...". For example, you could say "I spy something in the kitchen that is a triangle." Or you could focus on the features of the shape by saying, "I spy something in the kitchen that has 3 straight lines and 3 points."
(We'll be sending a 'Shape Detective' page to do at home this coming week. Please look for it in your child's communication bag.)
Cooking in Kindergarten
One of our students wondered if we could eat the seeds that were in our pumpkins at the Pumpkin Scientist Centre. After doing a little research, we found out we could if we roasted them first. So, we roasted the pumpkin seeds and tasted them. Here are the survey results to the question: Do you like the pumpkin seeds?
(This coming week, we'll be doing some more cooking in our class. We plan on making some latkes, baked rather than fried, and some cupcakes.)
Sharon, Bram and Friends Concert
It was a cold day in November when we went to see Sharon, Bram and Friends perform, but inside it was warm and lively. We had fun singing and dancing along with the performers. Here are a couple of photos:
A big thank you to Mrs. B. and Mr. Z. for coming with us to the concert and helping us stay together as a group!
Wednesday 26 November 2014
Holiday Toy and Food Drives
The holiday season is fast approaching, and Nellie McClung P.S. is reaching out to help families in our wider community. We are collecting new/gently used unwrapped toys and non-perishable food items. You may send your donations to school with your child. Thank you!
Sunday 2 November 2014
Monday, November 3 - Class Photo Day
Class Photo:
Just a reminder that our class will be having our class photo taken tomorrow, Monday, November 3rd.
Photo Retakes:
If you were not happy with the photo proofs that were sent home and would like your child to have a photo retake, please send a note to school tomorrow with your child to let us know.
Family Photos:
Also, if you would like your child to have his/her photo taken tomorrow with his/her brother(s)/sister(s), please send a note to school tomorrow with your child to let us know.
Just a reminder that our class will be having our class photo taken tomorrow, Monday, November 3rd.
Photo Retakes:
If you were not happy with the photo proofs that were sent home and would like your child to have a photo retake, please send a note to school tomorrow with your child to let us know.
Family Photos:
Also, if you would like your child to have his/her photo taken tomorrow with his/her brother(s)/sister(s), please send a note to school tomorrow with your child to let us know.
Wednesday 29 October 2014
Hallowe'en at School
Friday, October 31st is Hallowe'en. Many children like to dress up for Hallowe'en and may want to wear their costumes to school. Please have your child follow these school guidelines if he/she is going to wear his/her costume to school:
1. no toy weapons (e.g., swords, guns, etc.) are allowed at school;
2. children may not wear masks at school; and
3. have your child wear his/her costume over his/her clothes so he/she can easily change out of the costume for the afternoon.
Lastly, please do not send any candy/food treats to school for Hallowe'en. We will not be able to hand them out to the class.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
Sunday 26 October 2014
The Coming School Week
Here a few information items for the coming school week...
Tuesday, Oct. 28th is Day 3 on school schedule. Please return library books to school.
Families of Senior Kindergarten students may start booking a conference time for Student-Led Conferences for Thurs. Nov. 13 or Fri. Nov. 14.
Please Note: there may be other students and their families in the classroom at the same time as you and your child.
P.A. Day... Monday, Oct. 27th is a PA Day for staff. There is no school for students.
Tuesday, Oct. 28th is Day 3 on school schedule. Please return library books to school.
Families of Senior Kindergarten students may start booking a conference time for Student-Led Conferences for Thurs. Nov. 13 or Fri. Nov. 14.
From a previous email from the school:
Interviews are to be scheduled in 20 minute time periods for students to take a leadership role in describing their academic achievements and areas for growth.
Bookings of appointments is through an online booking system. Please go on the Internet to the following website:
Enter School Event Code: ___SKRXR___
Please click the link for more information
Please Note: there may be other students and their families in the classroom at the same time as you and your child.
Sunday 19 October 2014
Self-Regulation Podcast featuring Dr. Shanker
You have probably heard the term 'self-regulation' being used a lot in the recent past with regard to Full Day Kindergarten. One of the leading experts about self-regulation is Dr. Stuart Shanker. He is a psychologist, philosopher and professor at York University. CBC Radio 1 recently replayed an episode of 'Ideas: Neuron Therapy' featuring Dr. Shanker. We found episode with Dr. Shanker informative, and we thought you might, too.
From the CBC Ideas site:
What I.Q. was to the 20th century, self-regulation will be to the 21st. That's the prediction of psychologist and philosopher, Dr. Stuart Shanker. For decades he's been teaching kids how to self-regulate, so tantrums, meltdowns and lack of focus diminish - an ever more important skill today as childhood anxiety appears to be on the rise. IDEAS producer Mary O'Connell explores this terrain with Dr. Shanker and a mother who had serious struggles with her own son.
Here is the link to the podcast:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/AudioMobile/Ideas/ID/2465155397/
(You can copy and paste the site address above to your navigation bar.)
(You can copy and paste the site address above to your navigation bar.)
This is a book that Dr. Shanker has written.
Tomorrow is Library Day
Just a friendly reminder...
Tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 20th is Library Day for our class. Please have your child return his/her library book in the library book plastic bag if you have not already done so.
Tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 20th is Library Day for our class. Please have your child return his/her library book in the library book plastic bag if you have not already done so.
Sunday 12 October 2014
The Adventures of Pete the Cat
Pete the Cat is on the road again!
Each week, he is going home with one of our students. Students and their families are able to have Pete as a guest in their home for the week. The students are encouraged to record the fun they have with Pete in his scrapbook. (Pete also has some books to read in his travel bag.)We hope you and your child enjoy Pete's visit as much as Pete enjoys it!
School Photos
Progress Reports: Junior Kindergarten In-Class Observation Visits & Senior Kindergarten Student-Led Conferences
On Friday, Oct. 9th, we sent home the confirmation notes re. the date and time of your In-Class Observation Visit for your Junior Kindergarten child. If you are no longer able to attend on the date/time stated, please let us know as soon as possible so we can make alternate arrangements.
Senior Kindergarten students will receive their Progress Reports in November, and we will be having Student-Led Conferences with parents/guardians on the evening of November 13th or the morning of November 14th. (More information about the conferences will be sent home as we get closer to the date.)
Senior Kindergarten students will receive their Progress Reports in November, and we will be having Student-Led Conferences with parents/guardians on the evening of November 13th or the morning of November 14th. (More information about the conferences will be sent home as we get closer to the date.)
Our First Class Inquiry
For our first inquiry, we asked the children the following question:
What kind of class would you like to have?
Their answer: a nice class.
Our next question: how will we have a nice class?
To find the answer to the question, we shared our ideas and talked. We read lots of books and discussed the books we read. We acted out some scenarios, and we wrote.
As a culminating task of our thinking, discussions and researching, we wrote Our Class Promise:
1. We promise to use our manners.
2. We promise to keep our hands to ourselves.
3. We promise to solve problems using words.
We all signed 'Our Class Promise', and it is posted in our classroom to remind us about making good choices.
What kind of class would you like to have?
Their answer: a nice class.
Our next question: how will we have a nice class?
To find the answer to the question, we shared our ideas and talked. We read lots of books and discussed the books we read. We acted out some scenarios, and we wrote.
As a culminating task of our thinking, discussions and researching, we wrote Our Class Promise:
1. We promise to use our manners.
2. We promise to keep our hands to ourselves.
3. We promise to solve problems using words.
We all signed 'Our Class Promise', and it is posted in our classroom to remind us about making good choices.
What's Been Happening in Math?
Math: Surveys, Graphing and Sorting
As we have been getting to know each other, we have been surveying our class and graphing the results of our surveys. You may have noticed some of our graphs posted in and outside our room during Curriculum Night. Here are some of the surveys we did: How Many Letters are in Your Name?; How Many Words are in Your Name?; and What is Your Favourite Colour?
When our graphs are complete, we examine them and discuss the results. What did we find out? The students' observations are recorded and posted along with the graphs.
Here is one of the graphs we created:
(photo will be added soon...Ms. G. forgot to take a photo on Friday.)
Sorting
We have also been learning about sorting in math. The children have been sorting various collections of objects and learning how to describe the attribute (e.g., size, shape, colour, etc.) they used to sort the objects.
Here are a few photos of some of the sorting done in our class:
As we have been getting to know each other, we have been surveying our class and graphing the results of our surveys. You may have noticed some of our graphs posted in and outside our room during Curriculum Night. Here are some of the surveys we did: How Many Letters are in Your Name?; How Many Words are in Your Name?; and What is Your Favourite Colour?
When our graphs are complete, we examine them and discuss the results. What did we find out? The students' observations are recorded and posted along with the graphs.
Here is one of the graphs we created:
(photo will be added soon...Ms. G. forgot to take a photo on Friday.)
Sorting
We have also been learning about sorting in math. The children have been sorting various collections of objects and learning how to describe the attribute (e.g., size, shape, colour, etc.) they used to sort the objects.
Here are a few photos of some of the sorting done in our class:
There are lots of opportunities for your child to sort objects at home as well. Have your child help with sorting and putting away laundry (e.g., socks, towels, t-shirts, etc.). When your child is cleaning up his/her toys/books/craft supplies/etc., ask him/her how is he/she sorting the objects? Talk to your child about how you use sorting in your life to keep things organized.
Patterning
We'll be focusing on patterning next in math. We'll be identifying, creating, reproducing and extending repeating patterns. We'll also be learning how to describe the patterns. (Stay tuned to our Blog for photos of our patterns, too.)
Happy Thanksgiving
Sending you and your families Happy Thanksgiving wishes! We hope you are enjoying the long weekend together.
Thursday 9 October 2014
Just a reminder...
Just a friendly reminder...
Tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 10 is photo day at school. If your child is absent tomorrow, he/she will have his/her photo taken on our School Photo Retake day in November.
Tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 10 is photo day at school. If your child is absent tomorrow, he/she will have his/her photo taken on our School Photo Retake day in November.
Monday 29 September 2014
Meet the FDK Team & Curriculum Night
Just a friendly reminder...
Wednesday, October 1st is Curriculum Night at Nellie McClung P.S.! We will be making two presentations in our classroom at 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm.
To help with our planning, we will be sending home a very short survey today. Please look for it in your child's communication bag.
We hope to see you Wednesday evening!
Wednesday, October 1st is Curriculum Night at Nellie McClung P.S.! We will be making two presentations in our classroom at 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm.
To help with our planning, we will be sending home a very short survey today. Please look for it in your child's communication bag.
We hope to see you Wednesday evening!
Sunday 28 September 2014
If Your Family Celebrates Rosh Hashannah...
Belated wishes to our families that celebrate Rosh Hashannah. We hope you all had a Happy Rosh Hashannah, and we hope you all had a good start to the New Year!
Saturday 20 September 2014
Upcoming P.A. Day
Just a friendly reminder...
This coming Monday, September 22nd is a P.A. Day, and there is no school for students. The teachers and staff will be at school in case you need to contact anyone.
This coming Monday, September 22nd is a P.A. Day, and there is no school for students. The teachers and staff will be at school in case you need to contact anyone.
Birthday Invitations
On Friday, September 19th, birthday invitations were sent home to all the students in our class. The invitations are from Ashley. There was a mix-up on my part, and some children may have received someone else's invitation. If you received someone else's invitation, please ignore the error. All the students in our class are invited to the party. If your child did not receive an invitation (one was left at school), please let me know, and I will send it home on Tuesday.
Sunday 14 September 2014
Happy Sunday!
Hello everyone, and I hope you are all having a good weekend!
Just a few items of information for the coming week:
1. Tomorrow, Monday, Sept. 15, is Day 5 on our school schedule. Our class has gym on Day 5 with Mr. Raha. If you have not already sent running shoes to keep at school for your child, please make sure your child has running shoes to wear in the gym tomorrow;
2. Lice Checks: On Tuesday and Wednesday, students will be getting their hair checked for lice in our school;
3. Your child may already have told you that Mrs. Mateo has been absent for a few days this past week. Unfortunately, Mrs. Mateo is attending to a family illness and will be away for the next while. Our thoughts and wishes are with Mrs. Mateo and her family, and we look forward to her return; and
4. Lastly, Monday, Sept. 22 is a PA Day, i.e., Professional Activity Day. There is no school for students. The school staff will be in the building if you need to contact us for any reason.
Just a few items of information for the coming week:
1. Tomorrow, Monday, Sept. 15, is Day 5 on our school schedule. Our class has gym on Day 5 with Mr. Raha. If you have not already sent running shoes to keep at school for your child, please make sure your child has running shoes to wear in the gym tomorrow;
2. Lice Checks: On Tuesday and Wednesday, students will be getting their hair checked for lice in our school;
3. Your child may already have told you that Mrs. Mateo has been absent for a few days this past week. Unfortunately, Mrs. Mateo is attending to a family illness and will be away for the next while. Our thoughts and wishes are with Mrs. Mateo and her family, and we look forward to her return; and
4. Lastly, Monday, Sept. 22 is a PA Day, i.e., Professional Activity Day. There is no school for students. The school staff will be in the building if you need to contact us for any reason.
Our First Visit to Mill Race Park
On Friday afternoon, we walked over to the new park to play on the equipment. We had lots of fun, and most of us liked going to the park according to our class survey. Some children even asked if we can go to the park everyday.
Ms. Guerriero took many photos, too. We like to use photos in our classroom to spark writing ideas. We often send copies of the photos home as a souvenir of Kindergarten, too. We hope you enjoy the photos. (We don't post any identifiable photos of students on this Blog.)
Sunday 7 September 2014
Lost & Found and Upcoming Gym Day
Lost but Not Found, Yet
We found a couple of items of clothing in our class last week. Unfortunately, no one recognized them.
Does this sweater and/or hat belong to your child?
 |
Pink
Sweater
Cap
Please let us know if one or both of these items belong to your child.
Gym Day
Our school schedule is now on a Day 1 to Day 5 cycle. (On days that the students do not attend school e.g., a PA Day, it is a Day 0.)
We will have use of the gym on Day 5. Tomorrow, Monday, September 8th, is Day 5, and the first time that we will have use of the gym. If your child does not have running shoes at school, yet, please have your child wear running shoes to school tomorrow. Mr. Raha is the prep teacher for our class, and he will be taking the class to the gym.
Tuesday 2 September 2014
The Start of a New School Year!
Hello to all our new students and their families, and
welcome back to our returning students
and their families!
Well, we did it! We had a good first day of school despite all the rain we had today. Hopefully, we will have better weather tomorrow, and we will be able to get outside for recess.
Your child brought home a 'communication bag' today filled with notes and forms from our class and school. We would appreciate it very much if you could complete the various forms and return them to school as soon as possible.
Thank you very much to the families who already sent extra clothes and running shoes to keep at school. If you have not already done so, please send these items with your child as soon as possible.
Lastly, just a friendly reminder...
Please do not send snacks or lunches for your child that contain peanuts, nuts or nut products. We have children in our class with allergies, and we would like everyone to be safe.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
As Pete the Cat says, "It's all good!"
Tuesday 1 July 2014
Summer Reading
Here is some information about reading over the summer that was shared with us by our principal, Mrs. Thompson:
Dear Parents,
The purpose of a summer reading program is
to encourage students to become lifelong readers. Reading over the summer helps prevent the
“summer slide” that many students experience.
Students who read over the summer gain
reading skills which prepare them for the next grade, while students who do not
read during the summer, tend to lose some of the skills they had gained during
the year.
We encourage you to visit any of the
Vaughan Public Libraries over the summer months. As well, we have some digital resources that
encourage literacy growth.
Tumble Books:
Web site: www.tumblebooklibrary.com
username: nmcclung
Password: books
Book Flix:
Username: dsbyork
Password:dsby7692
Raz Kids:
Please feel free to use your child’s
current username and password. (If you are not sure what your child's username and password are, please contact us via the comments section of this blog, and we will get back to you with the information.)
Happy Reading!
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