Wow! Kindness Pod - you made our hearts swell with pride at the gifts you wanted to give the world in yesterday's responses. Thank you for your thoughtfulness!
Blogs will continue to be used for daily connecting. We are discontinuing having students comment directly on the blog because this strategy wasn't working for all.
If your child was unable to comment in the blog, to ensure this is not a password issue, please ask your child to try and log into IRIS (they should know how to do this) via this link: https://iris.cbe.ab.ca
We have been working on expanding sentences and supporting our thoughts with examples. To continue practicing sentence writing, answer at least 2 of the questions below. Responses should be emailed to your teacher rather than in the blog as mentioned in the video.
Where are you finding peace at this time?
What activities are you doing to find peace at this time?
What does peace look, feel, sound, smell like at this time?
Feeling bored (additional activities if you choose)...
We suggested you could draw or create a visual representation of what peace means to you right now. Get creative in your visual journal by using pencil crayons, markers, magazines to show, 'What is peace to you right now at this moment?'
You could have a game of 'Circles and Stars' with a family member or on your own. Remember the first roll of the die is your number of groups and the second, the number of stars in each group. Can you write a repeated addition and multiplication equation?
Hello Kindness families! Welcome back to school after your extended Spring Break! This week, the blog will be your place to connect with us. Each day, we will post updates and new learning activities here by noon. This week, our goal is for you to get in the habit of checking and responding to the blog daily. Today we would like you to watch this video: https://youtu.be/7JeZG6Szod8
Listen carefully because Mrs. Zwack has an assignment for you at the end of the video. Please respond in the comment section below. To do this you will need to follow these steps: STEP 1
STEP 2
Enter the gmail address that your parents will be emailed by the end of the school day today.
STEP 3
Enter the password that your parents will be emailed by the end of the school day today.
If either your username or password don't work, please email your teacher and we will fix this tomorrow.
No learning assignments or activities will be posted between today and March 29. Our goal is to provide families with some initial information about next steps for learning by noon on Monday March 30. This process will continue to evolve during the week of March 30. Blogs will the starting point for communication.
It would be great if you took some time over Spring Break to gather a couple of books at a 'good fit' level in a bin to get ready for Read to Self time over the break. Check your book shelves, local Little Free Libraries and ask your siblings if they have recommendations as well.
We hope you take time to view the video below and enjoy seeing our faces again (but how we wish we could read to you in person!). We have chosen to read the book, The Invisible String, by Patrice Karst, because this book reminds us all that even though we may be apart from those we love and care about, we are always connected. You may also want to visit Eric Harvie School's You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCopomvulWkMrecfLT-mVgzg/We hope you enjoy and look forward to reconnecting after the Break!
We wish you all a wonderful and healthy Spring Break!
Hello Kindness friends! We hope you have all had a chance to pick up your belongings from school and have taken the time to share your work with your parents. Remember to hold on to your books especially your visual journal as you will need them after Spring Break. If your parents were unable to pick up your things today, another date will be announced after Spring Break for this to happen. A friendly reminder that the CBE sent an email earlier this week with a link towebpagethat offers a variety of educational ideas to support literacy, numeracy and wellness at home for this week. The resources are meant as suggestions only. You may choose to use the links and activities as needed over the next few days as more long-term educational programming is considered. Be sure to check back for something special tomorrow! Stay well!
All student belongings have been gathered and ready for pickup via the schedule in the Gym. Please enter through the compound doors to the Gym. As a reminder, please drop off your child's book bin in the wagon before leaving the Gym. Please drop off any forms you have in a bin. We did our best to put your child's shoes with their belongings but if it's not theirs, please put them in the lost and found.
You should have all receive an email from the CBE regarding activities and resources between now and our return from spring break
Please keep these supplies aside at home to be used for activities/assignments that will be coming your way after spring break.
Thank you so much for checking our blog! Keep doing so daily!
We miss you and hope you are well! Check out the posters in our classroom windows if you are out and about this week!
Happy St. Patrick's Day. Here at school we are wearing green, and hope you are too!
We have been working hard to gather your materials for pick up (check your email) but took a little break to go for a walk today. The staff left a few things in the community you may across as you're out with your families. Keep your eyes peeled for these (although all Pods will be represented)!
Thank you so much for checking our blog! Keep doing so daily!
We just wanted to let you know that we are thinking of you all and will miss you at school. Please note we will continue to use the blog to stay connected and hope that you will follow along. More information will follow as to what that will look like. We encourage families to be attentive to CBE Messenger and both the CBE and the EHS school websites:
This morning we had Wonder time and did a design challenge in small groups within our Pod. Our task was to design a device or machine that would help a member of our school community using different building materials such as K-nex or Lego. We had a lot of fun!
We did a round of Daily 5 today. Some of us met with our reading groups and continued working on our assignments due next week.
We had a Read-a-thon wrap up assembly this morning.
Ask me about... the design challenge I did with my group today. Let me share with you what we designed and how it would help a member of our school community.
We met with our Inquiry groups this morning. Each group is learning about something that has shaped Alberta's identity and exploring that question in a variety of activities.
We did buddy reading with the Harmony Pod, Grades 1/2 this afternoon. Some of us did buddy reading with the Kindergarten students as well. It was very calming and enjoyable. We hope to be able to do buddy reading again soon.
In Writers' Workshop, we elaborated on a setting such as a beach in a paragraph using descriptive and figurative language that we learned so far. They are coming along so nicely! Some of us listened to a story and filled in the story elements on a story diamond template.
Ask me about... buddy reading today and the books that my buddy and I read together this afternoon. Reminders:
In Math, we continued working with arrays in multiplication and using different strategies when solving multiplication problems including equal groups, skip counting, and arrays. Some of us started looking for patterns in the products within facts and learning the rules when multiplying different numbers.
This afternoon we had to visualize one of our favourite parts in the story that our teachers read and draw a picture of it along with strong verbs or sensory words that relate to our illustration.
Ask me about...
the book that was read to me and let me share with you my favourite part of the story.
In Writers' Workshop today we worked on elaborating on a setting using descriptive and figurative language. Some of us listened to a read-aloud and continued adding to the writing diamond based on the story.
In Math, we continued to explore strategies for multiplication and been working with arrays. We looked at many real-life examples of arrays and created arrays using manipulatives such as unifix cubes or counters.
We did two rounds of Daily 5 today.
Ask me about...
what I did in Inquiry today and one interesting fact I learned.
Reminders:
Read-A-Thon notices went home last week. If you are interested in photos, please return forms by Wednesday, March 11th.
Today we started new Ignite stations. We learned a new multiplication game, made words using word tiles, used KNEX to create a structure with at least one simple machine and learned new letters (r, s and j) in handwriting.
We had a Read-A-Thon kick-off assembly this morning. Mrs. Kinsman read us a really interesting story!
The Grade 4s had French with Mr. Strand while the Grade 3s had Literacy. Some of us did paragraph writing using figurative language in our journals while others worked on creating contractions from two words.
Ask me about...
Read-A-Thon and what will be happening at school this week. Let me share with you my favourite book and why.
Reminders:
Read-A-Thon notices went home last week. If you are interested in photos, please return forms.
Pledge forms and detailed information on Read-A-Thon went home today with two classes in the Kindness Pod. The other two classes will send their forms home tomorrow
This morning we played 'Circles and Stars'. This math game helps us to visualize multiplication concepts, and practice our mental math skills.
We spent part of the morning creating skits that showed resolutions to common problems that we encounter with friends. This helped us talk through possible solutions, empathize and develop a common language for problem solving.
We visited the Kindergarten Celebration today. It was fantastic! Wow grade 3/4s! You were such powerful leaders and showed such interest! Thank you for building a peaceful community.
Ask me about...
how to play 'Circles and Stars'. Let's have a game together some time this weekend!
Reminders...
Read-a-thon notices came home yesterday. If you are interested in photos, please return forms.
We continued to discuss friendship in Health. Today we explored what we value within friendships.
Ask me about...
what I am doing in reading club right now. What book or words am I working on?
Reminders...
Based on student needs, we are in the midst of regrouping students for Words Their Way. As a result, there is NO new lists this week. Students will receive a list NEXT THURSDAY though.
Read-a-thon photo opportunity notice went home today with students.
We continue to explore strategies for multiplication equations including equal groups, arrays and using repeated addition. We are representing our learning through pictures, concrete materials and equations.
While grade 4s are having French with Mr. Strand, grade 3s have been focussed on learning more about figurative language including personification, similes and onomatopoeia. They also have been exploring conventions.
Ask me about...
what I did in Inquiry today and how it connects to our study of early Alberta.
Instead of Ignite today, we spent some time discussing what makes a good friend and how 'friendship fires' are a natural part of relationships but so important to 'put out' quickly. We discussed how this might be done gently. This was a good reminder to all of us today.
In Writer's Workshop today we revisited how to develop a story beginning using our 5 senses. The beginning of the story should hook the reader and introduce the characters, setting and problem. On Thursday, we will be partner writing to practice what we learned today.
Ask me about...
the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy friendships and how I might be able to 'fix' the unhealthy friendships so they become healthy again.
While the grade 4 students go to French, our grade 3s have been looking more closely at figurative speech. We have learned about similes and personification over the last few weeks.
Today we broke into new math groups to begin our exploration of multiplication. Today we were introduced to what multiplication is. As we continue to delve deeper, resources and games will be shared through students and on the blog to help us with our mental math.
Ask me about...
We returned to our regular inquiry groups this morning and will be working with these teachers for a few more weeks. Let me tell you what I did today in our group.
Reminders...
Word work check in tomorrow! Please review your words tonight - spelling and categorization.
Some students received an important envelope for parents. Others got this envelope last Friday. Please check with your child to see if they have something for you tonight.
