Reading Buddies with Room 15

 

Inspector Brock teaches room 16 about fire safety

What's New in Room 16

Welcome back to another school year at Givins/Shaw!  By now you and your child are back into the familiar routines of making lunches, packing backpacks, organizing time and space for homework, etc.  I hope that you all had a lovely summer and are as excited as I am to be back at school!

Room 16 is already off to a great start!  This past week we worked with two artists from Artscape to create a display which will kick off Nuit Blanche.  Look for the invitation to come home this week.  The students will also shortly begin constructing some bridges and pulleys to complete their task for our science unit.  Look for Take Home Science activities to come home during each of our units.  We are currently studying Structures and Simple Machines.

 In Math we’ve begun the year using the Jump Math program.  This program is new to me, but so far the children seem to be really enjoying it, and we’ve had a lot of success.  We are currently learning about Patterns and Algebra and will shortly start a unit on Whole Numbers.

 In Writing we’ve begun with the basics and the students are learning all about the elements that go into writing an excellent paragraph.  In Reading students are learning how to choose appropriate books for their reading levels.

Combined Grades - Answering Parents' Questions

What are the benefits of placement in a class of combined grades?

There are many socio-emotional benefits for students who are in classes with students of various ages. For example, in such classes, peer interactions have been shown to be very positive; students have opportunities for greater development of social skills and cooperation skills; and students often develop a feeling of comfort and security, a positive self-concept, and a sense of satisfaction with their achievements. There are also significant opportunities for development of leadership skills and for learning from peers.

How do teachers prepare for teaching classes of combined grades?

Teachers develop the knowledge and skills to effectively manage any classroom, including knowledge of curriculum resources and flexibility in planning. Teachers also learn about which instructional strategies work well with the students in their class while they teach, whether it is a single-grade class or a class of combined grades.

Will the child in the higher grade be sufficiently challenged?

Research has shown that there are no negative effects on academic achievement. Teachers design programs to challenge children at their appropriate academic level. In any given classroom, students have diverse needs and interests, and teachers spend a great deal of time planning a program so that it addresses this range. Along with the academic studies, students also learn to work with a cross-section of other students, reinforcing social and leadership skills.

Might the child in the lower grade be overwhelmed?

Teachers and principals are careful in selecting students who will be compatible in all classes. In any class, children show a range of development physically, emotionally, and academically. It is an advantage for younger children in a class of combined grades to have many people they can ask for help – both the teacher and older students. They may also benefit from being able to learn from older children who can model leadership and academic skills.

 

Excerpt from the Combined Grades ministry document, 2007.

Being prepared for school is essential for many reasons:

1.      Having finished homework and completed reading allows children the opportunity to participate in academic discussions about the material. Children learn better by discussing something they are familiar with, especially if they are having difficulty.

2.      Children need to be mentally prepared. Coming to class prepared allows students to focus upon their learning rather than on searching for materials, thus the likeliness of success is greater.

3.      Being prepared leads to less stress. If children are not prepared then they may experience stress. If they are fully prepared they will have all the tools required to begin a successful day.

4.      Being prepared saves time, puts children at an advantage, and establishes good work habits.

Star Party

Come and see the planets Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn!  Get up close and personal with the moon!  On Wednesday, May 7, 2014, the students of room 16 will take part in a Star Party.  In the afternoon Brian from Cosmic Connections will visit our classroom and give a riveting two hour presentation on space.  In the evening Brian will return with telescopes and, clear skies permitting, we will all have a chance to see the planets.  You'll be surprised at how clear Saturn's rings are through the telescope!  Stay tuned for the information coming home this week.

Authorfest

Authorfest will take place on Wednesday, April 9th.  All junior students will TTC to Brock Public School for a morning of workshops followed by an author talk from Deborah Ellis, author of The Breadwinner, I Am a Taxi and other bestselling children's books.  Look for the permission form coming home soon.