Thursday 26 March 2020

Extra Resources - 26 mars 2020

Good afternoon everyone!

I think this will be the best way to share information with you.  We are getting many resources/links through email for at-home learning.  I am posting a few of them here for your convenience:

Scholastic Learn at Home

Owlkids - Learn at Home

EDGEducation - link to create account for free - entire resource library FREE of CHARGE for parents and teachers.

FORCES 4 - To get you moving

Mini Yoga - you can create your own account for free and access many online French resources.






Wednesday 25 March 2020

Today's Update - 25 mars 2020

Good afternoon everyone!

It's nice to hear from some of you and to see the work that you are doing.  I am doing well here at home. Trying to keep busy by checking on you, looking into activities that would be fun for you (it will be posted next week) and missing you lots. I am also learning how to play the piano.  My son has accepted to teach me ; )  It is quite challenging for me and my brain hurts, but I am not giving up!
Maybe later, I can show you a video of me playing...

I am adding a link to the reading for this week: Ma grand-mère Simone.  You will find your reading document in the same Hapara Workspace as your Journal.  I have added a question below each reading. Please answer it to the best of your ability.  As we go, I will be adding ideas for other work in that same Workspace. 

Please remember that you DO NOT HAVE TO submit your work every time.  I am still able to check and comment on it.  If you do submit, you will be unable to add other information to your document.

I hope you are keeping yourself busy by exercising, reading, listening to music and enjoying some fresh air while maintaining your physical distance from others.  Take care, les amis!  I do miss seeing your smiles!  Your journals are a great way to let me know how you are doing.  I love reading about your day!

Friday 13 March 2020

March Madness

As we wrap things up in class today, students have been asking about homework and what they could do at home for French.  This is what I have told them:

1- Speak in French as much as you can - with parents, siblings, Facetiming someone and conversing in French for 5 minutes, speak in French for five to ten minutes at the dinner table, etc. 

2- LISTEN to French - keep their ear used to the French.  Watch movies, videos and TV shows in French, ie: Radio Canada JeunesseTélé-Québec or Youtube in French. Even listen to songs in French!  Great website on the blog - look on the menu on the right side.

3- Go on the French websites that are on the blog and practice their grammar (ex: nouns, déterminants, verbe avoir et être).

4- Write a journal in French about their days spent at home.

5- Read books in French - use the Ottawa Public Library, login with your card and choose books to read.  You can also go on the Student Portal to login to Sora (OCSB Library Portal) where you can access many books.

6- Play Board Games in French - many of them can be translated.

Most importantly, wash your hands and be diligent.  Have a great March Break!

Friday 7 February 2020

February and March News

Happy Snow Day to everyone!  The students are making the most of the beautiful snow outside.  What a delight to be on duty and to watch their creativity at work. Here is a human snow plow : )

On that note, here is a preview of what is to come for your children over the next few weeks.

French:
     Great gains continue to be made in French oral and listening for your children.  I am pleased to report that they are making a conscious effort to speak in French and use the vocabulary and structures that are given to them.  Great questions are being asked during the lecture that we take up in class.  This is a good indicator that they are making progress. 
     HINT TO HELP:  In order to help your child continue to improve his/her understanding, it would be very beneficial to them to listen to French television or a movie (that they already know) in French.  Building their vocabulary by labeling things found in the house in French with sticky notes would also help.
      In Reading, students are getting better with pronunciation, deciphering sounds, and understanding their story.  As for the questions, students are asked to give their answers by using the question and adding details.  Please take a few minutes to look at their Lecture Notebook to see their progress and to sign the rubric.

Science Grade 4:
       The students benefited from the hands-on activities that Scientists in the School prepared for them during a half-day workshop.  Students learned about pulleys and gears and we have reviewed their notes together.  In class, they will complete a consolidation activity to show me what they have learned.  Our next unit will be Light and Sound which we will begin in March.

Science Grade 5: 
       Students will be learning about Forces - what are forces, how are they used and how do natural forces have an impact on our environment.  It would be a great idea to discuss forces at work with your child when the opportunity presents itself.  Snow, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes are all forces that have an impact on our environment. Take some time to bring these impacts to their attention and to discuss it with them.

Social Studies Grade 4:
     In my morning class, the students have completed a research on a province of their choice.  The focus was to find information related to the physical regions of Canada (more particularly: the landscape,  the climate, the natural resources, the animals and the vegetation). This information will be used to complete an in-class project.  
      In my afternoon class, the students are learning about Ancient Civilisations with Mme Novak's supply teacher.

Wishing you all a great weekend!  Enjoy this beautiful snow!
   


Wednesday 5 February 2020

Twin Flames - Wow!!

Today, we were privileged to watch an amazing performance by a folk group from our own region.  Twin Flames consists of a dynamic duo who entertained your child with music and personal life stories of their Aboriginal backgrounds. 

Visit their site: https://www.twinflamesmusic.com/ and their You Tube Channel - Twin Flames Music.

Please take the time to ask your child how Twin Flames has inspired them through their stories and music.

Monday 27 January 2020

Opinion Homework Today

Your child went home with a small homework regarding his/her opinion on a subject.  On a piece of paper, they only have to write the following:

1- My opinion on a subject of my choice.

2- Grade 4 students: Two reasons/ideas to support my opinion.
    Grade 5 students: Three reasons/ideas to support my opinion.


This will be used to begin planning their opinion text that they will be writing.  It is not a persuasive text.  They will only state their opinion, and give reasons why they think their opinion is correct.  It would be more engaging if they picked a topic that they are very opinionated about.

Example of the homework expected:

Opinion:  I think there should be a pet's daycare at school.
Reason 1:  Students can visit their pet
Reason 2: Presence of pets in the school will reduce stress on students. 

That is IT!  You are welcome to chat with your child as to why they believe that their reasons are strong enough to support their opinion. Perhaps help them think about how their reasons could be explained in more details when they come to planning their text. 

Wednesday 15 January 2020

January News

Happy New Year !!!  Wishing you a year of good health so that you may accomplish your endeavors all year long and happiness throughout!

As we began January, students were immersed back into the French reality by being introduced to the pin system and returning to our Lecture homework.  They are now expected and required to speak in French in class at all times!  Rest assured that they have an out by asking "Comment dit-on...?" if they are stuck on a word.  After only a few days, it is amazing to hear them speak in French since they are required to make that extra effort.  Some students are stepping outside their zone of comfort and embracing this new system to practice their French.  Way to go!

In writing, we will learn about opinion texts: the format, sentence structures, and the correct vocabulary that needs to be used. We are also going over the format for questions with "Est-ce que...?" and "Pourquoi...?". Students are learning how to answer them in complete sentences.  This is used orally as we practice this and during our reading activities.

In Science, we will begin our unit on Pulleys and Gears toward the end of the month and in Grade 5, students will learn about Forces.  When the opportunity presents itself, take the time to discuss with your child where pulleys and gears can be found (ie. ski lift, car motor, tools, kitchen tools, etc) and help them understand how they work and the way they help us accomplish work: to change the direction of a moving object, to change the force applied on a moving object and to change the speed of a moving object.   Next week, students in grade 4 will participate in a pulleys and gears workshop given by Scientists in the School.
Grade 5 students can converse about the forces of nature, how it impacts the way we live and the habitats of animals (ex: forest fires in Australia, tornadoes, etc.).

In Social Studies, both grade 4 groups are working on the physical regions of Canada. In the 4/5 class, students have been introduced to the vocabulary they will use in the physical regions unit (gr4) and in the Indigenous unit (gr5).  As the students come to understand that the physical regions of Canada differ from each other in terms of landscape, vegetation, animals, climate and natural resources, they will apply this knowledge for their final task.

Please stay tuned for outdoor activities coming up such as snowshoeing next week and skating on the Scala rink in the next few weeks.