December 16, 2014

Hello families and friends,

This morning we started our day with some reading, but it was supposed to be music time.  Then we had gym, and we had these two giant balls and we tried to get them around a circle and down a line as fast as we could.  We also played Indiana Jones.  Ask your child about this.  After that we were supposed to have Roots of Empathy, but it was cancelled so we played "Guess My Word".  Ask your child about this.  Then we finished our morning with two rounds of Daily 5.

This afternoon we went to the Learning Commons.  Then we made snowflakes out of tape on a piece of watercolour paper in preparation for tomorrow.  Then we did some writing about apples to help us with visualization.  Ask your child about this.  Then we finished our day with some caroling in the gym.

On Thursday afternoon we will be building our bird feeders.  Please keep bringing in any 2L milk jugs or cartons for this.  If any parents would be willing to help out with this activity, please email Mr. Soulliere at <gasoulliere@cbe.ab.ca>.  We will be making them right after lunch time.

How do fish survive in winter?  Post your answer in the comments below.

This Friday there is no school for students.  Thursday is our last day before the break.

Message from a Penbrooke Meadows Teacher, December 14/14:

So taking the gifts was such an experience to the home I went to - I actually was emotional afterwards driving home.

When they opened the door there were 4 kids and 1 baby.  They had a small little tree that they had put lights on and it was sitting on top of a side coffee table.  The kids’faces were so happy - they lit up.  They started jumping up and down and saying Thank you Thank you Thank you..!  They couldn't believe that we just kept bringing more bags in and more....  We told them that they were to save these for Christmas to open...so they said they are going to put them under the little tree and they started to make a pile.  They commented on the wrapping paper and how special it made them feel that they were wrapped.  Mom gave us a big hug and said Thank you So much.  The kids were so excited and were waving to us when we left. 

There was no feeling like it.  Your families and staff have made SUCH a difference to our school and our families through your generosity.  This was only one family that I delivered and it didn't leave my mind all weekend. To see this family filled with such joy was amazing.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Cranston School and Ms. Rauser.  We love you. xx

Have a great afternoon,

Room 74 and Mr. Soulliere

December 11, 2014

Hello families and friends,

This morning we started our day with some reading, then went down to our buddies for some buddy reading.  Then in dance we continued practicing the Shim Sham.  Ask your child about this.  After dance we did some Raz Kids with Ms. Goldberg's class.  In the middle of this, we had a practice lockdown.  The students did very well.

This afternoon we practiced our similes.  A simile is comparing two things to make a juicy sentence.  Then we went out for a body break and Mr. Soulliere made us run around the whole big field.  After that, we finished the day with some math.  Ask your child what they worked on.

Post a simile sentence in the comments below.

Edit: Fun Lunch forms are due tomorrow, December 12th.  The next Fun Lunch will be in January.

Next week, we will be building bird feeders.  If you have any empty 2L milk jugs or cartons, please bring them in for us to use.

Next Friday there is no school for students.

Have a great afternoon,
Room 74 and Mr. Soulliere

December 10, 2014

Hello families and friends,

This morning we listened to the classes that will be performing this evening practice their songs that they will be singing.  They did an awesome job, and we were an excellent audience.  Then we went to the Learning Commons.  Please make sure that your child is bringing their books back at least every two weeks.  After that they are overdue.  The librarian, Ms. Aris, would like to have all of the overdue books returned before the winter break.  Then we finished our morning with two rounds of Daily 5.

In the afternoon we continued our look at the regions of Alberta, and we made a list of our questions and wonders.  Ask your child what they wondered about.  Then in math we worked on adding three numbers together and determining how many more or less to make 10.  Ask your child about this.

Thank you to all of you who came out last night.  The students did an amazing job with their songs.

Fun Lunch order forms are due in by next Monday, December 15th.

Next week is a short week.  There is no school for students on Friday, December 19th.

Have a wonderful Wednesday,
Mr. Soulliere

December 9, 2014

Hello families and friends,

This morning we practiced for our concert this evening.  The evening runs from 6:00 to 7:30.  Our class will be performing at 6:30, so please make sure that your child is here in the classroom and ready by around 6:15 so that we can be prepared to go right at 6:30.

This afternoon the students did a written response to the book Library Lion.  Ask your child what they wrote about.  At the end of the day we started talking about winter, and then finished off the day with some math games.

What is a chinook?  Post your answer in the comments below.

Fun Lunch order forms are due in by next Monday, December 15th.

I look forward to seeing you all tonight.

Mr. Soulliere

December 5, 2014

Hello families and friends,

Yesterday we looked at a map of the natural regions of Alberta.  Then the students were able to explore some of the wildlife and plants of these regions using the website Zooming in on Alberta.  We will continue looking at this over the next couple weeks as we prepare for our Non-Fiction writing project.

For this project we will be making envelope books, and we are looking for a parent volunteer who would be able to help in making these by sewing the envelopes together.  If you would be able to help out with this please email me at <gasoulliere@cbe.ab.ca>.

Fun Lunch orders are available online for January, February, and March now.  The January Fun Lunch is Good Earth on the 28th, February is Boston Pizza on the 25th, and March is A & W on the 18th.  Orders for these are due back by Monday, December 15th.

Next Tuesday, December 9th, is our Christmas Concert.  Our class will be performing at 6:30 p.m.

Thanks to all of you who came out for Parent Teacher Interviews!  It was wonderful to see you all again.  If you have any further questions or concerns, or if there was something that you forgot to mention or ask about, feel free to email me at the address above.

Have a great weekend,
Mr. Soulliere

December 2, 2014

Hello families and friends,

This morning we had music with a substitute teacher.  We sang Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer, Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, and the Chipmunk song.  After practicing those we sang some favourites.  Then in gym we played 4-corner dodge ball.  Ask your child about how this is played.  Then we had Roots of Empathy.  We were learning about teeth.  Then we did some free writing, and had author's chair.  Ask your child what they wrote about.  Then we finished the morning by going to the Learning Commons.

This afternoon we did two blocks of reading for 20 minutes each.  Then we played Sight Word Bingo.  Ask your child how it is played.  Then we finished our day with some math.

Next Tuesday, December 9th, is the Christmas Concert for our class.

This Thursday and Friday are Parent Teacher Interviews.  If you have not booked a time yet please do so.  I look forward to seeing all of you.

If you have said that you are donating something for Families Helping Families, please bring those things in as soon as possible.  They are being sent out this Friday afternoon, so have the wrapped gifts brought in before then please!

Post a math word problem in the comments below.  We will look at these tomorrow.

Have a great afternoon,
Room 74 and Mr. Soulliere

December 1, 2014

Hello families and friends,

Our words of the week for this week are "look", "as", "did", and "go" for grade ones and "down", "all", "there", and "little" for grade twos.  Help your child with these words by practicing using them correctly in sentences and reading and writing with them.  In music the students continued working on the songs that they will be performing next Tuesday, December 9th, for the Christmas Concert.

In the afternoon we practiced creating math problems using the weather graphs that we have made as a class for the first three months of school.  Then we had Ms. Jessica come to continue working with us on our printing.  Today we talked about "tall", "short", and "fishing" letters.  Ask your child about this.  Then we finished up our work on domestic and wild animals, and then the students had some free writing time.

This Thursday and Friday are Parent Teacher Interviews.  If you have not booked already, there are some times still available on Friday.  As these times are only 15 minutes long, if there are any concerns or subjects that you would like to discuss in more depth please email me at <gasoulliere@cbe.ab.ca> to schedule a meeting at another time.  It is important to keep the meetings on Thursday and Friday to the 15 minute time limit as any set backs affect the whole night, and some families will have more than just the one interview to attend to.

Families Helping Families donations are due by this Friday, December 5th.  Please have them wrapped and brought in before this time, as they will be sent out that afternoon.

Thanks and have a wonderful evening,
Mr. Soulliere