Hello Parents,
So, it's day what? I don't know about you but my brain aches.
The grade 4 and 5's will need some help doing their perimeter and area work at home. Many of them said in our Hangout today that they have rulers or measuring tapes at home. That's important because they will need them! If not, have them try and figure out how they can get around having a traditional 30 cm ruler to use. They should be able to estimate and use benchmarks to compare to in order to make their own, but if they are stumped, you can find online rulers that look pretty accurate. They can use it to make their own ruler out of cardboard or wood.
I explained in their work that they also need your help in marking the work :)
I can assess the math, but the measurement I cannot do through the screen. If you wouldn't mind helping me out by checking their accuracy and providing some measuring guidance, that would be very helpful.
This is a more hands on unit so feel free to come up with some activities on your own. Have them find the perimeter (distance around) and area (space something covers) of rooms or furniture in your home. Give them measurements to follow and have them recreate it using Legos, blocks, drawings, wood, cardboard, whatever you can think up.
This unit comes with a project and depending on the student, it might be done with minimal effort or they might engage and build a fort in your kitchen. The creative, artistic child should enjoy it. I've told them you are allowed to help them but the math should be left up to them to tackle.
A reminder that they have access to many apps and platforms I have set up online for them. I have assigned language work on Epic and Newslea for them. They also have assigned work and assessment tasks on Mathletics.
Wednesday 22 April 2020
Thursday 16 April 2020
Hapara Info Session
If you are looking to understand Hapara please fill out this form. The session should help you support your child’s learning at home.
Every grade 6 in the school should be an expert by now since 75% of the entire population has been taught by me and my french partners (Caminiti, Garvey, Cacchiotti) My current gr 4 and 5’s should be well practised as well.
What may be of help to you and your kiddos is how to submit work. I’ll make sure to ask them to include that in the sessions.
I’d also like to thank all former members of our currently on hold Brilliance Bar who used to run our ‘How To’ use technology sessions at school. Times like these validate all the work we use to put into that club.
Every grade 6 in the school should be an expert by now since 75% of the entire population has been taught by me and my french partners (Caminiti, Garvey, Cacchiotti) My current gr 4 and 5’s should be well practised as well.
What may be of help to you and your kiddos is how to submit work. I’ll make sure to ask them to include that in the sessions.
I’d also like to thank all former members of our currently on hold Brilliance Bar who used to run our ‘How To’ use technology sessions at school. Times like these validate all the work we use to put into that club.
Workloads
We had some teacher meetings this morning and discussed some of the concerns we hear from parents. One thing we are hearing is that some are finding the workloads sent to be kind of heavy and people are stressing a bit.
No need to stress it. I get it, I'm stressing trying to preparing it all. We are trying to keep everyone happy and you will have to find the balance at home. I've also heard from friends who have kids at other schools who complain their kids teachers aren't doing much (my own child included).
Remember there are no deadlines, no due dates. Personally, with math I have to put lots out there because I am building units of work and much of it is interconnected. It's scaffolded where I have to build the lessons to lead to the next topic. What is in their math workspaces are lessons within an entire unit, so yes it does look like a lot because everything is there for them to hopefully do on their own and with your guidance. Whereas, we would take a month or so to get through each unit in class, it is now mostly all out there for them to tackle on their own.
There is no happy medium for everyone with too little or too much. Have them work on what they can when they can. If something doesn't get done, it doesn't get done. Teachers are giving you options of what they can do.
Thank you again to those who have been sending photos and videos of your children and families doing projects at home. They look really fun so that's why I sent out the Minute to Win it Challenges to the students to design at home and try on you.
Hang in there everyone and don't let the school work bring you down!
No need to stress it. I get it, I'm stressing trying to preparing it all. We are trying to keep everyone happy and you will have to find the balance at home. I've also heard from friends who have kids at other schools who complain their kids teachers aren't doing much (my own child included).
Remember there are no deadlines, no due dates. Personally, with math I have to put lots out there because I am building units of work and much of it is interconnected. It's scaffolded where I have to build the lessons to lead to the next topic. What is in their math workspaces are lessons within an entire unit, so yes it does look like a lot because everything is there for them to hopefully do on their own and with your guidance. Whereas, we would take a month or so to get through each unit in class, it is now mostly all out there for them to tackle on their own.
There is no happy medium for everyone with too little or too much. Have them work on what they can when they can. If something doesn't get done, it doesn't get done. Teachers are giving you options of what they can do.
Thank you again to those who have been sending photos and videos of your children and families doing projects at home. They look really fun so that's why I sent out the Minute to Win it Challenges to the students to design at home and try on you.
Hang in there everyone and don't let the school work bring you down!
Tuesday 14 April 2020
Next Math Strand
All 3 grades have been working on number sense and numeration. The 6's still have more to cover but the gr 4/5's will be sent new stuff soon. We'll take our multiplication, division, and fraction skills and put them to use next with measurement.
Depending on the grade, this will cover perimeter, area, and volume and should be an easy one for some hands on activities at home.
All students have also been emailed a challenge. They have been asked to copy or reconfigure an existing Minute to Win It challenge to try out on home. You do not need to go out and buy anything for this task. Use what you have at home. They will also need to record the action and share the video.
Both classes also have a Hangout out this Thursday.
Depending on the grade, this will cover perimeter, area, and volume and should be an easy one for some hands on activities at home.
All students have also been emailed a challenge. They have been asked to copy or reconfigure an existing Minute to Win It challenge to try out on home. You do not need to go out and buy anything for this task. Use what you have at home. They will also need to record the action and share the video.
Both classes also have a Hangout out this Thursday.
Tuesday 7 April 2020
Work is Being Created
Some language was released on Monday for grades 5 and 6 and I am currently building some math for grades 4 and 5. Please keep patient as it's a lot of work and I cannot follow a weekly schedule that starts on a Monday.
The gr 4/5 math set up takes longer because the 2 grades are linked together and I have to build each grade separately. I asked for them to be separated virtually but they cannot undo things at this point in the year. I have been trying to build both gr 4 and 5 at the same time, but I cannot publish once one of the grades is finished. I have to finish both first and then publish.
The gr 4/5 math set up takes longer because the 2 grades are linked together and I have to build each grade separately. I asked for them to be separated virtually but they cannot undo things at this point in the year. I have been trying to build both gr 4 and 5 at the same time, but I cannot publish once one of the grades is finished. I have to finish both first and then publish.
Thursday 2 April 2020
A Tribute
Now that the family has released the news of their unfortunate loss, I'd like to express my most sincere condolences to the Belanger family. They have lost an incredible person, mother and I am deeply saddened that she will not be with us to see Noah graduate from St Anne.
Noah is not in our class this year (there is an unofficial you can't have me as your teacher for 3 years straight rule), but he was my student for 2 years and I have coached him the last 3 years on various school teams. If he knew I was writing this, he would probably put his head down and shrug his shoulders if I were to ask him if he minded. But, his mom? Oh boy, she'd be proud you knew why this loss affects me.
I get to see all different types of children and witness how they behave as little humans, and Noah stands out for his kindness and his good soul. I first met him when he came to me in grade 4 and while he doesn't talk a lot, he leads by example. When I misplaced things in class he would be the first to not only find the item, but he would also say "Don't worry Ms Leblanc, I will get it for you!"
Any time I knocked something over or dropped papers (I'm really not that clumsy but our rooms are crowded to manoeuvre through) he would always be the firs out of his seat to pick them up. Impeccable manners, respectful, he's a really good person.
Yet, those things aren't what impressed me most about Noah. Our morning class that year was an interesting mix of needs on top of them being in a large junior class trying to figure out the transition. Noah is a pretty good athlete and he can kick it into high gear fairly fast, but he is very aware of the physical abilities of some of his peers and would slow things down to give them a chance to participate in gym class. He would make sure to pass and encourage everyone. He just does what so many other children, people actually, don't do.
The topper was the day another student forgot her money on a raffle day. It was a really big thing that she had forgotten and without hesitation, he gave her all his money (at least $20) so that she could buy tickets. He knew that it meant more to her than it did to him.
For much of that year, I didn't know that his mother was sick. By the time we first met, she was doing better and was starting to participate at school with us. Noah never said a word through most of 4th grade about what he was experiencing. He's the strong, stoic type and after meeting mom a few times, I could see where he gets it from. In our parent meetings, his mother was incredibly pleased to hear all the things I've just shared with you about her son. Along with her husband, she was determined to raise a compassionate and caring child. One who doesn't shy away from doing the right thing and who is respectful. You did well, he's a great kid!
Most boys by the time they are in grade 5 get a little strange about having mom around them at school. Noah, on the other hand, would light up when his mom was with us. I'm pretty sure he knows how proud she was of him because it was always all over her face. I have to applaud her for making it to his school and outside of school sports. I know it was a challenge for her and I am going to miss her presence on the sidelines. I have literally marked out a path at the soccer tournaments with my pacing but would find affirmation by looking over and see Mrs Belanger also shaking her head and moving around.
Noah is part of the reason why I moved to grade 6 and agreed to teach 3 grades this year. I truly adore the grade 6 cohort. That's not to say I don't like the other grades, but these guys are special and we've been together 3 years. I've watched them grow up. Many of their older siblings I taught before them and a few of their younger siblings I taught in my brief stint as a kinder gym teacher. This was meant to be a year we all experienced together as their final time at St Anne but, we all know how this year has gone! Our grade 6's have missed out on so many big highlights in their graduating year. I feel for them. All their teachers do. It has been frustrating not being able to give them what was meant to be theirs. And, in the midst of all this has been Noah going through the inevitable loss of his mother.
Not many students have known what he was going through, but those that did, I thank you for being there for him all year. He has 3-4 really good friends in my morning class and I realise it has been hard on them too. They cried along side with him some days at school. They were never too far away from him to lend support or try to make him smile. Even now they are still there for him in this world of self isolation. They are checking in on him, spending time with him online. Doing what they can for a friend. In what can be a selfish world, it overwhelms my heart to see the love and kindness that the others have given him. Thank you grade 6's. I know that if we were at school and able to all be together, that you would be supporting Noah too. Hopefully that day will come before the end of June, but in the meantime please keep Noah and his family in your thoughts.
Rest easy Mrs Belanger. I will truly miss you as a parent in our school community. Your beautiful photographic gift remains a fixture in my home. I appreciate everything you've done to help Noah academically (including the booklets of work he was doing at home with you that he showed me last June). Again, you did a fantastic job with both your kids!
https://ottawacitizen.remembering.ca/obituary/darlene-belanger-1078952279?fbclid=IwAR0TdRZZwd0m-LaSfVQgA5Ue_GVmt0cf671VthD8ui53HiG4QGxeSfltHu4
Noah is not in our class this year (there is an unofficial you can't have me as your teacher for 3 years straight rule), but he was my student for 2 years and I have coached him the last 3 years on various school teams. If he knew I was writing this, he would probably put his head down and shrug his shoulders if I were to ask him if he minded. But, his mom? Oh boy, she'd be proud you knew why this loss affects me.
I get to see all different types of children and witness how they behave as little humans, and Noah stands out for his kindness and his good soul. I first met him when he came to me in grade 4 and while he doesn't talk a lot, he leads by example. When I misplaced things in class he would be the first to not only find the item, but he would also say "Don't worry Ms Leblanc, I will get it for you!"
Any time I knocked something over or dropped papers (I'm really not that clumsy but our rooms are crowded to manoeuvre through) he would always be the firs out of his seat to pick them up. Impeccable manners, respectful, he's a really good person.
Yet, those things aren't what impressed me most about Noah. Our morning class that year was an interesting mix of needs on top of them being in a large junior class trying to figure out the transition. Noah is a pretty good athlete and he can kick it into high gear fairly fast, but he is very aware of the physical abilities of some of his peers and would slow things down to give them a chance to participate in gym class. He would make sure to pass and encourage everyone. He just does what so many other children, people actually, don't do.
The topper was the day another student forgot her money on a raffle day. It was a really big thing that she had forgotten and without hesitation, he gave her all his money (at least $20) so that she could buy tickets. He knew that it meant more to her than it did to him.
For much of that year, I didn't know that his mother was sick. By the time we first met, she was doing better and was starting to participate at school with us. Noah never said a word through most of 4th grade about what he was experiencing. He's the strong, stoic type and after meeting mom a few times, I could see where he gets it from. In our parent meetings, his mother was incredibly pleased to hear all the things I've just shared with you about her son. Along with her husband, she was determined to raise a compassionate and caring child. One who doesn't shy away from doing the right thing and who is respectful. You did well, he's a great kid!
Most boys by the time they are in grade 5 get a little strange about having mom around them at school. Noah, on the other hand, would light up when his mom was with us. I'm pretty sure he knows how proud she was of him because it was always all over her face. I have to applaud her for making it to his school and outside of school sports. I know it was a challenge for her and I am going to miss her presence on the sidelines. I have literally marked out a path at the soccer tournaments with my pacing but would find affirmation by looking over and see Mrs Belanger also shaking her head and moving around.
Noah is part of the reason why I moved to grade 6 and agreed to teach 3 grades this year. I truly adore the grade 6 cohort. That's not to say I don't like the other grades, but these guys are special and we've been together 3 years. I've watched them grow up. Many of their older siblings I taught before them and a few of their younger siblings I taught in my brief stint as a kinder gym teacher. This was meant to be a year we all experienced together as their final time at St Anne but, we all know how this year has gone! Our grade 6's have missed out on so many big highlights in their graduating year. I feel for them. All their teachers do. It has been frustrating not being able to give them what was meant to be theirs. And, in the midst of all this has been Noah going through the inevitable loss of his mother.
Not many students have known what he was going through, but those that did, I thank you for being there for him all year. He has 3-4 really good friends in my morning class and I realise it has been hard on them too. They cried along side with him some days at school. They were never too far away from him to lend support or try to make him smile. Even now they are still there for him in this world of self isolation. They are checking in on him, spending time with him online. Doing what they can for a friend. In what can be a selfish world, it overwhelms my heart to see the love and kindness that the others have given him. Thank you grade 6's. I know that if we were at school and able to all be together, that you would be supporting Noah too. Hopefully that day will come before the end of June, but in the meantime please keep Noah and his family in your thoughts.
Rest easy Mrs Belanger. I will truly miss you as a parent in our school community. Your beautiful photographic gift remains a fixture in my home. I appreciate everything you've done to help Noah academically (including the booklets of work he was doing at home with you that he showed me last June). Again, you did a fantastic job with both your kids!
https://ottawacitizen.remembering.ca/obituary/darlene-belanger-1078952279?fbclid=IwAR0TdRZZwd0m-LaSfVQgA5Ue_GVmt0cf671VthD8ui53HiG4QGxeSfltHu4
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