Be Nice!

Dear Parents,

Here's something lovely and pure for your weekend. Students did some responses about what they could do that would be positive in their community as part of our social studies unit, where we looked at students shifting roles, responsibilties and identities at home in the family, at school, and in the community. Part of our media curriculum is learning to design and create posters, so that's what we decided to do. These posters will go up around the school.

I can smile to make people happy 

I can share with my friends

I can wash my hands so they're not all germy. (Admittedly, a favourite) 

I can hold the door for people

I can hold the door for other people 

Two, both versions of I can share with my friends

I can say please and thank you

Tuesday is our trip! Come on time and wear weather appropriate clothing. We will be outside in all weathers. 

Sincerely, 

Ms. Goegan

Toys that Transform Energy Ideas

Dear Parents,

I sent home our next project for you today, based on the Energy in Our Lives unit. I've asked for projects to be returned completed on December 11th. I know this is a short turn around, but I thought it might be more challenging to have it drag on through the Winter Break. However, if this season is busy for your family and you'd prefer to have your child present after the break, please let me know.

I make some suggestions on the project hand out, but here are some ideas that are inspiring me tonight:


http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/toys/crankycrank.html

https://researchparent.com/homemade-propeller-car/

2 from this site:

https://frugalfun4boys.com/how-to-build-a-paper-plate-spiral-marble-track/

https://frugalfun4boys.com/build-marble-run-craft-sticks/

https://10minutesofqualitytime.com/balloon-straw-rocket-kids/



http://krokotak.com/2016/05/how-to-make-easy-spin-drum/


https://www.coffeecupsandcrayons.com/stem-for-kids-build-a-paddle-boat/


https://www.howweelearn.com/spectacular-homemade-musical-instruments/

I'm also looking for parent volunteers on the afternoon of December 14th, when we'll have the Scientists in Schools presentation for our class. Please let me know if you're available and would like to support.

Our next week is very busy, with the upcoming field trip to High Park on Tuesday morning and a Japanese drumming performance on Thursday morning. I'm actually super excited about the drumming performance, as I saw this group perform at Harbourfront earlier in the year. Here's a link to the group's website: http://nagatashachu.com.

Sincerely,

Ms. Goegan

Mondrian and line art

Dear Parents,

First, reports went home today. I hope I have connected with everyone about interviews. If there's any challenge or confusion, please contact me via email asap. Also, don't be concerned, I'll be in to do interviews after school, but have called in sick because I'm not yet 100%.

I did want to share student art with you this week though.

We looked at the work of Piet Mondrian and did some great art that's up on our walls. Here's a sample:

When doing this work, we used cardboard to make straight lines and then filled in the spaces with primary colours using oil pastels, in the style of Mondrian. I love the way these look across the wall, but each one has its own charms as well.

Some of these look like maps

Some are sparse and some are busy

One looks like a xylophone here

The one on top looks like a stained glass window to me

Students really loved the title of Broadway Boogie Woogie and this delightful brief video shows Mondrian's development as an artist, while you listen to some boogie woogie:

Our follow up to this is based on the work of Jean Dubuffet: still working with primary colours and lines, but curved lines and busy patterns instead of solids. I'm really curious how this will turn out. We've been turning some of our lines from the pumpkin art that went home into patterns for this new work

Dubuffet art inspiration

Here's some samples of Dubuffet's work. 

Can't wait to see how that turns out. 

As you tour down the hallway, all our timelines are up in the hall and the subject of ongoing fascination:

Thank you for all your hard work. I think the kids learned a lot from this process (and so did I).

Sincerely, 

Ms. Goegan

That Most Wonderful Time of The Year.

Dear Parents,

Reports go home next week and I've decided to offer you the opportunity to book your appointment online directly. Here is the link to be able to do so:

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UU5RM3RFdlRBWTR0fGRlZmF1bHR8NWFhNzhlOTEyMmUzYTc5ODI3NjFlYmU1NjBiMzc1OTg

To claim your preferred slot that is available either on November 15 3:30-7:45 or on November 16 8:45-11:15, click on the time and follow the instructions on the site. If it doesn't work, you have questions, or want to arrange an alternate time, you are welcome to email me and I'll do my best to sort it out.

A letter will be sent home on Monday to make arrangements for those that don't follow the blog as well.

Reports will go home on November 15th and there's a lot packed in there. I hope you've seen work coming home, or we've chatted, and that you have a sense of how your child is doing already, but I'm looking forward to chatting with you anyways.



In math, we've moved on to patterning, which is both easier and harder than it sounds. I'm leaning on the Jump Math for this unit, because it has a good sense of detail management that asks students to identify patterns that might be confusing and ways to fix patterns that are broken.

Top tricks so far include:

1. Patterns always repeat the first term after the core.

E.g.: In the pattern ABCDABCD...., ABCD is the core because it needs to start at A again.

2. Patterns include all the different parts in each core.

E.g.: In the pattern ABACABACABAC..., ABAC is the core because you can't forget to include C

3. When you're trying to figure out a tricky pattern, read the pattern out loud like a sentence, using your finger to help you keep track of each part. You can hear the pattern better when you say it out loud.

4. Some patterns start and end with the same thing and it's easy to get mixed up. Look for doubles of the first term especially.

E.g.: ABCAABCAABCA

A lot of students are instinctively good at recognizing patterns, but it does get trickier as we go along, so it's good to have a firm grasp of what to look for.

I've set up an assignment on Prodigy, if you want to practice these skills at home as well. (If you need a reminder of the Prodigy log in, let me know and I can hook you up.)

Social Studies Projects are (mostly) up on the walls (one just keeps falling down) in the hall by our class. Go look at all that hard work and all that cuteness.

New art and writing is up on the walls of the class. I'll endeavour to make a picture filled post really soon.

Sincerely,

Lisa Goegan

Halloween in Grade One

Dear Parents,

I'm assuming you caught up later in the evening, but for those that missed the costume parade yesterday, this is a picture heavy post where I asked students what they wanted to show me on their costumes. Several students weren't sure they wanted to be photographed individually, so I gave them their space, but many were all too happy to show off their favourite part of their costumes. Here you go:

The group photo

What's the coolest part of your costume?

"I got a cool scar"

"I've got a cool scar too"

"Everything"

"These handcuffs"

"I like my arm bandages"

"The claws on my pockets"

"This lightening bolt is pretty cool. I'm the Flash"

"My favourite part are the wings"

"I like this mask."

"I love this dress and how it moves"

Looking forward to hearing about last night's adventures today. 

Sincerely, 

Ms. Goegan