Spelling Words (Week of April 14)

 Spelling List A (April 12 - 19)

joy	toys	boy	soy	coy
oyster	cowboy	enjoy	loyal	royal

 

Spelling List B (April 12 - 19)

annoy	decoy	ploy	enjoying	envoy
voyage	employed	destroy	loyalty	royalty

 

Spelling List C (April 12 - 19)

boycott	soybeans	buoyant	overjoyed	voyager
annoying	coyotes	gargoyle	clairvoyant	corduroy

Friday, April 12

 Hi parents,

Students did a lot of work today, and you could feel the tiredness starting to creep in by the end of it.

Many students finished up their novel studies, which they will be presenting next week, but a lot of students opted to take them home for homework.

The spelling quiz was really tough today. We talked about how tough quizzes are learning opportunities, and how getting an A+ is only an impressive achievement if you worked hard for it. I'm sure we could all do Kindergarten level spelling quizzes and ace them week after week, without ever getting any better at spelling - its the quizzes like this week's that remind us that we've still got learning to do.

Later in the day, students finished their "Plants for Healing" research pages, as well as their multiplication practice sheets. We're definitely at that point of the learning process where it all comes down to practice now. Students understand how and when to multiply, but they haven't built much fluency in skip-counting (especially by 4s, 6s, 7s, 8s, and 9s). If you have flashcards, mad minutes, math games, etc. that help build fact fluency, that kind of practice could be really helpful.

At the end of the day, we introduced our next topic in social studies - communities around the world. Just like last year, we'll be learning about life in India, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Peru, but we'll do different activities than last year to keep it fresh for the Grade 4s.

Have a nice weekend,

Zac

Thursday, April 11

 Hi parents,

Sorry for the lack of a blog yesterday, I was pretty beat from the field trip, which was a big success. We had a blast exploring fish creek and learned a lot about the wildlife and plants, and how they were traditionally used by Metis peoples. 

Today we had a surprise visit from Mr. Wade!

We did some journaling about the field trip, and did a lot of multiplication practice too. Students spent most of their extra time working on the novel study project, which is due tomorrow. I think most students are on track to finish on schedule. 

Students who are doing the "book in a box" version can bring their items for next week, which is when we'll be presenting the projects.

Tomorrow is also our spelling quiz. Have a nice night,

Zac

Tuesday, April 9

 Hi parents,

We had another day that was just a little bit off today. I think it's because of the novel study project. I think the students are getting tired of it. But we've come this far - and most students are just about finished! The project is due this Friday, April 12, and I'm going to ask anyone who isn't finished it by then to take it home as homework, as we've probably spent over 12 hours of class time on it at this point which I think should be enough!

We did start some new work today though. The class used Epic, and the Kai-nai Online Plant Index, to research ways that plants could be used for healing. They're going to learn a whole bunch more about this tomorrow on our field trip. :)

We did a multiplication check-in for math, and its looking like the Grade 4 students could use more practice with 2-digit x 1-digit problems. Practicing 1-3 of these problems each night at home would probably be more than enough, or just working on basic multiplication facts to 10 x 10. 

Today was our first day of Gymnastics in gym, and we worked on balances and movements on the mats.

At the end of the day, we got our journals ready for the field trip tomorrow. Should be fun!

Have a nice night,

Zac

Monday, April 8

 Hi parents,

Today was kind of a crazy day for the class. Due to the eclipse, we had to stay inside most of the day, and so our recess times were all thrown off, and lunch was at a different time, it was a lot of unexpected twists.

That being said, the students did some great work on their novel studies. We also did a craft project with our buddy class, and constructed little 'solar eclipse' models. 

We went over this week's new spelling words, which are quite tricky. Its a good thing we have the full week to study. 

We also had Music, and went outside (when we were allowed to) to learn how to play the beloved schoolyard game Four Square.

Remember our field trip is on Wednesday! Have a nice night,

Zac

Spelling Words (Week of April 7)

 Spelling List A (April 5 - 12)

use	unit	fuel	menu	due
fuse	union	music	used	cure

 

Spelling List B (April 5 – 12)

fury	user	unite	value	issue
usual	reuse	venue	museum	future

 

Spelling List C (April 5 – 12)

rescue	usually	futuristic	annual	unique
volume	secure	useful	accused	mutual

The theme this week is "u", but it sounds like "you", and not "oo".

Good luck!

Friday, April 5

 Hi parents,

We had another fun day today. In the morning, the class worked on their Novel Studies, which are due Friday, April 12. We will have plenty of time to work on them in class next week, but I'm going to also give students the option to work at home if they choose. After April 12 it might become homework.

The spelling quiz went surprisingly well! And afterwards, we went outside for gym. We built some pretty amazing snow structures.

The whole class is hiding inside the fort!

When we got back inside, we learned the "partial products" multiplication strategy. This basically involves multiplying each place value position of a number, and them adding the products together. For example, you could solve "24 x 5" by doing:

20 x 5 = 100

2 x 5 = 20

100 + 20 = 120

so... 24 x 5 = 120

The students solved some word problems involving local restaurants.

Thanks everyone for returning the forms for our upcoming field trip :)

Stay tuned for next week's spelling words, and have a nice weekend!

Zac

Thursday, April 4

 Hi parents,

We had an awesome day today. A lot of the day was spent working on 2-digit by 1-digit multiplication, and the novel study project, but we still somehow had time for a bunch more as well!

We went outside and had an amazing time building with the snow. We decided to count it as our "gym time" for today because it was such a workout. The students made some ridiculously big snowballs.

For social studies, the students partnered up and read their textbooks to learn more about fossils in Alberta, and the Tyrell Museum. We discussed some big questions around whether people should be allowed to keep fossils they find, or if they should have to give them to museums.

In the afternoon, we did Daily LA, and a French lesson on "Je suis, J'ai, and "J'aime (I am, I have, I like). Now the students have a pretty solid repetoire of basic French words, and are enjoying putting together their own sentences. 

Tomorrow is our spelling quiz - I'm nervous about this one. Please practice at home if you have time!

Have a nice night,

Zac

Wednesday, April 3

 Hi parents,

We had another really good day today. In the morning, we had our longest work period of the year - it was 2 hours long! This was because we have a few big tasks on the go from yesterday, and even before spring break. The students worked on their Novel Study projects, finished their spring break writing, and also finished their 2-digit multiplication work from yesterday. We talked about the importance of taking movement / mindful breaks during a work period, and it was awesome to see the students being responsible about how and and when to take their own breaks. Maybe by the end of the year we'll be able to do a full 3 hour work period featuring flexible snack time. That would be the Montessori dream.

We practiced our spelling words and had a thorough discussion about the different sounds that -ow can make. Practicing at home would be a good idea this week, as our quiz is now just two days away and we've barely had any time to do the words at school.

In the afternoon, we had Daily LA, Music, and more Novel Study work time.

Have a nice night,

Zac

Some work we've been doing lately.

Tuesday, April 2

 Hi parents,

We had a pretty great first day back. The students wrote about their spring breaks, and reflected on the goals they'd set. Even though Spring Break is only a little over a week long, the students always seem to come back with a newfound purpose, and often, this is the part of the year where they really shine. I always think of April - June as the "fun part" of the year for this reason. 

In math, we started a big concept - 2-digit x 1-digit multiplication. This is a Grade 4 concept, but I like to teach it to the Grade 3 students as well, to give them a head start for next year. Also, using the algorithm to solve 2-digit x 1-digit problems is basically just doing two basic multiplication facts, with some simple addition. So it's not that different from what they were doing anyway.

Just to be clear, I'm teaching the classic multiplication algorithm that most people are familiar with:

In the afternoon, we did Daily LA, and then worked on our novel studies. We ended our day with Music.

Please send back your Fish Creek Field Trip Forms ASAP as the trip is next week!

Have a nice night,

Zac

Spelling Words (Week of March 31)

 

Spelling List A (April 2 – 5)

slow	town	howl	now	glow
snowy	show	bowling	crow	know

 

Spelling List B (April 2 – 5)

eyebrow	owed	arrow	prowled	towel
rowdy	growth	tomorrow	shadow	thrown

 

Spelling List C (April 2 – 5)

borrow	willow	meadows	unknown	shallow
stowed	cowardly	following	ownership	bungalow

The theme this week is the "-ow" blend. Note that it makes two distinctly different sounds - 'ow' and 'oh'. It may be helpful to practice these words at home and then sort them into categories based on what sound the 'ow' makes!