A week in photos!
Our class did such a wonderful job raising money and support for the Terry Fox walk. A great big thank you for our parent volunteers who joined us on this beautiful day.

In Language, we explored, saw examples and made an anchor chart about what good paragraphs look like.

 Then, we looked at our class recount to see if it was indeed a good paragraph that had all the elements of a recount.

The students created subtraction stories and solved these stories in our Math Blocks. Some of the students had a great time being the "teacher" and showing their strategies. This week's math homework should look very familiar and remind them of this activity we did in class.

In Science, the students did an experiment to make connections about structures of different heights. Ask your child what their HYPOTHESIS was and were they correct.

Lots of excitement in the gym! Ask your child why the students in the photo are running around with rubber chickens!

Read alouds for the week. are pictured below. We also read the book When We Were Alone which recounts the story of a young Indigenous girl and her memories of being in a residential school in Western Canada.

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER.......

Wear anything orange on Monday to support those who have had experiences in residential schools.

On Wednesday October 2nd all are encouraged to walk or bike to school to promote a more efficient way to protect the air that we breathe and to promote being physically active.

A reminder to donate to St.Rita’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to support families in need at the Debra Dynes House. Canned food and non-perishable food items are being accepted at our school until Wednesday October 9th. Please think globally and, if you can, act locally to support those who need assistance.

Swim to Survive

Our class is doing our 3 lessons for Swim to Survive on October 22nd, 29th and November 5th. Please check your child's agenda on Tuesday for the paperwork that needs to be filled out.

A new week of learning!

In Math, our focus was to be able to decide whether to add or subtraction when faced with a number problem. Calculating number facts for some come easy but the challenge is to be able to take the numbers, put them in the right order and then calculate the answer. We highlighted words that would make us connect to addition or subtraction strategies.

 Ask your child which addition and which subtraction strategy he/she is most comfortable with.

 Below, our class played a math game called Race to 100 and Back which allowed for questions, collaboration between peers and practice for both addition and subtraction. Ask your child how to play the game.

In Language, our focus is on RECOUNT writing. We came up with an anchor chart to describe what is needed for a good recount and how all these connected sentences turn into a PARAGRAPH.

 Ask your child about the recount we wrote together about our first fire drill practice.

We started out first unit in Science calle STRONG AND STABLE STRUCTURES. We needed to all understand that a structure is more than just a tall building.

 Ask your child to explain to you what a LOAD is.

For Art this past week, our focus was on how different lines and where they are placed on paper, create different effects. Here, your child followed instructions on how to draw a turtle by using straight and curved lines. After the first try, your child was asked to look at their work to say what they liked and what needed fixing. A second attempt was made to see if they could make the change in their own work.

Below are the books that were read to your child during snack time. Ask your child to explain the message of any of the books to you.

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER........

• Earphones/earbuds are needed for our Daily Five's Listen to Reading centre
• Indoor shoes are needed to stay in your child's class so he/she can get ready quickly for our morning
• Our Terry Fox Walk is this coming Friday September 27th. Rain Date is Monday September 30th
• Your child will bring home their homework and spelling test book on Monday. Please ensure you review the test and sign each week. Both books are due back to school by Friday
• Please check your child's agenda which includes removing any of the paperwork that is sent home but please leave the black clip on so we can reload it when necessary

Have a great week. I know we will.

Let's make some connections!
It was so nice meeting many of you with your child your Program Night! For those of you who were not able to make it, an information package went home in your child's agenda the following day.

Our bulletin board was one of the areas your child directed you to at Program Night. Try and pick out your child's beach ball of summer fun and art work.

In Language, our read alouds for the week focused on making text to self, text to text or text to world connections.

Ask your child to summarize the main idea of any of these texts and to make a text to text connection.

We also practised doing Word Work for our 10 minutes of Daily 5. Next week I will introduce Listen to Reading (this is why we need earphones) and Read With the Teacher activities.

Ask your child which Word Work activity they would choose the net time they are at that centre. Playdough? Stampers? Magnetic letters?

Your child is bringing home his/her spelling book. We did the first spelling test together so the expectations for the next spelling test on Friday is very clear. Please take a moment to read and sign the inside cover of our child's spelling book

In Math, our School Board is implementing a math program called Math UP across the elementary grades. This past week, we looked at different ways to add and subtract numbers in our heads. Many students took risks to try strategies that they were not completely familiar with. I have included examples in your child's homework book that goes home on Monday for you to see. At the end of the week many were able to realize that there was more than one way to come up with an answer. Some new strategies really stuck with some students.

Ask your child to DECOMPOSE a number for you to make it easier to add that number to another number in your head.

Our school is lucky enough to be gifted vouchers for 4 tickets to the National Arts Centre. Please let me know via your child's agenda if you are interested in a voucher.

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER.....

• I am still waiting for some students to hand in that whack of paperwork that went home on the first few days of school.
• Raz Kids account information was sent home this past Friday. Check your child's front agenda clear pocket for username and password.
• A black bull clip will be attached to your child's agenda this week. It serves two purposes. One to keep your child's page in the agenda but also to securely attach things to make it home to you. Please ensure to remove the items but leave the clip on the agenda.

Have a great week. I know we will.

We're off to a great start. Take a look at our first week together.

In Math, our class spent the first week reviewing some strategies for working with numbers specifically adding and subtracting. We all made lots of mistakes which led nicely into discussions about how mistakes are opportunities for learning. Taking risks, making mistakes or having success and learning from each outcome, is the common thread our class will focus on.

                                                          Find the sum of 2 numbers

     Now, look at what you already know and make connections to what you are trying to solve.

In Language, we've been learning what is to be expected for Daily 5.

Examples of read to someone whereby one child reads to the other and they switch. Ask your child what EEKK style means?

In Religion, our class has made connections to our spiritual theme which is "LOVE, KINDNESS AND MERCY." 

Ask your child what is similar about these bibles and what is different about them?

Our focus in gym this first month is cooperative games to encourage classroom community building. You should have heard the laughs during this activity!

Finally, I usually read to the class during snack time.

Ask your child to tell you the main idea of one of the stories.

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER.......

• All are welcome to St. Rita Program Night this coming Wednesday @ 6:00pm.
• Please fill out and return all forms that were in your child's agenda.
• Please use school cash online to pay for your child's agenda.
• Please ensure your child has a pair of indoor shoes for school.

Have a great week. I know we will!!

Welcome to our class blog. My name is Mrs. Pietrantonio and I am your child's grade 3 teacher. We had a great first day! We have some new students in our class so the day was spent building a classroom community for our whole class. I hope your child comes home excited to tell you how their day went.
Please take a look in your child's agenda for some important paperwork that needs to be filled out and please check this blog regularly as I usually post things weekly.