Friday November 29th, 2019

Dear Parents,
We sure had fun with our buddies today during the annual "Deck the Halls" decorating tradition here at Hawkwood School!  It was whirlwind quick though!



FYI
-Alien Inline Skating Monday @9:15 (bring your own helmets if you want!)
-Fort Calgary Field Trip Wednesday December 4th
-No School Friday PD day
-No poetry party next week - students will present Dec.13


Our Learning:
-We had a blast at Alien Inline skating today, the Grade 2's did amazing!
-Poetry Party presenters - EVERY SINGLE student had their poem memorized with a FABULOUS performance!!! Bravo Grade 2!
-I was very impressed with the Spelling Test - each group did really well!
-We made Snow Globe crafts with our Grade 6 buddies for Deck the Halls

For Homework:
We are writing our prairie poem on Monday and Tuesday.  Pick a topic and brainstorm some juicy, descriptive words you could use to give your writing some pizzaz! 

Topics: 

snow 
blizzard
fall 
winter
flat plains
any prairie animal/bird
any prairie plant/flower
farm
pasture
grassland
... any topic related to the prairie that you are interested in.

Descriptive Writing:

Six room poetry  
Topic example: Bison
-images (what do you see)....... example: "herd of bison"
-light and color.......................................... "rough, fuzzy and deep brown coat of fur"
-sounds...................................................... "thundering hooves"
-emotions..................................................."awe and wonder at the gigantic mammals"
-actions......................................................."racing through the grassland"

OR.....
5 senses... what you would feel, smell, taste, hear, see
Topic: Snow
I feel.....   sharp, jagged ice
I see.....   crystal diamonds glittering over the land
I smell..... fresh, crisp and clean air 
I hear.... ... crunching crackles of my feet walking 
I taste.....  melting, clean water

Thursday November 28th, 2019

Dear parents,
What a fun day!  Alien inline skating was a blast, and the Grade 2's did fantastic!  Tomorrow is going to be a fun filled day- woo hoo!  Make sure you are on time as our Alien Inline skating starts promptly at 9:15.


FYI
Poetry Party tomorrow
Spelling Test tomorrow
Alien Inline skating
Deck the halls

Our Learning:
"I liked making the tipi."-Charlotte
"I liked doing math."-Kolby
"I liked doing inline skating."-Debbie & Michelle
"I liked the math game at the end. "-Aahana
"I loved inline skating and math equations."-Sydney
"I liked math centers."-Alex
"I liked doing the practice spelling test."-Maha
"I liked doing our math centers."-Gabby
"I liked doing the math at the end."-Joey
"I liked playing race to 100."-Ibraheem
"I liked building our tipi.'-Hope
"I lam excited to team up with our buddies to do deck the halls."-Leina
"I liked doing the map and am excited for doing our craft with our buddies."-Amara
"I liked making tipi's and taking pictures outside."-Jaxon
"I am looking forward to doing deck the halls."-Wyatt

For Discussion:
Practice your spelling words with your family - try out the spelling bee and make your own 'buzzer' to make it fun!

Wednesday November 27th, 2019

Dear Parents,
Alien Inline skating starts tomorrow!  9:15-10:15 am, remember to dress comfortable!

FYI
Alien Inline skating Thursday & Friday
Next week- Fort Calgary Dec.4



Our Learning:
"I liked playing silent soccer."-Malik
"I liked doing our writing about the prairies."-Beckett
"I liked Dailly 5."-Gabriella
"I liked to write our Prairie map."-Maha
"I liked reading the spelling words."-Ibraheem
"I liked doing the map."-Amara
"I liked everything especially the literacy!"-Debbie
"I liked having inside recess."-Sydney
"I liked writing about our maps and prairies."-Aahana
"I liked drawing pictures in music."-Charlotte
"I liked doing math."-Kolby

For Discussion:
We looked at the "Ecozones" of the prairies- a big word to describe the land, and climate in a given area.
Talk about different ways to describe the prairie regions (ie. flat, fertile soil, farmland...)

Tuesday November 26th, 2019

Dear Parents, 
We are starting our Science unit on Hot & Cold.  Start checking the weather and coming up with different words to describe our prairie winter!


FYI:
-Alien Inline Skating for our class is this Thursday & Friday morning - students should wear comfortable clothing.  All gear is provided by Alien Inline.
-Poetry Party performances is Nov. 29

Our Learning:

"I  liked learning about the Ecozones."-Charlotte

"I liked learning about the Ecozones too."-Kolby

"I liked learning about Brain Eater in Superflex."-Beckett

"I liked playing silent soccer."-Sydney & Hope

"I liked doing the maps."-Amara

"I liked winning in silent soccer."-Nora

"I liked learning about the Ecozones of the prairies and also our silent soccer."-James

"I did not just like, I loved doing gym and super flex."-Debbie

"I liked doing our maps."-Aengus

"I liked doing Daily 5."-Gabriella 

For Discussion:

check out the spelling words list & play one of the games. Share what you liked/learned in circle tomorrow!

Spelling List Nov. 25-29

 GREEN
 Pattern focus: Short vowels (CVC) and Long Vowels (CVCe)

mad, want, and, take, fad, make, wand, made, came, page, same, had, fade, cake, hand, cage, face, age. 

SORT:
1.Short vowel sounds (CVC), long vowel sounds (CVCe), Oddball 
2.Rhyming words: words that sound the same at the end such as "may & say"
Try: Choose 3-5 words to write a sentence with. 
Try: Online game 
Words Their Way short&long a: http://www.classtools.net/widgets/dustbin_8/fOymM.htm
Short & Long Vowels:  https://www.education.com/game/long-short-vowel-sort/


YELLOW
Pattern Focus:  Digraphs and Blends 

math, track, arch, way, last, whale, page, camp, wage, lamp, pray, rant, stay, want, that, what, snack, chat.

SORT:
1. Short and Long Vowel sounds  (short: lamp, long: way odd: want)
2. Word Familes : -ay, -at, a-e (example: fate, slate) , -ant, -ack, -mp, wh-, th
Try: Choose 3-5 words to write a sentence.
Try: Online game: 
https://www.abcya.com/games/consonant_blends
https://www.kizphonics.com/phonics/digraph-sh-phonics-game/



PURPLE
Pattern Focus: Vowel teams 

rain, away, male, stay, whale, bait, air, sail, wail, bare, wait, tail, mail, pain, faint, sale, late, share, tale, plate

SORT:
1. short and long vowel sounds 
2. homophones  (words that sound the same but are spelled differently such as mane & main)
3. word families:  -ay, -ale, -ail, -ate, -are, vowel /ai/ 
Try: Write a sentence for each homophone
Try: Online game http://www.classtools.net/widgets/dustbin_0/la4Dn.htm.

Monday November 25th, 2019

Dear Parents,
Apologies for the late blog post, I was away this afternoon for an appointment!  We had the wonderful Ms. Enns in as our substitute this afternoon.  It was great to see many parents for Student Led conferences!  Thank you for coming out to celebrate your child's learning.


FYI
-Alien Inline Skating for our class is this Thursday & Friday morning - students should wear comfortable clothing.  All gear is provided by Alien Inline.
-Poetry Party performances is Nov. 29


Our Learning
New groups, new words! See the "Spelling List" words for Nov. 25-Nov. 29th


For Discussion:
Sort your words according to the spelling patterns given (see the blog post spelling list)

Thursday November 21th, 2019

Dear Parents,

See you tonight and tomorrow for conferences!


FYI

Book Fair is on, stop by Thurs or Fri
Fort Calgary Field Trip forms sent home (Dec.4)

Wednesday November 19th, 2019

Dear Parents,

A reminder that tomorrow is a short day, (similar to a Friday) where we are done at 1:20 due to Student Led Conferences.



FYI
Student led conferences
Book Fair - you will have time tomorrow to purchase books, as well, you can wait until conferences.


Our Learning

"Tomorrow is book fair, you can buy books in the morning."--Joey
"I really loved doing Daily 5.  I got to do Buddy Reading"-Leina
"I liked doing the Silent Soccer!  Also I liked doing Social."-James
"I learned about Canada and the Prairies."-Wyatt
"I did Word Work.  I played the play dough racing game."-Gabriella
"I liked playing Silent Soccer- I won the first round."-Sydney
"I loved everything, especially music.  We listened to the song Ear.  We got scarves and danced around."-Debbie
"I liked Silent Soccer."-Maha
"In Social we wrote about the prairies."-Ibraheem
"I liked Daily 5.  I played the play dough game."-Yusuf


For Discussion:
What are two things you learned about the prairies?

Homework:
Write a descriptive sentence about the prairies on paper and bring it in to share tomorrow!



Examples:
The sparkling snow on the prairie looks like diamonds glistening.

In the Springtime on the prairie, you might see a sleepy Grizzly bear crawling out of its hidden den.

The spectacular prairie summer brings the delicate blooming of the western fringed orchid.

Tuesday November 19th, 2019

Dear Parents,

Be careful out there! It sure is a winter wonderland!

FYI
Bring back purple folders daily please
Book Fair this week
Student Conferences this week


Our Learning:
Ask your child what we did today!

For Discussion:

What types of life are on the prairies?

SPELLING PATTERN LIST Nov. 18-22

SPELLING LIST 


Level 1: 
give, kite, mice, chip, nice, fine, live, drop, hip, flip, this, sip

Level 2:
give, kite, mice, chip, nice, fine, live, drop, hip, flip, this, sip, alive, drive, thick, dice

Level 3: 
give, kite, mice, chip, nice, fine, live, drop, hip, flip, this, sip, alive, drive, thick, dice, knife, prism, while, surprise, prize


HOME PRACTICE

DO:
Make your own spelling word ring and sort the words according to the patterns: 
long vowel, short vowel, and oddball

DISCUSS:
what makes 2 of the words from the list oddball words?

TRY:
Choose 3-5 words and write a sentence.  Make sure to add some juicy words to make your sentence interesting!  Bring your sentence in to share!

GAME: 
make your own Word-Wac-Woe gameboard and play with your family!

Monday November 18th, 2019

Dear Parents, 

We certainly had fun today putting on the run through of the school wide "Opera!"  All Hawkwood teachers got to read the play together, start to finish.  Students were able to get an idea of the play, and hopefully are thinking about how they would like to be involved.  In the next few weeks a composer will be working with our school to develop the score.  Stay tuned on Hawkwood School page & the principal's blog for details!

FYI
-Student Led Conferences  Thursday & Friday - book online
-Book Fair all week (preview was today, we have the opportunity to purchase on Thursday morning or parents can bring their children in to purchase books during conference hours.  All proceeds go towards Hawkwood school.)
-spelling words posted under "Spelling words Nov.18-22)
-thanks for returning your poetry party duotangs and purple communication folders :)


Our Learning:
"I liked everything especially the Opera assembly!"-Debbie
"I liked learning our new spelling words."-Amara
"I liked looking at the book fair."-Sydney
"I liked doing Daily 5."-Alex
"I learned that buffalo were hunted by the Indigenous people."-Aahana
"I loved the book fair and the assembly!"-Charlotte & Ibraheem
"I liked playing outside by myself."-Emmett
"I liked doing the grasslands."-James
"I loved playing on the playground, and I did good listening.  It will be my birthday in three weeks!"-Jacob
"My favorite thing was doing Daily 5 because I like writing."-Leina
"I liked doing Daily 5, I liked the story told during the assembly."-Beckett
"I liked writing my wish list at book fair."-Jaxon
"I liked the math activity with odd and even."-Ibraheem


For Homework:
Review your spelling words and discuss the patterns we are learning.

Friday November 15th, 2019

Dear Parents, 
Wow! I was so impressed with the Grade 2 performances for Poetry Party!!!!!!  Bravo to each and every one of you!
New poems went out today, along with the new 'communication folders' (purple).  Please send these back on Monday.  The targets will be filled out at school on Monday.

FYI

Alien Inline Skating permission forms are due.
Alien Inline Skating dates:  Nov. 28 & 29, Dec 2 @ 9:15am-10:15am
Student Led conferences are on Nov. 21 & 22
Book Fair starts next week

Our Learning:
Students did a great job during Literacy Centers. We finished up our basket weaving, and they are coming home.  Poetry Party was spectacular and students got to bring a new poem home.


For Discussion:
What goal will you set with Poetry Party?

Thursday November 14th, 2019

Dear Parents, 

We are excited to do our first Poetry Party performance in front of the class tomorrow!


FYI
Please return the yellow poems asap
Alien Inline Skating permission forms are due.
Alien Inline Skating dates:  Nov. 28 & 29, Dec 2 @ 9:15am-10:15am
Student Led conferences are on Nov. 21 & 22
Book Fair starts next week

Our Learning:
-In Daily 5 we practiced working with our spelling pattern.  We will have a spelling test tomorrow.
-We started Thankful Thursday's and wrote kind notes to one another and got to put them in our new "mailboxes"
-we finished up number bonds during morning work
-We explored Wonderville and got to learn about how a tipi is built.
-We made our own version of baskets by weaving a pattern of paper strips & watched a short video on Indigenous basket making
-We enjoyed birthday donuts from Malik :)


For Discussion:
What are some of the patterns in our spelling list?

Wednesday November 13th, 2019

Dear Parents, 

We learned a new word today!  "Precept" from the book Wonder.   Precept, in the book is defined as "rules about really important things," "a motto" "any saying that grounds or motivates, you" "a line from a fortune cookie,"etc.  We wrote down the precept from the book:

"WHEN GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN BEING RIGHT 

OR BEING KIND..... CHOOSE KIND"

We will be starting Thankful Thursdays as our SUPERFLEX power to overcome Mean Jean.  We have new "mail boxes" (well, really envelopes with our names) where our friends will deliver kind messages on Thursdays during Morning Work.


FYI
Please return the yellow poems asap
Alien Inline Skating permission forms are due.
Alien Inline Skating dates:  Nov. 28 & 29, Dec 2 @ 9:15am-10:15am
Student Led conferences are on Nov. 21 & 22
Book Fair starts next week

Our Learning:
-We are still reading Wonder and will begin answering some comprehension questions about the read aloud.  We are connecting Superflex, friendship skills, empathy, etc. to our learning.
-We learned a new Daily 5 game: Diamond Millionaire with a focus on sorting our spelling words according to short/long vowels, alphabetical order, rule breakers, & homophones.
-We are practicing our poems during Buddy Reading and will perform on Friday.
-We use Raz Kids and Dance Mat typing in "Listen to Reading"
-In Guided Reading we are focusing on features of Non-Fiction texts, as well as starting our own personal word books to help us with spelling during our writing
-In writing we will be focusing on writing postcards, letters, notes, procedural writing, research facts, free style writing, and 6 room poetry
-In Social we are looking at geographic features of the prairies, and tying it into our learning about the Blackfoot people.
-In Math we worked on our centers with a main focus on numbers up to 100.


Some questions to consider: 
What does it mean to decide between right and kind?
How important is it that "you are right?"
What happens when you hang onto being 'right' .... over being nice?

Spelling Patterns Nov. 12-15

CVCe pattern  -Level 1
CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like 'cop' 'rod' 'dim' 'pin' 'man' 'hug' 'cut' and 'can' all have a 'short' vowel sound. 
When we add Magic E at the end.  The words then become CVCe words (consonant-vowel-consonant e) where E 'bonks' the preceding vowel on the head and makes it say its own name! The vowel then makes a long sound. 


more
cope
rode
dime
pine
mane
huge
cute 
cane 

*Sometimes words don't always follow the rules! We call these 'rule breakers'.  Which one of the words above fits the CVCe pattern, but doesn't follow the 'sound rule' ?  
Write out your words on pieces of paper and sort the words into 'rule followers' and 'rule breakers'.  

CCVC and CCVCe pattern - level 2
BOSSY "R" likes to boss around the vowels!  When bossy r is in the word, it tends to take over the whole sound making it hard to hear the other vowels! 

star
blur
stir
chore 

*sort these words by CCVC or CCVCe 

Bossy R- Level 3 words 
These words are some of our vocabulary words for social, and they are difficult to spell because of the Bossy R sound as well as uncommon vowel combinations. 

Calgary
Alberta
Europe
flour
stare

*Try these words in a sentence.  Use adjectives to create a visual picture and make your sentence more interesting!  We call this 'adding juicy words'. 
Example: 
The lion had a mane. 
The lion had a thick, fluffy mane.


Games to Try: 
-make your own version of Kaboom! (https://youtu.be/uZDNsondlW0)
-try Rhyme it, Change it!  where you write a word below that rhymes with your word... then make another new word by changing only 1 or 2 letters- but make sure to keep the pattern!
Example: 

sand
land
lamb 

Tuesday November 12, 2019

Dear Parents, 
We are beginning our new spelling patterns program.  I will be posting the lists separate to blog under "Spelling Patterns: November 12-15".  Students will sometimes be doing a spelling test on Fridays.  Please take the time to review the rule, and find 'rule breakers' that don't always follow the rule.  Then  practice writing out your spelling words.  Students should be aware of the pattern rule in their spelling to help them spell new words.



FYI
Poetry party poems - please bring in tomorrow!
Inline Skating permission forms are due asap


Our Learning: 
In the morning we reviewed the Poetry Party program (we ran out of time Friday to discuss details).  It is important that after your child brings their poem home that you a) take a picture, or b)write the poem down & then return the original.
Friday- student brings home new poem, notice the personal goal set on their target. Take time to practice the poem.  I suggest taking a picture of the poem to have as a reference, or having your child write the poem out on another piece of paper.  All props used by students should be made at home during the weekend, or sometime during the week & have ready for the performance on Fridays.
Monday-bring back the original poem with target.  Students will practice Mon-Thurs during Literacy Daily 5.
Friday- performances will typically be held around snack time. Each student will get up and state their goal, then perform their poem in front of the class. Students will self assess using their target.  Teacher will write feedback on their targets.

* when we have a short week (with the exception of this week!) we will typically extend the practice to 2 weeks and perform on the following Friday.

Performances - we will be performing in front of our class each week.  In December we will invite another grade 2 class to be our audience.  In January we will be inviting our grade 6 buddy class to be our audience.  In May we will host a formal "Poe-tea" where families will be invited to the official year end performance.  Tickets and info will be sent out in late April/early May. 

Spelling Program: 
-Students are beginning a spelling program that focuses on the written and sound patterns in weekly words.  The word list will be posted under blog in a special header 'Spelling Words" with the date.  Students will be using literacy stations to practice their words.  I encourage you to practice at home using suggested literacy games.
-Levels: Students are beginning to be encouraged to reflect on their own personal levels of learning, and choose words that compliment their current level.  Level 1- green, Level 2- yellow, Level 3- purple.
-Weekly tests are sometimes administered, but not always.  Typically these tests will be on Fridays, and are not considered a part of a students literacy mark, but rather as a tool to help students and teacher to identify strengths and areas where more practice is needed.

Math: Students will be assessed for report cards on the following outcomes:
-identify, recognize and say numbers to 50.  By June, up to 100.
-be able to order numbers from least to greatest, greatest to least.
-identify even and odd numbers and explain how they know.
-skip count by 2s, 5s, and 10s forwards and backwards using a hundreds chart.
-begin to use mathematical language when expressing their understanding (ie. addends, subtrahend, sum, difference, addition, subtraction, ten frame, number line, skip counting, etc.).
-begin to identify mathematical strategies and tools to help them solve word problems (i.e. hundreds grid, number line, counters..)



For Discussion:
We watched a video about farming.  What kind of farming did the people do?

Friday November 7th, 2019

Dear Parents, 
In the whirlwind of today, we didn't get a chance to blog together!  Thank you to Debbie & Sydney for stepping up to be our grade 2 presenters for "What is Peace?" at the Remembrance Day assembly. Fabulous job to the both of them!

Ms. Heagy shared some of her husbands Canadian Armed Forces gear & metals, and students made poppies and wrote about what peace is to them.  With buddies, we 'up cycled' and made CD spinners.

FYI
No school Monday (Remembrance Day)
Bring back poetry party poem (yellow paper)
Inline skating forms due


Poetry Party:
Students are bringing home a letter outlining the details of Poetry Party. Please send back the yellow poem (you may keep the white one as well as the target).
Each week students will practice during Daily 5 Buddy Reading and on Fridays they will perform in front of the class. Students will select a new poem on Friday's, and bring it home over the weekend to practice. Please return the poem each Monday.
IF there is no school on Friday, we will extend the performance to the following week.

Inline Skating: November 18-22
Please return permission forms as soon as possible :)

Have a great long weekend!

Thursday Nov. 7th, 2019

Dear Parents, 
Tomorrow is our Remembrance Day assembly where we will take time to honor the people who have fought for our country, and remember that is it to them we owe gratitude for the peace we have in Canada today.

FYI
Remembrance Day ceremony Friday
No School Monday


Our Learning:

I like listening to Wonder-Charlotte
I liked doing Daily 5
I liked writing and playing in the gym.-Jacob
I liked handing out my cupcakes - Joey
I loved handing out cupcakes to other classes - Emmett
I liked Music - Beckett
I love love love eating the cupcakes!-Maha
I liked gym -Michelle
I learned that peace is something to celebrate on our Remembrance Day - Aahana
I liked choices time -Ibraheem
I love love loved watching the peace video about soldiers - James
I liked writing about peace-Nora
I am excited for tomorrow and excited to be James popsicle buddy-Hope
I liked making Joey a birthday present - Jaxon
Today was our first Music and Gym day -Debbie
I really really liked earning marbles! -Leina
I liked doing our morning work - Alex

For Discussion: 
What is peace to you?

Wednesday

Dear Parents, 
Wow, what a FREEZING cold day! We checked out the temperature this morning, as we are beginning our investigation into Hot & Cold for Science.


FYI
Remembrance Day Assembly Friday
Wear RED on Friday to show you remember <3 the soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom


Our Learning: 

"I liked doing super flex!"-Beckett
"I liked gym."-Deb
"I liked reading wonder."-Alex
"I liked reading Wonder too!"-Aahana
"I liked being the strongest in gym."-James
"I liked doing the parachute in gym."-Sydney
"I liked big the sharking gym."-Charlotte
"I liked doing centers and my writing."-Maha
"I liked the morning -everything!"-Joy
"I liked about Mean Jean"-Nora
"I liked drawing and coloring Mean Jean."-Emmett & Leina
"I liked writing about the birch tree."-Ibraheem
"I loved doing all the parachute games in the gym."-Aengus
"I liked the centers and going to library."-Amara
"I liked literacy centers and math."-Gabriella
"I liked everything"-Hope
"I liked drawing mean jean and coloring."-Michelle
"I learned about Wonderopolis."-Kolby
"I loved Wonder."-Jaxon
"I liked Superflex."-Yusuf
"I liked playing my chicken nugget game outside."-Wyatt
"I liked learning about Mean Jean."-Jaxon'
"I liked the penguins and tigers and elephants show."-Jacob

For Conversation:
How do you know what the temperature is outside?

Monday November 4th, 2019

Dear Parents, 
Raz Kids levels will be updated over the next few days :)


FYI
Picture re-takes are tomorrow (Tues. Nov.5)
Assembly Friday @ 10:30 am
Remembrance Day Monday Nov. 11- No School
Fun Lunch Nov. 18
Book Fair Nov. 18-22
Parent Conferences Nov. 21 2-8pm & Nov.22 all day

Our Learning: 

We started our Daily 5 today, and we are working on how to be awesomely independent during this time.  Library will be looped in to the Read to Self time.
In Social we are looking at our text sets, as well as landforms and bodies of water.  


For Discussion: 
What are some examples of landforms & bodies of water?