Science: Forces Causing Movement

In science class, we've been discussing the idea about Forces (push and pull, motion): Gravity Force, Muscular Force, Friction Force, Buoyancy Force. We will discuss more about Magnetic Force, Static Force, Direct and Indirect Force next week.

Today, we watched a short clip about "Why do things float?" and experimented with several objects. Also, we discussed the idea about Buoyant objects (float) and non-Buoyant objects (sink).

Helpful reading websites

1. Raz- Kids

https://www.raz-kids.com/ 

Raz-Kids is an award-winning teaching product that provides comprehensive leveled reading resources for students. With hundreds of eBooks offered at 27 different levels of reading difficulty, it's easy to put the right content in every student's hands.

Kids access their levelled text through an interactive learning portal designed to keep them motivated and engaged. Every eBook is available in online and mobile formats, and allows students to listen to, read at their own pace, and record themselves reading. Students then take a corresponding eQuiz complete with an extended answer response to test comprehension and determine future instruction needs. Once a child has read ten or more of the leveled eBooks and passed each of the corresponding eQuizzes, they advance on to the next reading level where they have access to lengthier and more difficult text.

2. Storyline Online

http://www.storylineonline.net

Developed by The Screen Actors Guild Foundation, Storyline Online features accomplished actors and actresses reading some of their favorite children’s books.  Each story comes with a free Activity Guide and can be viewed on YouTube or SchoolTube.  Rainbow Fish, Wilfrid Gordon Macdonald Partridge, and To Be a Drum are just a few of the books available.

3. Read to Me

http://readtomelv.com

Similar to Storyline Online, Read to Me features popular children’s books being read by famous performers.  There are activity guides with hands-on ideas, discussion questions, and lesson plans that can easily be adapted to the Common Core State Standards.  Entirely free, the site is colorful and engaging.

We Give Books

http://wegivebooks.org

A Pearson Foundation Initiative, We Give Books offers students a unique opportunity to read for social good.  Each book that is read results in a book that is donated to a charity for children.  While the books are not read aloud, they allow students to practice “Read to Self” with a good fit book during center time.  There are books for children in preschool through fourth grade.

TumbleBooks

http://tumblebooks.com

http://www.tcpclibrary.org/tumblebooks.htm

http://www.portlandlibrary.com/kidsplace/tumblebooks.htm

TumbleBooks is a pay-for-use site that traditionally sells licenses to libraries and schools.  Many public libraries, such as the Tell City, IN Public Library, offer free access to their TumbleBooks account.  Students can follow along as the text is read them to help improve comprehension and fluency.  Choose from picture books to chapter books. Portland Public Library also has free access to TumbleBookCloud which gives access to Middle and High School level books.  If your school decides to purchase a school license, there is also access to the Common Core Portal that includes lessons and quizzes to accompany the books.

ABCya!

http://abcya.com

Children can listen to short stories read aloud to them as they follow along with the highlighted text.  ABCya! has a variety of educational games in addition to the featured stories.  Free resources and materials are available for grades K through 5.

National Geographic Young Explorers

http://ngexplorer.cengage.com/ngyoungexplorer/index.html

National Geographic Young Explorers is a magazine designed specifically for kindergarten and first grade students.  Children can listen to the magazine being read to them as they follow along with the highlighted text.  It is a great way to bring interesting non-fiction stories into reading center time.

Reminder: Signing Agenda+ Reading log & Reading questions

I would like to kindly remind you to sign the Agenda and the Reading log everyday. I asked students to read at least 20 minutes everyday and record what they read in their Reading log (a green duo tang). 

It is very important for students to learn to ask questions before, during, and after reading.  Questioning provides a purpose for reading and keeps the reader engaged in the text.  Questions can be answered in many different ways: in the text, by prior knowledge, by inferences, and through further research.  At home, you can ask questions to ensure your child understands what he/she is reading:

Before Reading:

-       What do you think is going to happen?

-       What is the story about?

-       Who is telling the story?

During Reading:

-       What would you do?

-       How does the character feel?

-       I wonder why…?

After Reading:

-       What was the main idea?

-       Do you know someone like…?

-       What would have happened if?

The value of making mistakes

We watched following video clips during our Math class. We discussed the idea about how we learn from our own mistakes. :) 

<Michael Jordan's Failures>

< Famous Failures >

<Don't give up- Olympic Runner> 

Tip Sheets in 15 languages

This tip sheets will help you understand the school system (EQAO test, Special education and etc.) and how you can help your child succeed.

http://www.peopleforeducation.ca/how-does-education-work/multi-lingual-information-for-parents/

Welcome to Ms. Kwak's class!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to another exciting year at Pleasantville Public School!  My name is Jasmin Kwak and I have the pleasure of teaching your child for the 2015 – 2016 school year.

This year, your child will have Ms. Neumann for Health and Physical Education, Ms. Mangat for music, and Ms. Bekiaris for Drama and Dance class. I will teach all other subjects in room 141. All of your child’s teachers will be working together to ensure your child has a successful year. 

I am counting on parental support to help your child adjust to their new grade. The single most important tool available to your child to ensure success is the agenda. I believe in a strong partnership between the student, their parents and the school.  To help keep you informed, I would appreciate if you could please review and sign the agenda nightly.  Also, on most Fridays, students will bring home a “Go Home” folder that will contain any returned work, notes from teachers and self-evaluation sheets.  Returning the folder each week and signing the agenda will ensure that you are kept up to date on your child’s progress and successes.  You can also access our class website at http://gr3kwak.blogspot.ca for information and important deadlines. 

Our class is scheduled for gym every Day 4 and Day 5. It is essential that all children wear appropriate clothes and footwear in order to participate fully in the gym program. To prepare for the winter weather, please ensure that your child brings indoor shoes everyday. In addition, I will provide school supplies, such as pencils, erasers, duo tangs, and etc. Binders and dividers are optional but highly recommended to help organize your child’s schoolwork.

If you have any books or any type of games (i.e. board games, card games.. appropriate for grade 3 students) that students can enjoy during an indoor recess period at home that you wish to donate to our classroom library, it will be so helpful for our students. 

Thank you in advance for your support in establishing a strong start to the 2015 school year.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me through your child’s agenda or by voice-mail at 905-884-7431, extension 141.

We are still a growing school and your child has the unique opportunity to make meaningful and lasting contributions to the school culture.  I’m looking forward to a great year! 

Sincerely,

Ms. Kwak