January 30, 2018

Dear Parents,

During literacy, we are reading novels with our groups and working on literacy jobs which are a high yield strategy called reciprocal teaching.  These jobs involve; summarizing, predicting, clarifying, questioning and revups.

Today we began "Number Talks" in our class. This helps the students to build Mental Math and Computation Strategies. Using these strategies, the students break down the equation to problem solve through the process to find the answer.  The process is the key part. Here is what it looks like...

The students learned some math hand signals during our Number Talks today.

Important Dates:

- Kenneth D Taylor Movie Night on Friday. Showtime is at 7pm..

- Home Reading - please read daily! Some students are bringing their novel home tonight so that they can catch up.

- Please, please subscribe to your child's blog

Have a great evening!

Mrs. Sayani

January 23, 2018

Dear Parents,

This week the students have been getting ready for our upcoming student led conference on Thursday January 25 from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m.. I am unavailable on Friday January 26, therefore I would like to open another day which will be on February 9th from 2:30-3:30 p.m.. If you are unable to come on Thursday then please email me about the new date.

Tfdharamsisa@cbe.ab.ca

In math we have been practising SPLAT. This is a POWERFUL, highly interactive number sense strategy that can be used at any grade level. We have also been looking at estimation and addition and subtraction of three digit numerals.

http://www.stevewyborney.com/?p=893

Important Information:

Please read daily for 20 - 30 minutes.

There is a book fair at our school this week. Your child is able to purchase books on Thursday during the day and during the conferences in the evening.

No school on Friday due to our Student Led Conferences

No School on Monday due to Professional Development


Photos of our Learning:









Sincerely,


Mrs. Sayani

January 11, 2018

Dear Parents,

Welcome Back from the break. The students have settled back into our routines nicely and are engaging in their learning. This week we are completing our essay writing on the novel “Fatty Legs”. The students will share these with you during our upcoming student led conferences at the end of the month. All students are following a rubric for success in their writing.

In math we have been practising both multiplication and division facts. Please remind your child to use the IXL website during their free time at home. Another great site that includes videos on how to solve equations step by step is by Khan academy. This is a free website:

https://www.khanacademy.org/


Important Information:

The grade 4 team will be building their simple machines next week on Tuesday and Thursday. Your child has ideated using the design thinking approach. Their ideation includes a diagram, labels and materials required to build it. We will be using the maker cart, however, if your child has recycled items or objects at home that would benefit their project, please kindly send them to school. They will be able to bring the materials back home after their project is complete.

• Home Reading daily - Please remember that the book your child reads can be from our classroom, learning commons or a book of choice from home. I am awaiting time trees for our math activity. 

• Our Learning Commons time is every Monday @9:50 a.m.. Please kindly return all books on Monday’s. 

• Popcorn day is on January 17 and 18. If your child would like participate then send a toonie with him/her to school. 

• Fun Lunch is on Friday January 19, 2018. 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sayani

Dec 20, 2017

Dear Parents,

Tis the Season! We had an amazing community building activity with our grade 4 team.  The students are involved in various centres designing a holiday gift for your family.  They are excited and doing a fantastic job. Please DO NOT ASK your child about this as it is a surprise.

Our class has been working on an opinion writing piece based on the residential schools that existed long ago in Alberta. They are learning how to write using a thesis statement, reasons with evidence and a conclusion.  They are organizing their work with the use of paragraphs.  We are looking forward to sharing this work with you in January during the student led conferences.

Our winter celebrations have begun.  Our class will be performing tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday) at 1:30 p.m. All parents are welcome to attend.

Important Information:

• Report Cards come home today
• Please return envelopes back to school
• If your child is on an IPP, please sign the signature sheet and return it school the next day.
• Pajama day - Wednesday Dec 20
• Candy cane day - Dec 21
• Early dismissal on Dec 21 @ noon.  Please send your child to school with a snack and lunch.

Sincerely,

Mrs.Sayani

December 18, 2017

Dear Parents,

Tis the Season! We had an amazing community building activity with our grade 4 team.  The students are involved in various centres designing a holiday gift for your family.  They are excited and doing a fantastic job. Please DO NOT ASK your child about this as it is a surprise.

Our class has been working on an opinion writing piece based on the residential schools that existed long ago in Alberta. They are learning how to write using a thesis statement, reasons with evidence and a conclusion.  They are organizing their work with the use of paragraphs.  We are looking forward to sharing this work with you in January during the student led conferences.

Our winter celebrations have begun.  Here is a glimpse of one of today’s performances:

Our class will be performing on Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. All parents are welcome to attend.

Important Information:

• Holiday hat day tomorrow!
• Report Cards come home
• Please return envelopes back to school
• If your child is on an IPP, please sign the signature sheet and return it school the next day.
• Pajama day - Wednesday Dec 20
• Candy cane day - Dec 21
• Early dismissal on Dec 21 @ noon.  Please send your child to school with a snack and lunch.

Sincerely,

Mrs.Sayani

December 8, 2017

Dear Parents,

Another great week of learning… The students spent time with their Kinder Buddies from Ms. Steckley’s class. They helped them fill out a survey about themselves and read books together. It is amazing to see the leadership within our Grade 4 students.

Important Information:

• The grade 4 team is in need of small glass jars ( baby food jar) for a project.  If you have any that you can send to school then please kindly do so by next Friday.

• Home Reading daily - Please remember that the book your child reads can be from our classroom, learning commons or a book of choice from home. I am awaiting time trees for our math activity.
• Our Learning Commons time is every Monday @9:50 a.m.. Please kindly return all books by Monday December 15.

Have an awesome weekend!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sayani

December 1, 2017

Dear Parents,

This week we spent a lot of time preparing writing our essay on the impact of residential schools on the Inuvialuit culture.  The students worked in groups to look for evidence in the novel “Fatty Legs”.  Here are some of our findings…

During math, the students have been using mental math strategies to practise multiplication facts.  I am happy to announce that the school has ordered IXL subscriptions for the grade 3 and 4 classes. The students do not know this yet so please let them know.

The students completed our class generated rubric on our biodegradable packages. We worked with Mrs. Hargreaves class on the design thinking process. Feel free to ask your child about this tonight.

Important Information:

• The grade 4 team is in need of small glass jars (baby food jar size) for a project.  If you have any that you can send to school then please kindly do so by next Friday.

• Home Reading daily - Please remember that the book your child reads can be from our classroom, learning commons or a book of choice from home. I am awaiting time trees for our math activity.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sayani

November 23, 2017

Dear Parents,

We have had a great few days of learning.  The students are engaged in a science topic about “Wheel and Levers”. They are showing their learning by ideating (the idea stage of design thinking), about simple machines that use pulley, levers and wheels. We worked in the makerspace this afternoon and here are some of the ideas…

During math, we discussed all the ways that measurement is used as well as the various tools.  Feel free to ask your child about this tonight.

Important Information:

• Tomorrow is Flex Friday at Ken Taylor school.  The students will be put into flexible groups with a different teacher.  We will be looking at the work of Wassily Kandinsky who was a famous artist known for his abstract art and circles.

• Home Reading daily - Please remember that the book your child reads can be from our classroom, learning commons or a book of choice from home. I am awaiting time trees for our math activity.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sayani

Nov 17, 2017

Dear Parents,

This week at school the students completed a Google form about specific science vocabulary that we have been learning about.  They were thrilled to do this using technology, however, there were some students who opted to use a written form. We will be moving on to learning about levers and pulleys as well as simple machines in science and connecting it to our makerspace.

During math, we looked at a rectangular prism and the students had a task and it was to create as many rectangular shapes using 18 small squares.  Look at the variations we came up with!

Our virtual field trip was a huge success.  Please feel free to ask your child about this tonight.

Important Information:

• Children's Day is a day recognised to celebrate children. The day is celebrated on various calendar dates in different countries. We will be celebrating this day on November 20, 2017. All students are requested to wear something blue.  
• Below are links about this day.

https://www.unicef.org/rightsite/files/rightsforeverychild.pdf

http://people.com/music/pink-what-about-us-world-childrens-day-remake-unicef/

• Home Reading daily - Please remember that the book your child reads can be from our classroom, learning commons or a book of choice from home. I am awaiting time trees for our math activity.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sayani

Nov 14, 2017

Dear Parents,

In Science, the students have been reviewing the science vocabulary based on “Waste in our World”.  We brainstormed specific definitions, examples and implications together and I have shared it with them on google docs.  They spent time studying with a partner today.  Feel free to discuss these words with your child prior to Thursday.

Important Information:

• There will be a virtual field trip in our classroom called “Secrets of the Lost Querey “ tomorrow morning.
• Home Reading daily - Please remember that the book your child reads can be from our classroom, learning commons or a book of choice from home. I am awaiting time trees for our math activity.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sayani