I am looking forward to a busy year. Feel free to come in and say hello this week. I will use the blog weekly to keep you up to date. Please enter your email adress to ensure you receive my blog updates on your email. I will give each student time to enter their zimbra email addresses this week. Grade 6 students should be encouraged to check the blog and ask for clarification when needed. Grade 7 students are expected to be accountable for their learning by noting important dates and assignments in a way that works best for them. They will also be expected to keep an agenda as an organizational tool. Below is a snapshot of what we will be working on this week.
This year I am especially excited to be participating in a Technology Pilot Project with the school district. As a pilot project classroom we have the use of individual chrome books and class iPads. This project will allow us to further develop our technological skills as well as further addressing the individual needs of each student. Stay tuned for information about how we are using this technology on a day-to-day basis.
** All students will need a pair of headphones that can stay at school **
The main focus for our school population during the first week is on respect and responsibility. We focus on how we want to be treated and how we want to treat others. Our language arts focus will be poems and short stories with this theme. We will also cover classroom routines and expectations. On Wednesday and Thursday we will review the school behaviour matrix through the arts with our rotation teachers (Ms. Clark, Mrs. Pendergast and Mrs. Montellbetti) . On Friday we will be sharing our learning with our pod.
A (accountability)
R (respect)
T (teamwork)
S (safety)
Agendas
Students are expected to bring their agenda into class each morning and will be given time to write in their agenda each afternoon. For the first term I will be checking agendas each afternoon to make sure they are correctly recording the day's homework. Feel free to write to me in the agenda. Grade 6/7 students are encouraged to start being more independent in order to ease their transition to high school.
Homework
Students are excepted to do daily math, spelling and reading homework.
Math- basic facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication and basic division). Students can use online games, card games, worksheets or board games to help practice basic facts. Estimating purchase costs and making change is also good practice.
Spelling- this year we will be using the grade 6 and 7 programs on aaaspell.com. Students can select the lesson and practice online. Each Monday we will also write the words in our agenda. We will start this program in a few weeks. This week we will focus on sight words.
their
there
they're
a lot
weather
whether
to
too
two
its
it's
where
wear
were
your
you're
Reading- Students are encouraged to read either aloud or independently for 30 minutes a day- reading to siblings counts!
Other homework assignments are based on a need to complete basis. If work has not been completed in the assigned time it will be send home.
Attendance
Due to the collaborative nature of our school attendance is extremely important. Please limit the number of absences your child has as it is often hard to make up assignments done in groups and without textbooks. If your child is sick let me know in advance when you will be at school and I will happy to put together a homework package. Emailing my school account is a perfect way to communicate these absences and clarify homework jalpaugh@sd73.bc.ca. If students know they are going to be away in advance they are expected to find a quiet time to ask me to collect work for them in advance prior to their absence.
Gym Strip
All students are expected to have a clean pair of indoor shoes and a change of clothes they can easily move in (no jeans please) for both dance and gym starting Monday September 14.
Math
We will start math this week. Typically students will be assigned a page to practice a concept learned in class. This year we will also be using the chrome books to practice new concepts. There will be a 5 question review quiz each afternoon to ensure everyone is on the same page before we move on. If your child is struggling with a concept they should see me at lunch before the review quiz in the afternoon. Our first few weeks will be focused on centres and math games to improve basic fact recall.
Important September/October Dates
Sept 25- Pro D
Oct 9- Photo Day
Oct 12- Thanksgiving- No school
Oct 14/15- Parent Teacher interview- more info TBA
Oct 23- Pro D
Thank you for your support. I look forward to meeting you this week.
Ms. Alpaugh
Grade 6/7 Blog Challenge- Day 1
Please write the answer to this question under Tuesday September 8 in your Agenda.
What is the name of our new Vice Principal?
