In the month of September we welcomed back all our students to the classroom! We were so excited for a brand new year, and students have proven to be just as excited as we are! Throughout the month, we practiced a variety of routines and procedures to support students in feeling both safe and comfortable in the classroom. Students practiced recess expectations, working in groups, and expected behaviours in the classroom. We read a variety of stories to emphasize expected and unexpected behaviours in the classroom, including “Interrupting Chicken,” “My Mouth is a Volcano,” “We Don’t Eat Our Classmates,” “Decibella,” and “Our Class is a Family.” 

Students have been exploring emotions with Ms. Claire and Ms. Abdalla during Scribble Spot lessons. Outside, they practised using their senses to slow down, notice their surroundings and recognize how their bodies feel. They’ve also been learning to tell the difference between big and little problems, both in and out of the classroom. We’re reminding students that all feelings are okay, and we can choose a response or reaction that best fits the size of the problem 

Students have also been learning what it means to be a writer. We’ve explored how writers can share their ideas through pictures, letters, labels and sentences. Students are beginning to use a writing process called POW! - Pick an idea, Organize your thinking, and Write - to help them plan and share their ideas. They are also exploring how to build sentences that make sense to a reader. 

In math, students began exploring what it means to be a mathematician. They shared ideas during number talks and “notice and wonder” activities, played math games, and used pattern blocks and snap cubes to investigate patterns and numbers. They also started looking at how numbers are organized on both number charts and number lines. 

To close the month, Grade 1/2 students came together for the Terry Fox Run and an Orange Shirt Day community walk. 

We are looking forward to October and to hosting our first school spirit day: Fall Colour Day!

Exploring patterns and shape