Week #1: Sept. 6th - 9th "Welcome Back"
Dear Families,
Welcome to our 2022/2023 Classroom Blog! I'm so delighted to begin this educational journey with your child and YOU - providing you with updates and news of ALL our exciting learning and upcoming events from our "Class Family" to your “Home Family.”
This blog serves as a tool for us (teacher - parent(s)/guardians) to communicate and celebrate your child's academic, social, and emotional learning/well being in grade 3!
If you wish to communicate via email, please don't hesitate to contact me at pgill@scdsb.on.ca
I check my email regularly :)
Please note, I will be updating my blog weekly. Every Friday, there will be a new post which specifically highlights the academic, social, and emotional learning from that week. That’s right, I will have detailed explanations with pictures about your child's specific learning each week!
Your child and you are encouraged to visit it over the weekend :) This way, you will be informed about what is happening in our class and help reinforce learned concepts at home, too.
Together, we will work as a dedicated T.E.A.M. = 'Together Everybody Achieves More' to support your child's academic, social, and behavioural goals.
As a teacher, I strongly believe in sound parent-child-teacher communication and working closely to help my students rise to their highest potential! Thus far, I have noticed my students are all striving to put in their 'Level 4 Personal Best' in tasks set before them. I am optimistic we will continue our learning journey with purpose, passion, and productivity!
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude to all the parents who have already actively supported and engaged in their child's learning at home thus far - together, we can make a significant difference by working together. I could not do this without your unconditional love and support; it is greatly valued and cherished!
FASD Awareness:
Did you know that September 9th is International FASD Day? First celebrated in 1999, FASD day is devoted to raising awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) to improve prevention of FASD and diagnosis and support for individuals with FASD.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a lifelong disability that affects the brain and body of people who were exposed to alcohol in the womb. Each person with FASD has both strengths and challenges and will need special supports to help them succeed with many different parts of their daily lives.
Thank you to all the staff and students who showed their support by wearing red socks and/or shoes to help bring attention to this disability.
Here at Nottawa, we recognize the challenges that come with this condition and are here to minimize the stigma associated with children who may have FASD. I encourage all my families to also be part of a global community that is bringing a voice to those impacted by FASD.
Together, we can and WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE to help everyone feel a sense of belonging and acceptance :)
Character Education:
My goal as an educator has always been to help children not only grow as "students," but as the best version of themselves as individuals. For me, I believe that the development of good character is a shared responsibility of students, staff, families, and the extended community.
When all the above mentioned members of society embrace opportunities to model, teach, promote and celebrate good character, we build and strengthen learning and working communities that are caring, safe, respectful and inclusive.
In our class, please know there will be a daily emphasis and explicit teaching and learning of our School Boards 10 Character Traits (see image below).
September's Character Trait:
Each month, our school focuses on one of our character attributes. Character Education is a deliberate effort to nurture universal attributes that transcend racial, religious, socio-economic and cultural lines.
It is a whole school effort to create a community that promotes the highest standards of student discipline and citizenship.
This month's character trait is CARING - "We show kindness towards each other."
There are a lot of different ways you can show somebody you care. Some use their words and some use their actions.
In the video below, Mr. Saad talks about the different ways you can show your friends and family that you care about them.
After watching the video, ask your child "How do you show our family you care about them?"
Classroom Expectations:
Below, you will find a variety of photographs which we have worked on in class to establish our rules and routines. My top priority is to ensure your child is SAFE and HAPPY and that is why I will continually be reinforcing these expectations.
Please click on the photographs below to enlarge them and have your child explain and share these learnings with you.
Class Promise:
Every day after O’Canada and the morning announcements, we as a class community read aloud “Our Class Promise” to help us set a positive intention for our school day.
It has been going very well this week and students are saying it with pride. There are hand actions that go along with this, see if your child can show you these as they say The Promise.
Welcome Back Gift Bag:
I hope your child enjoyed sharing his or her goody bag with YOU! The purpose of this was to warmly welcome all my students and share some special items that have important meanings :)
When your child uses his or her new pencil, eraser, smarties, lifesaver, and starburst, my hope is that he or she remembers what each one represents :-)
At the end of the first day of school, we did a sharing circle called "I'm Bursting to KNOW YOU" (see image below) where each child had the opportunity to go into his or her gift bag, pick out their Starburst, and they were encouraged to share about a specific experience depending on what colour they had.
Bubble Gum Buddies Activity:
Did your child come home from school this week and share, "Guess what Mom and Dad, Ms. Gill gave us bubble gum!!" Now, I know what you may be thinking, "Is gum even permitted at school?!"
For the purposes of getting to know our peers, I had students engage in this friendly and fun activity ;)
I am very pleased with how students managed their gum chewing, blowing bubbles, and respectfully walking around the classroom genuinely asking their peers about the various categories. We definitely had a blast with this!! Check out the photos below to see for yourself ;)
Brain Gym & Meditation:
Perhaps your child has talked about doing “Brain Gym” and “Meditation” in class? If so, yes we have!
Each day after our nutrition and fitness breaks, I have been leading brain gym exercises followed by meditation. It serves as a tool for students to exercise their brain helpers to improve their focus, concentration, and being more mindful and present in their learning.
The photograph below shows you our mindfulness wall and students’ responses about how brain gym and meditation helps us!
Eventually, I will have our "helper of the day" lead our class in these exercises which will increase their confidence and leadership skills.
Can your child state all the "brain helpers” and their function? If not YET, no worries, we will be referring to these all year long so students will get a greater understanding of their powerful brain and how they can train it to help them be the best version of themselves.
Your extraordinary brain has many regions which control different functions and like any great team, they work best when they work together! In this video, you will take a tour to meet these regions and learn more about how they operate!
When students understand that they are in control of their brains, they are empowered to learn, to grow, and to seek out challenges for a lifetime of learning.
This year, it is my goal to help my learners foster this skill through an understanding of age-appropriate neuroscience. Check out the video below to learn more :-)
Math Mindset:
For some, math can be an intimidating subject. I know it was for me when I was in school.
As a teacher now, I want to help your child feel success and that they can achieve in math, so there was a greater emphasis this week on mindset videos and math posters to shift our thinking from a ‘fixed mindset’ to a ‘growth mindset.’
This being, that when we make mistakes, it’s not a negative thing, instead, it helps us learn and grow our brain power!
Check out the video below which empowers children to take risks, embrace challenges, and understand that when we struggle, it's actually our greatest opportunity to enrich our knowledge of concepts.
Below, you will find your child in math action cooperatively solving a math question that I posed for the class. What number do you see? What was your strategy? Check out our math wall!
Students worked in their THINK! PAIR! SHARE GROUPINGS! to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding. We made time to consolidate (share) our mathematical processes.
Overall, this was a wonderful opportunity for me to get a glimpse of how your child cooperates and collaborates :-)
Please know, we will be doing a lot of group work this year, so there will be an emphasis on effectively working in a group. I did a mini lesson on this and students learned strategies to constructively work with their classmates.
Growth Mindset:
What is it? "In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment."
Studies have been done to show the significant difference in a child's confidence and belief in themselves and their abilities when they think in growth mindset ways. Change your words. Change your MINDset.
In our class, I have dedicated a wall that teaches our children to train their brain to think, speak, and act in ways that promote growth as opposed to fixed mindsets.
In our class, I have dedicated a wall that teaches our children to train their brain to think, speak, and act in ways that promote growth as opposed to fixed mindsets.
In class we listened to this creative story which teaches children (and adults) the valuable lesson that becoming is better than being, which can open the door to a whole new world of possibilities! It taught us this valuable lesson and opened our minds and hearts to embracing a 'bubble gum brain' (growth mindset) as opposed to 'brick brain' (fixed mindset).
I truly feel, if we begin thinking in positive ways, we will act in it! We not only help ourselves achieve our best, but we create a classroom community that emits growth :)
Terry Fox:
Terry Fox who is an excellent model for growth mindset. He taught us the importance of never giving up no matter what challenge or obstacle is set before us. It's hard to believe any greater challenge to face than cancer, yet he continued to believe and his powerful messages of #courage #hope #perseverance lives on to this day!
In class, Terry's thoughts, words, and actions will be emphasized daily :) We can be like Terry's Mindset too, if we TRY.
As you may have noticed in your child's agenda, each week, I will post a new Growth Mindset quote on my blog as well as in the classroom for my students to visibly see every day and they will also write it down in their agenda and share with you!
Student Information Sheet:
Thank you to all the families who took the time to fill in the student information sheet. I am very grateful for the thoroughness that went into this process. Your input will serve as a very valuable tool for me to get to know your child and how I can best meet their academic, social, emotional, and behavioural strengths and needs.
If you have not sent it in yet, no worries, please do so at your earliest convenience. Thank you :)
Mindful Walks:
Did your child share with you about his or her experience on our mindful walk? If so, that's terrific!!
Throughout the school year, our class will be spending quality time in nature, there is SO MUCH WE CAN LEARN by seizing and connecting with Mother Earth.
Here at Nottawa, we are so fortunate to be surrounded by trees, trails, and the mountains. There is a lovely loop around our school that we took the time to check out :-) We LOVED IT!!
On a personal note, I'm an avid hiker and love being outside in nature! I spend a lot of time on my weekends trekking the amazing trails and hills in our area! It truly brings peace to my mind, body, and spirit.
Now, I'm sharing my passion for the outdoors with my students too! Going on mindful walks gives us opportunities to offer our gratitude to our beautiful surroundings and socialize with our peers in a respectful manner.
Mindfulness:
In this powerful short film, take a moment to watch and hear from elementary school students learning to use mindfulness to navigate complex feelings.
As shared above, in class we regularly participate in mindfulness activities such as BRAIN GYM and MEDITATION. Students are enjoying these tools to help with smoother transitions from recess to back to in class learning. It truly is remarkable the profound impact it has on their focus, energy, and output in their learning. Our classroom instantaneously becomes such a calm and peaceful environment.
Take a moment to watch the video below and then please ask your child the following:
What are some of mindfulness strategies used in the video to help you calm down when you're feeling upset or unsettled?
Just before bedtime, try sitting or laying down and meditate for 1 minute. Try breathing deeply in and out. Sweet dreams :)
Mae:
Thank you Mae for sharing your special gems and crystals with me this week! I know how meaningful they are to you :)
I too believe in the energy and healing of these!! I have placed various crystals around our classroom as well and I have every confidence we will all benefit from their healing properties!
Here's some information about the red jasper and the good energy that it brings :)
A friendly reminder, I will be posting every Friday, so you can read and see what we've been up to all week!
Gratitude:
Thank you for taking the time and energy to read my very first (thorough ;) blog post. This will be one of many to come! I look forward to sharing more weekly news, updates, learning and pictures next week.
A friendly reminder, I will be posting every Friday, so you can read and see what we've been up to all week!
Growth Mindset:
Growing up, I always heard the common phrase "practice makes perfect," however, as I grew older, I began to question this and asked myself "Is anybody perfect? Should we strive for perfection or progression?"
In my mind and heart, as people we can always build upon our skills and I believe we are all LIFE LONG LEARNERS. We will be faced with many opportunities in our lives to improve as individuals :) That's me included as your child's teacher!
As an educator, I am not looking for my students to be "perfect," all I ask is that they TRY and make gains (progress) at their pace through practice, practice, PRACTICE.
I look forward to sharing weekly mindset messages so we all can train our brains to think positively even when faced with challenges. If you and/or your child have a growth mindset that you'd like us to share with the class, I encourage you to jot it down in the agenda or a sticky note and I will post it in our classroom :)
Meegwich (please ask your child what this means),
Ms. Gill
Comments
Post a Comment