Hello Parents!
It was so lovely to be back in the classroom today. Wow!! I felt so loved to be welcomed back with such great happy faces, hugs and I even got an "I missed you Ms. Montagano". I tell you....being a teacher is the best job on Earth!
Today we:
-read one of the 7 Habits of Happy Kids books called "A Place for Everything". This book got us talking about organization and keeping our room tidy & organized. Don't be surprised if your little angel starts cleaning up his/her room or asks you for more bins....We had great fun talking & reflecting on this.
-learned about "hand span" and using our shoe to measure things around the room. We also learned about comparison words like "shorter than", "same as", "longer than". They had fun using their shoe as a measuring tool.
-had Computers with Mr. A and Socials too.
-made birthday cards for 2 summer birthday classmates. Happy Birthday to Lauren (July 1) and Shinie (July 3). Next week will be Cedar (May 27) and Nils (July 18).
-in the spirit of this morning lesson, we also cleaned out our desks. :))
Enjoy Sports Day...don't forget the sunscreen, hat & water.
See you next week...after a loooong weekend!
Ebru Montagano
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Montaganews--Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Happy Children's Day!!!
Today I spoke to the students about how yesterday was National Children's Day in Turkey. I thought they'd enjoy learning a little more about me & the country I was born in and about this unique day of celebrating kids! I think I was right. They seemed to enjoy colouring a market scene (came home today) and listening to turkish children's songs too. Be prepared for them to ask you if you know the animal sounds in other languages. Did you realize that a cat doesn't say "Meow" in French for example? A cat says "miaou" (pronounced 'meeahoo') in french.
-We wrapped up the Shapes unit in Math. All their hard work is coming home. Some of the Grade 1s didn't quite finish their booklet for a variety of reasons. If they like, they can finish it at home. They do not need to return it to me. Next unit is Measurement.
-They had Computers time with Mr. A followed by Socials.
-Happy Birthday to Julia tomorrow & Rachel on Thursday! We made their cards.
-We wrote in journals....it was a quick write this time.
See you next Tuesday....
Ebru Montagano
Today I spoke to the students about how yesterday was National Children's Day in Turkey. I thought they'd enjoy learning a little more about me & the country I was born in and about this unique day of celebrating kids! I think I was right. They seemed to enjoy colouring a market scene (came home today) and listening to turkish children's songs too. Be prepared for them to ask you if you know the animal sounds in other languages. Did you realize that a cat doesn't say "Meow" in French for example? A cat says "miaou" (pronounced 'meeahoo') in french.
-We wrapped up the Shapes unit in Math. All their hard work is coming home. Some of the Grade 1s didn't quite finish their booklet for a variety of reasons. If they like, they can finish it at home. They do not need to return it to me. Next unit is Measurement.
-They had Computers time with Mr. A followed by Socials.
-Happy Birthday to Julia tomorrow & Rachel on Thursday! We made their cards.
-We wrote in journals....it was a quick write this time.
See you next Tuesday....
Ebru Montagano
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Montaganews--Tuesday, April 17, 2012
I can't believe it is the middle of April already!! Where is the time going? Before we know it, it'll be the end of June and we'll be saying goodbye to this wonderful class. Ms. Taylor and I were just talking about how much we are enjoying teaching this group. They are all so positive, happy & conscientious with such an overflowing desire to learn. They encourage & support each other so well also! Today :
-our current Reader's Theatre group performed "The Little Red Hen". Their wonderful reading reminded us that you must do the work and help each other to reep the rewards at the end. Well done to this group: Theo (Pa Jones), Emma (Ma Jones), Rachel (hen), Jack (dog), Thomas (duck), Nils (cow), Payton (pig), Serena (cat), Lucas (sheep).
-we did a 3-D shape hunt around the classroom
-we are finishing up our Shapes posters and workbooks in Math. Next week we hope to wrap up our shapes unit. Next unit is Measurement.
-during computer time with Mr. A they looked at a website about cows in anticipation of tomorrow.
-during Socials time with Mr. A they worked on a title page for their "Community Helpers" booklet.
-we tiptoed outside for a quick run around & fresh air
-we wrote in Journals (wow....they've come a long way!)
-had quick free play time
Don't forget the cows are coming tomorrow. Thanks Andrea (Henry) for organizing this! Ms. Taylor sent out an email about this earlier today.
See you next Tuesday!!!
Ebru Montagano
-our current Reader's Theatre group performed "The Little Red Hen". Their wonderful reading reminded us that you must do the work and help each other to reep the rewards at the end. Well done to this group: Theo (Pa Jones), Emma (Ma Jones), Rachel (hen), Jack (dog), Thomas (duck), Nils (cow), Payton (pig), Serena (cat), Lucas (sheep).
-we did a 3-D shape hunt around the classroom
-we are finishing up our Shapes posters and workbooks in Math. Next week we hope to wrap up our shapes unit. Next unit is Measurement.
-during computer time with Mr. A they looked at a website about cows in anticipation of tomorrow.
-during Socials time with Mr. A they worked on a title page for their "Community Helpers" booklet.
-we tiptoed outside for a quick run around & fresh air
-we wrote in Journals (wow....they've come a long way!)
-had quick free play time
Don't forget the cows are coming tomorrow. Thanks Andrea (Henry) for organizing this! Ms. Taylor sent out an email about this earlier today.
See you next Tuesday!!!
Ebru Montagano
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Montaganews--Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Hello!! We had another fabulous day in Room 209. Today we read lots I'd say.
We read Toot & Puddle, the birthday book that Max chose and we read Whoopi's Big Book of Manners. The book of manners is a funny one with a ton of information. Perhaps the topic of 'manners' will come up during dinner tonight.
We also:
-continued playing and working with shapes. Grade 2s are creating their own poster for their room and the Grade 1s are working diligently through a workbook right now.
-wrote in journals. I'm seeing so much improvement in everyone's writing...in spelling of commonly used words, sentence structure, punctuation and amount.
-talked about RESPONSIBILITY as part of our Health & Career Planning curriculum. Their independent work is coming home today.
-had 'Mr. A time'...computers and....Social Studies I think I saw...
Happy Birthday Max!
I wish everyone a safe & fun long weekend. Hoppy Easter!
Ebru Montagano
We read Toot & Puddle, the birthday book that Max chose and we read Whoopi's Big Book of Manners. The book of manners is a funny one with a ton of information. Perhaps the topic of 'manners' will come up during dinner tonight.
We also:
-continued playing and working with shapes. Grade 2s are creating their own poster for their room and the Grade 1s are working diligently through a workbook right now.
-wrote in journals. I'm seeing so much improvement in everyone's writing...in spelling of commonly used words, sentence structure, punctuation and amount.
-talked about RESPONSIBILITY as part of our Health & Career Planning curriculum. Their independent work is coming home today.
-had 'Mr. A time'...computers and....Social Studies I think I saw...
Happy Birthday Max!
I wish everyone a safe & fun long weekend. Hoppy Easter!
Ebru Montagano
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Montaganews--March 27, 2012
It seems like ages since I blogged last! It feels so good to be back in the classroom. The students seemed so happy and eager to learn today. They are a wonderful group.
Today we:
-began our new Reader's Theatre story: The Little Red Hen, an old English folk tale. This adaptation has 9 characters and the moral is if you work hard, you can reap the rewards. When doing reader's theatre, students are not only practising reading aloud but also practising listening (to know when it's their turn to speak), reading with expression & intonation and performing in front of the class. They seem to really enjoy this.
-continued with shapes & polygons in Math. A few weeks ago I mentioned that the word 'polygon' was just a fancy word for 'shape' but I was wrong...happens once in a while :) A polygon is any shape with only straight sides. So for example, a heart is a shape but not a polygon. A square is a polygon but it's still not wrong to call it a shape. A shape is a more universal term....like an 'umbrella' term. 'Polygon' is more specific--shape that must have straight sides. Interesting hey? I hope I didn't confuse anyone. The kids seem to have understood the difference well. We talked about 2D vs 3D vs 4D today...which some think is actually 6 or 7D ! Think about that for a while....
-wrote in journals. I tried insisting on at least one full page today thinking they'd have lots to tell me.
-had computers & music with Mr. A
-had silent reading time
-had a little time for free play
See you next Tuesday....April!!!
Ebru Montagano
Today we:
-began our new Reader's Theatre story: The Little Red Hen, an old English folk tale. This adaptation has 9 characters and the moral is if you work hard, you can reap the rewards. When doing reader's theatre, students are not only practising reading aloud but also practising listening (to know when it's their turn to speak), reading with expression & intonation and performing in front of the class. They seem to really enjoy this.
-continued with shapes & polygons in Math. A few weeks ago I mentioned that the word 'polygon' was just a fancy word for 'shape' but I was wrong...happens once in a while :) A polygon is any shape with only straight sides. So for example, a heart is a shape but not a polygon. A square is a polygon but it's still not wrong to call it a shape. A shape is a more universal term....like an 'umbrella' term. 'Polygon' is more specific--shape that must have straight sides. Interesting hey? I hope I didn't confuse anyone. The kids seem to have understood the difference well. We talked about 2D vs 3D vs 4D today...which some think is actually 6 or 7D ! Think about that for a while....
-wrote in journals. I tried insisting on at least one full page today thinking they'd have lots to tell me.
-had computers & music with Mr. A
-had silent reading time
-had a little time for free play
See you next Tuesday....April!!!
Ebru Montagano
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Montaganews--Leap Day Feb. 29, 2012
Hello parents,
Sorry for my later than usual blog...I darted out yesterday to attend a meeting.
We had a great day again yesterday. Our first group performed their reader's theatre on the story Three Billy Goats Gruff. In reader's theatre, there is no acting involved, just reading, listening, reading with expression and using loud voices. I took a couple of pictures for you of our readers and the listeners....don't you love the smiles in the audience? So sweet.
-We continued on with our shapes unit in Math.
-We finished listening to our 'Classical Kids' story on the composer Vivaldi called "Vivaldi's
Ring of Mystery".
-We wrote in journals. I sent their journals home yesterday because I thought you might like to see their writing. Have a look at their first entry in September and then yesterday's. Wow hey?!
****Please return the journals by next Tuesday at the latest. I told the students they can just put it in the box on my desk.
I hope you're enjoying Leap Day and the very important Anti-Bullying Day. It is nice to have a day dedicated to bring attention to kindness and thoughtful behaviour towards ourselves and others. I believe that at Bayview everyday is kindness day!
Have a great rest of the week,
Ebru Montagano
Monday, February 20, 2012
MONTAGANEWS--February 20, 2012
What a fabulous day....and did it ever fly by!!
Today we:
-finally continued our learning about shapes in Math! It felt like we hadn't done our Shapes Math in a while. Remember to hunt for shapes in the neighbourhood, around the house, at the supermarket. We've talked about the usuals like circles, triangles, squares, rectangles so feel free to throw around shapes like octagon (8) vs hexagon (6) or even heptagon (7) (they often call all of these octagons without counting the sides carefully). And we now call a diamond a 'rhombus' (they love this fancy word). We also know what a trapezoid is. Oh...and by the way, did I mention we call them all "Polygons" instead of the usual word 'shapes'?
-had Music & Computers with Mr. A. In Computers they're learning keyboarding skills.
-wrote in Journals. Grade 1s are working on periods at the end of sentences followed by an uppercase letter at the start of the next sentence. Grade 2s are working on spelling commonly used words correctly, consistently and writing more. Today lots of kids wrote about playdates and a few wrote about their rainy weekend activities.
-listened to a 'Classical Kids' story: Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery. They loved it.
-read
-had free play
-had gym
Have a fabulous rest of the week and see you next Tuesday!
Ebru Montagano
Today we:
-finally continued our learning about shapes in Math! It felt like we hadn't done our Shapes Math in a while. Remember to hunt for shapes in the neighbourhood, around the house, at the supermarket. We've talked about the usuals like circles, triangles, squares, rectangles so feel free to throw around shapes like octagon (8) vs hexagon (6) or even heptagon (7) (they often call all of these octagons without counting the sides carefully). And we now call a diamond a 'rhombus' (they love this fancy word). We also know what a trapezoid is. Oh...and by the way, did I mention we call them all "Polygons" instead of the usual word 'shapes'?
-had Music & Computers with Mr. A. In Computers they're learning keyboarding skills.
-wrote in Journals. Grade 1s are working on periods at the end of sentences followed by an uppercase letter at the start of the next sentence. Grade 2s are working on spelling commonly used words correctly, consistently and writing more. Today lots of kids wrote about playdates and a few wrote about their rainy weekend activities.
-listened to a 'Classical Kids' story: Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery. They loved it.
-read
-had free play
-had gym
Have a fabulous rest of the week and see you next Tuesday!
Ebru Montagano
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