Things to remember:

• Tomorrow is our Terry Fox run before recess.  Please send any donations tomorrow morning and join us while we walk and run around the playground area.
• Most students are finished, but some still need to complete their Social land-forms assignment (it is a Venn diagram comparing the land on the coasts, to that in the plains).  Students have had 4 class periods (2 hours) of in class time to complete this already.
• This week's homework assignment is Math Weekly #2.  As always, this homework is due Friday morning.
• Finally I will be putting in our first class book order the end of this week.  You can pay directly on line, send in a cheque make out to Scholastic Canada or send me cash for any orders you want to make.

Our Smart Cookies did a great job reading and ordering big numbers in math today.  We go all the way into the millions and down to the thousandths (and we only say AND at the decimal).  Click on the picture to hear a sample from today.

Our first reading buddies with Ms. Bowes' kindergarten class!

We have been learning about multiple intelligence in class. 

 This has to do with our different preferences and strengths in styles of learning.  Please ask your child which area(s)  came up as strengths for them.

I had a couple of great questions from our class today about spelling so I thought I would answer them here for everyone.

There are two spelling groups in our classroom this year.  A blue group and a red group.  The list of words should have come home glued into your child's spelling book yesterday.  Word lists can also be found on the LA resources page of this blog (we are on list #1). The assignment this week is also number one but the whole list of assignments can also always be found on the LA page.

Finally, students need to have their spelling book with them Monday morning with their completed assignment in it. They will hand in the book after their test so I can mark the test and assignment.
Thanks to all of the wonderful families that are helping to build our spelling skills!

We're out in the school yard right now checking wind speed and direction. Cross your finger that we get a few good gusts of wind!

What do sumo wrestlers and fairies have to do with grade five science?  Hint: it has to do with convection currents which are created by the movement of hot and cold air.For more of an explanation please ask a grade five Smart Cookie!
                                                                                                                                                                 

Update from Smart Cookies:

Cameron: We mapped Canada with all it's capital cities.
Josh: We did a convection current experiment (and we rocked it!)
Eli: I really liked the science experiment we did with the candle flames.
Elora: we can measure weather with a thermometer

Today in Social we were practicing our visual learning using this video of Canada.  Look at all of the great information that we were able to work together and include on our collaborative map!

As I discussed with many of you during our open house, or when I have had a chance to meet you so far, students in my class will have one short homework assignment each week.  Now that we have settled in we're going to be starting this classroom routine.

Tomorrow please expect your child to bring home their first Math Weekly assignment.  These five questions are meant to help develop responsibility but they also give your family some common language and practice.  They are due the last day of the school week (Friday) first thing in the morning but can be turned in earlier if they are done.  Students can complete them using any strategy (please show it) but if there is a question that can't be figured out at home please bring it in earlier so I can explain it.

Just heading back to the school for the afternoon. We had lots of different weather to measure on our field trip to Sulphur mountain!

A reminder about our Nature Explorers field trip on Monday - and though it was really nice early in the weekend, the forecast for Monday is cool and wet. Please be extra sure to pack waterproof layers, warm clothes and gloves!  

Great things about the start of school by Mrs. B's Smart Cookies

Jeremy:  We earned yummy cookies!
Sam: We did super fun art today!
Elora: We got great teacher!
Jonah: LA and Social are fun (not boring).
Andrea: We met our grade three buddies today.
Amelia: I liked playing the chicken game in gym.
Nicole: We've had fun math games.
Anika: We made place mats in art today to use for Science.

Tonight is our BES open house from 5:00-6:00.  Please come by to see our classroom and have a chance to chat.  There will also be a short introductory meeting in the gym at 5:40.

I hope to see you all tonight!

Reminders for everyone over this long weekend:

• All forms (demographics, emergency and nature explorers field trip) are due on Tuesday when we are back at school 
• students are also expected to have a change of clothes for gym starting Tuesday as well.

In other exciting news, our first Nature Explorers field trip is coming up on Monday the 14th as well. Please let me know if you are interested and able to join us!

Finally, thanks to all of the fabulous welcoming parents that I have had a chance to meet during the first week of school and to those that I have not yet had a chance to meet, I look forward to it as we go through this year together.

T. Blackwell

Please keep in mind the forms that have come home and need to be returned to the office by next Tuesday:

1. student demographics info
2. emergency contact info (both of these forms went home Tuesday)
3. nature explorers permission form (handed out Wednesday)
4. Student optional insurance forms (which can be completed online if you'd like instead)

Thank you so much to those that have already returned the first set of forms today.

Mrs.Blackwell

Welcome to a new and exciting year together!

I have really enjoyed getting a chance to meet a few parents, both last night and this morning, but I'd like to take a minute to introduce myself.

My name is Tina Blackwell and this is my fifteenth year teaching.  Many of those years were spent in grade five which I love!  Before moving full time to Canmore I was teaching at Ponoka Elementary School just north of Red Deer.  I have a background in Special Education and a lot of training in both math and technology which I bring to the classroom.

If you have any questions this year please send me an email or stop in to chat.  I look forward to meeting you all and having a terrific year together!

Tina Blackwell