NUMBER TALKS

We often begin math class with a 'Number Talk.' I present them with a prompt/question/image and ask them: "What do you see, how do you see it?"

          Below are two examples of recent number talks that we did in class.

They produced a lot of great cross-strand math thinking from the image below. 

Here were some of their math observations: 

          "I see lots of cubes"
          'The white shapes look like hexagons'

          "I see an ABC colour pattern of pink, green blue"
          'The shapes get bigger from left to right"

          "It looks like the inside of a sphere because there is a curve"

          "I see rectangular prisms"

Other times, I will give them the mini whiteboards and ask them to solve a number challange. During Monday's number talk I asked them to produce a three digit number with a given set of digits. Their goal was to use the digits provided only once and to produce number sentences that would equal the three digit number. They could combine digits in any way they wanted and use any operation of their choice (addition, subtraction, multiplication or division).

Easter Cards for Seniors

This week we suspended work on our mystery stories and mystery unit in language in order to create Easter cards for seniors.  A few other classes at the school are doing the same thing.  Writing Easter cards to seniors is a way for us to build intergenerational bridges as well as connect with people in the larger community. In their cards, the students included a friendly letter and an Easter/Spring-themed acrostic poem.  The cards will be delivered to 'The Ravines' retirement residence on Thursday and distributed to the seniors at their Easter luncheon this coming Easter Sunday.

A few Updates..

This past Friday morning we had our school-wide dance-a-thon to wrap up our fundraiser for 'Ok Clean Water.' The junior students danced their hearts out 2nd block (some teachers too) so much so, that I had difficulty taking pictures of them that weren't blurry!

To mark the beginning of Holy Week and acknowledge the solemnity of this week in the Catholic Church, we began our Monday morning with a school-wide 'Praying in Colour' session led by Mr. O'Brien over the audio system. It was amazing how attentive and prayerful the students were throughout the session which lasted 10-15 minutes. We posted their colourful prayers on the whiteboard so that the students could look at them throughout the day and be reminded of whomever they were praying for. Ask your child to tell you all about what 'Praying in Colour' means to them!

St. Augustine School will be attending the 'Peace Festival' mid-May. All students who are interested in attending the festival must write an 'application' letter explaining why they think they should attend the festival.  Only 20 junior students will be selected to attend as representatives of St. Augustine School.  In the letter, students are encouraged to include examples of things they are doing in order to promote peace, resolve conflicts, ways that they are making a difference in the community/world, etc. Students will be provided with a detailed explanation in-class about this process. The deadline for applications/letters is April 26th. 

RECYCLED ART DAY April 23rd !

Just a reminder that our school-wide 'Recycled Art Day' is April 23, following the Easter break. 

We are asking students/families to collect items such as bottle caps, metal lids from frozen juice containers, paper rolls, string, plastic bottles, boxes, egg cartons etc. These items will be used to create beautiful art work! If your child could bring in tape and glue on the day of April 23rd, it would be most appreciated as well. They can start bringing in materials anytime!