Adieu Mme Speed!

Today the Clairlea community celebrated Mme Speed's retirement. We wish her the best of luck and plenty of good wishes as she enters this new phase in her life. As a colleague and friend, I have learned so much from her and will miss her advice, her smile and her crackling sense of humour. What has impressed me most about Claire is her dedication to her kids and to her profession. May I strive to be as thorough and as thoughtful.

Below is the song, "Adieu Monsieur le Professeur" that Mme Volakhava, Mme Fahim, M Landry and myself sang to Mme Speed for her retirement accompanied by Mme Camara on djembe. We changed the words to Madame and sang wholeheartedly, (although perhaps a little out of tune :) ).

Adieu Madame Speed, vous allez nous manquer enormement!

Bisous Madame Speed -
De ton amie,
Jesselyn

Joyeuses Fetes!

Un gros merci to all who brought something special to share at our Holiday Party today. We made decorations for our tree: each representing something that is unique to each student in our class, we then watched a movie with Mme Camara's class, made cookies following a recipe (an example of procedural writing that we are working on) and then enjoyed our party.

My thanks for all of the warm wishes, gifts and donations made to those in need on my behalf.

My sincere wish for a restful, safe and peaceful holiday and best wishes for the new year.

And for those who celebrate Christmas, a very Merry Christmas to you all!

For those who might be last minute shopping, an organization that I support is Free the Childen.

Free the Children empowers children in North America to take action to improve the lives of fellow children overseas. Through their leadership and international programs they have brought over 650 schools and water projects to communities across the world. In the summer of 2008 I had the opportunity to take students to Arizona and Mexico through a summer leadership program. We were involved in migration studies, water and community projects in Agua Prieta, Mexico. At Clairlea, we continue to support Free the Children through various fundrasing initiatives at the school.

For more information please visit: http://www.freethechildren.com/

Be well, safe and merry :)
Mme Dungo

Une Fete pour les fetes!

We have earned enough marbles in our jar to have our Holiday Celebration this Friday, December 17 in the afternoon. The children have been engaged and have listened attentively, shown mutual respect for each other and their classroom and let others participate without interrupting in the class. This month our focus has been on kindness and caring. Bravo Salle 112! Parents are more than welcome to send in nut-free treats.

Un gros merci,
Mme Dungo

Un gros merci!

Bravo et Felicitations to our fantastic class who performed and sang, "Mon Ane" and "Dodo". Thank you to all the parents who brought their children to the concert. We all had a blast!

Displaying data (and a funny face or two!)

We are exploring how to represent information in various forms. We have explored how to conduct a survey; by choosing the right question, providing a number of choices and making sure that the information is displayed clearly. Next we will be making bar graphs with a specific scale (for the Grade 3s only) and interpreting pie charts.

Getting back into the swing of things!

In Mathematics we are studying Data Management and are in the process of creating and collecting primary data in order to convert that information into bar graphs. Here are some photos of yesterday's math lesson where we came up with a question, several choices and made a tally chart of our data.

HOLIDAY CONCERT INFORMATION!

Our Clairlea Holiday Concert is THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9 AT 6:30 PM.

Performers are to arrive at SATEC, 40 Fairfax Crescent at 6:10 PM.

View Larger Map
When you arrive, there will be posters and signs directing you where to drop off your child. Please pick them up there after the concert.

The children are asked to wear a bright coloured t-shirt and jeans. We have been preparing with Mme Volakhava's class and are excited to share with you our two songs: Mon Ane and Dodo from France and the French Carribean.

We hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, please call or email.

Hope this helps!
Mme Dungo

Munsch Express!

Please remember to bring in permission forms and money for our field trip to the Munsch Express on Friday, December 3rd in the afternoon. The children are currently doing an author study on Robert Munsch.

According to the children his stories are:

-really, REALLY funny!
-have a child as the main character
-the problem of the story is usually unbelievable and full of fantasy
-sometimes it is difficult to see whether or not the problem of the story is resolved
-when the problem is usually resolved, it is in a very funny manner!


After the play we are looking at the Quebecois author Ginette Anfousse and will be doing a comparative author study.

In our writing, we are exploring what it means to have your own "voice" in writing and will try to write funny stories in the style of Robert Munsch.

Stay tuned for some great work being posted soon :)

On y va!
Mme Dungo

What are these orange folders?!

In an effort to help the children practice their DICTEE and any other sight words, Ms. Hawkins (Grade 2/3 English stream) has given us a fantastic and fun idea to practice their spelling.

The children are bringing home a 3-fold duotang and a dry erase marker. The first column is for the children to write out their sentence from their dictee and/or a word they find challenging to spell. They cover the column and try to write the sentence/word without looking in the second column. They open the two flaps to compare what they wrote without looking and the original sentence/word. The third column is used to re-write or correct any words they have misspelt.

These are your child's to keep at home as an aid in language learning.


Hope this helps!
Mme Dungo

Our Holiday Concert!

The children have decided to participate in the Holiday Concert and would like to sing a medley of French songs that we sing during the school day. Please keep THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9th open as it is the day of the concert. If you cannot make it, please let us know so we can plan accordingly.

Times and more info to follow!

Mme Dungo

Holiday Food Drive

The Clairlea Community led by our Student Leadership Team will be collecting non perishable food items, personal hygiene products and household cleaners in support of Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre. We thank you for your donations!

Non perishable food items:

-cereals, raw pasta, canned fruits and vegetables, etc.


Personal hygiene products:

-deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, soap


Household cleaners:

-detergents, dish soap, etc.

Un gros merci!
Mme Dungo

Mon âne, mon âne!

We have managed to bring in the piano this week into the classroom and have dedicated some of our time to learning different French songs and rhymes with the use of rhythm instruments. "Mon âne" is a French nursery rhyme/song that we sing to signal that it is circle time on the carpet. This is an addition to our "Mes comptines et chansons" folder this week. I have found a Karaoke version on youtube. This version adds two more verses. (Un ratelier d'argent is a silver hayrack) Happy singing!

Un gros merci!

Thank you very much for all your input over the parent/teacher interviews! If you have not signed up for an interview, I am always open for an interview, email or a phone call.

Merci,
Mme Dungo

Dictee and Updates postponed until Monday, November 8

My apologies to all for my lengthy absence as I'm sure it has caused a little confusion. I have the flu and a bout of a weak form of pneumonia that accompanies it. The dictee will be postponed to Monday and you can definitely hand in the Etude des Mots folder then. Stay tuned on Monday as well as our Halloween photos and regular classroom updates will return. Nothing a little rest and some medication can't fix :)

Thanks for your understanding.

Be well,
Mme Dungo

READING FOLDERS COMMENCE!

RED reading folders are coming home this week. In it you will find:

1) A Reading Log with the headings:
Date, Title, The book was read TO me, I read TO someone, I read all by myself (please check what applies) and a happy face or a sad face depending on whether or not the student liked that part of the book. Please have them read for 15 minutes every day.

2) A book at their level. The reading level is determined by a one-on-one interview process with the teacher and is evaluated using the Alpha Jeunes system. By the END of Grade 3, most children will be working towards reading at Level 24. Please be supportive with your child, please do not concentrate on the level but rather the way the reading strategies are employed while he/she is reading, i.e. stretching the sounds in the word, re-reading the sentence, looking for known words in the paragraph, visualizing a picture, making a connection to something the student remembers, etc.

This month we are reviewing basic story structure.

A basic story has:
a beginning where the setting and characters are introduced
a middle where a problem is presented and a sequence of events and
an end where the solution to the story problem is resolved.

Some relevant questions to ask your child (as we are reviewing basic story structure):

-In the beginning of the story:
Where is the story taking place?
When is the story taking place?
Who are the characters?
and always... How do you know?

-In the middle of the story:
What is the problem?
What are the events in the story?

-At the end of the story:
Is there a solution to the story?
How do you know?

Take a look at our shared reading story for this week. You are more than welcome to ask the children the above questions as they read it to you: Un amour du chiffon by Gilles Tibo

http://www.atelier.on.ca/edu/coreLite.cfm?p=main&modID=7&modColour=1&L=2&scene=mod7_tab4_sc02_alt0

I know it's a lot of information and I do understand that life happens and sometimes we're not able to get to homework because of a plethora of reasons. Please make sure to let me know via the agenda and we'll be able to find the time to finish the homework together.

Questions? Concerns? Comments? Please contact me at school: 416-396-6165 or by email: jesselyn.dungo@tdsb.on.ca Please allow 2 business days for a reply.

RED FOLDERS ARE DUE ON THESE DAYS:

Monday:
Alexandra
Justin
Nicholas
Mohamed

Tuesday:
Ayesha
Nigel
Nikita
Liam

Wednesday:
Mathusa
Aidan
Adam
Alyssa

Thursday:
Kira T.
Jadyn
Lily
Nishalinie

Friday:
Reim
Kiira P.
Hodan
Colin

So to wrap up, the homework program for this year has been fully introduced and is made up of:

1) A RED reading folder with reading log and a book at your son/daughter's reading level
2) A GREEN etude des mots (word study) folder
3) A GREEN song folder
4) A BLUE problems folder
5) A GREEN miscellaneous folder for unfinished work


Hope this helps!
Mme Dungo

C'est l'Halloween!

This week I am sending home a Halloween song that the children can read every day in addition to their Etude des mots folder. Reading the same text every day develops their fluency and recognition of high-frequency words... and it's also a lot of fun!

I have attached a link to youtube that you can play that has visuals in addition to the accompanying music to the song by Matt Maxwell.

Hope this helps!
Mme Dungo

Our Math Test last week....

After some thought, I thought it would be beneficial for this week's update to be about our Math test last week.

After discussing with the students the results of the math test, we came to the conclusion that it would benefit the class to continue on with a review of patterning and pattern problems. After working very diligently this week and next week on problems, we have decided to wrap-up the unit with a short unit task in-class next Friday, October 15.

The children are working on different strategies in order to solve problems. We are focusing on:

1. Making a t-chart
2. Using number lines
3. Drawing pictures of the problem

Sample problem:

Room 112 went to the zoo for a field trip. Unfortunately on the way back to school, the bus broke down and we had to walk back! We can walk 4 km every hour. The school is 12 km away. How long will it take for us to get back to school? (For the Grade 3s, it is expected that in addition to the above they also answer: What time will we get back to school if the bus broke down at 12pm?)


Sample solutions:

1. Making a t-chart

number of hours I number of km
-----------------------------------
1 I 4
2 I 8
3 I 12

We see that it takes 3 hours to walk back to school.


2. Using a number line

0----1----2----3----4----5----6----7----8----9----10----11----12----16
start----------------X-------------------X-----------------------X

By skip counting by four every hour, we see that 3 hours have passed.


3. Drawing pictures of the problem

Here, some children can use various groupings.

Our goal is for the children to use the t-chart or the number line where they can see a "regularite" or a pattern rule, whereby as each hour passes you add 4 km.

For students to achieve a Level 4 answer, the student must understand the question, be able to choose a strategy independently and consistently upon various practice examples and apply this process to achieve the correct answer. When he/she shows how she came up with the answer, the drawings/tables/number lines must be clear in order to effectively communicate his/her thinking process.

Hope this helps!
Mme Dungo

A change regarding Math Homework

The weekly Math Problem of the Week is now due on Wednesdays. A new problem will be given each Wednesday. This is in coordination with the other Grade 2/3 classes.

I apologize for any confusion!

Have a great Thanksgiving week-end!

Mme Dungo

Chalking it up to Social Studies!

Last week, our class took advantage of some fine weather and used the pavement and chalk to make maps of the first floor of our school.

Grade 2 Mapping Expectation:

-construct and read a variety of graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, and models to clarify
and display information

Grade 3 Mapping Expectation:

-make and use maps of urban and rural communities containing the necessary map elements of title, scale, symbols and legend, and cardinal directions

-consult map legends when looking for selected features (e.g., H – hospital)

Terry Fox Run September 30th

Thank you to all those who have made a contribution to the Terry Fox Foundation. On September 30, our class along with the whole Clairlea Public School Community took part in running and walking for cancer awareness, prevention and cure.

Some memorable moments on our run!

An Introduction to Combined Grades

I had a number of parents ask me about how combined grades classrooms are set-up and how they run. After searching the ministry website, I have posted a pamphlet entitled, "An Introduction to Combined Grades" in pdf format on the left panel under "All about Curriculum". There is a brief summary of what a combined grade is and ways that it can benefit your child and how you can help his/her learning.

If you can't find the link for any reason, here it is again:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/combinedClassrooms/index.html

Hope this helps!
Mme Dungo

Word on the Street! Sunday, September 26, 2010

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow, Sunday, September 26 there is a Book Festival happenning in Toronto at Queen's Park called, Word on the Street from 11am - 6pm.
Here, you will find multiple stages by participating publishing houses, vendors and world markets. This year features KidStreet, a special place where children can listen to storytellers, check out the latest children's authors and make crafts. It is free and fun for the whole family. Please check out the link here for more information: http://www.thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/toronto

Hope to see you there!
Mme Dungo

Patterns! Patterns! Patterns!

The children have decided that in our weekly update we should share what we are doing in the classroom on the blog and so, ta-da, we have our latest Math Bonanza on Patterning!

The overall expectations for patterning in the Math curriculum for this term are:

Grade 2 - identify, extend, and create repeating patterns, growing patterns, and shrinking patterns

What does this look like?

One example is:

-identifying and describing through investigation growing and shrinking patterns generated by repeated addition or subtraction on a number line and hundreds chart

ex. 90, 80, 70, 60, ... are in a straight line on a hundreds chart, the pattern rule is "starting at 90, we subtract 10 from each term each time"

Grade 3 -describe, extend, and create a variety of numeric patterns and geometric patterns

What does this look like?

One example is:

-create a number pattern involving addition or subtraction, given a pattern represented on a number line or a pattern rule

ex. Sample problem: Make a number pattern that starts at 0 and grows by adding 7 each time

We will be having a wrap-up test next Thursday, September 30, 2010

It will consist of 5 questions. Each version of each question has been answered before in previous and ongoing math lessons. I will be providing a review sheet and problem to review for Thursday.

Questions? Please email, call or write a note in your child's agenda.

Enjoy our great work!

Lily, Reim and Nishaline working on an increasing number pattern using a number line. (See expectations above)
Colin, Alyssa, Adam, Nikita and Mathusa showing off their number patterns.

Below: Ayesha, Nigel, Alexandra, Nicholas and Jadyn working on showing both their increasing and decreasing number patterns on their number line.

To the left: Justin figuring out if he has all his terms in his number pattern.

Who knew math could be this much fun?

Enjoy the weekend!

Mme Dungo

Forms, forms, forms!

Please make sure that all forms, i.e. Medical, Walking Excursion, etc. (they were given in a brown envelope the first week of school) are to be filled out and given in AS SOON AS POSSIBLE as they were due last Friday.

Please also submit the Getting Acquainted Forms that were given curriculum night.

My thanks!

Mme Dungo

Class Photos Tomorrow - Tuesday, September 21

Just a reminder that Class Photos will be taken tomorrow, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21. Looking forward to seeing you fantastic and fabulously dressed :)

Parents, please make sure that you have submitted your photo slip request for poses and backgrounds.

Many thanks,
Mme Dungo

Curriculum Night and the start of Weekly Homework!

Thank you parents for coming last Thursday to our Curriculum Night. For those who were not able to make it, please make sure that you check in your child's backpack for the Curriculum Night package.

Weekly Homework will begin tomorrow!

Each grade will be receiving in their "etude des mots" green folders:
1. 2 pages of printing/writing practice
2. review of the "sound of the week" and its pages
3. a short story or poem focusing on the "sound of the week"
4. two sentences (for Grade 2s) and three sentences (for Grade 3s) that will be their dictee (spelling test) on Friday

Due to the difference in level, each grade will be receiving differentiated word study pages.

They are due FRIDAY of every week. If for any reason your child is unable to finish the package, please write a note in his/her agenda, email or call the school or if you have any questions, please, please contact me.

In addition, the children are encouraged to read 15 min in French every night.

Weekly Math Problem Folders will commence NEXT week, September 27. We'll start slowly but surely so that we can all get used to our routines.

Thank you for your support!
Mme Dungo

Notre premiere semaine est finie!

We are enjoying our time in Salle 112 this first week. The children are learning the new routines at school and in the classroom. We are also being encouraged to speak in French as much as we can to practice and help our other classmates speak in French as well.

For homework this weekend the children are asked to read for 15 minutes in French, finish up an activity to familiarize them with the dictionary and to finish some review sheets in mathematics.

We have also enjoyed some great presentations in class regarding the children's Me Voici bags. In them, they have gathered small objects and placed them in their decorated bags of what they like to do, to eat, and to learn! They then share what is in their bag with the rest of the class so that we can better get to know them :)

In my bag, there was:

-a book (because I love to read!)

-a pencil (because I love to write :) )

-a small token from Bulgaria from Nikita (because I love to collect souvenirs from when I or others travel abroad)

-musical notes (because I love to sing and play the piano).

Bon week-end tout le monde!

Mme Dungo

Nishalinie's bag! One of Nishalinie's objects that she could not fit in her bag was a skateboard! She brought it to school and showed off some neat tricks on the carpet.

Liam's bag! If you look closely it says, "Rock et Roll"! Inside was a list of songs by his favourite band, like "Monster".

Bienvenue a l'annee scolaire 2010-2011!

Welcome to another great year at Clairlea Public School! Our first day was exciting, full of BINGO, games, reading strategy, discussion and a wee bit of homework.

As we look forward to the year, please let me remind you that our school hours have changed:

Morning entry: 8:40
AM recess: 9:55-10:10
Lunch: 11:30-12:25
PM recess: 1:40-1:55
Dismissal: 3:15

Homework for the first week of school:

Please note that we are using Green Two-Pocket Folders for Homework Folders this year.
Any notes, permission forms, money, etc. can be placed in that folder and returned to school. The children are expected to bring it in and place it on their desks at the beginning of the day.

This week, the children have a small story to re-read every day based on a small boy who can't sleep on the eve of the first day of school. He is woken up by an owl and escapes into the yard and finds it lying there wounded. I'll let your child fill you in on the rest.

If you need anything at all, please call me or email me at: jesselyn.dungo@tdsb.on.ca I will be able to reply within 2 business days.

Thanks again for your support and I look forward to meeting you in the school yard and on Curriculum Night, Thursday, September, 16!

Last day of school is June 29, n'oublie pas!

Un gros merci to all the students and parents for their support this year. Report Cards are going home Monday, June 28, 2010. Felicitations et Bravo! Have a great summer!

NO BUS TRANSPORTATION FRI. JUNE 25

As a result of the impending G20 summit. The TDSB has decided to halt all bus transportation FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2010 in the city of Toronto for the students' best interest. Please see this link for more information: http://www.tdsb.on.ca/about_us/media_room/Room.asp?show=allNews&view=detailed&self=25861 or call the 24 hour information line at 416 222-8282. School will resume as normal.

Roots of Empathy Farewell...

We would like to thank Cathy Barker from Roots of Empathy and Alexis and Stephanie Chipman our volunteers who gave of their time to help us learn about how to treat others with respect, kindness and empathy. The children enjoyed a nice treat outside provided by Mrs. Barker. For more information about the Roots of Empathy program, please visit: http://www.rootsofempathy.org/

Time and Money.. oh so precious!

Under the umbrella of our Restaurant, "Chez 209" the children have been engaged in various activities exploring counting, pricing menu items and changing money.

Reggio Restaurant!

In the spirit of the Reggio theory of teaching; the children have been inspired to create their own restaurant using the math curriculum of learning how to count and change money and exploring different foods, games and toys through the social studies curriculum. Here are a few samples of their ideas and explorations.

mars, mars, mars

Welcome back! I hope you all had a restful march break.

We are starting our poetry unit and will be sending home one poem each week. Please have the children read the poem and memorize one stanza for this Friday. We had a great time presenting our own interpretations of each stanza, complete with voice, sound effects and movement. Thanks to Mme Angelevski for the poem:

mars, mars, mars,
Un mois que j'aime beaucoup,
L'hiver va vite partir.
Le printemps arrive chez nous.

mars, mars, mars,
La Saint-Patrick est le dix-sept.
Des trèfles à trois feuilles,
Je porte le vert pour cette fête.

mars, mars, mars,
Le bonhomme de neige chez moi,
A presque tout fondu.
Il ne fait plus très, très froid.

mars, mars, mars,
Le mois va vite passer.
Après ses trente et un jours,
Je vois avril arriver.

FAIRE!

This week's dictee:

Je fais
Tu fais
Il fait
Elle fait
Nous faisons
Vous faites
Ils font
Elles font

Remember, for vous, it's not Vous faisez, but Vous faites... for more verb tenses, please check out this link:

http://www.verb2verbe.com/conjugation/french-verb/faire.aspx

I hope you enjoyed the weather this weekend... spring is just around the corner!

Report Cards!

The report cards were given out yesterday. Bravo to all the students for all their hard work. Please note that interviews in term 2 are not mandatory but are available. If I need to see you, I have already made a request for an interview. Otherwise, please don't forget to send in the form so we can schedule the interview. I look forward to seeing you!

Qu'as-tu fait pendant la fin-de-semaine?

What did you do this past weekend? This is a question we ask every Monday in community circle as we share and practice orally in French new vocabulary, employ verb tenses we've just learned or simply and more importantly to share! Here is what I did this weekend... Dim Sum brunch in Chinatown with a special visit from the Chinese Lions as they performed "Chai Ching" (literally, picking the greens). During Chinese New Year, the lions look for the "Ang Pow", a red envelope full of money hanging from the storefronts of businesses either hidden in the greens (in the restaurant it was lettuce). The dancers are skilled; they gobble up the lettuce but keep the red envelope. The lion dance is supposed to bring good fortune to the business and the dancers receive the money as the reward. As for those eating in the restaurant, they receive an exciting intermission to their delicious meal. (The beautiful lady being kissed by the Chinese lion is none other than Mlle Dungo's maman!)

Funga A La Feeya!

We chanted "Funga A La Feeya" (Welcome Chant from West Africa) to kick off the Clairlea African Heritage Assembly this afternoon with Mme. Gidaris's class. The children sang, and moved to the rhythm of the traditional call and response format of the song. Bravo les enfants! What fantastic singers we have!

Here are some fantastic photos from this afternoon's assembly, enjoy!

And of course.. more pancake eating photos...