Spell-a-Thon Update

Today we wrote our Spell-a-Thon test! I am pleased to pass on that I believe we had 14/20 100%’s! That’s awesome, good work 2B! Please see the note below with more information regarding the Spell-a-Thon:

Thank you!! to all the parents and children who took such an enthusiastic part in our spell-a-thon.  There has been some really great spelling practice done to raise money for our school.  You should have received your child’s completed spelling list together with the pledge sheet back from school on Thursday).  Parent volunteers will be in school Friday and all next week to process the returned forms with all the payments from your kind sponsors.  We accept cash or cheques (any money is good money!), but if cheques are being sent in, please can they be made payable to G.C.S.C (Graminia Community School Foundation) and NOT to Graminia School.

Thanks once more,

Kelly Martens and the GCSFoundation team.

2B Weekly and Story Writing Update!

Hi everyone! I hope you had a restful spring break! The first week back was so busy I didn’t get to posting, I apologize for that.

Before the break, I introduced story writing and the different elements of stories.  After the break, students started their first story writing project. I read students Winnie the Witch and we talked about the different story elements.  As a class, we then completed a substitution for the story. We substituted the characters and the setting, but kept the general problem, events, and solution the same in the class write aloud. The story we came up with was about an elf and a toad who lived in a treehouse in a forest.  Here is a picture of the class organizer:

After we completed the write aloud, student’s then got their own story organizer and were able to start planning their own stories. Students were asked to substitute the characters and the setting, but keep the general idea of the problem, events, and solution the same.  Once most of the students had completed their organizers, we talked about character and setting development as well as adding details. Students then went back and edited their organizers using sticky notes to include details to further develop their characters and setting.  Once most students had completed their organizers, I modeled how to transfer our class organizer (Elf and the Toad) to a rough draft of the story. Student’s are currently working on their rough drafts.  I would love to have the rough drafts done by Wednesday so we can start typing them with our buddies on Thursday!

Here is a quick look at the week:

Monday, April 8, 2013; Day 3 —

Tuesday, April 9, 2013; Day 4 — Phys. Ed., Miss Orris away in the afternoon

Wednesday, April 10, 2013; Day 5 — Spell-a-Thon Pledges Due, Book Orders due, Music, Phys. Ed.

Thursday, April 11, 2013; Day 1 — Phys. Ed., Spell-a-Thon Test

Friday, April 12, 2013; Day 2 — Phys. Ed., Library, Spelling Test

The spelling words for this week are:

• again
• should
• could
• funny
• can’t
• sink
• waterproof
• lobster
• celebration

Please don’t forget to keep practicing the Spell-a-Thon words and send in your pledge forms!

Miss Orris

Boats and Buoyancy Boat Building Materials and Help Please

The culminating project for our Boats and Buoyancy unit is quickly approaching. Student’s will be asked to design, build, and test a boat that floats and can be propelled through water. I will be sending a note home tomorrow that asks for the following materials to be sent to school to use to build our boats:

• meat trays
• styrofoam
• milk cartons
• toothpicks
• corks
• plasticene
• cardboard
• tinfoil
• plastic pop bottles with lid
• bars of soap
• pieces of wood

If you have any of these materials please send them with your child buy Monday, April 22.

We will be building the boats on Wednesday, April 24. If you are able to help out, and would like to join us for an afternoon of fun building please let me know! Thank you!

Kendra