More Recursive Patterns

We are continuing to learn about how to identify pattern rules for patterns in which there is more than one operation. Here is another example that can be used to help students better understand the steps involved in identifying pattern rules.

More Two-Step Patterns

Digital Citizenship and Recursive Patterns

In religion today we finished the first of five lessons about digital citizenship. We learned today about what a responsible citizen is and students write or drew an image to depict their understanding. This unit is an excellent companion to our media literacy curriculum as well. Afterwards we continued to work on our Letters to our Future Self, which hopefully will be completed by Friday.

Today in math we learned about how to determine patterns which have two steps for each term. Please see the link below to view a video that shows how I explained it to the class. Please review this with your child to see if they understand.

Two Step Patterns

In Science, we are beginning our first investigation. For the grade 6's, I have them doing some research to find out what Biodiversity means, and why it is important. The grade 5's are trying to determine the major systems of the human body. We will continue this tomorrow and hopefully present our findings next week. In Health we have begun to learn about healthy eating habits. We will be continuing to learn about how to eat in a healthy manner using the Canada Food Guide to assist us. 

Pizza Days Starting Soon

For those of you who wish to purchase pizza for your child on Wednesdays, you can order from the school website using School Cash Online. The deadline for ordering pizza for the first term is September 18th. The first pizza day will be September 27th. Enjoy!

Analyzing - Finding the Facts

Today we learned about using the strategy of Analyzing when reading text. We discussed what Analyzing means and how we do it. Here is a slidedeck that you can use at home to review this strategy with your child.

Analyzing Slidedeck

Input and Output Machines

Today we started learning about input and output machines in patterning. An input/output machine is simply a number of operations that can help to generate a table of values. For example, if I input a "1", I might get a "3" as the output.

We looked at creating tables using the operations and we also looked at how to figure out the operations by examining the table. Here is a video I created to assist students in better understanding how to use input/output machines and to figure out the operations. We will continue working on this tomorrow.

Patterning, Goals and Me-Shirts

Today in language we began setting goals for the year and writing them down on an iGoal worksheet. We will be checking in with these goals on a regular basis to see if we are progressing towards them.

In math, we did a patterning problem on the walls and then talked about how our math time will run throughout the year. Here is the problem we tried:

In the afternoon we started working on "Me" Shirts - T-shirts that reflect our own names and things we enjoy. We also had gym today so I am hoping to finish these tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the Meet the Teacher evening at our school from 5PM - 7PM. I am looking forward to meeting you there!

Welcome to Grade 6!

It is my pleasure to be teaching your child this year! I look forward to working closely with you and getting to know your child. You are your child's first teacher, and together we can help your child meet the provincial expectations for this year. We will be starting the year by getting to know each other, our individual strengths, interests and needs. The emphasis with students is that effort is more important than ability in achieving success and that a student's "job" is to work hard and try their best.

Please encourage your child to discuss what has gone on at school each day. Set aside 40-50 minutes for homework every night. Each week homework will consist of a reading comprehension page, a math word "story" with problems to practice a variety of skills, and a short writing assignment. For this first week we will only have a reading comprehension assignment. For the first few weeks we will be completing homework on paper. As the year progresses, homework will be posted online and students will be able to submit it either electronically or on paper. Homework will be written in their agenda books on Mondays and posted on this blog under "Homework" on the right hand side of the page. Homework will generally be due on Fridays, so that students have the week to complete it. This homework routine is very important. Again, homework will be posted on this blog under the "Homework" sidebar on the right, so you may check here if your child has misplaced his/her agenda.

We will be starting the year with a number of "Getting to Know You" activities. In language & religion we will start with writing letters to ourselves and identifying our goals for the year. Then we will begin an investigation into using technology appropriately and the importance of digital citizenship. In math, we will begin the year by investigating number patterns, some basic algebra and integers, doing "number talks", and memorizing our basic facts!

In the afternoon class, we will be learning about biodiversity in science and practising following directions and basic movement, strength and flexibility skills in Phys-Ed. In the arts we will begin the year studying visual art.

This year, the Grade 6's will be using a few websites to help facilitate learning. We will be using Google Apps, Blogger, Xtramath, Prodigy and a number of other applications to demonstrate our learning. We will keep usernames and passwords for these accounts in your child's agenda. A form for the Acceptable Use of Technology is being sent home the first day of school, so please sign and return it as soon as possible. If your child has a chromebook, laptop or tablet, and you are comfortable with him/her bringing it to school, then I would highly encourage students to bring them. Students may use technology to complete many of their assignments in class. For now, please follow our class Twitter account at @MrPouliot. We will be tweeting regularly to update everyone on our learning journey.

Finally, I would like to invite any parent who is interested in getting involved in our class to contact me at the school The more the merrier, and extra hands are ALWAYS welcome!

Yours,

Mr. Pouliot