Our first month of school is officially over and it has been a whirlwind! We are fully into our regular routines and procedures - curriculum is in full force. Here's a quick look at what we've been up to lately:

Science and Reading: we are continuing to learn about the scientific process in our guided reading groups. We have worked on hypothesis and begun to identify variables. We will continue to work on identifying independent, dependent and controlled variables in our guided reading next week.

Word Work: Word work groups have all met this week and got started. Your student should come home with a word sort once per week, depending on which group they are in. Ask your child what sort they are working on this week. Remember to practice online using Spelling City or Quizlet.

Social Studies: We are starting to look at what makes a civilization in social studies. We have covered the 7 main criteria of a civilization. We will use these 7 criteria all year long while studying our ancient civilizations.

Math: We have finished up our unit on multiplication review. Next week we will be starting Divisibility Rules including factors and multiples. Stay tuned for a parent letter on Monday explaining changes in our math structure.

Writing: We continue to focus on the Ideas trait.

Art: We began exploring water colours and various water colour techniques this week. Our first attempts are gorgeous, we will go further with this in a larger painting next week! h

PE: We continue to enjoy spirited outdoor games of soccer, California Kickball, capture the flag and more as the rgorgeous fall weather allows. Our class performed very well in the Terry Fox run and we have many students eager to compete in the annual Tuc-El-Nuit run on Tuesday, October 2nd. We will try to enjoy the sunshine as long as it allows and will move into volleyball season soon. If any parents are interested in helping coach gr 6 or 7, boys or girls volleyball teams, please contact Miss Richmond for more information! :)

Have a fabulous and restful weekend. See you Monday! :)

~ Miss R

What a busy week it has been here in Div 24! As it is the third (!!) week if school already, we have been slowly adjusting into a routine and getting into curriculum. Here's a quick recap if what we've been up to.

Math: preparing for our unit on Divisivility Rules, students have been learning about the different ways to do multiplication problems. Ask your student to show you the Grid Method or Zero Strategy this weekend, you just might learn something new :)

Reading: reading groups are now underway. Each group has a different reading focus but we are all learning about the scientific method at our own levels. This week we discussed what makes a good hypothesis as well as the three components of reading (decoding, fluency and comprehension).

Writing: in writing this year we will focus on the Six Traits model of writing. We have begun work on the ideas trait. The ideas trait has four major criteria to keep in mind: find a topic, focus the topic, develop the topic and use details.

Science: we have started to think ahead to science fair, which will happen in term three. Encourage your student to make observations about science around them and help them discover a topic that may be of interest to them!

PE: we continue to enjoy the fantastic weather and take our physical education outside. Students have enjoyed soccer, capture the flag, dodgeball and especially California Kickball. We have quite the competition between the boys and the girls in Kickball with the girls leading the series at 2-0.

We have also been reading JR Tolkien's The Hobbit in class. Students have performed in Reader's Theatre around the scene of Bilbo meeting Gollum this week. We have some fabulous actors this year!!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Want to get ahead in classwork? We will be participating in the BC Yukon Legion's annual Remembrance Contest this year. The deadline is November 15. Categories include: poster, essay, video and poetry all on the topic of remembrance. We will be creating posters and poetry for this event but I would encourage some class members to consider entering the video or essay contest as well. Talk to Miss R if you have any questions or would like more information.

Visit the contest website at: http://www.legionbcyukon.ca/content/youth-contests

See you Monday,

Miss R :)

We had our first big house team challenge in class today. Our spaghetti and marshmallow tower building contest was a massive success. Students were given uncooked spaghetti, mini marshmallows and large marshmallows to build the tallest freestanding structure. Groups had 40 minutes to build their tower. We will try again throughout the year to improve our designs!

What a fantastic first week back! Division 24 is full of amazing students and I am excited for all this year has to offer. Newsletters introducing the Grade Seven Team and student/parent surveys were sent home with students on Friday afternoon. I hope everyone has a restful weekend, the first week back can be quite the shock to the system :)

Have a fabulous weekend,

Miss R :)