2012/2013 Website

Hello People of Room 116!

For those of you visiting this site hoping to get information about the 2012/2013 school year you are out of luck! No worries, below is the link to the new class website. Please continue to use this site to find great educational games, awesome Youtube videos, and tips on strengthening your reading/writing/math skills. See you at:

oakridge116.blogspot.ca

Goodbye Z.Z.

Oakridge BBQ on Tuesday!

Hello People of Room 116!

It's BBQ season again! I hope you all find some time to stop by the Samuel Hearne and Oakridge BBQ this Tuesday - June 12 starting at 4:30. There will be free hot-dogs, a bake sale, face painting, and other great things. I know I'll be there and I'm hoping to bring my son Moishe too!

I hope to see you all there. DON'T FORGET TO BRING A MUG! There will be no disposable cups for water.

Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly

Hello People of Room 116!

As you may have heard we have been watching the life cycle of the butterfly in Room 116. We currently have 3 butterfly chrysalis hanging in our room. We look forward to watching them hatch in the coming weeks. Please take some time to discuss the life cycle of the butterfly and other animals with your student.

Don't like to wait weeks to see a butterfly hatch? Check out this video created for the Chicago museum:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AUeM8MbaIk

The Human Heart

Hello People of Room 116!

Today is Jump Rope for Heart Day! Please take the time to talk to your child about the importance of exercise. Did you know we should get between 30 to 90 minutes of exercise everyday? Check out this cartoon about the human heart to learn more. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxUNxvsG7lc

Sight Word Matching Games

Hello People of Room 116!

As June approaches it is important that we keep making learning as fun as possible. I am posting a few matching games that may help your student build their knowledge of sight words and increase their fluency. Enjoy!

http://www.starfall.com/n/matching/sight-words/load.htm

http://www.cookie.com/kids/games/sight-words.html

http://www.mrcpl.org/literacy/lessons/sight/index.html

http://www.dolchword.net/dolch-pre-primer-memory-game-1.html

Maps and Directions

Hello People of Room 116!

Last week our class went on an adventure. We made left turns, we crossed bridges, and we discovered an amazing park. Along the way we created a class map so we can return in the future. You may want to try this activity with your children. Try taking them somewhere and create a map along the way. Have them label streets, create symbols, use a compass, and make a key. Here are some websites and games to help you and your student learn more about maps:

Arthur Mapping Game
http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/gogeorgego/gogeorgego.html

Tools for Adventure
http://www.mywonderfulworld.org/toolsforadventure/games/adventure.html

Animal Mapping Activity
http://www.mywonderfulworld.org/toolsforadventure/games/gis.html

Canadian Maps
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/maps/default.asp

Jump Rope for Heart

Hello People of Room 116!

I am distributing packets for Jump Rope for Heart today. Please check out their website for more information:

http://www.jumpropeforheart.ca/

Focus on Families

Hello People of Room 116!

This week in Room 116 we will be discussing our families. What makes a family special? Are all families the same? Who are the people in my family? These are just some of the questions we will be asking this week. Parents please take some time to talk your children about your family.

I will be posting a few new books we will be reading in class over the next few days. Enjoy!

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyPjUa908hM

Pizza Day a Success!

Hello People of Room 116!

Today was the last day of our 4 week long food unit. We ended this unit with a pizza day celebration. Students wrote sentences about pizza, made clay pizzas, painted on old pizza boxes, made real pizza muffins, and even turned a few of our students into pizzas! It was a lot of fun!

We look forward to the coming month of May, when we will be going outside into the community, looking at nature, and ways to protect our planet.

Have a great weekened!

Mr. Grady

Door Decorating Contest 2012

Hello People of Room 116!
Check out Room 116's submission for the 2012 door decorating contest. Students in both the am and pm worked together to create this awesome door design. Great Job!

IMPORTANT UPDATE!
Word in the hallways is that we got the second highest score for the school and were the WINNERS FOR THE KINDERGARTEN CLASSES! Great work Room 116!

Pizza Week!

Hello People of Room 116!

This Friday we will be celebrating the end of food month and the end of pizza week with a small pizza party. Please take some time to watch the link below. It is a short cartoon based on the book: Pete's A Pizza by William Steig. It may benefit your child to discuss this book with you afterwards, see if they can tell you the events of the book in sequence. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCchxTFepPc

Phonics Videos - Improve Your Reading

Hello People of Room 116!

I just found some more great videos for helping students learn to sound out words and chunk letters together to make words. Check them out below. You can find more of these videos on youtube. Enjoy Learning!


Learn New Sounds - "Chunking" Letters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUFSTHdFtMo&feature=relmfu

Learn New Sounds - Learn to Read.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhFQfP1_5CE&feature=relmfu

Learn New Sounds - The Letter "A"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hupz16caYeE&feature=relmfu

Learn New Sounds - The Letter "B"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMgYvCwnjWI&feature=relmfu

Learn New Sounds - The Letter "I"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62U9lyRvxNw&feature=relmfu

PANCAKE WEEK!

Hello People of Room 116!

The class is buzzing with excitement for the upcoming Pancake Friday!
Here is the book we have been looking at in our class to prepare us for this Friday's pancakes.

Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ss_4XQKgCg

Please take some time to listen to the book with your child. You can test your child after listening by asking them if they can tell you the events of the story in order. I hope you enjoy!

Best Regards,

Mr. Grady

The Tiny Seed

Hello People of Room 116!

As a class we are beginning to look at different plants and things that grow. To kick this off we read the The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle in class today. Please take some time to read this book online with your child. It may be helpful to have a discussion about different things that grow and some of the food we eat that contain seeds. Check out the link below to watch "The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle online! Enjoy!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls6wTeT2cKA

LEAP Frog Video Online

Hello People of Room 116!

Here are a few great LEAP Frog videos that you can watch online for free. These videos are great for teaching children about letter sounds, creating new words, and putting those words together to make sentences. Many of the techniques used in the video are the same ones we use in class!

Next time your stuck inside on a rainy day and have nothing to do check out one of these videos. Enjoy!


THE LETTER FACTORY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKTZtyoFV-A&feature=relmfu

THE TALKING WORD FACTORY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQRl79o9FQc&feature=relmfu

THE STORYBOOK FACTORY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC5numNX8jc&feature=relmfu

MATH CIRCUS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzmAp5xOXX0&feature=relmfu

Measuring Kits

Room 116's Measuring Kit

Hello People of Room 116!

Your students will be bringing home their "Measurement Kits" either today or tomorrow. Please encourage them to measure items around the house/apartment. They are welcome to report their findings back to the class. Thanks! Happy measuring!

Best Regards,

Mr. Grady

A Message from Tanima - POTLUCK!

Hello People of Room 116!

Here is an important message from Tanima:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

My last day to work with your children will be next week. I really enjoyed working with your child in room 116. Thank you for your cooperation. As a celebration, Mr. Grady and I would like to host a potluck with all the parents and their children in Room 116. You are invited to Room 116, on Tuesday, April 10th for our potluck celebration. You may bring an item of food for the class if you wish. Please be aware that your food item is PEANUT FREE or NUT FREE and is HALAL. There will be two seperate potlucks for the AM and PM parents. The AM parents are invited at 10:45am and the PM parents are invited at 2:45pm. If you are interested in bringing in a food item or if you are to attend our event please let us know by signing the box below. Please let us know by Wednesday, April 4th at the latest.

Sincerely,
Tanima Rasul

Tumble Books Username and Password

Hello People of Room 116!

I've add tumblebooks to the list of links on the right hand side of our blog. Parents please visit this site with your children. The username and password are below:

USERNAME - Oakridgejr
PASSWORD - books

http://www.tumblebooks.com/

Pancake Manor! for Kids

Hello People of Room 116!

Here are a few videos I promised the class I would put on the website. Once you click on the Youtube link you can get to some of the other Pancake Manor videos. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsR0h50BiFQ

Math and Measurement

       Hello People of Room 116,

Even though we are beginning to wrap up our focus on 3D and 2D shapes in room 116, you are encouraged to continue to look and talk about 3D and 2D shapes with your child.

In April, we will begin to take a look at measurement using non-standard units. What is a non-standard unit you ask? Watch this 6 minute cartoon (From Pbskids.org) with your child to get a better idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hlkRcTmFxY


Take some time over the next few weeks to:

• Measure objects in your house/apartment
• Discuss the temperature outside
• Compare and contrast the weight of different things
• Introduce your children to the joys of cooking and let them help measure out ingredients
• Talk about time. What is a second, minute, hour, day, week, year?
• Fill a variety of containers with liquid. What holds more? What has the greatest capacity?

Have fun with it and report back to the class the great things you are doing at home.

Best Regards,

Mr. Grady

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April Library Dates

Please find the April library dates for your child below. Students are encouraged to keep their library books for the whole week (or until the next library date).

Morning Class (am - Day 2)
Thursday - April 5, 2012
Monday - April 16, 2012
Monday - April 23, 2012
Monday - April 30, 2012
Monday - May 7, 2012
Monday - May 14, 2012
Wednesday - May 23, 2012
Wednesday - May 30, 2012

Afternoon Class (pm - Day 3)
Tuesday - April 10, 2012
Tuesday - April 17, 2012
Tuesday - April 24, 2012
Tuesday - May 1, 2012
Tuesday - May 8, 2012
Tuesday - May 15, 2012
Thursday - May 24, 2012
Thursday - May 31, 2012

Hopefully this helps get those blue book bags to school.

Youtube Clips We Love!

Here are just a few of the songs we are enjoying in Room 116 these days. I will update as we discover more.

3D Shapes I Know
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9L9l86N-xM

2D Shapes I Know
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htcuPenTg38

The Shape Song 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTeqUejf3D0

The Alphabet Song (by Have Fun Teaching)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36IBDpTRVNE

The "The" Song (by Have Fun Teaching)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXCGjkNwT7Y

Tips For Reading Difficult Words

Stuck on a word when reading? Here are a few tips we use in the classroom to help you read on. Always remember: Never let the word win! Read on!

Eagle Eye - Look at the pictures!

• Look at the pictures for clues.

Lips the Fish - Get your lips ready!

• Say the first few sounds on the new word.
• Read to the end of the sentence and say it again.

Stretchy Snake - Stretch it out!

• Stretch the word out slowly.
• Put the sounds together.

Chunky Monkey - Chunk the word!

• Look for a chunk that you know (-at, -an)
• Look for a word part (-ing, -er)

Skippy Frog - Skip It, Skip It!

• Skip the word.
• Read to the end of the sentence.
• Hop back and READ IT, READ IT!

Tryin' Lion - Try it Again!

• Try to reread the sentence.
• Try a word that makes sense.

Helpful Kangaroo - Ask for help!

• Ask for help (After you have tried all of the other strategies). 

Welcome!

Good morning and good afternoon students!
It's never to late to try something new. This blog is meant to keep you up to date on what's happening in the classroom. The hope is it will also give you and your parents a place to go to read and learn together.