Mrs Kennette & Mrs Saad's Classroom
Our Fab 4 Class!
Educational Assistant: Cindi Ruthven
Welcome Back Parents and Students to our 2020-2021 School Year!
My name is Mrs. Kennette and I am the Class 4 teacher this year. I am so very excited to be joining the John McGivney Team! I have loved teaching for over 16 years now and would choose nothing else. Teaching kids is such an honour and has always brought so much joy to my life. We are very fortunate this year to have our full time EA joining us in class four, Ms. Cindi Ruthven. I know that together we are a going to do an amazing job of supporting all our learners in fun adventures this year. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions or concerns about school. We are all in this together! Looking forward to working with all of you.
Mrs. K & Ms. Cindi
Not on Google Classroom yet?
If you require help, contact Mrs. K!
About our Program
Our program consists of many opportunities for students to explore math and literacy in whole class, small group and independent learning settings. During whole-class learning, students engage with their classmates, participate in group discussions and practice turn-taking. In our classroom, we use whole group learning circles to read stories and teach or reinforce new skills and concepts.
Small group learning is ideal for teaching specific skills to a few students focusing on individualized differentiated instruction. Individual learning gives each child opportunities to work on activities based on their individual learning plans. Technology and play-based learning are often used in independent learning as a motivational tool. We love to explore in our class through the use of robotics.
Another huge part of our program is core communication. Core language is modelled for the students consistently throughout the day using both a communication board and NuVoice. Students are also encouraged to use core communication in their daily interactions through oral language, core communication boards, Minspeak devices and Step by Steps.
Our Schedule
| Timetable | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 9:00-9:40 | Morning Circle Activities | Morning Circle Activities |
Morning Circle Activities | Morning Circle Activities | Morning Circle Activities |
| 9:40:-10:15 | Physical Education | Physical Education | Physical Education | Physical Education | Physical Education |
| 10:15 - 10:40 | Guided Reading/ Robotics | Guided Reading/ Robotics | Guided Reading/ Robotics | Guided Reading/ Robotics | Guided Reading/ Robotics |
| 10:40-11:30 | The Arts with Mrs. P | The Arts with Mrs. P | The Arts with Mrs. P | The Arts with Mrs. P | The Arts with Mrs. P |
| 11:30-12:30 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch |
| 12:30-1:15 | Independent/ Small Group Literacy | Independent/ Small Group Literacy | Independent/ Small Group Literacy | Independent/ Small Group Literacy | Independent/ Small Group Literacy |
| 1:15-1:45 | Goal Bins | Goal Bins | Goal Bins | Goal Bins | Goal Bins |
| 1:45-2:30 | Independent/ Small Group Math Work | Independent/ Small Group Math Work | Independent/ Small Group Math Work | Independent/ Small Group Math Work | Independent/ Small Group Math Work |
| 2:30-3:00 | Technology | Technology | Technology | Technology | Technology |
What We Are Learning:
Hello Parents/Guardians of Class 4,
We have now settled into our classroom routines which have involved a lot of handwashing, wearing visors and masks, and lots and lots of cleaning. Students onsite have adjusted well and are happy to be back with their school friends in Class 4. We do however, miss our online friends and send them BIG virtual hugs as we acknowledge their efforts in working hard as part of our class too.
During the month of December, we are looking at continuing to recognize the uppercase and lowercase letters/sounds for M,N,O, and P. We are also working on answering the 5W questions of Who, What, When, Where, and Why. We have also begun sequencing activities using Boom files on our Ipads. Students enjoyed sequencing familiar daily activities like brushing thier teeth and putting on a coat as well as some fun activities like baking a cookie and decorating a Christmas Tree!
In math this month, we will be focusing on representing and comparing numbers 1-15, identifying units of time to the hour, collecting and representing data in a graph and interpeting our results suing the words "most" and " least". Students loved graphing using our marshmallow snow to dig out items like bells, snowflakes and trees and graphing them afterwards. Such fun!
Students have also enjoyed using our Bee Bot to get him home for Christmas Break. Bee Bot even collected presents along the way. We practiced the algorithms left, right, forward and backwards. Way to go class!
Core words this month focused on "in", "out" and "put". Students enjoyed reading a variety of stories and one speficially called "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell". Students loved putting things into a box that she swallowed and taking them out. By the end of the story, they loved watching her take flight on a sleigh ride with St. Nick. What a special surprise! We also continue to practice reading daily for 20min and using the Lexia Core 5 program and activities to increase our reading, vocabulary and communication skills.
Students this month sure where superstars in a variety of ways. Three of our students received certificates this month for increasing a whole level in the Lexia Core 5 program! Hard work has definately payed off! Way to go kids! All students also shone as we celebrated our Winter Celebration virtually where we sang and danced to the gingerbread man song. They mixed and danced and mixed and baked until our little cookies came out just right! You made us all so proud and definately entertained! Awesome job class!
We have included the following supplemental activities to help ensure your child's learning is comprehensive and are utlized through the week in a variety of ways:
- sensory activities
- fine motor activities
- outdoor education
- virtual storytime
- AAC communication activities
- switch activities
- virtual classroom library
- virtual troubleshooting and help centre
Our JMCCSA Tech Squad has created a Parent Portal to help keep us all up to date on the current news and weekly flyers. Don't forget to take a peek! Remember to check your Google Classroom daily!
Please take lots of photos and videos of your child throughout the online learning process. It provides a sense of connection to their peers in class as well.
Photos and videos will be included within your child's digital portfolio and to keep you in tune with your child's learning environment at school. We hope you enjoy them and take a minute to see how well they are doing. We are so proud of you class 4! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Class Four Team!
Thank you,
Mrs. K and Ms. Cindi
.jpg){kind=link}