So much to do, so little time!!

Every September feels a bit like a treadmill going too fast to keep up.  I have taken many photos that document some of the work that has been done, but blogging all of them is another story.  So, here is a photo gallery of what's been up at school!

Patterning in Math included repeating patterns, increasing patterns, growing patterns and circular patterns.

 The students also found patterns in nature in our school garden.

Learning about Terry Fox

and representing what was learned through various media.

Plasticine models of what students did this summer:  These models were done after a whole school writing activity which teachers use to guide their teaching.  The activity is also completed in the Spring and we can see how much the children have developed.  It's quite amazing.

 Sea Crow Field Trip to Spanish Banks.

Fall leaves and descriptive words placed in a Wordle.

Arts Umbrella Workshop

Portraits

After looking at the illustrations in a Todd Parr book, the children came up with some things that they noticed about his work, such as the colours are solid, bold, outlined in black and simple. 

Following this technique, the students painted their own portrait.

Here is a link to the author's website: 

http://www.toddparr.com/

Welcome to Division 1

September 11, 2016

Dear Families,

Welcome back to school and a special welcome to families new to Division 1.                                                                  

I would like to offer up a bit of information on my program and my philosophy of education.  From the outside looking in, it’s often difficult to understand the underpinnings of what I do and why I do it.

This is my 20^th year as a teacher at Dickens Annex.  Much of what I do is based on the multi-age and child-centered philosophy that the school was purpose-built for and has since adhered to.  Of course, the delivery of the program and its contents have changed as the Ministry of Education requirements have changed, but the foundation of how I deliver the curriculum remains as true as it can be to the original beliefs of the teachers who started the school (and what I now firmly believe in).

I believe that children need to feel safe, happy, respected and confident in order to learn.  Once this is established, then learning takes place.  I believe that children learn at different rates and should be taught at their developmental level.  For example, a grade 1 student born at the beginning of the calendar year is most likely at a different developmental level than a grade 1 student born at the end of the year.  That is only one factor that comes into play.  Life experiences, socio-economic status, family dynamics, gender and such all impact how a child learns.  So, as teachers, we are asked to grade our students and compare them to other children in their grade level when a child in the same grade may be almost a year older/younger than another.  Taking all of this into consideration, I look at where a child starts and how they progress along the way.  This is the true gauge of a child’s progress and learning.

I see every child as a unique individual with strengths and weaknesses.  Everyone cannot, and should not, be the same. Strengths can lie in any one of the five areas of development (Aesthetic and Artistic, Emotional and Social, Intellectual, Physical, Social Responsibility).  I celebrate this diversity and accept it for the greatness it is.

I strongly believe that "Play is the work of children" (J. Piaget) and allow for it daily.  Play not only creates a sense of team, togetherness and accomplishment, but
children learn through play. They develop sensory motor control, eye hand co-ordination and problem solving skills.  In addition, physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development are all enhanced through play.  A researcher by the name of Peter Gray (author of Free to Learn) has an excellent Ted Talk titled The Decline of Play and how this impacts children today.  A quote he made is one I especially like: “Perhaps play would be more respected if we called it something like, “self-motivated practice of life skills”.   

Reading and writing are intertwined and develop so differently from one child to the next.  Literacy activities are integrated across the subjects and themes being explored.  As much as possible, I like to plan academic activities that are authentic and purposeful for the children.  Structured literacy slots also occur in our day.  For example, Reading Workshop allows a time for children to read books at their own level and practice skills taught in mini-lessons. During this time, I listen to students read to me and teach reading skills specific to the child.  In addition, Spelling lessons introduce the students to spelling patterns (phonics) at their level.  The patterns taught here are then reinforced through writing and reading activities.  I also read aloud to students at least two times every day which is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for successful reading (McCormick, 1977).

At Dickens Annex, not only do the children work cooperatively, but our staff also works hard bouncing ideas off of each other and continually coming up with great things to do with the children. I also love the spontaneity that comes with being a part of the Open Area. We often find ourselves singing Happy Birthday as a neighboring class sings to a child, or joining in during a Days of the Week song that just can’t be ignored!  We do have fun.

I see parents as partners in this journey and we should all be proud of the students, as well as ourselves, for our commitment to the children. 

There are a few things that you may like to know in order to organize yourselves for a new year.

Items to share may be brought in Monday mornings.  I ask that items do not include electronic devices, stuffies or toys and that anything brought into school is put away for the remainder of the day.   If pets would like to be shared, we can make special arrangements.

I begin the year with a new Special Helper each day.  Mostly they are random and follow a list, but when possible, I slot students on their birthday.  After I have run through the entire class list twice, I then move onto Star of the Week.  For an entire week, a student will take the lead of Special Helper and will take home a class-made book full of special comments from classmates.

Our Library days are Tuesday (book exchange) and Thursday.  Gym days are Tuesday and Thursday as well.  Please ensure your child has appropriate foot wear for gym.

Most days I have scheduled a snack time for the early afternoon.  Students may finish-up leftovers from lunch or have a special snack for this time.

I am looking forward to another fun-filled year.  Anyone out there with a special talent or a desire to play, please let me know.  In addition, if you have any questions or concerns, please come to me.  I am very open and honest about my program and I am happy to explain anything

Sincerely,

Jacquie Nielson

My Summer

Below is a tradition of mine. 

A postcard I send to my students every summer.

Dear Division 1,

It’s hard to believe how close it is to the end of summer!  I look back to the beginning and it feels like a long time ago, yet it feels like it went by so quickly.  I was away a lot this summer.  I have gone to my sister’s cabin in Naramata on Okanagan Lake 3 times (home of the mythical sea creature, Ogopogo), to Kamloops (3 sisters, 1 brother and my mom live there), and to the USA for a few days.  In the photo on the top left I was wake-surfing which is like surfing, but you are behind a special boat that makes a big wave to surf on.  The middle top one is a picture of me looking out at the lake as I laid on an air mattress in the sun.  The far right was a lightning storm on the lake.  It was incredible!!  The photo of the eyes was taken at the Adele concert.  I’m sure you or your parents know her.  She is such a talented singer and she is super funny too.  All the photos across the bottom were taken at Dominic Lake which is a fishing lake about 3 hours from Vancouver.  About 20 members of my family went up fishing during a special weekend we had together.  My son, Drew, caught the lake trout and he is holding the wee frog.  Soooooo many tadpoles too.  Enjoy the rest of your summer and see you soon!!  

Love,

Jacquie

Re-Designed Curriculum

Click on the link below to read a parent letter regarding the changes to our curriculum.  Once the link is open , click on the "Change in Curriculum PDF".

Changes in Curriculum

Healthy Living Week

What a week it has been!!  It astounds me just how much we fit into 5 days.  Here is a glimpse at our week.

Every day began with Family Walking from 9:00 - 9:15. 

Monday

A pharmacist from London Drugs, named Grace, came to teach the students about hand washing.  Each division rotated through her station over the course of the day.  A cream with fake germs was put onto their hands and a UV light showed where the germs were.  The students were asked to do a quick rinse, which still showed germs.  Then they were asked to follow 6 steps for proper hand washing and then looked again to see that the germs were gone.

Before lunch a school-wide garbage pick-up was completed using equipment supplied by Keep Vancouver Spectacular. 

Students also created fruit art in their classrooms using a variety of techniques.  Division 1 used fine-point markers and water colour paint to create beautiful cards.

  Tuesday

After the Family Walk, students rotated through 2 stations.  Each teacher planned an activity: 

Mrs. Miller - Why we exercise

Mrs. C. - Zones of Regulation     http://zonesofregulation.com/index.html

Ms. Conklin - Gratitude

Jacquie - Fat Detectives

Ms. Lui - Brain Pop     https://jr.brainpop.com/

Ms. Wong/Trish - Food Groups

Constable Heather came to talk to the children about 911.

In the afternoon, all students prepared a certain colour of vegetables and fruits to be shared with other classes for our Eat the Rainbow activity.  Students learned the many benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetable and that each colour has it's own nutritional value. 

Div. 1 - yellow

Div. 2 - purple/blue

Div. 3 -  red

Div. 4 - orange

Div. 5 - white

Div. 6 - green

Wednesday

Family Walk, followed by 2 more station rotations.

After lunch, a parent spoke about Type 1 Diabetes to the entire school. 

Students then went back to their classrooms to make healthy snacks.

Div. 1

Ants on a log

Div. 2

Apple pie energy balls and Choco balls

Div. 3

Apple pizzas

Div. 4

Hummus

Div. 5

Trail mix

Div. 6

Fruit smoothies

While eating their snacks, the students watched the following video about Cystic Fibrosis in order to learn more about a grade one student in the school. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuI72eMrIQI

Thursday

The final 2 rotations of our stations were completed in the morning.  After recess, students made food group bingo cards.  Afterwards, the entire school played Bingo in the open area!

At 2 pm it was the district wide Big One at Two Earthquake Drill.  The school received a possible scenario for a real earthquake which included collapsed walls on the north and east side, a flooded hallway and several injuries.  Students were chosen to act injured and did such a convincing job that some of us felt a little bit uneasy about it all!  Staff members assumed their roles as well.

Friday

After the Family Walk, all of the students joined together for a Group Language lesson on the topic of Play.  We watched the heart warming clip titled, Caine's Arcade.

"9-year-old Caine Monroy spent his summer vacation building an elaborate cardboard arcade inside his dad's used auto parts store, and dreaming of the day when he would have customers come and play his games. The entire summer went by, and Caine never had a single customer. Then, on the last day of summer, a filmmaker walked in by chance to buy a door handle for his car. He became Caine's first customer, and made this short film to make Caine's day and share Caine's Arcade with the world. Watch the film to see what happened next!"  (http://cainesarcade.com/)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIFNkdq96U

When asked what Caine learned through his play, these are some of the ideas that the children came up with:

-not giving up - perseverance

-how to be creative

-how to be grateful

-having fun with others

-how to build with cardboard

-how to make a business

-how to be a construction worker

-how to make friends

-how to have fun

-how to turn one thing into a lot of things

-how to make a lot of stuff

The children were asked to close their eyes and imagine themselves going off to Whole School Choosing.  What would they do?  Who would they be with?  Afterwards, they drew a picture of themselves playing and decided which type of play it was and glued it onto a poster.  Six posters were made and will be displayed for all to enjoy.

The week ended with our annual Walkathon fundraiser.  Many children had goals for how many laps they wanted to do and they pushed hard to do their best.

Playing with our shadows while we walked in the beautiful sunshine!

Thanks to everyone for a crazy, fun-filled, entertaining and educational week!