Agenda

• Please add our blog to your updates - this is best set up on a PC or laptop vs your phone to work the most effectively on all devices
• Vaccination went home, please return ASAP

Week of September 23-27, 2019

HUMANITIES
This week students dove into sentence structure, looking at complete sentences, and identifying what an incomplete sentence looks like. We finally got our visual journals! Students added work from the first few weeks into their shiny books, as well as 'sensory circles' to reflect on our field trip. Humanities visual journals are expected to be stored in student lockers and brought to class everyday. Also students practiced what to bring to class:

• Indoor shoes (seasonal)
• Filled water bottle
• Writing materials and visual journal
• Quiet reading book
• Agenda

MATH
Continuing in the place value unit, students continue to practice representing big numbers in standard numeric form, expanded form, and word form.
The Friday (weekly) math review sheet has been sent for homework to practice over the weekend. The sheet is called Exploring Large Numbers and is in their Math duotang. Try it together.  If you are looking for more practice on this, there are many more resources online if you search 'Big Number, Place Value games or Grade 6 practice sheets on Place value.'
I am available after school on Mondays and Tuesdays.  If you need a space to do work, have questions or need a hand, just let me know.

The three rules we have for approaching math this year are:
1 - Remember to THINK. What is the question asking me?  What is my answer going to look like?
2. No negative self talk! It will NOT help and it's contagious.  Try spreading perseverance instead.
3. The struggle is real.  Engage in it even if it's tough, but no tears.

Students have a separate journal for Math/Science that will be stored in the Math/Science room.

SCIENCE
Students enjoyed their trip to the Birthplace Forest Botanical Garden and Bowmont Nature Park and learned more about making observations and inferences in nature.  We have reflected on the uses of these parks and the pros and cons each of these outdoor spaces have for different 'stakeholders'.  We have created a Venn Diagram showing their understanding of Coniferous and Deciduous trees.  Most have added ten things to either side as required, and are finishing up their five things to the common area (to be finished for homework if not done in class).
Students have received the rubric for their LEVELS OF THE FOREST project.  This is due next Thursday, Oct 3.  We have already had had two class period to get started on the research and take a look at an exemplar, so expectations are clear.  Everyone will get started on the good copy on Monday and will have four more class periods to work on it at school.  Use your class time wisely little ones, and you won't have homework!

6-1 ART
Students are creating design art patterns, a process where they develop an intricate design that can be repeated. This project works on developing skill in using different different types of lines and textures.

6-2 ART
Students are creating their own piece of a class puzzle mural of an Alberta forest. Each student will have a small piece of a large picture and will use the grid to help them design it.

Agenda

• Thank you to our volunteers who came on the field trip!
• Please add our blog to your updates - this is best set up on a PC or laptop vs your phone to work the most effectively on all devices
• Vaccination forms going home tomorrow
• Terry Fox Run tomorrow at 9:45 rain or shine
• Bring $2 for Terry!
• Orange Shirt Day on Monday

Agenda

• Tomorrow is our field trip to Bowmont Park! Please dress appropriately for the weather = layers. We will be back by lunch
• Thank you to volunteers for the field trip!
• Please add our blog to your updates - this is best set up on a PC or laptop vs your phone to work the most effectively on all devices
• Vaccination forms going home
• Terry Fox Run this Friday at 9:45

Themes from Conferences! (table talk)

Below is a list of themes that came up repeatedly during conferences. Lygo & Lowe endeavor to address these themes throughout the year.

Looking for dinner table talk? Consider these as conversation starters:

• MATH (basic math facts)
• Classroom conduct
• Why do we raise our hand?
• What does good group work look like?
• How do we delegate jobs within a group?
• What does it mean to present your best work?
• What is the school motto? What does the school motto mean to you?
• What can you do if think you're 'finished' with a task?
• Learning about test-taking strategies
• Cell phone use
• What is an effective transition? How does that relate to when you change classrooms or learning tasks?
• Mindfulness
• Why is it important to have positive self-talk?
• Why is it important to show pride in your work?
• Do you speak up in class and share ideas?
• Do you take risks in the classroom?
• What does 'getting in the zone' mean?
• Relationships
• What does being nice look/sound/feel like?
• What does being respectful look/sound/feel like?
• Put-ups vs. put-downs
• What does being a good friend mean?

Agenda

• Meet the Teacher Conferences are September 19 and 20 - please make sure to enter a time: https://sis.cbe.ab.ca/public/
• classes 6-1 and 6-2 will be going on a field trip to Bowmont Park on September 25 - please return forms ASAP
• Scholastic book orders due tomorrow
• Please add our blog to your updates! 
• "All About Me" pages are homework tonight if they were not completed during class time
• 6-2  and 6-1 will need to hand in definition rings 

CTF

Students viewed the options for CTF for Term 1 (Sept. 2019 - Jan. 2020) and Term 2 (Feb. 2020- May 2020). They are to complete the survey to show their top choices for CTF courses this year.

Mrs. Lygo's and Mrs. Lowe's class have looked at the slide show in class. Students can only complete the survey once. There will be class time to complete the survey, but if students like they can complete the survey at home as well.

CTF student survey can be found here

CTF Informational slide showSlideshow

Agenda

• Meet the Teacher Conferences are September 19 and 20 - please make sure to enter a time: https://sis.cbe.ab.ca/public/
• Grade 6-1 and 6-2 will be going on a field trip to Bowmont Park on September 25 - forms coming asap
• Scholastic book orders due this Friday
• Please add our blog to your updates! 
• Students may bring home "All About Me" pages from HUM to complete. Tomorrow is the last class time to work 

Math Homework tonight

Understanding Large Numbers
Students are to write their own number riddle to play a game of
"What number am I" in class tomorrow.  We played today, so students have a good understanding of what to do.
- 5 clues
- between 6 and 9 digits

Clues may be things like:

I am a ____ digit number...
I have only even numbers...
The digits in the thousands place is double the digit in the tens place...
Each digit is in an increasing pattern starting in the ones place...
The digits in the thousands period are the same as the digits of our Math classroom...

Have fun with it!
No tears, and spend no more than 15 minutes on this.
You can write it on a sticky in the car on the way to practice, over the lunch hour, or in a waiting room. I just ask that you try it.

*a quick reminder for those who have not handed in their 'Forest Art' these are overdue.

Agenda

• Reminder picture day is September 17
• Meet the Teacher Conferences are September 19 and 20
• Grade 6-1 and 6-2 will be going on a field trip to Bowmont Park on September 25 - forms coming asap
• Scholastic book orders due this Friday
• Please add our blog to your updates! 

A few more details - Meet the Teacher

Meet the Teacher!

Sept 19 and 20 will be a "Meet the Teachers" opportunity to book a 10 minute conversation with your child's teaching team.  During this time, we would like you to share information that will support teachers in understanding your child and their learning needs.

This informal conversation is meant to support early planning for a successful year.  

Evidence of learning will be shared in the November student learning conferences (Nov 21/22).

Sept 19 - classes dismiss at 12:30pm.  

Bookings begin at 1:30pm and end at 7:30 pm.  

Teachers are unavailable during the dinner hour of 4:30pm - 5:30pm.

Sept 20 - no classes are scheduled.  

Bookings begin at 8:30am and end at 1:30 pm.  

Teachers are unavailable from 10:30am-11am.

When booking an appointment (online bookings will open Monday, Sept 16), please consider these guiding questions as you prepare to meet your child's teachers:

• What are your child’s greatest strengths and skills?
• What are your hopes for your child in this year of school?
• What are your fears or concerns about your child in this year of school?
• Is there anything you can share about your child that you think would help the teachers support their learning?

The guide for parent bookings can be found here: https://myconferences.cbe.ab.ca/Info_files/School%20Conferences%20Parent%20Guide.pdf

Drop in appointments are available for all members of the PE team and Ms. Thornborough (Band/Music).  Please call the school office for appointments with members of the school administration and student services team.

Week of September 9-13, 2019

Please note we post agenda updates for events, reminders, field trips and homework.
Agenda posts will appear as needed for students.

HUMANITIES: 

• Students have done a variety of work around what good group work looks like, working in small groups and independently on the concepts of democracy, equality, equity, fairness and decision making. They have shared words of wisdom from home, and are progressing in making a class Charter of Rights and Responsibilities based on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

MATH:

• Paper Folding Task.  This is an activity that challenges any learner (teacher included). It starts off with fairly easy questions about shapes that become more difficult as the activity progresses.  Students take turns being the Sceptic and the Convincer and helps students learn to articulate and defend their ideas and thinking. This activity is difficult, but students know everything they need to know to solve the problems.
• All students wrote a quiz to help show their areas of strength and growth to help guide our learning this term as we begin our term with Place Value.
• Student who are able to bring in a deck of cards are reminded that we will start using them this week for our drill and practice games and to introduce place value to the Hundred Thousands. I have some of my own cards available for students who don't have their own to bring in.

SCIENCE:

• We read the book 'Trees', and discussed the power and interconnection of trees, habitats and watersheds. The students have been working on there title pages for the Trees and Forest Unit.  Some vocabulary: observation, inference, biotic, abiotic, ecosystem 

ART:

• Students did some leaf gathering and sketching this week, creating some amazing leaf art to be continued next week. They have also drawn impressions of forests from unique perspectives.

Upcoming Field trips:

Bowmont Park and the Birthplace Forest - The morning of Sept 25th, 2019

YMCA Camp Riveredge - *Date Change* March 2020

Agenda

• Reminder picture day is September 17
• Meet the Teacher Conferences are September 19 and 20
• Grade 6-1 and 6-2 will be going on a field trip to Bowmont Park on September 25 - forms coming asap
• Scholastic book orders go home today
• Scholastic book orders due next friday
• Please add our blog to your updates! 
• Spirt wear due monday!

Agenda

• Reminder picture day is September 17
• Meet the Teacher Conferences are September 19 and 20
• Grade 6-1 and 6-2 will be going on a field trip to Bowmont Park on September 25 - forms coming asap
• Scholastic book orders go home today
• Please add our blog to your updates! 

Book Order info

The following message was sent out to families through email. If you did not receive it, please subscribe to the school emails. Thanks!

Dear families,

In order to supplement student home libraries, we are offering book orders through Scholastic! Each month new books will be available through the Scholastic Canada website or paper flyers. Paper flyers will be distributed to each student the first month, then by request only.

If you would like to purchase items, you can:

1. Shop and pay online
2. Shop in the flyer and pay online
3. Shop in the flyer and pay by cheque. Cheques need to include GST and be made out to Scholastic Canada. Please return paper orders and cheques to Mrs. MacDonald.

Mrs. MacDonald will be organizing all student orders for the grade to better maximize our classroom benefits. To order online you will need to select her name (Deyelle MacDonald) under Twelve Mile Coulee School. Please direct any questions or concerns to her via email, ddmacdonald@cbe.ab.ca  Also, if you would like an item to be a gift and remain a surprise, please email her when you place the order.

Book orders will always be due on the Monday following the day that they are sent home. It generally takes a few days to get them organized and entered so orders typically arrive within a couple of weeks of that due date. 

Thank you for your support.

The Grade 6 Team

First Week Fun, Sept 3-6, 2019

Hello from the Lygo-Lowe Duo!

What a fantastic first week we have had with your children! Thank you for your patience through September startup, it can be a mixed bag of excitement and nervous emotions for all. The first day message had a few glitches, but all seems straightened up now.

We are touching base to let you know that we have our class blog up and running this week. Please copy and paste the URL into your bookmarks for quick and easy access:  http://tmc-lygo-lowe.blogspot.com

You can also get automatic update notifications by entering your email in the box on the right.

The blog includes information about what we have done, what’s coming up, any homework assignments, and important reminders.
Please email your child's teacher at any time with questions or concerns.  
6-1 Mrs. Lygo (Humanities):
jrlygo@cbe.ab.ca
6-2 Mrs. Lowe (Math and Science):  
lelowe@cbe.ab.ca

Homeroom:

• Community Introductions with all grade 6 teachers
• Discussed classroom expectations and the roles and responsibilities we have and want in our shared space
• Read Aloud of the book The Invisible Boy and discussed how we all play a role in each other’s experience
• ‘Name Art’ for the cover of their visual journals
• All grade 6 students are creating ‘Fishy’ art inspired by the book 'Only One You' using their choice of materials and creating a grade 6 ‘School of Fish’ to display
• Students are asked to bring in a small notebook or use one I provide as an Homework notebook/Agenda/List of things to do

Math:
Introductory Activities, Creating Confidence and Brain Building to shake off the holiday fog

• 4 Fours Activity – My favorite number Inquiry task where students work together to find the numbers 1 - 20 using only four 4’s and any operation. Students work in groups and are invited to come up to the board to share solutions.  They were introduced to BEDMAS, Square roots, and calculating ‘Factorials’.  Students were asked to take this task home to share and challenge you while attempting to create a solution for the ones they didn’t finish in class.  Some of these are challenging, so all I asked was to attempt all 20 of them.  No tears allowed! We did 10 together in class and will go over the rest together in class.
• Number Visuals – Students examined diagram that consisted of dots representing every number from 1 to 35.  They took them home to show and share with you. This activity invited students to investigate a really interesting representation of numbers, created by Stephen Von Worley.  We all found it fascinating as more and more patterns showed us ‘factors’ and ‘multiples’ using shapes. This gives students an important opportunity to explore, notice and understand numbers visually.

*Students are asked to bring in a skinny white board marker and a deck of cards to use in class throughout the year.  This is very helpful, but not required.

Science:

We will be introducing our Trees and Forest Unit this week.  We are planning two field trips over the next month.  One to Bowmont Park the last week of September and one to YMCA Camp River’s Edge the first week of October. We will need 3 volunteers from each class for each trip, so anyone interested please email me at lelowe@cbe.ab.ca.  We will confirm exact dates ASAP.

Humanities:

Through discussion and art students have shared some of the things they are looking forward to and a few things they worry about for the upcoming year.
We have read the picture book 'Only One You' together and started 'Fishy Art'
Students have been examining their own roles, rights and responsibilities as an introduction to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Welcome to Grade 6!

Welcome back to school everyone!

Thank you for your patience as we set up our blog. We will have updates and reminders posted soon.

Our first week of school was getting back into routines, discussing expectations and exploring what good teamwork looks like. Grade 6 has dove into number exploration, and has begun looking at Canadian democracy leading into the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Please make sure you have completed back-to-school forms asap!