New Friends

This week we welcomed some new friends into our classroom! We have some class pets- Les Escargots! (Snails) We have 11 altogether (the number seems to be growing on a daily basis) and spent some time today talking about their needs and what we want to call them. The students told me they need food, water, a home, dirt and sleep so hopefully we will be able to provide for them. The names the children chose were: Muffin, Fun, Maria, Sticky, Iron Man, Escargot, Slimy, Sally, Snail Ball, Fluffy, and Fuzzy. The students are really excited about them so over the next couple of weeks we will be observing their living habits and trying our best to meet all of their needs. Try to join in their excitement too :)

Permission Forms etc.

Please, please, please try your best to send back permission forms and papers that need to be signed as soon as possible! Quite a few children have not brought back their forms for the trip to Whittamore's Farm and without them, will not be able to join us for a fun day! Also, Picture Day is coming up (Oct 1)- a notice was sent home today- and there is a form that should be returned for that :)
Mme Giles or I try to look inside your child's back pack every day to see if they have brought anything back to us or if there is anything important inside that should be addressed and I would encourage you all to do the same!
Thanks!
Mlle Bauman

C'est Moi with our Reading Buddies

Today we had the opportunity to share our C'est Moi (This is Me) books with our Reading Buddies! The older students helped our class read the words and the children were able to share their pictures and work with their buddy. Everyone enjoyed themselves! Here are a few pictures:

My Family and Me and L'atuomne

We've been having a great time getting to know each other over the past few weeks in Room 109! We're still working on being familiar with daily routines, classroom expectations and the structure of our day, but we're getting there. This week and last week we've been learning and talking all about Me (C'est Moi) and My Family (Ma Famille). Here are some of the new vocabulary words that you can work on with your child:

Ma famille                          My family

Moi                                        Me

La maman                           Mommy

Le papa                                Daddy

Le frère                               Brother

La sœur                               Sister

Le grand-père                   Grandpa

La grand-mère                  Grandma

Le bébé                                Baby

Le chien                               Dog

Le chat                                 Cat

Le poisson                          Fish

Le hamster                         Hamster

Ma maison                        My house

Some other vocabulary words that the students should be getting familiar with are:

Everyday words :

Bonjour                                Hello

Au revoir                             Goodbye

Comment ça va?              How are you?

Ça va bien!                         Fine!

Comme si, comme ça.   Not too bad…

Ça va mal.                           Not so good.

Puis-j’aller aux                 May I use the

toilettes?                            washroom?

Puis-je boire?                   Can I have a drink?

Peux-tu m’aider?            Can you help me?

The students have also noticed that the season is changing! We've been talking about what's different in the fall and how things change. We've also done some brainstorming of different fall activities that we like. Here are some of the words we learned:

L'automne                           Autumn/Fall

Les feuilles                          Leaves

Tomber                                 To fall

Changer des coulers        Change colours
Ramasser                              To gather
Tas                                           Pile
Sauter                                    To jump

Il fait froid                            It's cold

Il fait du soleil                    It's sunny

Il fait nuageux                   It's cloudy

Le chandail                         Sweater

Les pantalons                    Pants

Les chaussures                  Shoes

L’école                                 School

When you can, try to 'test' your child and see if they can tell you the words/phrases they know :)

Here are some pictures of activities of the week:

Painting My Family in the Painting Centre

Building My House in the Block Centre

My Family in the Drama Centre

Making a Fall Tree in the Science/Art Centre

Library Books

Today your child is bringing home a Library book. Please try to read (or look at it as it is in French and I know many of you do not speak French) with him or her. We have a library book exchange every Day 4 which currently falls on Friday. It is very important that you take good care of this book and return it before next Friday so your child can pick a new one. If books are not returned, your child may not borrow another. Lost books can incur a fine. Please enjoy the book, read it, put it back in the book bag and send it back to us!
Merci :)

L'equipe 109

Room 109 is a team that's eager to learn, ready to have fun and all set to work together!

Reading Buddies

Today (just like every Day 2), Mme Dungo's Grade 4/5 class came to visit us and read us some stories they wrote themselves! Here are some pictures of the children listening to the stories their buddy(ies) wrote especially for a younger audience in mind and specifically for their partner. There's lots of beautiful and colourful pictures as well as some great vocab to introduce them to the French Language!

Our Class Tree

The weather is getting colder and like us, our classroom tree is ready for fall! We've made some leaves to hang on the branches by tracing our hands on fall coloured paper. As the seasons change, so will our tree! Try to discuss this and other changes we can see with your child when the seasons change :)

Scholastic Book Orders

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

Recently I sent home Scholastic magazines that contain tons of great books, activities and resources for you and your child to use and do together. We will be sending these order forms home once a month to give you and your child the opportunity to look through them and make purchases whenever you’d like. We strongly recommend putting them to use as there are many fantastic learning opportunities for your child.

Stamped on the forms you will find a date by which we would like the forms returned in order to place the orders on time. Please send the correct amount in cash (EXACT CHANGE ONLY) or make cheques payable to Scholastic. Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have questions regarding these order forms. 

If you would like to order French books, the Club de Lecture is a great resource and your child should be at Level 1 (the blue square) within a year or so. Please put these forms to use as a percentage of the money spent by you is awarded to our class and goes back into resources that can be used by everyone!

This month's order is due MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23rd so please get your orders in when you can!

Some Songs We've Been Learning

Here are some of the songs we've been working on so far this year. Please have your child learn them and/or sing them to you as often as possible! :)

‘Bon Matin’

 Bon matin, bon matin, bon matin à toi!

Bon matin tout le monde et comment ça va aujourd’hui ? 

Ça va bien, ça va bien, ça va bien merci ! J

Ça va bien, ça va bien, ça va bien merci ! J

Ça va mal, ça va mal, ça va mal merci ! L

Ça va mal, ça va mal, ça va mal merci ! L 

Comme si comme ça, comme si comme ça, comme si comme ça merci ! K

               Comme si comme ça, comme si comme ça, comme si comme ça merci ! K 

‘Les jours de la semaine’

(tune of the Adam’s Family theme song)

 Les jours de la semaine (click, click)

Les jours de la semaine (click, click)

Les jours de la semaine, jours de la semaine, jours de la semaine (click, click)

On a lundi, on a mardi,

mercredi et jeudi,

vendredi et samedi

ensuite on a dimanche.

Les jours de la semaine (click, click)

Les jours de la semaine (click, click)

Les jours de la semaine, jours de la semaine, jours de la semaine (click, click)

‘Tidy Up Song’

(tune of London Bridges) 

C’est le temps de tout ranger, ramasser, nettoyer!

C’est le temps de tout ranger les activités ! 

‘Frère Jacques’ 

Frère Jacques, frère Jacques

Dormez-vous ? Dormez-vous ?

Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines.

Ding, ding, dong. Ding, ding, dong.

1,2,3,4

(tune of Frère Jacques) 

Un, deux, trios, quatre.

Un deux, trios, quatre.

Cinq, cinq, cinq !

Cinq, cinq, cinq !

 Six, sept, huit, neuf.

Six, sept, huit, neuf.

Dix, dix, dix !

Dix, dix, dix !

La chanson de l’alphabet

A, B, C, D, E, F, G.

H, I, J, K, L, M, N O, P.

Q, R, S.

T, U, V.

W, X, Y, et Z.

Maintenant je les connais,

Toutes les lettres de l'alphabet!

Tête, épaules, genoux, orteils.

(Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes)

 Tête, épaules, genoux, orteils.

Genoux, orteils, genoux orteils.

Tête, épaules, genoux, orteils.

Les yeux, les oreilles, la bouche et le nez.

Fait ce que je fais

Fait ce que je fais,

Suivez, suivez moi!

Fait ce que je fais,

Suivez, suivez moi!

Faites en haute, faites en bas!

Faites-le vite, vite, vite vite

et ne le faites pas!

We're Going To Whittamore's Farm!

Dear Parents/Guardians

On Thursday October 24^th, the five kindergarten classes will be going to Whittamore’s Farm in Markham to explore and investigate life on the farm, growth and change in plants and other living things, and enjoy a wagon ride through the farm grounds.

Your signature granting permission is needed, along with the $13.00 trip fee by Wednesday October 7^th. Please place the signed permission form, emergency contact numbers, and cash in a sealed envelope or Zip-Lock bag.

A small number of adult volunteers will be needed to supervise groups of children. If you would like to volunteer, please complete the relevant section of the permission form. Your child’s teacher may contact you a few days before the day of the trip. Teachers may not contact everyone who volunteers as the farm and Board busses can only accommodate a specified number of people.

Special hours on trip day

Both morning and afternoon classes must arrive at Clairlea by 8:40 a.m. You are to pick up your child from Clairlea at 1:15 p.m.

French Immersion bussing on trip day

A.M. SK:

The morning SK will arrive at Clairlea in the usual manner, either by bus or with a parent / guardian. However, there is NO return bussing from Clairlea. Please pick up your child at 1:15 p.m., at the north doors.

Packing and dressing for the day

-          A packed litterless, nut-free lunch is required. Please ensure that your child eats a good breakfast before arriving at school.

-          Your child will receive a small pumpkin so pack a grocery bag to make it easier to carry home!

-          We will go to the farm rain or shine so dress your child for the weather. If there has been rain; rubber boots are recommended. Also, perhaps a coat or rainwear; a sweater; and pants instead of skirts as the farm can be mucky. If you wish, your child may also bring a change of clothes, however, please be aware that each student is responsible for carry his/her own belongings.

Merci! J

Our Schedule

For your reference to know when we do what :)

Senior Kindergarten French Immersion Proposed Units of Study 2013-2014

Below you will find some of the topics we will cover, activities and learning tasks we will attempt to accomplish as well as some of the assessment and evaluation strategies that will be used in our classroom throughout the year. (Topics are subject to change based on interests of your children)

Themes/Topics of Study:

-       Le moi (Me)

-         La famille (Family)

-         Seasons/ Days/ Months

-         The farm

-         Colours

-         Various holidays

-         The Body

-          Letters

-          Numbers

-        How things grow

-         Clothing

-         Positions

-         Shapes

-         Journal entries

-         Class discussions and activities

-         Play-based learning

-         Experiments and observations

 First Steps Writing:

-         use writing for various purposes (journals, letter writing activities)

-         independent and group reading

-         oral presentations

Assessment and Evaluation tools for language:

-         daily activities, class observations and class discussions

Topics in Math:

-         number sense and numeration

-         measurement

-         patterning

-         spatial sense and geometry

-         data management and probability

Assessment and Evaluation tools for math:

-         class observations, checklists, class discussions and activities

Science & Technology:

-         observation of our class pet

-         various experiments regarding natural occurrences

-         safe use of materials in the classroom and school

Assessment and Evaluation tools for Science & Technology:

-         class observations, class discussions, experiments and activities

Academic Readiness Goals to Work On

Fine Motor Skills

Ø      Puzzles

Ø      Buttons and Zippers

Ø      Writing name and other letters

Ø      Visual matching activities (match shapes, letters, numbers)

Ø      Identifying and copying basic shapes (horizontal and vertical lines, circles, squares, triangles)

Language

Ø      Vocabulary development both receptive and expressive

Ø      Learn colour names

Ø      Learn the name of various body parts (“point to your _____”)

Ø      Spatial terms (e.g. in, on, under, between, over, in front of etc.)

Ø      Encourage and model how to ask questions (what, when, where, why, how, who)

Ø      Listening to a simple story

Ø      Retelling a simple story (with a beginning, middle and end)

Ø      Simple sentences (expand on words said, if the child says “flower” say “Yes, that is a pretty yellow flower.”)

Number Concepts

Ø      Count by ones from 1-10, 10-20 etc.

Ø      Understand common descriptive terms (big, bigger, small, smaller, little, most, a few)

Ø      Concept of ‘half’

Ø      One-to-one correspondence

Simple Strategies for Creating Strong Readers

Without doubt, reading with children spells success for early literacy. Putting a few simple strategies into action will make a significant difference in helping develop children into good readers and writers:

·        Read from a variety of children’s books, including fairy tales, song books, poems, and information books.

·        Through reading aloud, providing print materials, and promoting positive attitudes about reading and writing, you can have a powerful impact on children’s literacy and learning.

·        Invite your child to read with you everyday.

·        Read your child’s favourite book over and over.

·        When reading a book where the print is large, point word by word as you read. This will help the child learn that reading goes from left to right and understand that the word he/she is says is the word he/she sees.

·        Read many stories with rhyming words and lines that repeat. Invite the child to join in on these parts. Point word by word as he/she reads along with you.

·        Discuss new words. For example: “This big house is called a palace. Who do you think lives in a palace?”

·        Stop and ask about the picture and about what is happening in the story.

·        Reading well is at the heart of all learning. Help make a difference!

Our Classroom in the First Few Weeks

Some lego creations

C'est moi en septembre! 

Daily routines

Les maths

At my house

Writing Exercises

"My family" in the house centre

My house

Singing some songs

Bienvenue and Welcome to the 2013-14 School Year!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to all returning children and to those of you who are new to Clairlea! My name is Mlle Bauman and I am very excited to be your child’s Senior Kindergarten French Immersion teacher.

Please check your child’s backpack each day and read all notices sent home so that you and your child do not miss important information and dates.

School begins at 8:40 a.m. and ends at 11:15 a.m.

Children need to bring a backpack to school each day as well as a healthy snack for snack time. Healthy options only please! Any other food will be sent home. I would also strongly encourage you to send a litterless snack (we are an eco-school and try to produce as little garbage as possible) by using a lunch-bag or other container clearly marked on the outside with your child’s name so we don’t have any mix-ups. Water is the only drink permitted as most others encourage ants if spilled. We have a water fountain in the classroom should your child need it.

Some great ideas for snacks are: (Please keep in mind Clairlea is a nut free environment so please do not send any food with peanut butter or that may contain nuts)
-Apples- cut or whole
-Oranges- peeled or cut
-Bananas
-Grapes
-Berries
-Melon
-Carrots and celery sticks
-Snow peas
-Cherry tomatoes
-Broccoli
-Cucumber
-Cheese and crackers
-Granola or Nutrigrain bars
-Yogurt
-Applesauce

Please provide a pair of labelled running shoes that are slip-on or Velcro to be kept at school. It is best that all of your child’s belongings are clearly labelled.

It is my goal to provide a positive learning environment for your child. As we will be establishing routines in our classroom, it would benefit your child to establish these positive routines and practices at home:
-Early and consistent bedtimes
-Read to and with your child often
-Nutritious eating habits
-Independence to dress and to help with simple household chores
-Use good manners (especially pleases and thank yous)
-Respect for oneself, others and things
-Spend time talking with your child and play games (alphabet, word, number games, puzzles etc.)

Don’t forget! You are your child’s first and foremost teacher! Thank you for your support. Please feel free to post any comments/questions/concerns here or contact me at any time. I look forward to getting to know you and your child.

Sincerely,
Mlle Bauman