The end of the school year is here. It is amazing how quickly the school year flew by and how different it has been with Covid- 19. The students have worked very hard and learned so much. It has truly been a pleasure knowing and teaching your child.
I wanted to provide you with a simple list of activities that your child could do to continue to practise and strengthen their French skills.
Seek opportunities to use the French they know. (friends, relatives) + work towards spontaneous conversation
Watch French television.
Work on the websites provided.
Review the Gr1 word wall words.
Review the Gr2 word wall words.
Read stories.
Talk about what they have read (retell).
Review the question words (must understand the question words and be able to ask and respond to these questions).
Download French apts.
For future Gr3s, a visit at a Pioneer Village would be fun!
Play French games.
Listening to and singing French songs.
Again, these are only suggestions that would help your child over the summer and not homework! I hope you all have a wonderful, enjoyable and safe summer!
Sincerely, Mme Gauthier
Fun Games: Your child can explain the games to you.
1. Buzz 2. Duel with question words 3. Duel with alphabet 4. Make a sentence with a word then try to add a describing word and keep adding more details. 5. Hang letters (Hang Man) 6. Bridge 7. Find a word with the letters of the alphabet
March 2, 2020
The quiz on Quelle aventure (p. 16) is today. Once corrected it will be inserted in your child's reader. Please discuss the results with your child and help him or her set positive goals.
Students will be writing an original story with a partner. Once published by me, students will get a chance to read their book to their classmates and other classes this month.
Please remind your child of the importance of using active listening strategies to understand (looking at teacher, looking at visual aids, repeating words with actions) and using active listening strategies to interact (repeating words with actions, songs, formulating simple sentences modeled). Your child is responsible for his/her learning. ex kitten story Effort is the key to success!
Mme Gauthier
February 4, 2019
A great big THANK YOU to Mrs. Rolheiser who came to do a presentation about a country. The students and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Hawaii. Well done!
Following our Social Studies theme, we are flying into space. We will learn about astronauts, planets, the space shuttle and the space station. This will be the subject of our 2nd oral presentation. Students are asked to choose one of the subjects mentioned for their presentation. The sentences will be written in class using word lists prepared by the students and teacher. The presentations will be on Tuesday February 25.
Below is the assessment rubric followed by a description of what is needed to achieve a level 3.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. maintains interest of audience ____
1 = Student has accurate sentences and uses the structures well. 2 = Student's pronunciation is accurate, clear and loud. 3 = Student uses appropriate expression which demonstrates a clear understanding of the sentences and makes the presentation interesting to the listener. 4 = Student's presentation flows well, with no hesitation and is not too fast. 5 = The student knows their sentences by heart and does not need to look at the written sentences. 6 = The student looks at and makes good eye contact with the audience therefore including them in the presentation. 7 = The student points at the correct picture as he or she says their sentences and uses appropriate actions. 8 = The student maintains the interest of the audience by doing 1-7 well.
For the support material, it is left to the students to come up with an appropriate and suitable support material. The support material must of course reflect the sentences they wrote. Options will be discussed in class. Students can do a pic collage, a 3-D structure, a booklet, a picture display no bigger that a bristol board, print pictures from the internet. I pads will be available for Pic Collage. Please note that sentences can't be written on the support material as they should be memorized.
Students will also be writing a persuasive text answering the following question: Which planet is the most interesting and unique in the entire solar system?
Following the space theme, students will also be writing a story with a partner. Once the creative side is completed, the stories will be published by me and the students will illustrate their story. Once this is completed, students will then have a chance to read their book to their classmates and then to another class or two. Parents will get a chance to view the books during Education Week.
If you have read this letter please draw the face of a frog in your child's agenda and put your signature beside it. I am trying to see how many people visit this site since all valuable information is on it.
Thank You for your support! Mme Gauthier
January 6, 2020
Happy New Year, Bonne et heureuse année
This month we will continue to investigate how climate affects how people live in 3 different communities around the world (Igloolik, Iquitos and Meru) in terms of shelter, food, clothing and transportation.
There will be a test on these communities on January 17. The test will be shared with the class this week and the following week so that they know exactly what they need to learn, practise and review.
Section A: fill in the blanks - where the communities are situated (options on test in box) Section B: fill in the blanks - what the climate is like (options on test in box) Section C: associate picture with word - clothing, transportation, food (options on test in box) Section D: associate fact with communitiy - choose a) Igloolik b) Iquitos c) Meru
Students will get opportunities to review and practice the information in groups but they are also expected to review the information at home. Oral assessments will start Wednesday the 15. Students will have to share information about each community using the terminology and structures presented. Ex: Il fait froid à Igloolik parce qu'Igloolik est près du pôle nord.
In support of what we are learning about I would like to know if you would be interested in talking to the Gr2 classes about your country of origin/nationality. Three parents have come forward so far. thank You! The presentation would be done in English and could be done by a parent, grand-parent, aunt or uncle. Please let me know by Friday January 10 so that I can schedule the presentations. Below you will find a list of suggested areas to cover. If you are interested, please write a note in your child's agenda along with the name of the country. The presentations would be during the week of the 21 of January in the morning between 9:30 and 11:30 am.
Presentations:
* The presentations should be between 15-25 minutes in duration. Here is a recommended list to choose from which would complement what we are doing in class.
1. your flag (picture, brief explanation of the flag / national anthem) 2. climate (hot, cold, humid, dry) 3. traditional clothing (pictures, photographs, actual clothing) 4. special food specific to your country (sorry no sampling for students due to allergies) 5. housing (description, pictures) 6. artifacts, games, souvenirs, songs, dance 7. special information about your country - legends, story, special tradition, tourist attractions
The homework for the week is written in the agenda. It is explained to the class. If a student does not understand what is expected of him or her, they are strongly encouraged to ask the teacher for clarification.
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
***If you have read this newsletter, please draw a party hat in your child's agenda and put your initials beside it.
Merci! Mme Gauthier
December 1, 2019 This month we will investigate how climate affects how people live in 3 different communities around the world (Igloolik, Iquitos and Meru) in terms of shelter, food, clothing and transportation.
In support of what we are learning about I would like to know if you would be interested in talking to the Gr2 classes about your country of origin/nationality. The presentation would be done in English and could be done by a parent, grand-parent, aunt or uncle. At this point I am looking to see how many potential presenters we would have. Below you will find a list of suggested areas to cover. If you are interested, please write a note in your child's agenda along with the name of the country. The presentations will be in January. For now I would like to get an idea of how many presenters we will have, planning ahead.
Presentations:
* The presentations should be no more than 20-25 minutes in duration. Here is a recommended list to choose from which would complement what we are doing in class.
1. your flag (picture, brief explanation of the flag / national anthem) 2. climate (hot, cold, humid, dry) 3. traditional clothing (pictures, photographs, actual clothing) 4. special food specific to your country (sorry no sampling for students due to allergies) 5. housing (description, pictures) 6. artifacts, games, souvenirs, songs, dance 7. special information about your country - legends, story, special tradition, tourist attractions
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
If you have read the newsletter, please draw a Christmas tree in your child's agenda and initial it.
Merci! Mme Gauthier
November 4, 2019
This month will be learning about pets and working on the story 'Une visiste à l'animalerie'. We will learn about which animals are most popular, what they live in, what they eat ... This will be the subject of our first oral presentation.
Students are asked to write 5-7 sentences about a pet of their choice. (They don't need to own a pet. They can choose any animal found in a pet shop + students have already chosen an animal.) The writing will be done in class with the aid of the word lists that we are writing as a class. Only what is written in class will count as their writing skills will be assessed. Students are asked to write quality sentences and to add details to their sentences (describing words).
Once corrected, the sentences will then be added to their reader (green duo-tang). Once in their duo-tang, students will be given time in class to practise in groups but it remains the child's responsibility to practise at home as well. The presentations must be memorized. The presentation will be on Wednesday November 20 unless we are ahead of schedule. If the date changes you will be notified.
For their support material, students will use Pic Collage on the school ipads to find pictures that will match their sentences. Therefore, the support material will also be completed at school as well.
Below is the assessment rubric followed by a description of what is needed to achieve a level 3.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. maintains interest of audience ____
1 = Student has accurate sentences and uses the structures well. 2 = Student's pronunciation is accurate, clear and loud. 3 = Student uses appropriate expression which demonstrates a clear understanding of the sentences and makes the presentation interesting to the listener. 4 = Student's presentation flows well, with no hesitation and is not too fast. 5 = The student knows their sentences by heart and does not need to look at the written sentences. 6 = The student looks at and makes good eye contact with the audience therefore including them in the presentation. 7 = The student points at the correct picture as he or she says their sentences and uses appropriate actions. 8 = The student maintains the interest of the audience by doing 1-7 well.
Please continue to encourage your child to persevere ( try their best to look at the teacher and the visual aids, engage actively), 'Drink the milk' and 'climb the stairs' and be respectful to others. Setting a routine to practise their French would be very helpful.
PS: If you have read the newsletter, please draw a pumpkin in your child's agenda along with your initials. Merci! Mme Gauthier
October 1, 2019
We are presently working on the Social Studies Map and Globe skills. We have learned the parts of a globe and are learning how to apply the use of cardinal directions to locate places on a map. There will be a test on the globe and the use of cardinal directions on October 8. Please see homework for more details.
We will continue to work on the Strand People and Environments: Global Communities. We will investigate how climate and the environment affect how people live in different communities around the world. Students will be asked to find similarities and differences in the way people in these communities meet their needs. Students are also asked to find out their country of origin (nationality) as we would like to identify these places on a map.
We will also talk about fall. Students will be writing a text to describe a walk in the park, using their visualizing skills. There is an anchor chart on visualizing in your child's reader (yellow sheet).
It is important that students try to practise 3-4 times a week to improve and strengthen their oral and reading comprehension skills. They should also review the question words and apply them to what they are reading or what we are discussing in class at the time. If we are focusing on Social Studies then they should practise the information in the Social Studies duo-tang.
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership of their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
Merci! Mme Gauthier
September 3, 2019
Dear Parents,
This year I will be teaching Mrs McColgan's Gr2 class first block, and Mrs O'Conner's Gr2 class second block. I am looking forward to working with you in a partnership to help your child achieve his/her full potential.
The main objectives of the French program in Gr2 are to:
Expand student's existing French vocabulary
Provide students with experiences to develop and improve their oral and listening skills in order to communicate their ideas to the best of their ability
Provide students with the basic skills and strategies to read and comprehend grade appropriate texts and demonstrate understanding
Develop and strengthen their second language literacy skills
Give students ample opportunity to familiarize themselves with the written language to write short pieces of writing, using familiar forms.
The Gr2 Social Studies program is divided into two strands: 'Traditions and Celebrations' and 'Features of Communities Around the World'. Students will discover how heritage and traditions are passed on, locate simple information about their family history and traditions and discover differences and similarities between their community and communities in other parts of the world. Students will also work on developing their map and globe skills.
The Gr2 program is enhanced through songs, games, learning activities, skits, guided and creative writing, partner work and group work. Please find attached a tentative list of themes that will be covered this year along with the stories associated with them.
In addition to the letter outlining the Gr2 program, I would like to provide you with the following information regarding reading, written work, oral presentations, activities and expectations.
* Reading: Already inserted in the reader that your child has received today is a list with last year's word wall words, anchor charts, stories and the Gr2 word wall words. Included at the beginning is a legend explaining the sections of the reader. When your child reads for you, please write what your child has read for you, and put your initials in the next column. This reading sheet will be checked periodically, so that I can see if homework is being done. It is very important that your child reads daily in order to develop, maintain, or further improve his/her oral and reading comprehension skills.
* Homework: The homework for the week will be written in the agenda every Monday and will also be posted on the website in more details. The homework will be explained and discussed with students to ensure understanding. It is your child's responsibility to explain the homework to you.
* Oral presentations: Students will be expected to do 3 oral presentations this year. The 1st presentation in November will be about an animal, the 2nd in February will be about space, and the last in April about their family and a special family tradition. Detailed information about the presentations will be provided on the website prior to each presentation.
* Expectations: It is our goal to help your child meet his/her full potential. In order to achieve this goal, we have to work as a team. It is a partnership. Students must take ownership and responsibility for their learning. In order to ensure steady progress in learning French, students are expected to listen and follow the given instructions, focus their attention during lessons, listen actively to understand and to interact, engage in daily activities (songs, prayer, games, repeating, answering questions, ...) as well as use their time wisely.
I trust this will give you an idea of what your child will be doing this year. I look forward to meeting you on Program Night. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or write a note in the agenda addressed to Mme Gauthier. Communication is key.
Thank you again for your cooperation! We are partners in your child's journey. I look forward to working with you this year.
Mme Gauthier
May 13, 2019
This month we will talk about Spring. We will review the question words, answering and asking questions. We will focus on listening skills (listening to understand and listening to communicate). We will also work on responding and using full sentences and adding extra details to our sentences.
Please remind your child that it is important to listen attentively and to engage in daily lessons in order to show what they can do.
If you have read the newsletter, please draw a sun in your child's agenda with your initials.
Merci beaucoup for your cooperation! Mme Gauthier
April 1, 2018
Last week, students finished illustrating their stories. They have read their book with their classmates. After a few more practices, they will get a chance to read their book for another class. You will be able to see the books during Education Week.
During the month of April, we will be investigating traditions (family traditions and in different countries) and discovering distinguishing features or characteristics of traditions. This will also be the subject of our last oral presentation.
Students will be asked to complete a simple family tree. The rough copy of the family tree in your child's yellow Social Studies duo-tang will be completed in class this week. You are asked to please check your child's rough copy to fill in any missing names and to ensure correct spelling of the names. The good copy of the family tree will be done at school using half a bristol board which will be provided for your child.
Special Information On Presentation On Special Family Tradition
This month we will have our last formal oral presentation. This oral presentation will have 2 parts: describing their family and describing a special family tradition. Again the sentences will be written in class using the word lists created with the students and the teacher. Only the sentences written in class will count as students are assessed on their writing ability. Once the sentences have been inserted in their Social Studies duo-tang, a note will be written in the agenda.
Students are responsible to bring the necessary support material. All students have to bring a picture of their family for the first part of the oral presentation. As for the second part, the family tradition, what students bring will depend on their family tradition. I will present my family tradition to the students with support material to give them an example. Every Easter, everyone in my family does a painting and the goal of this activity is to guess who has painted what. For my support material I will bring Easter eggs to represent Easter, a canvass, a paint brush, a bottle of paint and a paint tray to explain painting and a couple of my paintings to display and to show the outcome. This should give you an idea as to what your child could bring depending on their chosen family tradition.
Students will have time to practise their oral presentation in groups during class, however, it is the child's responsibility to practise at home as well. The presentation has to be memorized. Students will be evaluated on how well they use their support material and how well they engage the class (eye contact). It is imperative that they bring their support material to school. The presentations will be Wednesday April 24.
Below is the assessment rubric.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. quality and suitability of support material ____
Special Information On Parent Presentation On Country Tradition
Would you be interested in coming to talk to the Gr2 classes about a special tradition in your country of origin? The presentations would take place Monday April 22 block 1 and 2. The tradition could be related to clothing (ex: quilts), celebrations, dance to name a few. If you are interested, please let me know by Friday April 12.
Students are also welcome to share traditions from their country of origin (nationality). They can sing a song, dance, teach their classmates a few words in a different language. They can wear traditional clothing. Students can share any day over the next couple of weeks.
If you have read the newsletter, please draw a flower in your child's agenda with your initials.
Merci beaucoup for your cooperation! Mme Gauthier
March 4, 2019
The quiz on Quelle aventure (p. 16) is today. Once corrected it will be inserted in your child's reader. Please discuss the results with your child and help him or her set positive goals.
Students will be writing an original story with a partner. Could you please send a small picture of your child for the author page by Friday March 8. Once published by me, they will get a chance to read their book to their classmates and other classes this month.
Please remind your child of the importance of using active listening strategies to understand (looking at teacher, looking at visual aids, repeating words with actions) and using active listening strategies to interact (repeating words with actions, songs, formulating simple sentences modeled). Your child is responsible for his/her learning. ex kitten story Effort is the key to success!
Mme Gauthier
February 4, 2019
A great big THANK YOU to Mrs. Rae, Mrs Pole and Mrs Jones who came to do a presentation on their country of origin. The students and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about different countries and testing our knowledge on these countries. Well done!
Following our Social Studies theme, we are flying into space. We will learn about astronauts, planets, the space shuttle and the space station. This will be the subject of our 2nd oral presentation. Students are asked to choose one of the subjects mentioned for their presentation. The sentences will be written in class using word lists prepared by the students and teacher. The presentations will be on Wednesday February 20.
Below is the assessment rubric followed by a description of what is needed to achieve a level 3.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. maintains interest of audience ____
1 = Student has accurate sentences and uses the structures well. 2 = Student's pronunciation is accurate, clear and loud. 3 = Student uses appropriate expression which demonstrates a clear understanding of the sentences and makes the presentation interesting to the listener. 4 = Student's presentation flows well, with no hesitation and is not too fast. 5 = The student knows their sentences by heart and does not need to look at the written sentences. 6 = The student looks at and makes good eye contact with the audience therefore including them in the presentation. 7 = The student points at the correct picture as he or she says their sentences and uses appropriate actions. 8 = The student maintains the interest of the audience by doing 1-7 well.
For the support material, it is left to the students to come up with an appropriate and suitable support material. The support material must of course reflect the sentences they wrote. Options will be discussed in class. Students can do a pic collage, a 3-D structure, a booklet, a picture display no bigger that a bristol board, print pictures from the internet. I pads will be available for Pic Collage. Please note that sentences can't be written on the support material as they should be memorized.
Students will also be writing a persuasive text answering the following question: Which planet is the most interesting and unique in the entire solar system?
Following the space theme, students will also be writing a story with a partner. Once the creative side is completed, the stories will be published by me and the students will illustrate their story. Once this is completed, students will then have a chance to read their book to their classmates and then to another class or two. Parents will get a chance to view the books during Education Week.
If you have read this letter please draw the face of a frog in your child's agenda and put your signature beside it. I am trying to see how many people visit this site since all valuable information is on it.
Thank You for your support! Mme Gauthier
January 6, 2019
Happy New Year, Bonne et heureuse année
This month we will continue to investigate how climate affects how people live in 3 different communities around the world (Igloolik, Iquitos and Meru) in terms of shelter, food, clothing and transportation.
There will be a test on these communities on January 18. The test will be shared with the class this week and the following week so that they know exactly what they need to learn, practise and review.
Section A: fill in the blanks - where the communities are situated (options on test in box) Section B: fill in the blanks - what the climate is like (options on test in box) Section C: associate picture with word - clothing, transportation, food (options on test in box) Section D: associate fact with communitiy - choose a) Igloolik b) Iquitos c) Meru
Students will get opportunities to review and practice the information in groups but they are also expected to review the information at home. Oral assessments will start Wednesday the 16. Students will have to share information about each community using the terminology and structures presented. Ex: Il fait froid à Igloolik parce qu'Igloolik est près du pôle nord.
In support of what we are learning about I would like to know if you would be interested in talking to the Gr2 classes about your country of origin/nationality. Three parents have come forward so far. thank You! The presentation would be done in English and could be done by a parent, grand-parent, aunt or uncle. Please let me know by Friday January 11 so that I can schedule the presentations. Below you will find a list of suggested areas to cover. If you are interested, please write a note in your child's agenda along with the name of the country. The presentations would be during the week of the 21 of January in the morning between 9:30 and 11:30 am.
Presentations:
* The presentations should be between 15-25 minutes in duration. Here is a recommended list to choose from which would complement what we are doing in class.
1. your flag (picture, brief explanation of the flag / national anthem) 2. climate (hot, cold, humid, dry) 3. traditional clothing (pictures, photographs, actual clothing) 4. special food specific to your country (sorry no sampling for students due to allergies) 5. housing (description, pictures) 6. artifacts, games, souvenirs, songs, dance 7. special information about your country - legends, story, special tradition, tourist attractions
The homework for the week is written in the agenda. It is explained to the class. If a student does not understand what is expected of him or her, they are strongly encouraged to ask the teacher for clarification.
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
***If you have read this newsletter, please draw a party hat in your child's agenda and put your initials beside it.
Merci! Mme Gauthier
December 2, 2018 This month we will investigate how climate affects how people live in 3 different communities around the world (Igloolik, Iquitos and Meru) in terms of shelter, food, clothing and transportation.
In support of what we are learning about I would like to know if you would be interested in talking to the Gr2 classes about your country of origin/nationality. The presentation would be done in English and could be done by a parent, grand-parent, aunt or uncle. At this point I am looking to see how many potential presenters we would have. Below you will find a list of suggested areas to cover. If you are interested, please write a note in your child's agenda along with the name of the country. The presentations will be in January. For now I would like to get an idea of how many presenters we will have, planning ahead.
Presentations:
* The presentations should be no more than 20-25 minutes in duration. Here is a recommended list to choose from which would complement what we are doing in class.
1. your flag (picture, brief explanation of the flag / national anthem) 2. climate (hot, cold, humid, dry) 3. traditional clothing (pictures, photographs, actual clothing) 4. special food specific to your country (sorry no sampling for students due to allergies) 5. housing (description, pictures) 6. artifacts, games, souvenirs, songs, dance 7. special information about your country - legends, story, special tradition, tourist attractions
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
If you have read the newsletter, please draw a Christmas tree in your child's agenda and initial it.
Merci! Mme Gauthier
November 1, 2018
This month will be learning about pets and working on the story 'Une visiste à l'animalerie'. We will learn about which animals are most popular, what they live in, what they eat ... This will be the subject of our first oral presentation.
Students are asked to write 5-7 sentences about a pet of their choice. (They don't need to own a pet. They can choose any animal found in a pet shop + students have already chosen an animal.) The writing will be done in class with the aid of the word lists that we are writing as a class with the teacher. Only what is written in class will count as their writing skills will be assessed. Students are asked to write quality sentences and to add details to their sentences (describing words).
Once corrected, the sentences will then be added to their reader (green duo-tang). Once in their duo-tang, students will be given time in class to practise in groups but it remains the child's responsibility to practise at home as well. The presentations must be memorized. The presentation will be on Wednesday November 21 unless we are ahead of schedule. If the date changes you will be notified.
For their support material, students will use Pic Collage on the school ipads to find pictures that will match their sentences. Therefore, the support material will also be completed at school as well.
Below is the assessment rubric followed by a description of what is needed to achieve a level 3.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. maintains interest of audience ____
1 = Student has accurate sentences and uses the structures well. 2 = Student's pronunciation is accurate, clear and loud. 3 = Student uses appropriate expression which demonstrates a clear understanding of the sentences and makes the presentation interesting to the listener. 4 = Student's presentation flows well, with no hesitation and is not too fast. 5 = The student knows their sentences by heart and does not need to look at the written sentences. 6 = The student looks at and makes good eye contact with the audience therefore including them in the presentation. 7 = The student points at the correct picture as he or she says their sentences and uses appropriate actions. 8 = The student maintains the interest of the audience by doing 1-7 well.
Please continue to encourage your child to persevere ( try their best to look at the teacher and the visual aids, engage actively), 'Drink the milk' and 'climb the stairs' and be respectful to others. Setting a routine to practise their French would be very helpful.
PS: If you have read the newsletter, please draw a pumpkin in your child's agenda along with your initials. Merci! Mme Gauthier
October 1, 2018
We are presently working on the Social Studies Map and Globe skills. We have learned the parts of a globe and are learning how to apply the use of cardinal directions to locate places on a map. There will be a test on the globe and the use of cardinal directions on October 10. Please see homework for more details.
We will continue to work on the Strand People and Environments: Global Communities. We will investigate how climate and the environment affect how people live in different communities around the world. Students will be asked to find similarities and differences in the way people in these communities meet their needs.
Students are also asked to find out their country of origin (nationality) as we would like to identify these places on a map and complete a graph.
We will also talk about fall. Students will be writing a text to describe a walk in the park, using their visualizing skills.
It is important that students try to 3-4 times a week to practise and strengthen their oral and reading comprehension skills. They should also review the question words and apply them to what they are reading or what we are discussing in class at the time. If we are focusing on Social Studies then they should practise the information in the Social Studies duo-tang.
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership of their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
Merci! Mme Gauthier
September 4, 2018
Dear Parents,
This year I will be teaching Mrs mcColgan’s Gr2 class first block, Mrs Stewart-Smith’s Gr1/2 class second block, Mrs Vanzeeland-Power’s Gr1 class third block and Mrs Gorman’s Gr1 class last block. I am looking forward to working with you in a partnership to help your child achieve his/her full potential.
The main objectives of the French program in Gr2 are to:
Expand student’s existing French vocabulary
Provide students with experiences to develop and improve their oral and listening skills in order to communicate their ideas to the best of their ability
Provide students with the basic skills and strategies to read and comprehend grade appropriate texts and demonstrate understanding
Develop and strengthen their second-language literacy skills
Give students ample opportunity to familiarize themselves with the written language to write short pieces of writing, using familiar forms.
The Gr2 Social Studies program is divided into 2 strands: ‘Traditions and Celebrations’ and ‘Features of Communities Around the World’. Students will discover how heritage and traditions are passed on, locate simple information about their family history and traditions and discover differences and similarities between their community and communities in other parts of the world. Students will also work on developing their map and globe skills.
The Gr2 program is enhanced through songs, games, learning activities, skits, guided and creative writing, partner work and group work. Please find attached a tentative list of the themes that will be covered this year along with the stories associated to them.
We are partners in your child’s learning journey. Communication is key. Thank You for your cooperation!
Mme Gauthier
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
In addition to the letter outlining the Gr2 program, I would like to provide you with the following information regarding reading, written work, oral presentations, activities and the expectations.
* Reading: Already inserted in the reader that your child has received today is a list with last year’s word wall words, anchor charts, stories and the Gr2 word wall words. Included at the beginning is a legend explaining the sections of the reader. When your child reads for you, please write what your child has read and put your initials in the next column. This reading sheet will be checked periodically so that I can see if homework is being done. It is very important that your child read daily in order to develop, maintain or further improve his/her oral and reading comprehension skills.
* Homework: The homework for the week will be written in the agenda every Monday and will also be posted on the website in more details. The homework will be explained and discussed with students to ensure understanding. It is your child’s responsibility to explain the homework to you.
* Oral Presentations: Students will be expected to do 3 oral presentations this year. The 1st presentation in November will be about an animal, the 2nd in February will be about space and the last in April, about their family and a special family tradition. Detailed information about the presentations will be provided on the website prior to each presentation.
* Expectations: It is our goal to help your child meet his/her full potential. In order to achieve this goal we have to work as a team. It is a partnership. Students must take ownership and responsibility for their learning. In order to ensure steady progress in learning French, students are expected to listen and follow the given instructions, focus their attention during lessons, listen actively to understand and to interact, engage in daily activities (songs, prayer, games, repeating, answering questions …) as well as use their time wisely.
*** Website: I have set up a website which includes the Gr2 newsletters, homework and links to French websites. http://lesclassesdemmegauthier.weebly.comThis website is my maincommunication tool to keep you informed. Please visit this website each Monday for homework details and at the beginning of each month for newsletters.
I trust that this will give you an idea of what your child will be doing this year. I look forward to meeting your on Program Night. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or write a note in the agenda addressed to Mme Gauthier.
Thank You again for your cooperation! I look forward to working with you this year. Mme Gauthier
June 22, 2018
Dear Parents,
The end of the year is here. It is amazing how quickly the school year flew by. The students have worked very hard and learned so much. It has truly been a pleasure knowing and teaching your child.
I wanted to provide you with a simple list of activities that your child could do to continue to practise and strengthen their French skills.
Seek opportunities to use the French they know. (friends, relatives) + work towards spontaneous conversation
Watch French television.
Work on the websites provided.
Review the Gr1 word wall words.
Review the Gr2 word wall words.
Read stories.
Talk about what they have read (retell).
Review the question words (must understand the question words and be able to ask and respond to these questions).
Download French apts.
For future Gr3s, a visit at a Pioneer Village would be fun!
Play French games.
Listening to and singing French songs.
Again, these are only suggestions that would help your child over the summer and not homework! I hope you all have a wonderful, enjoyable and safe summer!
Sincerely, Mme Gauthier
Fun Games: Your child can explain the games to you.
1. Buzz 2. Duel with question words 3. Duel with alphabet 4. Make a sentence with a word then try to add a describing word and keep adding more details. 5. Hang letters (Hang Man) 6. Bridge 7. Find a word with the letters of the alphabet
June 3, 2018
This month we will talk about means of transportation. Students will learn how to say where they are going and how they are getting there. We will learn the song "Comment y aller?" by Matt Maxwell. Students will be invited to create their own verse.
We will review the question words, answering and asking questions. We will focus on listening skills (listening to understand and listening to communicate).
Please remind your child that it is important to listen attentively and to engage in daily lessons in order to show what they can do.
If you have read the newsletter, please draw a cloud in your child's agenda with your initials.
Merci beaucoup for your cooperation! Mme Gauthier
May 1, 2018
This week we are wrapping up our theme on celebrations and traditions (family traditions, in different countries) and identifying distinguishing features and characteristics of traditions. We will discuss how some traditions like birthdays may be celebrated in different ways.
***** No volunteers so far since the first invitation on April 2.
Final invitation: Parent Presentation On Country Tradition
Would you be interested in coming to talk to the Gr2 classes about a special tradition in your country of origin? The presentations would take place on Wednesday May 16 block 1 or block 2. The tradition could be related to clothing (ex: quilts), celebrations, dance to name a few. If you are interested, please let me know by Monday May 7.
This month we will talk about Spring. We will review the question words, answering and asking questions. We will focus on listening skills (listening to understand and listening to communicate).
Please remind your child that it is important to listen attentively and to engage in daily lessons in order to show what they can do.
If you have read the newsletter, please draw a sun in your child's agenda with your initials.
Merci beaucoup for your cooperation! Mme Gauthier
April 2, 2018
Last week, most groups got a chance to read their book for another class. If some groups did not do it yet, they will this week. You will be able to see the books during Education Week.
During the month of April, we will be investigating traditions (family traditions, in different countries) and discovering distinguishing features or characteristics of traditions. This will also be the subject of our last oral presentation.
Students will be asked to complete a simple family tree. The rough copy of the family tree in your child's yellow Social Studies duo-tang was completed in class. You are asked to please check your child's rough copy to fill in any missing names and to ensure correct spelling of the names. The good copy of the family tree will be done at school using half a bristol board which will be provided for your child.
Special Information On Presentation On Special Family Tradition
This month we will have our last formal oral presentation. This oral presentation will have 2 parts: describing their family and describing a special family tradition. Again the sentences will be written in class using the word lists created with the students and the teacher. Only the sentences written in class will count as students are assessed on their writing ability. Once the sentences have been inserted in their Social Studies duo-tang, a note will be written in the agenda.
Students are responsible to bring the necessary support material. All students have to bring a picture of their family for the first part of the oral presentation. As for the second part, the family tradition, what students bring will depend on their family tradition. I will present my family tradition to the students with support material to give them an example. Every Easter, everyone in my family does a painting and the goal of this activity is to guess who has painted what. For my support material I will bring Easter eggs to represent Easter, a canvass, a paint brush, a bottle of paint and a paint tray to explain painting and a couple of my paintings to display and to show the outcome. This should give you an idea as to what your child could bring depending on their chosen family tradition.
Students will have time to practise their oral presentation in groups during class, however, it is the child's responsibility to practise at home as well. The presentation has to be memorized. Students will be evaluated on how well they use their support material and how well they engage the class (eye contact). It is imperative that they bring their support material to school. The presentations will be Wednesday April 25.
Below is the assessment rubric.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. quality and suitability of support material ____
Special Information On Parent Presentation On Country Tradition
Would you be interested in coming to talk to the Gr2 classes about a special tradition in your country of origin? The presentations would take place Monday April 23 block 1 and 2. The tradition could be related to clothing (ex: quilts), celebrations, dance to name a few. If you are interested, please let me know by Friday April 13.
Students are also welcome to share traditions from their country of origin (nationality). They can sing a song, dance, teach their classmates a few words in a different language. They can wear traditional clothing. Students can share any day over the next couple of weeks.
If you have read the newsletter, please draw a flower in your child's agenda with your initials.
Merci beaucoup for your cooperation! Mme Gauthier
March 5, 2018
The quiz on Quelle aventure (p. 16) was sent home today. It was inserted in your child's reader. Please discuss the results with your child and help him or her set positive goals.
Students have finished writing an original story with a partner. This week they will be illustrating their story. Once published by me, they will get a chance to read their book to their classmates and other classes this month.
Please remind your child of the importance of using active listening strategies to understand (looking at teacher, looking at visual aids, repeating words with actions) and using active listening strategies to interact (repeating words with actions, songs, formulating simple sentences modeled). Your child is responsible for his/her learning. ex kitten story Effort is the key to success!
Mme Gauthier
February 1, 2018
A great big THANK YOU to Mrs Trubiani, M. Hozjan, Mrs Pickering, Mrs Armour and Mrs Pacheco who came to do a presentation on their country of origin. The students and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about different countries and testing our knowledge on these countries. Well done!
Following our Social Studies theme, we are flying into space. We will learn about astronauts, planets, the space shuttle and the space station. This will be the subject of our 2nd oral presentation. Students are asked to choose one of the subjects mentioned for their presentation. The sentences will be written in class using word lists prepared by the students and teacher. The presentations will be on Wednesday February 21.
Below is the assessment rubric followed by a description of what is needed to achieve a level 3.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. maintains interest of audience ____
1 = Student has accurate sentences and uses the structures well. 2 = Student's pronunciation is accurate, clear and loud. 3 = Student uses appropriate expression which demonstrates a clear understanding of the sentences and makes the presentation interesting to the listener. 4 = Student's presentation flows well, with no hesitation and is not too fast. 5 = The student knows their sentences by heart and does not need to look at the written sentences. 6 = The student looks at and makes good eye contact with the audience therefore including them in the presentation. 7 = The student points at the correct picture as he or she says their sentences and uses appropriate actions. 8 = The student maintains the interest of the audience by doing 1-7 well.
For the support material, it is left to the students to come up with an appropriate and suitable support material. The support material must of course reflect the sentences they wrote. Options will be discussed in class. Students can do a pic collage, a 3-D structure, a booklet, a picture display no bigger that a bristol board, print pictures from the internet. I pads will be available for Pic Collage. Please note that sentences can't be written on the support material as they should be memorized.
Students will also be writing a persuasive text answering the following question: Which planet is the most interesting and unique in the entire solar system?
Following the space theme, students will also be writing a story with a partner. Once the creative side is completed, the stories will be published by me and the students will illustrate their story. Once this is completed, students will then have a chance to read their book to their classmates and then to another class or two. Parents will get a chance to view the books during Education Week.
If you have read this letter please draw the face of a frog in your child's agenda and put your signature beside it. I am trying to see how many people visit this site since all valuable information is on it.
Thank You for your support! Mme Gauthier
January 8, 2018
Happy New Year, Bonne et heureuse année
This month we will continue to investigate how climate affects how people live in 3 different communities around the world (Igloolik, Iquitos and Meru) in terms of shelter, food, clothing and transportation.
There will be a test on these communities on January 19. The test will be shared with the class this week and the following week so that they know exactly what they need to learn, practise and review.
Section A: fill in the blanks - where the communities are situated (options on test in box) Section B: fill in the blanks - what the climate is like (options on test in box) Section C: associate picture with word - clothing, transportation, food (options on test in box) Section D: associate fact with communitiy - choose a) Igloolik b) Iquitos c) Meru
Students will get opportunities to review and practice the information in groups but they are also expected to review the information at home.
In support of what we are learning about I would like to know if you would be interested in talking to the Gr2 classes about your country of origin/nationality. The presentation would be done in English and could be done by a parent, grand-parent, aunt or uncle. At this point I am looking to see how many potential presenters we would have. Below you will find a list of suggested areas to cover. If you are interested, please write a note in your child's agenda along with the name of the country. Please kindly reply by January 12. The presentations would be during the week of the 22 of January in the morning between 9:30 and 11:30 am.
Presentations:
* The presentations should be no more than 15-25 minutes in duration. Here is a recommended list to choose from which would complement what we are doing in class.
1. your flag (picture, brief explanation of the flag / national anthem) 2. climate (hot, cold, humid, dry) 3. traditional clothing (pictures, photographs, actual clothing) 4. special food specific to your country (sorry no sampling for students due to allergies) 5. housing (description, pictures) 6. artifacts, games, souvenirs, songs, dance 7. special information about your country - legends, story, special tradition, tourist attractions
The homework for the week is written in the agenda. It is explained to the class. If a student does not understand what is expected of him or her, they are strongly encouraged to ask the teacher for clarification.
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
***If you have read this newsletter, please draw a party hat in your child's agenda and put your initials beside it.
Merci! Mme Gauthier
December 5, 2017
This month we will investigate how climate affects how people live in 3 different communities around the world (Igloolik, Iquitos and Meru) in terms of shelter, food, clothing and transportation.
In support of what we are learning about I would like to know if you would be interested in talking to the Gr2 classes about your country of origin/nationality. The presentation would be done in English and could be done by a parent, grand-parent, aunt or uncle. At this point I am looking to see how many potential presenters we would have. Below you will find a list of suggested areas to cover. If you are interested, please write a note in your child's agenda along with the name of the country. The presentations will be in January. For now I would like to get an idea of how many presenters we will have, planning ahead.
Presentations:
* The presentations should be no more than 15-25 minutes in duration. Here is a recommended list to choose from which would complement what we are doing in class.
1. your flag (picture, brief explanation of the flag / national anthem) 2. climate (hot, cold, humid, dry) 3. traditional clothing (pictures, photographs, actual clothing) 4. special food specific to your country (sorry no sampling for students due to allergies) 5. housing (description, pictures) 6. artifacts, games, souvenirs, songs, dance 7. special information about your country - legends, story, special tradition, tourist attractions
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
Merci! Mme Gauthier
November 5, 2017
This month will be learning about pets and working on the story 'Une visiste à l'animalerie'. We will learn about which animals are most popular, what they live in, what they eat ... This will be the subject of our first oral presentation.
Students are asked to write 5-7 sentences about a pet of their choice. (They don't need to own a pet. They can choose any animal found in a pet shop + students have already chosen an animal.) The writing will be done in class with the aid of the word lists that we have written as a class with the teacher. Only what is written in class will count as their writing skills will be assessed. Students are asked to write quality sentences and to add details to their sentences (describing words).
Once corrected, the sentences will then be added to their reader (green duo-tang). Once in their duo-tangs, students will be given time to practise in groups but it remains the child's responsibility to practise at home as well. The presentations must be memorized. The presentation will be on Friday November 24 unless we are ahead of schedule. If the date changes you will be notified.
For their support material, students will use Pic Collage on the school ipads to find pictures that will match their sentences. Therefore, the support material will also be completed at school as well.
Below is the assessment rubric followed by a description of what is needed to achieve a level 3.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. maintains interest of audience ____
1 = Student has accurate sentences and uses the structures well. 2 = Student's pronunciation is accurate, clear and loud. 3 = Student uses appropriate expression which demonstrates a clear understanding of the sentences and makes the presentation interesting to the listener. 4 = Student's presentation flows well, with no hesitation and is not too fast. 5 = The student knows their sentences by heart and does not need to look at the written sentences. 6 = The student looks at and makes good eye contact with the audience therefore including them in the presentation. 7 = The student points at the correct picture as he or she says their sentences and uses appropriate actions. 8 = The student maintains the interest of the audience by doing 1-7 well.
Please continue to encourage your child to persevere, 'Drink the milk', 'climb the stairs', set a routine for practising their French and be respectful of others.
Merci! Mme Gauthier
October 16, 2017
We are presently working on using our visualizing skills to write a describing text entitled 'A walk during Fall'. When walking with your child, playing outside, driving somewhere, encourage your child to comment on what he or she sees, hears, smells ... It will help us in writing our text.
Also, we would like to identify everyone's country of origin by the end of this week so please let us know where your ancestors come from.
Thank You for your help.
October 1, 2017
We are presently working on the Social Studies Map and Globe skills. We have learned the parts of a globe and how to apply the use of cardinal directions to locate places on a map. There will be a test on the globe and the use of cardinal directions on October 5. Please see homework for more details.
We will continue to work on the Strand People and Environments: Global Communities. We will investigate how climate and the environment affect how people live in different communities around the world. Students will be asked to find similarities and differences in the way people in these communities meet their needs.
Students are also asked to find out their country of origin (nationality) as we would like to identify these places on a map and complete a graph.
We will also talk about fall. Students will be writing a text to describe a walk in the park, using their visualizing skills.
It is important that students try to read every day to practise and strengthen their oral and reading comprehension skills. They should also review the question words and apply them to what they are reading or what we are discussing in class at the time. If we are focusing on Social Studies then they shoud practise the information in the Social Studies duo-tang.
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
Merci! Mme Gauthier
June 26, 2017
Dear Parents,
The end of the year is here. It is amazing how quickly the school year flew by. The students have worked very hard and learned so much. It has truly been a pleasure knowing and teaching your child.
I wanted to provide you with a simple list of activities that your child could do to continue to practise and strengthen their French skills.
Gr1: Review the vocabulary with the illustrated word lists.
Seek opportunities to use the French they know. (friends, relatives) + work towards spontaneous conversation
Watch French television.
Work on the websites provided.
Review the Gr1 word wall words and stories or read books.
Talk about what they have read (retell).
For Gr2, review the question words (must understand the question words and be able to ask and respond to these questions).
Download French apts.
For future Gr3s, a visit at a Pioneer Village would be fun!
Play French games listed on the back.
Listening to and singing French songs.
Again, these are only suggestions that would help your child over the summer and not homework! I hope you all have a wonderful, enjoyable and safe summer!
Sincerely, Mme Gauthier
Fun Games: Your child can explain the games to you.
1. Buzz 2. Duel with question words 3. Duel with alphabet 4. Make a sentence with a word then try to add a describing word and keep adding more details. 5. Hang letters (Hang Man) 6. Bridge 7. Find a word with the letters of the alphabet
During the month of May, we will continue to discuss traditions (family traditions, in different countries) and identifying distinguishing features and characteristics of traditions. We will discuss how some traditions like birthdays may be celebrated in different ways.
Final invitation: Parent Presentation On Country Tradition
Would you be interested in coming to talk to the Gr2 classes about a special tradition in your country of origin? The presentations would take place the week of Monday May 15 block 4 and throughout the week if needed. The tradition could be related to clothing (ex: quilts), celebrations, dance to name a few. If you are interested, please let me know by Wednesday Friday May 5.
Students are also welcome to share traditions from their country of origin (nationality). They can sing a song, dance, teach their classmates a few words in a different language. They can wear traditional clothing. Students can share any day over the next couple of weeks.
Last month due to the preparation and practice for the students final oral presentation, we were unable to complete writing an original story with a partner. This will be one of our goals for this month. Also, we will focus on listening skills (listening to understand and listening to communicate).
Please remind your child that it is important to listen well and engage in daily lessons in order to show what they can do.
If you have read the newsletter, please draw an apple in your child's agenda with your initials.
Merci beaucoup for your cooperation! Mme Gauthier
April 3, 2017
This week, students will be writing an original story with a partner. Once the books have been published, students will practise reading their books and will be reading it to another class. You will be able to see the books during Education Week.
During the month of April, we will be investigating traditions (family traditions, in different countries) and discovering distinguishing features or characteristics of traditions. This will also be the subject of our last oral presentation.
Students will be asked to complete a simple family tree. You will be notified once the rough copy in your child's duo-tang has been completed in class and asked to please check your child's rough copy in their duo-tang to fill in any missing names and to ensure correct spelling of the names. The good copy of the family tree will be done at school using half a bristol which will be provided for your child.
Special Information On Presentation On Special Family Tradition
This month we will have our last formal oral presentation. This oral presentation will have 2 parts: describing their family and describing a special family tradition. Again the sentences will be written in class using the word lists created with the students and the teacher. Only the sentences written in class will count as students are assessed on their writing ability. Once the sentences have been inserted in their Social Studies duo-tang, a note will be written in the agenda.
Students are responsible to bring the necessary support material. All students have to bring a picture of their family for the first part of the oral presentation. As for the second part, the family tradition, what students bring will depend on their family tradition. I will present my family tradition to the students with support material to give them an example. Every Easter, everyone in my family does a painting and the goal of this activity is to guess who has painted what. For my support material I will bring Easter eggs to represent Easter, a canvass, a paint brush, a bottle of paint and a paint tray to explain painting and a couple of my paintings to display and to show the outcome. This should give you an idea as to what your child could bring depending on their chosen family tradition.
Students will have time to practise their oral presentation in groups during class, however, it is the child's responsibility to practise at home as well. The presentation has to be memorized. Students will be evaluated on how well they use their support material and how well they engage the class (eye contact). It is imperative that they bring their support material to school. The presentations will be Wednesday April 26.
Below is the assessment rubric.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. quality and suitability of support material ____
Special Information On Parent Presentation On Country Tradition
Would you be interested in coming to talk to the Gr2 classes about a special tradition in your country of origin? The presentations would take place Monday April 24 block 4 and throughout the week if needed. The tradition could be related to clothing (ex: quilts), celebrations, dance to name a few. If you are interested, please let me know by Wednesday April 16.
Students are also welcome to share traditions from their country of origin (nationality). They can sing a song, dance, teach their classmates a few words in a different language. They can wear traditional clothing. Students can share any day over the next couple of weeks.
If you have read the newsletter, please draw a bird in your child's agenda with your initials.
Merci beaucoup for your cooperation! Mme Gauthier
March 5, 2017
It is good to be back!
Following our Social Studies theme, we are flying into space. We will learn about astronauts, planets, the space shuttle and the space station. This will be the subject of our 2nd oral presentation. Students are asked to choose one of the subjects mentioned for their presentation. The sentences will be written in class using word lists prepared by the students and teacher. The presentations will be on March 29.
Oral Part Presentation 1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. quality and suitability of support material ____
For the support material, it is left to the students to come up with an appropriate and suitable support material. Options will be discussed in class. Ipads will be available for Pic Collage. 3-D options are great if a child wants to go that route. Support material cannot be any bigger than one bristol board. Sentences should not be written on the support material.
Students will also be writing a persuasive text answering the following question: Which planet is the most interesting and unique in the entire solar system?
Following the space theme, students will also be writing a story with a partner. Once the creative side is completed, the stories will be published by me and the students will illustrate their story. Once this is completed, students will then have a chance to read their book to their classmates and then to another class or two. Parents will get a chance to view the books during Education Week.
If you have read this letter please draw the face of a frog in your child's agenda and put your signature beside it. I am trying to see how many people visit this site since all valuable information is on it.
Thank You for your support! Mme Gauthier
Happy New Year! Bonne et heureuse année!
A great big THANK YOU to M. Rae, M. de Leon, Mrs Thelen and M. Muldoon who came in to do a presentation on their country of origin. The students and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about different countries and testing our knowledge on these countries. Well done!
This month we will continue to investigate how climate affects how people live in 3 different communities around the world (Igloolik, Iquitos and Meru) in terms of shelter, food, clothing and transportation.
There will be a test on these communities on January 25. The test will be shared with the class this week and the following week so that they know exactly what they need to learn.
Section A: fill in the blanks - where the communities are situated (options on test in box) Section B: fill in the blanks - what the climate is like (options on test in box) Section C: associate picture with word - clothing, transportation, food (options on test in box) Section D: associate fact with communitiy - choose a) Igloolik b) Iquitos c) Meru
Students will get opportunities to review and practice the information in groups but they are also expected to review the information at home.
The homework for the week is written in the agenda. It is explained to the class. If a student does not understand what is expected of him or her, they are strongly encouraged to ask the teacher for clarification.
I would also like to inform you that I will be away starting January 12 to February 9 as I am having knee surgery. The routines and expectations will continue as usual. Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
Merci! Mme Gauthier
November 14, 2015
This month will be learning about pets and working on the story 'Une visiste à l'animalerie'. We will learn about which animals are most popular, what they live in, what they eat ... This will be the subject of our first oral presentation.
Students are asked to write 5-7 sentences about a pet of their choice. (They don't need to own a pet. They can choose any animal found in a pet shop.) The writing will be done in class with the aid of the word lists that we have written as a class with the teacher. Only what is written in class will count as their writing skills will be assessed. Students are asked to add details to their sentences. Once corrected, the sentences will then be added to their reader (green duo-tang). Once in their duo-tangs, students will be given time to practise in groups but it remains the child's responsibility to practise at home as well. The presentations must be memorized. The presentation will be on Friday November 25 unless we are ahead of schedule. If the date changes you will be notified.
For their support material, students will use Pic Collage on the school ipads to find pictures that will match their sentences. Therefore, the support material will also be completed at school as well.
Below is the assessment rubric.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. maintains interest of audience ____
Please continue to encourage your child to persevere, 'Drink the milk', 'climb the stairs' and be respectful of others.
Merci! Mme Gauthier
October 2016
We are presently working on the Social Studies Strand People and Environments: Global Communities. We will investigate how climate and the environment affect how people live in different communities around the world. Students will be asked to find similarities and differences in the way people in these communities meet their needs.
Students are also asked to find out their country of origin (nationality) as we would like to identify these places on a map and complete a graph.
We will also talk about fall. Students will be writing a text to describe a walk in the park, using their visualizing skills.
It is important that students try to read every day to practise and strengthen their oral and reading comprehension skills. They should also review the question words and apply them to what they are reading or what we are discussing in class at the time. If we are focusing on Social Studies then they shoud practise the information in the Social Studies duo-tang.
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
Merci! Mme Gauthier
April 4, 2016
In the month of March, students were involved in writing an original story with a partner. Students are now practising their book and will be reading it to another class this week and possibly next week.
During the month of April, we will be investigating traditions (family traditions, in different countries) and discovering distinguishing features or characteristics of traditions. This will also be the subject of our last oral presentation.
Students will be asked to complete a simple family tree. Please check your child's rough copy in their yellow duo-tang to fill in any missing names and to ensure correct spelling of the names. The good copy of the family tree will be done at school using half a bristol which has been provided for your child.
Special Information On Presentation On Special Family Tradition
This month we will have our last formal oral presentation. This oral presentation will have 2 parts: describing their family and describing a special family tradition. Again the sentences will be written in class using the word lists created with the students (already completed) and the teacher. Only the sentences written in class will count as students are assessed on their writing ability. Once the sentences have been inserted in their Social Studies duo-tang a note will be written in the agenda. The section on the family is already completed.
Students are responsible to bring the necessary support material. All students have to bring a picture of their family for the first part of the oral presentation. As for the second part, the family tradition, what students bring will depend on their family tradition. I will present my family tradition to the students with support material to give them an example. Every Easter, everyone in my family does a painting and the goal of this activity is to guess who has painted what. For my support material I will bring Easter eggs to represent Easter, a canvass, a paint brush, a bottle of paint and a paint tray to explain painting and a couple of my paintings to display and to show the outcome. This should give you an idea as to what your child could bring depending on their chosen family tradition.
Students will have time to practise their oral presentation in groups during class, however, it is the child's responsibility to practise at home as well. The presentation has to be memorized. Students will be evaluated on how well they use their support material and how well they engage the class. It is imperitive that they bring their support material to school. The presentations will be Wednesday April 27.
Below is the assessment rubric.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. quality and suitability of support material ____
Special Information On Parent Presentation On Country Tradition
Would you be interested in coming to talk to the Gr2 classes about a special tradition in your country of origin? The presentations would take place Monday April 18 block 1 or 2 and throughout the week if needed. The tradition could be related to clothing (ex: quilts), celebrations, dance to name a few. If you are interested, please let me know by Wednesday April 13.
Students are also welcome to share traditions from their country of origin (nationality). They can sing a song, dance, teach their classmates a few words in a different language. They can wear traditional clothing. Students can share any day over the next couple of weeks.
If you have read the newsletter, please draw a bird in your child's agenda with your initials.
Merci beaucoup for your cooperation! Mme Gauthier
February 21, 2016
2nd Change in presentation date due the Scientists In The School Presentations for Gr2s on Feb. 24th. Final date, I hope.
The space presentation will be moved from February 24 to February 26. Students must have their sentences memorized and have their support material for February 26.
Oral Part Presentation 1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. quality and suitability of support material ____
If you have read this note please draw a flower in your child's agenda and initial it. Thank You!
February 15, 2016
Change in presentation date.
The space presentation will be moved from February 17 to February 24. Students must have their sentences memorized and have their support material for February 24.
Oral Part Presentation 1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. quality and suitability of support material ____
If you have read this note please draw an apple in your child's agenda and initial it. Thank You!
February 1, 2016
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following parents who took time from work to come and talk to the Gr2 students about their country of origin: Mrs Ramirez, M. Burgins, M. Lopez, Mrs O'Conner, M. Muldoon, M. Hozjan and mrs Mardare Amni.
The presentations were so well organized, very interesting and informative. The students and I thoroughly enjoyed all of the presentations and we definitely learned a lot. Bravo! A+
Following our Social Studies theme, we are flying into space. We will learn about astronauts, planets, the space shuttle and the space station. This will be the subject of our 2nd oral presentation. Students are asked to choose one of the subjects mentioned for their presentation. The sentences will be written in class using word lists prepared by the students and teacher. The presentations will be on February 17.
Oral Part Presentation 1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. quality and suitability of support material ____
For the support material, it is left to the students to come up with an appropriate and suitable support material. Options will be discussed in class. Ipads will be available for Pic Collage. 3-D options are great if a child wants to go that route. Support material cannot be any bigger than one briston board.
Following the space theme, students will also be writing a story with a partner. Once the creative side is completed, the stories will be published by me and the students will illustrate their story. Once this is completed, students will then have a chance to read their book to their classmates and then to another class or two. Parents will get a chance to view the books during Education Week.
If you have read this letter please draw the face of a frog in your child's agenda and put your signature beside it. I am trying to see how many people visit this site since all valuable information is on it.
Thank You for your support! Mme Gauthier
January 4, 2016
Happy New Year! Bonne et heureuse année!
This month we will continue to investigate how climate affects how people live in 3 different communities around the world (Igloolik, Iquitos and Meru) in terms of shelter, food, clothing and transportation.
In support of what we are learning about I would like to know if you would be interested in talking to the Gr2 classes about your country of origin/nationality. The presentation would be done in English and could be done by a parent, grand-parent, aunt or uncle. At this point I am looking to see how many potential presenters we would have. Below you will find a list of suggested areas to cover. If you are interested, please write a note in your child's agenda along with the name of the country. Please reply by January 9.
Presentations:
* The presentations should be no more than 15-25 minutes in duration. Here is a recommended list to choose from which would complement what we are doing in class.
1. your flag (picture, brief explanation of the flag / national anthem) 2. climate (hot, cold, humid, dry) 3. traditional clothing (pictures, photographs, actual clothing) 4. special food specific to your country (sorry no sampling for students due to allergies) 5. housing (description, pictures) 6. artifacts, games, souvenirs, songs, dance 7. special information about your country - legends, story, special tradition, tourist attractions
The homework for the week is written in the agenda. It is explained to the class. If a student does not understand what is expected of him or her, they are strongly encouraged to ask the teacher for clarification. Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
Merci! Mme Gauthier
December 7, 2015
The presentations on pets were video taped. When I went to evaluate the presentations as well as when the class and I viewed them, we could not hear the students. Therefore, the presentations were redone last Wednesday.
For the Christmas concert we are learning 'D'où viens-tu bergères?'. Gr2 students are asked to bring to school a dish towel so they can put it on their heads to look like a shepard. The dishtowel should be brought to school by Wednesday December 9.
This month we will investigate how climate affects how people live in 3 different communities around the world (Igloolik, Iquitos and Meru) in terms of shelter, food, clothing and transportation.
In support of what we are learning about I would like to know if you would be interested in talking to the Gr2 classes about your country of origin/nationality. The presentation would be done in English and could be done by a parent, grand-parent, aunt or uncle. At this point I am looking to see how many potential presenters we would have. Below you will find a list of suggested areas to cover. If you are interested, please write a note in your child's agenda along with the name of the country. Please reply by December 11.
Presentations:
* The presentations should be no more than 15-25 minutes in duration. Here is a recommended list to choose from which would complement what we are doing in class.
1. your flag (picture, brief explanation of the flag / national anthem) 2. climate (hot, cold, humid, dry) 3. traditional clothing (pictures, photographs, actual clothing) 4. special food specific to your country (sorry no sampling for students due to allergies) 5. housing (description, pictures) 6. artifacts, games, souvenirs, songs, dance 7. special information about your country - legends, story, special tradition, tourist attractions
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
Merci! Mme Gauthier
November 1, 2015
Students are presently completing their visualizing text 'A walk in the fall'. This week they will be reading their text to a group of students who will then illustrate what they see while listening. The more descriptive the text, the more detailed the picture.
This month will be learning about pets and working on the story 'Une visiste à l'animalerie'. We will learn about which animals are most popular, what they live in, what they eat ... This will be the subject of our first oral presentation.
Students will be asked to write 5-7 sentences about a pet of their choice. (They don't need to own a pet. They can choose any pet.) The writing will be done in class with the aid of the word lists that will be written as a class and the teacher. Only what is written in class will count as their writing skills will be assessed. Students are asked to add details to their sentences. Once corrected, the sentences will then be added to their reader (green duo-tang). Once in their duo-tangs, students will be given time to practise in groups but it remains the child's responsibility to practise at home as well. The presentations must be memorized. The presentation will be on Wednesday November 25 unless we are ahead of schedule. If the date changes you will be notified.
For their support material, students will use Pic Collage on the school ipads to find pictures that will match their sentences. Therefore, the support material will also be completed at school as well.
Below is the assessment rubric.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. maintains interest of audience ____
Please continue to encourage your child to persevere, 'Drink the milk', 'climb the stairs' and be respectful of others.
Merci! Mme Gauthier
October 2015
We are presently working on the Social Studies Strand People and Environments: Global Communities. We will investigate how climate and the environment affect how people live in different communities around the world. Students will be asked to find similarities and differences in the way people in these communities meet their needs.
Students are also asked to find out their country of origin (nationality) as we would like to identify these places on a map and complete a graph.
We will also talk about fall. Students will be writing a text to describe a walk in the park, using their visualizing skills.
It is important that students try to read every day to practise and strengthen their oral and reading comprehension skills. They should also review the question words and apply them to what they are reading or what we are discussing in class at the time. If we are focusing on Social Studies then they shoud practise the information in the Social Studies duo-tang.
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
Merci! Mme Gauthier
April 12
Special Information On Presentation On Country Tradition
Would you be interested in coming to talk to the Gr2 classes about a special tradition in your country of origin? The presentations would take place Monday April 20 block 2 and throughout the week if needed. The tradition could be related to clothing (ex: quilts), celebrations, dance to name a few. If you are interested, please let me know by Wednesday April 15.
Students are also welcome to share traditions from their country of origin (nationality). They can sing a song, dance, teach their classmates a few words in a different language. They can wear traditional clothing. Students can share any day over the next couple of weeks.
April 6
Special Information On Presentation On Special Family Tradition
This month we will have our last formal oral presentation. This oral presentation will have 2 parts: describing their family and describing a special family tradition. Again the sentences will be written in class using the word lists created with the students (already completed) and the teacher. Only the sentences written in class will count as students are assessed on their writing ability. Once the sentences have been inserted in their Social Studies duo-tang a note will be written in the agenda. The section on the family is already completed.
Students are responsible to bring the necessary support material. All students have to bring a picture of their family for the first part of the oral presentation. As for the second part, the family tradition, what students bring will depend on their family tradition. I have presented my family tradition to the students with support material to give them an example. Every Easter, everyone in my family does a painting and the goal of this activity is to guess who has painted what. For my support material I brought Easter eggs to represent Easter, a canvass, a paint brush, a bottle of paint and a paint tray to explain painting and a couple of my paintings to display and to show the outcome. This should give you an idea as to what your child could bring depending on their chosen family tradition.
Students will have time to practise their oral presentation in groups during class, however, it is the child's responsibility to practise at home as well. The presentation has to be memorized. Students will be evaluated on how well they use their support material and how well they engage the class. It is imperitive that they bring their support material to school. The presentations will be Wednesday April 22.
Below is the assessment rubric.
Oral Part Presentation
1. good use of structures ____ 5. memorized ____ 2. clear pronunciation ____ 6. good eye contact ____ 3. expression ____ 7. good use of support material ____ 4. fluency ____ 8. quality and suitability of support material ____
Merci beaucoup for your cooperation! Mme Gauthier
February
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following parents who took time from work to come and talk to the Gr2 students about their country of origin: Mrs Buermans, Mrs O'Neil, M. Larbi, Mrs Lowe, M. Chen, Mrs Cranton, Mrs Krupa, M. Nguen and M. Koestner.
The presentations were so well organized, very interesting and informative. The students and I thoroughly enjoyed all of the presentations and we definitely learned a lot. Bravo! A+
The students have begun writing a story with a partner. Once the creative side is completed, the stories will be published by me and the students will illustrate their story. Once this is completed, students will than have a chance to read their book to their classmates and then to another class or two.
For the author page of the book, students are asked to bring a small picture (mini-me) approximately 2 1/2" by 1 1/2". This picture should be brought in no later than this Friday.
Following the books we will fly into space. We will learn about astronauts, planets, the space shuttle and the space station. This will be the subject of our 2nd oral presentation. Students are asked to choose one of the subjects mentioned for their presentation. Once we begin this theme, information will be available on this site (due date).
Thank You for your support! Mme Gauthier
January
Happy New Year! Bonne et heureuse année!
This month we will continue to discuss how climate and physical regions affect how people live in the communities of Igloolik, Iquitos and Meru. Applying what we have learned about these communities, students will be asked to choose a community, preferably a community in their country of origin (heritage/nationality) and explain how the climate and physical region affect how people live. They will share their information with the class in an informal presentation. Students will present when ready over the course of the next 2 weeks. No formal date will be assigned.
Students are encouraged to bring items, souvenirs, pictures, clothing from their country of origin if possible. Again, we will use the ipads to create a support material but any information brought from home would be greatly appreciated.
A note about parent presentations was sent home today. I have only received one reply in December. If you are interested in speaking to the Gr2s, please return the sheet no later than this Friday January 9 as I will need to organize the presentations.
Thank You for your support! Mme Gauthier
December
The presentations on pets were video taped. When I went to evaluate the presentations as well as when the class and I viewed them, we could not hear the students. Therefore, the presentations were redone last Wednesday.
For the Christmas concert we are learning 'D'où viens-tu bergères?'. Gr2 students are asked to bring to school a dish towel so they can put it on their heads to look like a shepard. The dishtowel should be brought to school by Wednesday December 3.
This month we will investigate how climate affects how people live in 3 different communities around the world (Igloolik, Iquitos and Meru) in terms of shelter, food, clothing and transportation.
In support of what we are learning about I would like to know if you would be interested in talking to the Gr2 classes about your country of origin/nationality. The presentation would be done in English and could be done by a parent, grand-parent, aunt or uncle. At this point I am looking to see how many potential presenters we would have. Below you will find a list of suggested areas to cover. If you are interested, please write a note in your child's agenda along with the name of the country. Please reply by December 11.
Presentations:
* The presentations should be no more than 15-20 minutes in duration. Here is a recommended list to choose from which would complement what we are doing in class.
1. your flag (picture, brief explanation of the flag / national anthem) 2. climate (hot, cold, humid, dry) 3. traditional clothing (pictures, photographs, actual clothing) 4. special food specific to your country (sorry no sampling for students due to allergies) 5. housing (description, pictures) 6. artifacts, games, souvenirs, songs, dance 7. special information about your country - legends, story, special tradition, tourist attractions
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
Merci! Mme Gauthier
October
We are presently working on the Social Studies Strand People and Environments: Global Communities. We will investigate how climate and the environment affect how people live in different communities around the world. Students will be asked to find similarities and differences in the way people in these communities meet their needs.
Students are also asked to find out their country of origin (nationality) as we would like to identify these places on a map and complete a graph.
We will also talk about fall. Students will be writing a text to describe a walk in the park, using their visualizing skills.
It is important that students try to read every day to practise and strengthen their oral and reading comprehension skills. They should also review the question words and apply them to what they are reading or what we are discussing in class at the time. If we are focusing on Social Studies then they shoud practise the information in the Social Studies duo-tang.
Please continue to encourage your child to take ownership for their learning - "to drink the milk and climb the stairs".
Merci! Mme Gauthier
Gr 2 September Newsletter
This month we will be reviewing the Gr1 word wall words and the question words found at the beginning of the reader (qui, combien ...) We have already played our game 'Duel' and the students were incredible. Please ask your child to explain the game to you. As well we will be reviewing the sounds we learned last year.
We are presently working on learning a short skit to introduce the first story in the reader - Ou est mon sac?. Students are working in groups to practise the skit and will be presenting it to their classmates.
We will identify parts of a globe (equator, poles, hemisphere ...) and review parts of a map (title, symbols, compass and legend).
The homework for the week will be written in the agenda on Mondays. Students are responsable to practise the given homework over the week. You can visit this site to get more detailed information about the homework.
We are off to a great start. Please help your child "Drink the milk and climb the stairs" in other words to take ownership and responsiblity for their learning and to learn as much French as they can.