Tuesday, October 14

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!  There are a pair of updates and reminders this week:

• please don't forget to go to the parent portal and fill out / sign the four different forms that are there.  One is an off-site permission form that will be important for our upcoming bus trips.
• there will be a Spirit Week at the school during the week of Halloween.  I will provide details when I get them, but there will be a theme each day of that week.

In Language this week, we will be continuing with some sentence writing tasks, and I will be introducing our final descriptive language task where we will be describing a "monster" that they created.  We will be looking at proper sentence form and punctuation.

In Math, we are moving on to 3D solids this week. We will be looking at the differences between pyramids and prisms, and counting all their edges, vertices and faces.

In Science, we will be continuing with our Soils unit.  Specifically, we will be looking about composting.

In Art, we will be looking at how to draw a picture using one-point perspective.  There pictures last week were fantastic!  They drew a tree, but really added some of their colouring lessons to help make them a little more realistic.

Monday, October 6

 Here are some updates for the week:

• this Thursday afternoon is our Terry Fox Run.  If you haven't yet donated, and would like to, here is our school link:  Terry Fox Donation Page
• this Friday is a PD Day, so there is no school.  Also, with Monday being Thanksgiving, you will have a nice 4 day weekend!

This week in Language, we will be doing some descriptive setting writing.  We will be writing complete sentences to describe a scene of their choosing.  We will also be using some of our Language block time to read about Terry Fox.

In Math, we will be starting instruction on 2D shapes.  As we start this new unit, I would recommend all students to continue to practice addition and subtraction questions with regrouping.

In Science, we will be looking at components of soil and how it effects what can be done with the soil and what plants can grow in it.

In Art, we will finish up the amazing trees the class drew last week.  We are adding colour with our pencil crayons using techniques that were taught earlier in the school year.

Monday, September 29

First a quick heads up that tomorrow is Truth and Reconciliation Day (Orange Shirt Day).  The children are welcome to recognize the day by wearing an orange shirt.  Also, don't forget that the Grade 6's are running Freezie Days.  Please donate through SchoolCashOnline to help fund their grade 6 graduation activities.

This year, our Terry Fox run will be on Thursday, October 9th.  If you would like to donate, please go through the following link:

Terry Fox Donation Page

This week in Language we will be looking at the last senses for our descriptive writing.  The class will soon be working on a "Descriptive Setting Mystery" whereby they will be giving 6 clues (surrounding the 5 senses) towards a hidden setting picture of their choice.  The focus will be on the descriptive language that they will use, in addition to using proper sentence form.

In Math, we will be continuing with our addition and subtraction to 100, then moving onto some lessons on 2D shapes late in the week (possibly next week).  I have added a class page at thatquiz.org where there will be regular practice assignments posted.  Here is our class link:

That Quiz Class link

In Science, we have been looking at our sand is actually just rocks broken down.  This week, we will be doing another class experiment to display how this occurs.

In Art, we will be using our colouring and drawing skills that we have been practising by making a picture of a tree.  We will be looking at lines, curves and using the shading techniques that were taught last week.

Monday, September 22

First a quick update:

• Pizza, Subway, and Freezies are now up for sale on School Cash Online! 

This week in Language, we will be working a little further on descriptive writing.  Last week, we looked at different shades of colours.  This week, we will be adding taste and sound words and working in groups once again to brainstorm some descriptive words based on taste and sound.  Also, we will be doing an EQAO reading this week (likely Wednesday) and will go through the questions and answers that would have been part of that years EQAO test.  I will go over some exemplars with the class to show what different levels/grades look like.

Late last week in Math, we looked at how shape patterns can change using a variety of different attributes.  We looked at how shapes can change in colour, size, number, direction and their shape.  We attempted to make some patterns using 2 different attributes.  For example, changing the colour from red to blue (an AB pattern), but the shape changed using the core triangle, square, square, triangle (an ABBA pattern).  It was challenging, but making a plan on paper certainly helped!  This was done on an online tool (https://www.coolmath4kids.com/manipulatives/pattern-blocks) so that they could change the colours of the pattern blocks.  When they were done, they were taught how to screen-clip these patterns and place them into their google slide (found in the workspace).  They are very quick tech learners!! This week in Math, we will be moving onto more skip counting followed by Addition and Subtraction to 100. 

After our lesson last week on how to use colouring pencils, we will be having a lesson on "Atmospheric Perspective".  This will give the students a chance to start to see how depth can be used in pictures.  To help with this, we will also be using an online drawing tool called Kleki.

Monday, September 15

First a quick reminder to ensure that you go through all the forms if you haven’t already.  These can be found on the parent portal.  These include the Responsible Use of Technology form, the Verification Form, and Off-Site Permission.

ALSO.... Pizza and Subway orders are now live. You must sign up for CashOnline which can be reached from QuickLinks on the SMY website.

In Math, we have continued our patterning unit.  Last week, we looked at growing and shrinking patterns.  We have also been looking at a variety of patterns on hundreds charts, bar graphs and number lines.   We have also been using number lines to help us understand and assist us with our addition and subtraction.  The strategy of "jumping" on a number line to help break larger numbers into smaller portions is helpful for some.  As such, we will be starting some skip counting this week.

In Language, we will be looking at a variety of words used to describe colours.  For example, instead of using the word orange, the class will be exploring additional ways to describe the shade of that colour (eg. pumpkin orange, apricot, marmalade, merigold).  I will be posting some links on the workspace for the class to explore.  We have also looked at ways to describe the colour (eg. bold, brilliant, deep). 

In Science, we will be exploring Soils this week.  There will be a pair of texts that we will be reading together on Wednesday.

In Visual Art this week, we will be exploring how to use colouring pencils to provide different shading techniques.  This will likely be on Thursday of this week

Week 2

 We are certainly chugging along through the first week of school!  Quick note that this Thursday, our school will be hosting an Open House from 3:30 - 5:00.  I will give a short presentation in the classroom around 3:45 and 4:30 about the year.  

We try to start each math class with our Daily Math, followed by our "Math Up" lesson on patterns.  We looked at patterns around the classroom and in our life, then looked specifically at number patterns on 100-charts, number lines and calendars.  As we progress through the year, if you are interested in seeing what our "Your Turn" questions look like, they are linked on the student portal (in Hapara) under the Math tab.  This is accessed by going to the student portal (https://sites.google.com/a/ocsbstudent.ca/k-6/), and clicking into the workspace.  The student log in using their email which is firstname.lastname@stu.ocsb.ca  If they do not remember their password, please feel free to let me know (or they can tell me at school).  The math work in the workspace does not have to be completed as it is the same as what is done in class.  There will also be some "Sum it Up" pages which is a good read for you if you would like to see the taught concepts for the day/week.  One quick comment about the daily math.  This is only a 5-10 minute exercise at the start of the day that I project on the front screen.  We go through all the questions together, and the class puts their answers in a notebook.  It is just a nice routine to do that helps touch upon concepts that they will see at different points of the year.  For example, this week there are some questions that involve fractions.  Although we won't specifically look at fractions until later in the year, it gives a quick look each day now which will make it easier when the time comes for more formal lessons.  Again, I post the daily math in Hapara so you can see what the questions look like if you are curious.

In Language, you may have seen a yellow duotang go home on Monday.  This is for the Working with Words lessons for the week.  The class can practice these words for the week, and they will be quizzed on 10 of them for Friday.  If you are looking for homework for the week, I recommended to the children that they can choose 10 of the words at write them in a proper sentence either in the document in Hapara, or they can write them on paper too!  Last week (and this upcoming week), we worked on our descriptive writing.  We have been looking at the 5 senses and how they can be used to add description in their writing.  So far, we have focused on sounds (the Pear Decks are always linked in Hapara if you are curious).  We also continued our read aloud of A Dog's Life.  I have also linked the first and second chapter on the workspace if anyone wanted to reread (we are halfway through Chapter 2).  While I read this aloud, I have multiple pause points that I will discuss "tricks" the author uses, get them to predict what may happen next, draw real-life connections and give them basic thoughts that a "good adult reader" thinks about as they are reading a story.  

Finally, in Science class we will be starting our unit on Soils.  We will look at the parts of soil (tiny rocks, air, water and humus) and design our title page this week.  Also, we are finishing up our Lego Portraits.

Welcome!

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year. It gives me great pleasure to welcome your child into our Grade 3 classroom as we kick off another great year at St. Marguerite d'Youville. On the first day of school, I will be meeting the children in the primary yard. I will be outside by 8:20 am, so if you have any questions, please feel free to ask! It would also be helpful to know how your child will be heading home at the end of the day.

School is an environment that is fun, exciting and full of many wonderful learning opportunities and challenges.  As your child’s teacher, my goal is to help create an environment that focuses on the whole child: mind, body and spirit.

I believe it is very important to have open communication between home and school. Always feel free to contact me at school.  I have a blog that you can check regularly for quick information about what is going on in the class and in the school. My blog is located at mrgpope.blogspot.ca which I will try to update once a week.

For homework, the most important thing I can recommend to do on a regular basis is read. 15-20 minutes per night is highly recommended for every student.  We also have access to Prodigy Math and Magma Math, websites that will be linked in their Hapara workspace. These are excellent websites to help practice a wide range of math skills (I will be sending the log-ins and passwords in the first weeks of school). Unfinished work may also occasionally find its way home to be completed. Finally, each child will have access to work on in-class writing assignments through Google Docs at home if needed. I will be posting most activities and links on their Hapara Workspace.

Although most school supplies will be provided to your child, here are some items that are beneficial throughout the school year:

• pencils (students will go through 3+ per month)

• eraser

• coloured pencils

• scissors

• highlighter (any colour)

• glue sticks

• pencil case

• pencil sharpener (closed)

• indoor shoes (non-marking soles)

I truly look forward to a great year together.  I know that our journey this year will be full of rewards and challenges as we learn, laugh and grow together.

Mr. Pope