May 4-May 8
Phonics
This week in phonics, students reviewed vowel teams that produce the oo /ū/ sound (e.g., stool, boom). They have been learning that "oo" can be pronounced in different ways depending on the word (short "oo" = foot, wood and long "oo" = moon, spoon). They completed their spelling test based on these vowel teams on Thursday, May 7, 2026. This will be handed back on Monday, May 11, 2026.
Next week we will be practicing the vowel teams ew /ū/, ui /ū/ ue /ū/ (e.g., grew, fruit, glue). A new Roll and Read sheet was sent home on Thursday, May 7, 2026 to enforce these vowel teams. Students will have their spelling test based on these vowel teams on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
- What words do you find tricky to spell?
- What are some other words that would like to learn to spell?
- Can you come up with a sentence each for 3 words from your new Roll and Read sheet?
Literacy
This week, we took a deeper dive into procedural writing and focused on the importance of giving clear, detailed instructions. Students are beginning to understand that strong procedural writing must include precise steps so that someone who has never completed the task before can easily follow the directions and be successful. We discussed how good writers think carefully about sequencing, word choice, and the small details that help make instructions easy to understand.
To practice these skills, students worked on writing procedures for familiar activities such as making a sandwich and building a sandcastle. They learned how to break a task down into manageable steps, include transition words, and explain each part thoroughly.
Throughout the week, students showed great growth in their ability to write clear and organized directions. They are becoming more confident in their writing and are beginning to recognize how important clarity and precision are when teaching someone else how to complete a task. I am very proud of the effort and thoughtfulness they are putting into their work!
- What are the words you have been using at the beginning of your sentences when completing a procedural writing piece?
- Do the steps need to be in order? Why is that?
- Can you give me instructions on how to make something?
This week, we revisited the “breaking apart” strategy for addition. This strategy helps students add a 2-digit number and a 1-digit number by first making a friendly number or a multiple of 10. Students are learning that numbers can be broken apart in different ways to make mental math easier and more efficient.
For example, in the problem 27 + 5, students know that 27 needs 3 more to make 30. They can break the 5 apart into 3 and 2. First, they add the 3 to 27 to make 30, and then they add the remaining 2 to get 32. This helps students build strong number sense and better understand how numbers work together.
Students are becoming more confident in recognizing how to “make a ten” or “make the next multiple of ten” when adding. This strategy supports flexibility in math thinking and helps prepare students for more complex addition in the future.
The video we used in class helped reinforce how breaking numbers apart can make addition easier and more manageable for young learners. The link is below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81nrbFhgloo
- Can you solve 27 + 5 using the multiple of 10 strategy (breaking apart)?
- What strategy do you find easiest to use to solve this number sentence?
- What do you enjoy most about learning addition, and what do you find challenging or less enjoyable?
Fun Lunch
The next Fun Lunch will be held on Wednesday May 27th.
Fun Lunch is only for grades 1-4 and our EES students.
- Go to healthyhunger.ca
- Log into you existing account or create a new one.
- Add your child’s information in the “add child” box – name, province, city, school, grade and class.
- All Fun Lunches will then populate – select the order now button!
Please make sure to send a morning snack with your child on Fun Lunch Days. Orders must be placed by the Friday before the day.
May 12 Class Photo Day
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