La Classe de Mme Bena

Bonjour! 

We have been having lots of fun over the past few weeks! Our classroom has transformed into a Winter wonderland as we have been doing a variety of winter-themed visual arts projects :)

The students have created chalk snowmen for our "Mur de meilleur travail". Drawing with chalk helps to build fine motor skills as there is greater resistance on the paper! 

We also took advantage of the first snow day this year to improve our fine motor skills through folding and cutting paper snowflakes. It was also a great lesson in symmetry! These are now decorating the windows in our classroom.

 The students have been enjoying a book called "Un porc-épic dans un sapin." 

We decided to write our own version of the story, using the winter vocabulary we have learned. The students worked very hard, each completing a page (either alone or with a partner), and they are very proud of the finished book they created together! They did a fantastic job!

Now that the students have developed a substantial French vocabulary, we have had the first few sessions of our "Atelier d'écriture" (writer's workshop). I have taught lessons on how writer's generate ideas, choosing a topic to write about, using pictures to tell a story, and adding details. I am so pleased with the work I am seeing so far-- their writing is coming along very nicely! Afterwards, we gather at the carpet to share our writing in the author's chair, and the students are very excited to share what they have written :)

In Social Studies, we have been talking about rules and responsibilities, and how our responsibilities may differ in different settings (at home, versus in the classroom, in the school yard, etc.) We made posters demonstrating some of the rules and expected behaviours in each of these settings.

We have learned all about the vowel sound "é" with Zoé l'éléphant, and are currently reviewing all vowel sounds learned so far. You can help your child at home by doing some fun activities to practice phonemic awareness. The following is a list of syllables that your child should be able to read. I encourage you to practice reading these with your child-- if you find that he/she has difficulty, I am including some fun activities you can do at home to practice these sounds!

• make flash cards, and then play "Memory"
• tape the flash cards onto a wall and play "I spy"
• make silly (nonsense) two-syllable words and try to read them
• make silly (nonsense) three-syllable words and try to read them
• write the syllables in a plate of pudding!
• make the syllables with Alphagetti!
• make the syllables with Alphabet cereal!

Some news items: 

• A few parents have been asking about a holiday concert. This year, it was decided that the primary classes would hold our Seasonal Concert in the New Year. The precise date has not been finalized, but I will communicate that to you as soon as it is set!
• We have been hard at work on a special Winter art project that your child will bring home for the holidays! If your child will be leaving early on a vacation, please send me an email to let me know, so that I can make sure they bring this art project home in time. Merci! :)
• Our class will be having a Snuggle up and Read class party on Friday, December 23, from 12:30-1:45. Students are invited to wear their pyjamas to school and bring a favourite stuffed animal for this special day. I will be bringing in some winter treats (popcorn and hot chocolate), and will be sending home a permission form next week-- please use this form to indicate if there are any dietary restrictions where your child should not have popcorn or hot chocolate. Any parents who would like to join us are welcome to come and share in the enjoyment of reading :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mme Bena :)