I would like to express my heart-felt thank you to all the Moms of my students who continuously provide their child with the love and nurturing to help them thrive in their Grade 4 school year and beyond!
Your ongoing support for your child and my teachings is cherished. Thank you for energetically embracing me this year, it has meant the world to me!
I hope you enjoy your Mother’s Day with your family on Sunday and that you're showered with love, you deserve it!
The card, letters and artwork that students created for their Moms came from their heart and I know how excited they are to give you this note of appreciation this weekend (see below for evidence)!
I have every confidence you're going to love it too and be filled with tears of joy :-)
A must watch Mother's Day message for all my students amazing Moms!! I thought of you instantly when I came across this.
A Mother's comfort and care is truly immeasurable and as your child's teacher, please know, I see, hear, and feel their love for YOU (Mom) each and every day! Thank you for being YOU :-)
HONOURING MY MOTHER:
At this time, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge and extend a very happy mother's day to my very own, my Ma. As many of you know, she is my personal hero whom I strive to make proud each and everyday.
Ma and I on her 68th birthday (2023)
Ma's 65th birthday (2020)
My Ma has been the most selfless, supportive, and nurturing parent to my brother (Anil) and I. We are who we are today because of her unwavering love and support.
My older brother Anil, Ma, and me (a small, but mighty team of 3)
The bond between a mother and her child is truly one of a kind! I admire, respect, and am inspired by all the mothers out there who consistently demonstrate and share their strength, dedication, and unconditional love for their children.
My favourite pass time with Ma is making her LOL ;)
I am fortunate that I have been blessed to have a mother who has been the ultimate role model and who has been there for me always.
Thank you Ma for all that you do, ALL THAT YOU ARE! I admire and love you!
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS:
Did you know that annually, Mental Health Week is acknowledged during the first full week of May with an emphasis on children's mental health? Yes, it is!
As you may have gathered, the topic of nurturing and nourishing our Mental Health has been an ongoing focus and learning in our classroom.
For me, this is VERY important because every day someone somewhere is dealing with a struggle we may know nothing about. So please, BE KIND ALWAYS!!
Each day on the morning announcements, I did my best to post learning material for teachers and students to engage in the conversation about mental health. It's starts with us, talk it out!
This year's theme is MY VOICE MATTERS We encourage children and young people to express themselves so they can say and believe My Voice Matters.
Throughout the school year, our class has embraced an important saying that your child can say aloud proudly - "We all have a voice, it needs to be heard, once at a time."
We always do our best to focus on the importance of compassion, understanding and empathyfor ourselves and others as part of our collective responsibility totake care of and support the well-being of ourselves and those around us.
Your thoughts are powerful! The things you tell yourself matter. Positive Affirmations are statements you say to yourself to help you challenge negative thoughts you might be having.
Perhaps your child has already shared this with you, but if not, no worries! At the beginning of each day when students enter our portable, I quietly stand / post an affirmation for your child to see and feel to help ease them into the mindset of POSITIVITY - THEY MATTER.
Please ask your child what some of the affirmations that I've shared throughout the school year :-)
HINT:
You are LOVED.
You are WORTHY.
You are ENOUGH.
You are VALUED.
You have a VOICE.
You are ACCEPTED
Check out the video below to learn more about affirmations and then try it out!
Ever feel that your mind is too busy? Check out the 'Thought Bubbles' video below to blow them away!
LANGUAGE:
To help support our mental health and well-being, this week in our reading and writing, we did a deep dive into the topic of self-esteem. I felt this was a very important discussion to have and a learning opportunity for us all.
Self-esteem is a feeling of self-worth. It is how children "feel inside" about themselves. When children participate in activities that build on their strengths, it helps them to develop a sense of confidence and an appreciation of their abilities.
I shared a very purposeful book called Never Give Up - a story about self-esteem. After listening to the it, students then completed a writing activity where they were asked to "think about a time that you did not give up even when it was tough."
I am so proud of each student's writing piece as it gave them an opportunity to be vulnerable and share about their NEVER GIVE UP MOMENT.
Please note, these pieces will come home soon once we're done with them in class so you too can admire your child's RESILIENCE - adapting well to a challenge!
Recognizing children's efforts and accomplishments is vital as it helps maintain their self-esteem and also encourages them to keep trying :) #tryliketerry
Children who feel good about themselves are more likely to develop positive relationships and less likely to be mistreated in their interactions with others.
TIPS for Parents & Educators to Help Support Their Children/Students to Develop Self-Esteem:
Love them: Show children they are loved and accepted by expressing affection and spending quality time together.
Play with them: Create a safe, secure environment, encouraging children to explore the world around them.
Respect them: Have realistic expectations, fostering positive experiences and success.
Appreciate them: Accept children as individuals, reinforcing their strengths and abilities. Look for opportunities to talk about things that make them feel proud of themselves.
Talk with them: Use positive ways to guide their behaviour, treating all children in the family fairly.
Listen to them: Children need to feel that they are contributing participants to the conversation in order to feel valued and respected; two key ingredients of self-esteem
Below are some accessible and friendly reminders for self-care and boosting your child's mental health and well-being. Try them out, I love it!
FINN:
As we finished up our writing task about A Never Give Up Moment, Finn sweetly came up to me and shared the following (click image to enlarge).
You see, he used his chicken nugget box and filled it with positive affirmations that came into his head and heart.
Oh my goodness, this brings tears to my eyes as I write this. I am so grateful for the children who are soaking in our classroom teachings and doing their best to spread it with such passion & pride!
Thank you Finn for displaying such character and having the drive to always believe in yourself especially in tough times. Never lose sight of this, hold onto your positivity & self-esteem always :)
MATH:
We have started a new math unit called Financial Literacy - Money & Finances. Below I have listed the learning goals that we will be focusing on.
Please note, I have also posted my slide deck on Google Classroom for students to refer to as I teach the concepts :) They're a fabulous resource so please check that out!
Money Concepts:
- identify various methods of payment that can be used to purchase goods and
services
Money Concepts:
-estimate and calculate the cost of transactions involving multiple items priced in
whole-dollar amounts, not including sales tax, and the amount of change needed when payment is made
in cash, using mental math
Financial Management:
-explain the concepts of spending, saving, earning, investing, and donating,
and identify key factors to consider when making basic decisions related to each
Financial Management:
-explain the relationship between spending and saving, and describe how
spending and saving behaviours may differ from one person to another
Consumer and Civic Awareness:
-describe some ways of determining whether something is
reasonably priced and therefore a good purchase
MUSIC MANIA:
On Monday a variety of students from our class and the school attended the annual celebration of music at the Wasaga Beach RecPlex.
The children sang with their hearts and represented our school well! #Nottawa'sGotTalent
A big shout out goes to Mr. Morin who runs our music program for the kids in K-8. His passion for music and bringing out the best in the children is awe-inspiring!
Thank you for always putting the kids first and foremost in all that you do for our school!
JUNIOR MATH ROAD RALLY:
On Tuesday, the Education Centre welcome 140 SCDSB elementary students for the Junior Enrichment Math Road Rally!
The Math Road Rally is an opportunity for SCDSB students to participate in hands-on math problem solving in a cooperative team setting. It is designed to help challenge the minds of junior mathematicians!
Thank you Mrs. Garvan for organizing this event for the kids!
Congratulations to our very own Malcolm along with Kaylee, Owen, and Evelyn for representing our schoo so well!
We are so proud of these children'sresilience, determination, leadership, and sound mathematical thinking.
JUNIOR BOYS VOLLEYBALL:
I would like to send a shout out to the boys in our class who participated in volleyball this season. Being a coach is one of my highlights of being a teacher at the school.
It brings me immense joy seeing student athletes work hard on and off the court. Life is all about balance - work hard, play hard!
Coaches Wallace and Gill would like to congratulate the junior boys volleyball team on a tremendous season! At the area tournament and all season long, the boys played with such passion, poise, and teamwork!
It was an absolute joy watching this group of boys soar and grow not only in their volleyball skills, but more importantly their comradery and sportsmanship!
Thank you for representing our school family well. I am so proud of each of you!
Looking forward to next season!
COACH ALLAN:
I would like to take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt thank you to Coach Allan who ran numerous volleyball clinics for our boys & girls teams.
His aptitude for the game, calm demeanour, and passion for volleyball truly empowered the kids to believe in themselves play to their highest potential!
Coach Allan got the kids bumping effectively, setting the ball accurately, serving (overhand, wow), and even spiking! He helped hone these skills with many amazing drills that were scaffolded so well!
Watching the kids soar and grow in a mere few weeks was astonishing! We thank you Coach for volunteering your time and we all look forward to having you join our volleyball teams for years to come :)
HARLOW & HAZEL:
Thank you girls for brightening my day with a flower straight from your garden and making me a card signed by our class family!
After a day of coaching volleyball and coming back to the classroom with your kindness is something I'll always cherish! Your thoughtfulness continues to inspire everyone around you!
MINDFULNESS:
It's always been a goal of mine to cultivate calm minds in the classroom. Introducing mindful minutes from dreamwalkers.meditations into our daily routine has been a game-changer!
Not only are my students more focused during lessons, but their academic performance has soared!
Beyond the "grades," it's incredible to witness the positive shift in their behaviour, fostering a more harmonious classroom environment.
Socially, meditation helps the children develop empathy and communication skills, creating stronger bonds among peers.
And let's not forget about emotional health - equipping them with invaluable tools to navigate stress and anxiety.
It's truly been amazing how just a few minutes of mindfulness each day has made such a profound impact in our classroom :-)
Below I have posted an informational video and meditation for you to try out as a family. Give it a go :) Remember the 5 S's before you do - SILENCE, STILLNESS, SPACE, SBREATHE, and SHARE.
Standing in front of a magical mirror, you see your future self. Spend the meditation considering and imagining who your future self is.
Feel into this future version of yourself, see how you spend your time, where you live, what brings you joy and who are your friends. How do you contribute to the world, how does your future self feel in your mind, heart and body?
GROWTH MINDSET:
Thank you Cara for this week's mindset message!
"To struggle is to learn. Use challenges as opportunities to grow mentally and emotionally."
Dear Families, What a meaningful week we've had yet again! Lots of important and key learning about equity, inclusion, and diversity ! All topics near and dear to my heart :) My students are taking such a heartfelt interest in the issues surrounding Anti-Bullying and Black History . We are learning to apply compassion, understanding and ACCEPTANCE towards one another each and every day. In our classroom, it is our goal to continue ensuring that everyone we meet and greet feels SAFE , INCLUDED , VALUED , and ACCEPTED regardless of differences. You will have noticed by now that from time to time that your child comes home to share that he/she has either written or received a 'bucket filling' note for/from a peer. Thank you Cara for your note of appreciation today :) It is important to me to provide the children with daily opportunities to ex...
Dear Families, Is it really the final days of March?! I hope you've enjoyed the warmer temps we've had this week. It's definitely welcomed and has put a smile on all the children's (and mine) faces as they run, jump, and PLAY during recesses :) I would like to wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe Easter long weekend with your family! As many are aware, it is Good Friday (no school) and Easter Monday (no school), so students will be back to school on Tuesday! I look forward to reuniting with my students and hearing about all the wonderful experiences they got up to with beloved family and friends for Easter :) BUSINESS FAIR: Thank you to all the staff, students, and parents for supporting this year's Grade 8 Business Fair . I am extremely proud of the grade 8's, most of whom I taught when they were in grade 3 (2018/2019). Current grade 8's in my 2019 grade 3 class :)...
Dear Families, Happy ALMOST June everyone! We’ve entered our final month of school. Where’d the year go?! I suppose it zips by when you’re surrounded with amazing students every day who make you smile , laugh , and rejoice ! I truly have seized and savoured every moment creating meaningful creating meaningful memories with our class family. Nice poses guys! How amazing is this! Malcolm's featured on the Plunge wall! As we enter the final few weeks of school, I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to all my families (parents & grandparents) who have consistently supported their child in all my teaching by providing at home support with homework and assignments. This means a lot to me :) My precious group for the day :) Together, we have made a significant difference in your child's academic, social, emotional and ...
We encourage children and young people to express themselves so they can say and believe My Voice Matters.
Comments
Post a Comment