Sunday 30 March 2014

SK2 Weekly Updates! (Mar 24 – Mar 28)

As-salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu


Dear Parents,

Here are some updates from the short week:

Language Arts:
Phonics: In phonics, we have finished Jolly Phonics book 5, Alhumdulilah. This week, we did lots of review activities to practice sight words and long/short vowels. We played musical chairs with sight words, bingo with long vowel sounds, and also practiced writing  sight words through word work and interactive writing. Sk2 are doing a wonderful job becoming great readers, Masha-Allah.

ReadingThis week, our theme was reading books on the five senses and on 2D shapes. We read non-fiction books about sense of taste, sense of smell, and also learned important facts about these two senses.
We also started our "Reading Program" last Wednesday, Alhamdo-lillah.



Writing: We made another class book with the title: “At School”. Here is a sneak peak of the book J

  
Literacy Tips: 
  • Read for 20 minutes with your child everyday.
  • Practice finding words with long vowels (ai, ay, oa, ie, ee, ea ) with your child while reading at home.
  • Go to starfalls.com and readingbears.org to enhance your child’s reading skills.


Math:  
This week, we covered three more 2-D shapes(trapezoid, diamond and hexagon) and learned about their attributes. We also completed our 2-D shape book, Alhumdulilah.
Next week, we will be learning about 3-D shapes, Insha-Allah. There will also be project in the coming weeks in which the students are required to build a 3-D mosque. Stay tuned for detailed information about the project in the upcoming weeks.

Math tips:   
  • Use Popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, tooth picks, and a string of yarn to make and explore different shapes at home. Talk about what the shapes look like, how many sides and corners/vertices they have, and where we might see them in the real world.
  • Play board games like Chutes & Ladders, Sorry!, Dominoes, etc. as they promote the development of counting skills, understandings of patterns, and numeral recognition.

Science:
We reviewed the five senses by watching an educational video one more time. Then, we made one more step towards our labeling skills by labeling the five senses on a person’s picture. Then, we coloured and labeled the picture of the person. On Friday, Sk2 had a blast when we labeled the five senses on our special helper of the day by using sticky-notes. Also, they had a great time doing the blindfold tasting food activity.














Islamic Studies:
We learned how many rakah we pray every day and talked about the steps of prayer.

Arts:
We made a board game called “My Salah Journey” to learn about the five daily prayers in a fun and interactive way. Please play the board game with your child or ask an older sibling to play with them.

Gym:
In gym, we have been practicing soccer and other cooperative games on a weekly basis. Students also made different shapes with their postures to practice 2-D shapes.



Student of the month:
As mentioned in the email earlier, we started the student of the month award, which will be awarded at the end of each month. This award will be based on learning skills or work habits in the classroom. 

The theme for the month of February was “Responsibility and Organization”
The theme for the month of March is “Independent work and Collaboration”
The theme for the month of April will be “Initiative and Self Regulation”

Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and support!


Sunday 23 March 2014

SK2 Weekly Updates! (Mar 17 – Mar 21)

As-salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu


Dear Parents,

Here are some updates from the short week:

Language Arts:
Phonics: In our Jolly Phonics book 5, this week we did long/short O and also did some review exercises in the book. We are also practicing our sight words through flashcards and interactive writing during circle time on a daily basis.

Reading: This week, our theme was reading books on 2 dimensional (2D)geometric shapes. We
also learned to look for 2D shapes in every day objects around us.

Writing: We made a class book with the title: “Me and My Friend”. SK2 did a great job in writing and drawing about their friends, MashaAllah!

 

Literacy Tips: 
  • Read for 20 minutes with your child everyday.
  • Practice finding words with long vowels (ai, ay, oa, ie, ee, ea ) with your child while reading at home.
  • Go to starfalls.com and readingbears.org to enhance your child’s reading skills.


Math: 
We started a fun and exciting unit about geometric shapes. Many of the students come to school with a great deal of background knowledge of four basic shapes. So, we started our unit with a group activity (3 part math lesson) in which they were given a shape and were required to draw objects in the real world that are that shape. Afterwards, we took turns sharing our chart with other groups. We also watched an educational video about 2D shapes and made an anchor chart as a class. Throughout the week, we extended our knowledge about shapes by spending time manipulating concrete models such as pattern blocks and geo boards. Also, we talked about shapes in the real world and Sk2 did a wonderful job observing, noticing, and connecting shapes in day to day things.



Math tips:   
  • Use Popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, tooth picks, and a string of yarn to make and explore different shapes at home. Talk about what the shapes look like, how many sides and corners/vertices they have, and where we might see them in real world.
  •  Play board games like Chutes & Ladders, Sorry!, Dominoes, etc. as they promote the development of counting skills, understandings of patterns, and numeral recognition.

Science:

We started a new unit on Five Senses. First, we made a circle map (A circle map is useful when brainstorming ideas and coming up with thoughts) about the five senses and then watched an educational video to solidify our knowledge about five senses. Finally, we did some worksheets on our five senses.


Islamic Studies:
We reviewed the names of five daily prayers and made an accordion book about “My five daily Salah”.





Arts:
We made a ‘Shape monster Glyph” craft to integrate math into arts and we also did overlapping circle painting.




 Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and support!

Thursday 20 March 2014

Message from Tr: Sahar - Quran Teacher

ssalaamu Alaycom,


Dear Parents
We are working in Surat Al-Qadr.

Jazaacom Allahu khayran
Tr:Sahar Ahmad

Message from Tr. Nancy

Dear Parents,
Assalamu Alaikum

You will notice that your child brought home two reading logs. The #4 reading log sheet is for the week of March 10. If you read to your child during that week and wrote it down, you may staple your sheet to the #4 reading log sheet. The#5 reading log sheet is for the week of March 17. Please take note that both sheets need to be returned to me no later than Monday, March 24.

In addition, the grade 1A students checked out a book of the country of their choice for their project. We also quickly looked over the research steps. Next Monday, we will revisit the research steps in depth along with their bibliography.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email or at school.

Have a wonderful evening, inshaAllah.

Nancy-Ann Brethour,
Abraar School Librarian

Sunday 16 March 2014

SK2 Weekly Updates! (Mar 03 – Mar 06)

As-salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu


Dear Parents,

Here are some updates before March break:
 
Language Arts:

Phonics: This week, we covered the letter sound “v” and “ng.” Here is a link to practice the “ng” sound at home:


ReadingThis week, we read books on the hundred days of school.

Writing: We made a class book on a prompt: “If I had hundred dollars I would buy…”

 


Literacy Tips: 

  • Read for 20 minutes with your child everyday.
  • Practice finding words with long vowels (ai, ay, oa, ie, ee, ea ) with your child while reading at home.
  • Go to starfalls.com and readingbears.org to enhance your child’s reading skills.

Math
We learned how to measure the weight of an object using non-standard units of measurement. We did some comparison worksheets and learned how to use a balance scale. As well, we measured the weight of different objects from the classroom and recorded our findings.

Math tips:   
  • Bake brownies or cake and cut pieces in a square or rectangular pan. Then, count the pieces to see how many pieces will cover the space/area inside the baking dish.
  • Ask your child questions to encourage comparison, estimation and thinking about measurement. For example: Which glass has more water/Which has less/How many glasses of water will take to fill the container?
  • Play board games like Chutes & Ladders, Sorry!, Dominoes, etc. as they promote the development of counting skills, understandings of patterns, and numeral recognition.

Science:
This week, we learned how to use a balance scale and did a cool experiment. We filled up two balloons; one with water, and one with air. First, we predicted which one is heavier and which one is lighter. Then, we experimented and recorded our results. The balloon with water comes out to be heavier than the balloon with air.


Islamic Studies
We are learning a nasheed about Salah (prayer). Please check the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR9nlsgqT5c

100 days of School
We did some fun and educational activities on the hundredth day of school. Thanks to all of our parents for sending snacks for the sharing snack time. 



 Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and support!


Thursday 6 March 2014

Message from Tr. Said (French Teacher)

Assalamu Alaikum Dear Parents,

 I hope my email finds you in good health. I would like to give you some updates on the French material covered so far.

In this term, we are still focusing on listening, speaking.

You find below what we did in the class:

1-  Reviewing the pronunciation of (A Auto, B Baleine, C Chien, D Diamant, E Éléphant, F  Fromage, G Guitare, H Héron, I Igloo, J Jus, K Kiwi, L Lion) .

2-  We did (  M Miel, N Nid )


3-   Les figures géométriques  parlent : Bonjour rectangle. (a – happy triangle, a sad circle and a neutral rectangle.

Bonjour triangle.
Regarde la-bas !
Tu vois le cercle?
Oui je vois le cercle.
Il est triste.
Tu vois le carré?
Oui je le vois.

4-  Learning numbers 11 to 15 ( cards numbered 11 to 15 using two differently colored cardboards ( red and blue for 11; black and white for 12; green and yellow for 13, orange and brown for 14) the back must be the same colour as the numbered face of the cards.

5-  Developing comprehension of a few language forms used to ask for personal information:

-      C’est beau .
-      Montre-moi les yeux, le nez,
-      C’est quoi le nom de ton papa?
-      Compte combien de crayons sur la table?
-      Quel est son nom?
-      C’est quelle couleur?
-      C’est quel fruit?

6-  You find below songs of : les crocodiles, les noms des membres du corps, les fruits et les chiffres de 1- 20 .



Jazakoum Allah khairan.







Sunday 2 March 2014

SK2 Weekly Updates! (Feb24 – Feb28)

As-salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu


Dear Parents,

Here are some updates from the short week:

Language Arts
Phonics: We started Jolly Phonics book 5, Alhumdulilah. In this book, we will be covering the letter sounds z, w, ng, v and short / long o. This week, we covered the letter z and w. Also, we have been practicing and reviewing sounding out long vowels and short  vowels in our circle time.

ReadingOur focus was reading non-fiction books. We learned the difference between fiction and non fiction books and took part in comprehension activities. We also got to know what labeling means by looking into the pictures in non-fiction books. We took a mini lesson on how to label a picture and then drew our own drawings and labeled them. Please check the wonderful labeled drawings by SK2. On Wednesday, Sister Madlein came to our class and read a non-fiction book to us. Jazaki Allahu khairun for her time and effort.



 

Literacy Tips: 
  • Read for 20 minutes with your child everyday.
  • Practice finding words with long vowels (ai, ay, oa, ie, ee, ea ) with your child while reading at home.
  • Go to starfalls.com and reading bears.org to enhance your child’s reading skills.


Math
We learned how to measure capacity (How much a container can hold) using non standard units of measurement. We did some worksheets and as well as hand on exploration. Sk2 have been doing a great job in estimating before finding an actual amount using their schema, Masha-Allah. Please see the wonderful class work and group work by Sk2.



On Friday morning, before going to the field trip, we did group estimation of how many marshmallow it will take to fill the bowl? After we came from the field trip, we counted together and the group with closest estimation won the  bowl of marshmallows (Yum….) but we didn’t forget our other friends and they got to eat them too.



Math tips:   
  • Bake brownies or cake and cut pieces in a square or rectangular pan. Then, count the pieces to see how many pieces will cover the space/area inside the baking dish.
  • Ask your child questions to encourage comparison, estimation and thinking about measurement. For example: Which glass has more water/Which has less/How many glasses of water will take to fill the container?
  • Play board games like Chutes & Ladders, Sorry!, Dominoes, etc. as they promote the development of counting skills, understandings of patterns, and numeral recognition.

Science
This week, we did a fun and cool science experiment using bricks of ice, salt and food colours. Sk2 were amazed to see how the ice melted instantly when we sprinkled salt on it. We connected this experiment to everyday life in winter. For added fun, we poured a few drops of different food colours on the ice blocks and saw a rainbow of colours penetrating through the ice. Finally, when we dabbed a white paper towel on the coloured ice block, we had a blast to see the tie and dye patterns on the white paper towel.

 

Islamic Studies
We are learning a nasheed about Salah (prayer). Please check the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR9nlsgqT5c

Field Trip:
We had a great field trip at the “Museum of Civilization” Alhamdo-lillah. Students were amazed to see the Snow Exhibit, and had so much fun in the bakers workshop and at the children’s museum. Jazakumullahu-khaira for all the parents who volunteered, we couldn’t have done it without your support!

Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and support!


Saturday 1 March 2014

Message from Tr. Sahar - Quraan Teacher

Assalaamu Alaycom,


Dear Parents
Next week, we have quiz in Surat Az-Zalzalah.

Jazacom Allahu khairan
Tr:Sahar