SK2 Weekly Updates! (April 22 – April 25)

As-salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu

Dear Parents,

Here are some updates from our class:

Language Arts:

Phonics: In phonics, we are working on  review exercises from Jolly phonics workbook 6.

Reading / Earth Day:

We started our week by reading a story about Earth day called “Earth Day –Horray.” Then, we talked about things we can do to take care of our Earth. Sk2 did a wonderful job by sharing ideas on how to take care of  the Earth (for example: caring and planting flowers, recycling, not wasting water, turning off the lights when not in use, not littering, etc...).

Also, SK2 made Earth Day bookmarks out of recycled cereal boxes for our reading bags. As well, we discussed how we like  to Go Green, using a bar graph.

Writing: As the theme for this week was Earth day, we wrote:

I promise to take care of our earth by……..

Literacy Tips:

• Read for 20 minutes with your child everyday.
• Play I spy games using the ch and sh  and th consonant blends. For example, “I spy with my little eye something that starts with the ch sound.”
• Go to starfalls.com and readingbears.org to enhance your child’s reading skills.

Math:  

We started to learn about graphs. First, we watched an educational video on graphs and then we discussed what a survey is and  how we use tally marks to keep track of survey data. Then, we discussed how we use tally marks to make a bar graph. Finally, we did a survey using the question “Are you afraid of spiders?” We also did a hands-on activity determining how many students are wearing rain boots and how many are wearing running shoes.

Math tips:   

• Have your child draw pictures on a calendar to record each day’s weather. At the end of the month, make a picture graph showing how many sunny days, rainy days, and cloudy days were there in that month.
• Play board games like Chutes & Ladders, Sorry!, Dominoes, etc. as they promote the development of counting skills, understandings of patterns, and numeral recognition.

Science: 

As we missed our Science lesson due to long weekend, we integrated science into Language Arts by brainstorming and writing about a Spring poem called “Good Bye winter, Hello Spring”. Great job SK2!

Islamic Studies:

We  continued to pray Jummah prayer in class and also made a fruit basket fridge-magnet craft for the “Dua Before and After Eating”.  

Arts:

We made Spring Dandelions using a fork and tempera paint. Sk2 also made cute crafts for Earth day, MashaAllah!

Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and support!

SK2 Weekly Updates! (April 14 – April 17)

As-salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu

Dear Parents,

Here are some updates from our class:

Language Arts:

Phonics: In phonics, we learned how to sound out the consonant digraph, “th.” Also, to reinforce how to pronounce the “th” sound correctly, we made a cute thinking thumb craft. Here is the link of the “th” sound for further practice at home:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNZwTRQSfkY


Reading: We have been doing shared reading for the past month, Alhumdulilah. Every day we pick a special helper who helps the teacher during circle time routines. Afterwards, we read information about him/her written by the teacher. Then, the special helper chooses students to come up and circle/write sight words that are in the morning message. Sk2 are doing wonderful job during shared reading and writing.

Reading Program: Every Wednesday, students will take their book bags home for the reading program and will bring it back next Wednesday to get a new book, Insha-Allah.

Writing: We did a craft activity to practice writing down words that begin with or have the three consonant digraphs “ch,” “sh,” or “th” in them.

Literacy Tips:

• Read for 20 minutes with your child everyday.
• Play I spy games using the ch and sh  and th consonant blends. For example, “I spy with my little eye something that starts with the ch sound.”
• Go to starfalls.com and readingbears.org to enhance your child’s reading skills.

Math:  

This week, we have finished our unit on 3D shapes by doing some review activities through worksheets and hands on exploration, Alhumdulilah. We had a fun time sorting out different 3-D shapes that we brought from our home and we also set up a shape museum in the class. Here are some pictures:

Math tips:   

•  Look for 3-D shapes around your home. For example, marbles and oranges are examples of spheres and a tissue box is a rectangular prism. Sort and classify the shapes by size and colour. You can also make models of 3-D shapes with toothpicks and play dough.
• Play board games like Chutes & Ladders, Sorry!, Dominoes, etc. as they promote the development of counting skills, understandings of patterns, and numeral recognition.

Science:
In Science, we started our spring unit. In our first lesson, we brainstormed signs of spring as a class using a circle map and then talked about how we can describe spring using our five senses. SK2 did a great job participating and taking turns to write about spring using their five senses, Masha-Allah.

Islamic Studies:

We  reviewed the steps of Salah and continued to practice praying in class.

Arts:

We made a “Consonant Digraph Garden” by writing down words that has "ch", "sh" and "th" consonant blends on each flower petals.

Talent Show:

We went to watch the Abraar School talent show organized by the PST. Two students, Laila and Saara, from Sk2 participated in the talent show by singing the songs ”I am a little teapot and “The blue sky is blue like blue bubblegum.” Thumbs up to their great performances, Masha-Allaah. We are very proud of them!

Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and support!

Message from Tr.Sahar

Assalaamu Alaycom,


Dear Parents
We are working in Surat Al-Qari'ha.

Jazaacom Allahu khayran
Tr:Sahar Ahmad

SK2 Weekly Updates! (April 07– April 11)

As-salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu

Dear Parents,

Here are some updates from our class:

Language Arts:

Phonics: In phonics, we started Jolly Phonics Book 6. We will be learning the sixth group of sounds, Y, X, ch, sh, th, and th. This week, we learned how to sound out the consonant blends ch and sh. Please practice these two digraphs at home with your child by going to the links below:

For ch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVE7NBcpZFA

For sh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJYK83Oqt8U

Reading: We have been doing shared reading for the past month, Alhumdulilah. Every day we pick a special helper who helps the teacher during circle time routines. Afterwards, we read information about him/her written by the teacher. Then, the special helper chooses students to come up and circle/write sight words that are in the morning message. Sk2 are doing wonderful job during shared reading and writing.

Reading Program: Alhumdulliah, we have launched the reading program for Sk2. Every Wednesday, our two parent volunteers Sister Madlein and Sister Amina come to SK2 to participate in activities and do reading. Based on students reading level, they get an opportunity to take part in activities that will enhance their reading fluency. Jazak Allahu khairun Sister Madlein and Sister Amina for your time and dedication.

Also, every Wednesday, students will take their book bags home for reading program and bring it back next Wednesday to get a new book, Insha-Allah.

Writing: This week we wrote a journal prompt about our 3-D shapes. Students drew and wrote “The 3-D shape I like the most is a ……………..”.

 

Literacy Tips:

• Read for 20 minutes with your child everyday.
• Play I spy games using the ch and sh consonant blends. For example, “I spy with my little eye something that starts with the ch sound.”
• Go to starfalls.com and readingbears.org to enhance your child’s reading skills.

Math:  

We continued learning about 3D shapes and learned their attributes. For example, a cone has one face that is a circle and one point/vertex at the top. Also, we did different worksheets about differentiating 2D and 3D shapes and lots of hands on exploration. 

To enhance students critical thinking and identifying and observe real world objects,

we ate an ice cream cone and 3D shaped food while watching a movie on Friday.

Math tips:

·  Look for 3-D shapes around your home. For example, marbles and oranges are examples of spheres and a tissue box is a rectangular prism. Sort and classify the shapes by size and colour. You can also make models of 3-D shapes with toothpicks and play dough.

·  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 finished our five senses unit by taking part in a five senses center activity.

Station 1: Touch - We touched objects with different textures.

Station 2: Smell – We investigated different types of pleasant smells. We also  smelled garlic and onion too!

Station 3: Taste - We ate yummy raisins.

Station 4: Sight - We used a magnifying glass to search objects in the “I Spy” books.

Station 5: Hear - We made colourful rain sticks to hear the soft sound of rain.

Islamic Studies:

First, we read the story of Prophet Yunus and then watched a video about the story of Prophet Yunus.

We also continued to practice praying in class. We will keep work on practicing how to pray properly before we can go to the gym to perform salah with other grades.

Arts:

We made rain sticks by painting paper towel rolls. This was an integrated art for our Science station 6. Students feel thrilled and excited to hear amazing sounds coming out of the rain stick using rice and aluminum foil.

Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and support!

SK2 Weekly Updates! (Mar 31 – Apr 04)

As-salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu

Dear Parents,

Here are some updates from our class:

Language Arts

Phonics: In phonics, we started Jolly Phonics Book 6. We will be learning the sixth group of sounds, Y, X, ch, sh, th, and th. This week, we have learned how to sound out the letters X and Y.

Students progress will be assessed on the skill checklist bellow:

• Can read and write the sixth group of sounds (Y,X,ch,sh, th,th)
• Can read consonant blends(for example cr,sl, sm, dr)
• Can write the capital letters.
• Can begin to choose between oa, o-e, and ow in spelling words and between ee, and ea.

Also, we have posted new sight words on our classroom door. Please continue practicing sight words when you drop your child off to class.

Reading: We read books on 3D shapes and learned the names of different 3D shapes.

 

Reading Program: Alhumdulliah we have launched the reading program for Sk2. Every Wednesday, our two parent volunteers Sister Madlein and Sister Amina come to SK2 to participate in activities and do reading. Based on students reading level, they get an opportunity to take part in activities that will enhance their reading fluency. Jazak Allahu khairun Sister Madlein and Sister Amina for your time and dedication.

Also, every Wednesday, students will take their book bags home for reading program and bring it back every Wednesday to get a new book, InshaAllah.

Writing: We integrated science into language and wrote a journal prompt “I love my sense of ______.” Then, they colored a picture and labeled the five senses.

 

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

After doing a 2D shape activity on sorting, we started to learn about 3D solids. We began our mini-unit by learning the names of 3D shapes with the 3D shape poem. As we know, hands on exploration is essential in order for students to develop solid understanding of 3D shapes. So, we played and explored 3D shapes a lot. We also brainstormed examples of 3D shapes in real life and then did some matching and sorting activities regarding 3D shapes.

On Friday, we did a fun activity using four 3D shapes. The students had to figure out which 3D shapes would roll, stack or slide. Afterwards, they filled out a recording sheet.

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 discussed our five senses with an Islamic point of view. We discussed that our five senses are the blessings of Allah (SWT). We should be very thankful of Allah (SWT). Sk2 did a wonderful job brainstorming different examples of people who don’t have one of these five senses and how they survived without it. Tr. Nancy also read a wonderful book "Allah Game me Two Eyes to See...." in our library time.

Islamic Studies

We reviewed the steps of prayer and started practicing the Salah in the class.

Arts

We made shape collages with cut out shapes. Sk2 made very creative art work, Masha-Allah.

Circle like a pancake

As we are seeing shapes everywhere around us, Sk2 had a blast when they ate circular pancakes with heart shaped strawberries and maple syrup. Yum!

Student of the month

The theme for the month of March was “Independent work and Collaboration.”

We acknowledged many students for their independent work habits and collaborative attitude in class. Congratulations to all of you for being the “Students of the month” for the month of March, Mash-Allah.

The theme for the month of April will be “Home work completion and Class Participation.”

Jazakumullahu-khaira for your co-operation and suppo