Website

Orchard Park homepage: http://orchardpark.tvdsb.ca/en/index.aspx

Email

My email is m.dasilva@tvdsb.ca

Outdoor Learning

I have planned an exciting new learning routine for our class this year. I want to share it with you to let you know what it means for you and your child. Our class will be using the outdoors as a regular learning space to develop new learning experiences that help students understand and connect personally with nature. This means that I will be teaching lessons based on The Ontario Curriculum in and around the schoolyard and on some days exploring parts of the neighbourhood. An Ongoing Field Trip form will come home with your child, later on in the month/early October.

To help your child in feeling comfortable and ready to learn in the outdoors please help them choose clothes and footwear that are appropriate for the weather each day as well as sending spare clothing. We will be going outside on a regular basis, in a variety of weather, and will get wet and dirty. The following list will help in outfitting your child. We will be discussing these needs in class. If you have any difficulty obtaining these items for your child please let me know.

• For rainy days: Rain Boots, Splash Pants and a Raincoat (extra socks/pants)

• For cold days: Hat, Mittens/Gloves, Snow Pants, Coat, Winter Boots (extra socks and mittens)

• For sunny days: Sunscreen and a Sunhat

Math Homework

Every Monday, I will send your child home with a green duo-tang with one word problem that will be due on Thursday.

Math/Homework Help:

I am available for helping your child with any concepts they struggle with or just need a little more practise. I am often available at lunch; however, students will need to come to me to ask permission to work with me on topics they are struggling to understand. I always encourage the grade 3/4’s to become good self-advocates, and we talk about what that means.

Reading Homework

I will not be sending home a reading log. However, your child is expected to read for at least 20 minutes outside the school hours, every night. This time can be split into chunks if your child needs it.

Supplies: what I am providing

I have put together a bin full of supplies for your child to use. Included; Play-dough, LEGO, dry erase marker, white board, sticky notes, pencil, eraser, magnetic clip (they can use at lunch to hang their face mask), deck of cards, dice, dry erase number lines, ones and tens math blocks and a 100's chart. Each student will also get their own clipboard and pencil for outdoor learning.

Supplies: what you can provide

It is important to put your child’s name on all of their items/clothes/shoes that they bring from home. Running shoes are preferred for their indoor shoes. We will begin our school day outdoors. If it is raining lightly, we will go outside. It is important for your child to dress for the weather. Investing in proper outdoor weather gear is my wish for your child this school year. Also, please send your child to school with a towel. They will use the towel as an area for them to sit and learn on while outside. I will encourage the routine of bringing the towel to school on Monday's and sending it home on Friday's for washing.

Please also send your child in with:

• 1 pack of markers,

• 1 pack of pencil crayons,

• pencil sharpener with lid to hold shavings,

• 1 glue stick and 1 bottle liquid glue (white),

• scissors,

• 1 pencil case that can hold all of these items.

Monthly Focus

Our learning focus for September for each subject is listed below.