May 19 to 22, 2026

Our Learning

Language:

This week, in our phonics lessons, we will continue to explore r-controlled vowels. We will review words containing -er, -ir, and -ur. Some examples of words with these sounds are: verb, fern, girl, stir, fur, urn, turn. We will also learn about the w + -or sound, as in the words word, work, worker, world, worm.

There are no new Heart Words this week. 

Please have your child practise the heart words we have learned so far in class: the, I, a, said, to, do, of, see, he, be, me, from, you, what, have, look, book, are, was, your, want, go, no, so, goes, says, they, their, were, talk, walk, could, should, would, or, for, who, by, my, one, once, use, two, does, many, any, been, into, friend, because, woman, women, both, four, fourth, forty, people, pretty, nothing, other, another, *mother, *brother.

In writing, we will continue to learn about procedural writing (writing instructions). We will practise with instructions for how to wash your hands and how to do a fire drill practice. Examples of procedural texts or instructions are recipes, so if you are cooking or baking at home, please take the time to show your child the recipe and talk about how it is laid out (e.g., title, goal or purpose, ingredients/materials, steps, diagrams/pictures, conclusion).

In reading comprehension we will explore the parts or elements of fictional narrative stories (make-believe stories). We will work on retelling fictional narrative stories using the Shape Go! Map as an organizer. 

Math:

We will continue our unit is about describing, collecting, organizing, and analyzing data. This week, we will focus on organizing data in different types of graphs (e.g., concrete graphs, pictographs, bar graphs, lot plots), as well as describing and analyzing the results of the data. 

Grade 2 MathUP Parent Summary Letter Creating Concrete Graphs and Bar Graphs

Grade 2 MathUP Parent Summary Letter Creating Pictographs

Grade 2 MathUP Parent Summary Letter Creating Line Plots

Grade 3 MathUP Parent Summary Letter Describing Data Using the Mean

Grade 3 MathUP Parent Summary Letter Pictographs With Scale

Grade 3 MathUP Parent Summary Letter Bar Graphs With Scale

We have also been practising our coding skills. In Grade 2, we learn about coding that involves sequential and concurrent events. Code that involves sequential events is a set of instructions that are executed (or performed) in the order that they are presented, for example, dialing a phone number, then hitting send. Code that involves concurrent events is a set of two or more instructions that happen at the same time. In addition to learning about sequential events and concurrent events, the Grade 3s also create and perform code to describe a set of repeating movements on a path.

Grade 2 parent letter about creating and executing code

Grade 3 parent letter about creating and executing code

Throughout the month of May, we will also continue to develop our financial literacy skills (counting and representing money amounts) while studying our other units in Math. The money curriculum in Grade 2 focuses on counting and representing coin amounts up to and including 200 cents, and dollar amounts up to $200 using combinations of bills. The money curriculum in Grade 3 focuses on estimating and calculating the change from whole dollar amounts and amounts of less than one dollar. 

Science:

In Grade 2, we will continue our study of animals this week, with a focus on exploring what animals need to survive and the 6 types of animal groups (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, insects). In Grade 3, we will continue our study of plants. We will learn ways in which plants are important to humans, what plants need to survive, and the parts of a plant.

Grade 3 EQAO:

St. Gabriel students in Grades 3 and 6 will be writing the EQAO's (Education Quality and Accountability Office) provincial assessment of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics next week on May 26, 27, 28, 29. The Grade 3s will be writing the assessment each morning on those dates. We will be completing the standardized testing online using Chromebooks during class time in the morning on these dates. In preparation for EQAO next week, please ensure your child gets a good night sleep and a healthy breakfast each day. This will help your child have the energy and alertness to feel good about their efforts. Students will complete two sections each morning. Please note that we will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. and will be finished by 11:45 a.m. each day.  

Looking Ahead:

Friday, May 22: Grade 3 EQAO At-Home practice booklet #7 due 

Friday, May 22: Freezie Friday
May 26-29 (a.m. each day): EQAO for grade 3 and 6 students 
Friday, June 5th: PD Day (no school for students)