Weekly Updates

November 3rd-5th

Hello everyone,

Next week a green sheet will go home on Monday with important information on how to book your online Parent Teacher interview. If these times don’t work I will do my best to accommodate your needs, but it will be a time after school between 3pm and 4pm. Please let me know as soon as possible. If you need an interpreter for your interview those interviews will be booked at another time, and more information will go home when we know the date. Please do not book online for the 21st or 22nd. A gentle reminder to check the school news for important dates and information. There will be no classes on November 6th,7th,10th,11th and 21st. Next week we will focus on assessments so, if your little says all they did is play please know that this is true, but it is mostly structured play with a learning goal while I work individually. As a reward for playing using cooperation, kindness and being quiet they will have the chance to earn extra choice play as well. They are working hard to show their best work and they know they are working to show you, their family, all they have learned so far in Grade 1. Halloween was an exciting time for 1D!!! I hope you all enjoy the weekend!

Crystal

October 27th-31st

Hello everyone,

My apologies for being so late posting the update. This week we are learning about communication and all the ways we get our thoughts out. We played a game of Telephone today that was VERY funny! And when I spoke about what a landline phone was the children thought I was making up a story!! I have started to do assessments (check-ins) with your littles. This has been going slowly but very well. In Fundations we are reviewing sentence writing before doing another check-in which will hopefully happen on Thursday, if the excitement in the room isn’t too elevated. On Friday we will have a normal Fun Friday but Halloween themed. Your child is invited to dress in costume but please note, we WILL be getting messy. An old costume may be better to avoid any disappointment if their favorite is damaged. We ask that no weapons or masks come to school. If you would like to send treats, they MUST BE items that are not food. Stickers are always exciting to receive. If food treats come to school, I will send them home. If your family doesn’t celebrate Halloween, please let me know so I can have an alternative art project and game prepared for them. On a final note, the weather is getting colder. Please ensure that your child has warm outdoor clothing each day. We go out rain or shine, unless it is a downpour. Enjoy the rest of your week!

Crystal

October 20th-24th

Hello everyone,

This week we welcomed a new friend in 1D! Ushindi has joined us and his name has been added to the class list on the site. Next Friday I ask that all Show ‘n’ Share objects come in a bag and that you talk with your child about giving three clues. We are working on describing people, places and things. This helps build language and adds descriptive words to stories and writing. In math we will continue to represent numbers and are now counting to 50. I sent home a word list on Wednesday that your child will need to be introduced to by the end of the year. They may or may not be able to remember them all, and that’s okay. The expectation is that they can read and spell each word on the list. The ‘trick words” don’t follow the normal rules we use for tapping out words and this is why we need to have them stuck in our brain (memorized). Each lesson introduces one to three words a day, but you can do them at home in any order you wish.

The class has been enjoying making art from recycled items. So much that I can’t keep up with demand. If you can help, we would appreciate it! Items you can send in are small boxes, bottle caps, toilet paper tubes, small dishes, string, yarn, and anything else you can think of. On a final note, the class will begin assessments during the coming weeks to prepare for the first reporting period of the year. It may seem early but there are several days in November that we will be away from school. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Crystal

October 14th-17th

Hello everyone,

Next week we will be discussing gratitude and community.  So far we have learned there are many types of communities, such as our school community and where we live. To connect the concept of togetherness and cooperation within community, we will read Stone Soup and make our own soup from a stone. I will send home one ingredient that your child will bring to add to the soup. I ask that each item is cut up in small pieces and placed in a dish or a bag. If you are using canned items, please open it at home and put it in a dish/bag. The soup will not be ready until around 1:30-2 and it will be their choice if they want to sample it. In math we will continue to work on numbers to 40 but represent numbers to 20. We are also beginning to learn about place value, hundreds, tens and ones but mostly focused on tens and ones. In writing we have begun to use the word wall. I will send home a list of words that will need to be memorized. We practice this as part of Fundations but it takes time to read and then spell words from memory. There are many fun games that you can play at home to help. Reading groups have started and are going well. Each group time we rhyme, review trick words and practice a decodable book. The class is VERY excited to read! A gentle reminder that our pumpkin trip will be on Wednesday, October 15th. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Crystal

October 6th-10th

Next week the class will be discussing community/country. We’ll learn about community helpers, different kinds of community (groups) and a little about PEI/Canada. We will also decorate flags from the country we were born in. If your child was born outside of Canada or you yourself were, please let me know so I can get a flag ready for them. These flags will be added to our All About Me display wall. In Fundations we will start Unit 2 and really focus in on tapping out the sounds. I sent home an information sheet on our math activities (representing number to 20). It also gives you great ideas to practice at home. A gentle reminder that Friday is a PD day. Show ‘n’ Share on Thursday will be a teddy bear and pajamas. The class asked for a teddy bear clinic and that’s what we’ll do. It will be up to them to organize and I’m sure there will be amazing stories created! I ask that your child is dressed in boots/clothing appropriate for the weather for the farm visit on Wednesday. Form and payment must come in on Monday. On a final note, library books are not coming back when they should. Day 3 is book return and Day 4 is Library visit. If your child has several books home, they will not be able to take more home. Monday is Day 4. Have a wonderful weekend!

Almost forgot, if you have not sent in a photo no larger than 4x6 of a group/family that your child belongs to please do so on Monday. It will be added to the All About Me display.

Food drive items can come in anytime. Even 1 can of soup can help.

Crystal

September 29th-October 3rd

Hello everyone,

Due to illness, I was away from the classroom last week. The class had a fun few days! This week we have picked new table partners to work alongside, discussed Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day and ended the review portion in Fundations. In writing we will write about belonging to groups (community, culture, sport, family, etc.). I ask that you bring in a small photo no larger than 4x6 of your child of one of their groups. It can be printed in black and white on paper and does not have to be on photo paper. This photo will remain at school and be stapled to a display in our classroom. If you need help printing a photo, send me one and I’ll print it for you. This should be in by Thursday, October 2nd. In math we will begin working on numbers 11-20 representing numbers, and counting 0-30. Reading groups are slowly rolling out! We have started to set the routine, and I will be able to read with most groups each day. The children are excited! We love to read in 1D!

A few dates:

November 30th No school

October 1st-8th Food Drive (1 can of beans makes a big difference)

October 8th Field Trip (MacKenzie Farm-permission form and money due Oct.6th) Forms will go home soon.

 Have a great week!

Crystal