Monday, February13 is the 100^th day that the children will have attended school this year.  We will be celebrating “100 Day” with various activities about the number concept of 100.  I am asking that each child bring in:·         A set of 100 small objects such as buttons, pennies, toothpicks, shells, beans, noodles, etc., so that we can investigate these sets of 100 by grouping them into tens, counting them and discovering much about what makes 100.  For this activity it would be best if the objects cannot break apart (cereal, crackers) or roll around too much. 

Our class will also be exchanging our valentines on Tuesday, February 14 in the afternoon.  This is an optional activity.  I will send home a class list with each child.  If you choose to send treats, they must be pre-packaged with the peanut free symbol on them.  Any treats without the peanut free symbol on them will be sent home, according to school policy.  Please remember we cannot accept any treats that may contain traces of peanuts or may be manufactured on the same equipment that processes products with peanuts.  For this reason we are also not allowed to accept any homemade treats.  Kids enjoy stickers, pencils or erasers as alternatives to food items! 

In Language Arts, we are working to help the children develop their reading skills by using phonics, picture cues, and words that make sense, when decoding unfamiliar words.  When reading stories with your child, you may wish to look for: endings (s, ed, ing), compound words (ex. snowman), root words, and contractions (‘s, n’t).  It is beneficial to discuss the stories your child reads to you and to ask many types of questions including ones where your child will have to gather the information from the story and formulate an answer or opinion.  It is also very important to have your child retell the story.  All of the events, important details, and characters should be included in the retell. 

In Math, we will continue to study addition and subtraction.  Children are learning to realize the process that is required to solve a problem.  At home, please challenge your child with stories involving numbers and have him or her determine if it is a situation involving addition or subtraction, and what the answer is.  Please also continue practising addition and subtraction facts with your child.  We will also be studying 2-D shapes.  We continue to study the number system to 100 and counting patterns by 1’s, 5’s, and 10’s to 100.  Emphasis will be placed on what each two-digit number means, grouping tens and ones, and being able to print single two-digit numbers from memory. 

The children have received new Math,
Reading and Word Study duotangs for Term 2.  Thank you for sending them in September!  The 3 old duotangs may be kept at home now. 

Please continue to check with your child to see if he or she needs any pencils or colouring things. 

Thank you! 

Elizabeth Marshall 

We are all working hard and settling into the routines of Grade One!  In reading, we are continuing to work on tracking skills and getting a feel of the “rhythm” of the English language.  Some important points to stress with your child are reading has to make sense, and we read to get information.  As your child’s sight word vocabulary continues to expand, it is important for your child to check that he or she is pointing to the correct word as it is being said.  When a page has been read, ask your child to point out specific words or sounds.  Ask questions about the stories your child reads.  Retelling a story is an especially important skill for your child to learn. 

Our main focus in word study continues to be consonant sounds along with the short vowel “a”, as in ‘a’ or ‘an’.  Most children are trying to use the sounds they know when writing stories.  They are beginning to place periods at the end of sentences and learning that sentences start with capital letters.  We are also stressing the use of lower case letters!

We continue to work on our school board’s focus on the forms of writing.  We are completing our Recount Writing unit.  We will next study Persuasive Writing.  Children are also “free writing” in their Journals.

We already have some budding readers in our class, and most have already received their first certificates for reading 25 stories or more at home.  The sheet for recording stories read at home continues to be in your child’s Ziploc bag (unless you have chosen to keep it at home), and any story read at home in order to develop reading skills may be recorded.  A certificate is awarded for every 25 stories read.  The children’s names also go up in the hall as part of our bookworm.  Hopefully, this month all the children will reach and surpass the 25-story mark.  If your child has misplaced his or her Ziploc bag, please replace it for them.  If you need another reading log, please let me know. 

In Math, I will send a newsletter home at the beginning of most units describing what we will be studying and giving suggestions for you to use at home.   

Regular practise of the word wall is important until your child knows the words perfectly and can read them with ease.  Our weekly word wall sheets are in your child’s Word Study duotangs. 

Other Classroom News 

·         Some of the children have been bringing in toys from home.  As I mentioned in  September, I am requesting that toys be left at home, since many problems arise from toys being at school.  We have had toys misplaced, taken, and played with in class – all of which take away from learning time.  Sports equipment for outside play are welcome. 

·         Please continue to check your child’s hair for head lice and nits. 

·         Each morning at first nutrition break, the children choose foods that come from the four food groups.  The provincial curriculum for Healthy Living states that in grade one the children should be able to identify and give examples of foods from the four food groups, as well as be able to choose healthy snacks.  We are using Canada’s Food Guide as a guideline, in which dessert type treats, candy, and “junk food” are not considered part of any food group.  We save these treats for dessert at second break (when blood sugar levels are lower)!   Please continue to monitor treats for traces of peanuts or treats that may have been manufactured in a factory that handles peanut products. 

·         PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR CHILD TO SEE IF HE OR SHE HAS ENOUGH PENCILS, ERASERS, AND A FULL SET OF CRAYONS AT SCHOOL.  MANY CHILDREN ARE IN NEED OF THESE THINGS. 

I am amazed at how much the children have already progressed since September, especially in their writing.  We have a wonderful group of kids and Grade One is such a special year!  Thank you for all of the support and guidance you give your child in helping with homework each night. 

Elizabeth Marshall 

In reading, we have been concentrating on the left to right direction of words and sentences.  The children are being exposed to many basic words through meaningful stories, poems, and songs with much repetition.  Finger tracking word for word of familiar songs and poems is important in the beginning reading process.  It is a good idea to discuss your child’s reading homework with him/her before you have him/her read it to you (or with you).  This helps your child to have an idea of what the story, song, or poem is about, and it will be easier to decode all of those new words.  Doing a “picture walk” before a story is read, where you discuss all the pictures using special vocabulary words from the story and build the story from the pictures, is very helpful. 

We are beginning the Guided Reading component of our language program.  Children will be divided into flexible groups where they will be reading books at an appropriate level for them to best learn and practise reading strategies and retelling skills (comprehension).  Their Ziploc bags may contain a book from the guided reading lesson or a book they have chosen during independent reading.  Please record these books on your child’s reading log.  A few parents have asked if they may include books from home on the book list in the zip-loc bag.  Yes – if it is a book you have read together to improve any reading skills.  Retelling a story is a very important skill that could be practised at this time as well.  You may wish to keep the reading log at home and send it back when your child has completed 25 stories.  We already have some children who have read 25 or more stories!  Please remember to send the book and the bag back the next day.  If your child’s ziploc bag has ripped, please replace it - any ziploc bag that will fit a small book will work. 

In word study, we have reviewed rhyming words and are now studying consonant sounds.  Encourage your child to listen for beginning sounds and have your child point out and find sounds in words.  Sounding out words completely is not appropriate for beginning readers – it is better to look at just the first sound (the “popper”) and incorporate other reading strategies at the same time.  These are listed in the reading duotang. 

Our class is also learning actions to go along with each letter sound we learn.  This kinesthetic learning approach will help students not only in their reading but also in their spelling.  It is a good idea for parents to learn these actions also, as you will be able to use them when helping your child.  For example, when your child gets stuck while reading, you can point to the first letter and make the action.  Chances are your child will then know the beginning sound.  Also, when your child wants to know how to spell a word, you can break it down into sounds and make the actions at the same time, which helps your child to better recall the proper letter for the sound.  This phonemic awareness is a crucial step to good reading and good spelling – being able to break down a word into its sounds.  Knowing the sounds of the letters is more important for reading and spelling than knowing the names of the letters. 

In writing, we are now beginning to write “Recount Stories”.  Children will have the opportunity to write about things that have happened to them.  We will also work on developing our stories with a beginning, middle and end.  Children are encouraged to think about or plan their stories first and then write one sentence at a time using one “magic line” for each word.  This helps beginning writers to put spaces between words.  We then encourage the children to correctly spell words that are on “Our Word Wall” or that are on “anchor charts” in our classroom.  They are encouraged to use their phonetic spelling for the other words.
                 In math, we have learned to identify and create patterns.  We have also worked on the concepts of more, less, and equal.  We are now studying numbers to 30.  The Nelson Math program is being used in our school board from Kindergarten to Grade 8.  I will send a letter in the children’s note pockets, in the Communication duotangs, at the beginning of each new unit in math. 

 At times you may notice comments such as “Completed with teacher’s help” or “with assistance” on your child’s work.  This is to indicate to you that your child is experiencing difficulty in this area and that extra help at home would be beneficial. 

In our classroom, we have a positive reward system where children work together in their groups to earn points.  Children are rewarded for demonstrating positive behaviour, modeling our “Tribes” classroom agreements, following routines, and for practising good work habits.  This system fosters co-operation and leadership skills.  At the end of each week, the group or groups with the most points receive a small prize.  Any prizes you could donate would be appreciated.  For example, pencils, stickers, erasers, or small toys from restaurants would be appropriate. 

We continue to require peanut/nut-free lunches and snacks.  This includes products that say “may contain traces of peanuts”.  Thank you to all for respecting this important practice. 

Many children require more pencils and erasers.  They go through them quickly!  Please check with your child to see if he/she needs any school supplies.   

We are fortunate to have Mrs. DeLyzer, a student teacher from the Faculty of Education, joining our class for her first placement this month. 

Information regarding Halloween activities will follow shortly.  Thank you for working with your children each night.  Your continued support will certainly enhance their learning this year!   

Sincerely,                  

     Elizabeth Marshall

It is with great enthusiasm that I begin the 2011-2012 school year as your child’s Grade One teacher!  During our first few weeks I am looking forward to getting to know my new group of children.  If I have not already done so, I hope to meet you soon, as well! 

I would like to explain some of the routines and requirements for your child this year.  Our class will have Library every Day 5 (usually a Friday), with our new Vice Principal Mrs. Johnston.  It is important that the children learn to return their books on time in order for them to have full Library privileges.   

Physical Education classes will be taught in the gym on Days 2 and 3 (usually Tuesday and Wednesday) by Mr. Munroe.  He will also do some Daily Quality Physical Activity (DQPA) with our class.  Your child will need a pair of white-soled gym shoes which will be worn at all times inside the school, as he or she will take his or her outdoor shoes off when coming in from outside.  VELCRO CLOSURES OR ATHLETIC SLIP-ONS ARE RECOMMENDED AND GREATLY APPRECIATED FOR GRADE ONE.  It has been my experience that most grade one children have great difficulty in properly tying their laces independently each and every time they come inside!  Often the laces end up knotted and/or untied and become a safety issue for children. 

The children will have French with Madame Stennett, Music with Mrs. Belicka and Social Studies with Mrs. Beausoleil. 

I am sending a reminder list of the supplies requested for Grade One.  School supplies get used up or misplaced by the children throughout the year.  I will stress with the children to look after their supplies carefully, but they will frequently require additional supplies to replace old or misplaced ones (especially pencils and erasers).  Please send only a few pencils and erasers at a time and check with your child often to see if they need anything. 

All supplies and clothing (ex. running shoes, shoes, boots, hats, coats, etc.) should be permanently marked with your child’s name or initials.  Children will need a labeled change of clothes at school, in case of accidents, spills, mud, etc.  Please put them in a labeled plastic bag and we will keep the bags on the shelf above the coat hooks. 

I am requesting that toys be left at home as they are easily misplaced or damaged when among so many children.    

If your child wishes to bring sports equipment to school such as a skipping rope, ball, etc., please make sure it is permanently marked with your child’s name or initials. 

Please remember we are a nut-aware school and snacks containing nuts or “may contain traces of nuts” will be sent back home. We have severe peanut allergies in our school and staff and student monitors will be regularly checking lunches.  Any food which has been manufactured in a factory that processes nuts will be sent home as well.  Please check labels carefully, as we have student lives that depend upon it. 

I am encouraging any treats that are sent to school for birthdays, holidays, etc. be of the “non-food” variety.  Children love to receive pencils, erasers, stickers, etc.  Please note that no food items will be distributed among the class this year unless they are clearly marked with the “peanut-free” symbol. 

Please keep me advised of current, as well as any changes, in transportation arrangements.  A note from a parent is required when there is a change in the regular routine.  

I plan to include our class newsletters on our school website - (www.tapsfalcons.com).  It is a very user friendly site - please check it out! 

This year will be such a wonderful year of changes for your child.  Please feel free to call me about your concerns throughout the year (519-682-2260).  I look forward to working with you in helping your child have a successful and enjoyable grade one experience!  I sincerely thank you in advance for your cooperation and support. 

                                                          Sincerely, 

                                                          Elizabeth Marshall