September Update

I wanted to update you on the learning that is going on in the room.
Math:
We have been working on number recognition to 10, counting forwards and backwards from 10.  These are concepts that were worked on in kindergarten and if someone is unable to recognize their numbers, it puts them at risk for further learning as the concepts increase in difficulty.
Writing:
We are working on correct letter formation and learning to get a letter to sit on a line.  If they don't touch the line, I call them outer space letters because they are floating!
We are starting to learn to focus on one detail in a picture and talk about that and attempt to write something on that one detail.  This is something new for the class and it takes a lot of practice.
Science:
The focus has been on primary and secondary colours.  We have had some fun mixing colours using eye droppers and food colouring.  I took some pictures and they will appear at the end of the post.
Reading:
This is really our focus and homework for the entire year.  I cannot stress how important the practice at home part is critical to the children making progress.
We will be starting Daily 5 soon and during this time I will be working with small groups of children helping them develop their reading skills.  However they need a chance to practice what they have learned at school and the home reading is where this happens.
We have been learning to blend 3 sound words.  The critical part of this blending is that the children know their sounds of their letters. This is also kindergarten knowledge and without their sounds they are again at risk for further learning.  You can't make the progress in reading without this knowledge. Practicing these sounds and matching them to the letters is again something that can be worked on at home.
The New Snack Fridge:
There was as assembly and thanks to the school council and dedicated parents, the snack fridge will be open to children that need a snack in the mornings.  It is not meant as a daily replacement for parent provided snack, but as an "oops my mom forgot and I'm starved" snack.  In past years, I have noticed that on hot lunch days the morning snack is often forgotten, so please remember to send in a snack on that day.
The fridge will have fruit and vegetables in it that make a healthy snack for the children.
Monthly Evaluations:
The grade ones are starting a pilot project of sending home monthly individual evaluations of the learning that your child has been working on for the month.  These monthly reports will replace the 2 report cards that the rest of the school send home in November and March as well as the parent teacher interview/portfolio review that were normally held at those times.
Each month you will be asked to read the report, sign and return the bottom portion of the form.  At this time you can request an interview if there was something you didn't understand or if you have concert and we will set up a time to meet with you.
It is our hope to increase communication between home and school and to have parents more involved in the increase of learning that their child is experiencing.  We are very excited.  Please note that other grades are not doing this and it will not be required of other grades.  This project was the sole concept and proposal of the grade one teacher team only.
Changing of the Weather:
We are approaching the dreaded fall and winter season and many boots will be worn to school.  Please make sure your child's name is inside each boot.  Everybody seems to shop at Walmart and the boots will look the same as someone else's in grade 2 etc.
Friends:
This is the focus of our social studies unit and we work on it all year long.  We have a list that we go over and discuss weekly.
Here are the things that good friends do for each other:
1.  Smile at each other
2.  Share with each other
3.  Help each other
4.  Listen to each other
5.  Respect each other
6.  Take turns with each other
7.  Compliment each other
8.  Are not mean to each other
9.  Tell the truth to each other (and their teacher, etc)
10. Say hello!
The year is off to a great start.  If you have questions or concerns please send me an email at sheila.dagnone@westwind.ab.ca or phone the school at 403-752-3004.
Until next time
Take care and enjoy the pictures.