Dear Families,
We had a good week in room 1A!
Here is a breakdown of where we are at in our subject areas:
Language Arts:
Students have been continuing to practice and use their Sight Words. We will continue to have 5-6 new words each week. When practicing our words, we do some of the following:
-complete word work activities such as; unscramble, fill in missing letters, circle the correct words, etc...
-practice writing them on whiteboards
-in partners, practice reading them together
-we cheer and sing the words
-build the words with PlayDo and other materials
-practice writing sentences with our Sight Words
-put our Sight Words into our self-made/ personal dictionaries (used when writing in our journals)
Writing:
-Students are beginning to write more decodable ("readable") sentences that include an uppercase letter at the beginning and period at the end. Students are using kids-spelling (phonetic) of unfamiliar words and accurate usage of familiar words (Sight Words).
-Recently students completed a writing sample that will be sent home, so you can see your child's current writing.
-We are working towards adding more detail to our sentences as well as writing more than one related sentences.
Reading:
-Students are taking part in intense literacy practice each morning for 30 minutes. These are small groups that are focused on the individual student's current level of literacy development.
-Students in Mrs. Witzcack's class as well as ours are currently working with Mr. Dyck (Principal), Mrs. Tuttle (Assistant Principal), Mrs. Rempel (Resource Teacher); Miss Aneela (Early Childhood Practioner); Mrs. W and myself during this time. We are very lucky to have this support and we are seeing the children's literacy skills develop and grow!
-I have started reading with each student to determine their current and accurate level of reading.
-Remember to log in and practice with the Raz-Kids Home Reading Program.
Mathematics:
-We have moved on from Patterning and Sorting and are moving towards developing Number Sense.
-Students have been working on: "Making 10"; place value; counting to 100; counting on from a given number; skip counting forward by 2s to 20; forward by 5s to 50; forward by 10s to 100; backwards from 20; filling in missing numbers on a 100 chart; creating and solving basic word problems as a class; math games focusing on place value and counting; using mental math strategies to answer math questions; representing numbers to 20 in various ways; and adding with answers to 10.
-We will be continuing to practice these concepts while focusing on adding with answers up to 20 and their corresponding subtraction facts. We will be developing our mental math strategies and will be further developing our problem solving skills.
Science:
-We have completed our Creating Colour unit and are going to do a self-assessment of our understanding soon!
-We are now working on our Senses unit.
-Students are asking if we can do 'Science in a Box,' like Ms. Bakkan's class; so stay tuned for information on that!
Social Studies:
-Students have been working on developing a sense of who they are and what groups they belong to.
-We are working towards looking more closely at our families and connecting the past with the present.
Art is ongoing and connected to all subject areas.
Health is focusing on positive relationships and staying healthy.
Report Cards:
Report cards will be going home in December. I am very proud of each student and the individual academic growth that each student has demonstrated!
Please note that report card indictors changed in recent years and that the number indicators "1-4" may have a different meaning than an older family member may have received.
Two years ago, "1" and "2" were not meeting grade level expectations and "3", "4" and "5" were considered meeting grade level expectations from basic to excellent.
Now, "1" is not yet meeting grade level expectations and "2", "3" and "4" are considered meeting grade level expectations are varying degrees. There is no "above grade level."
Please click on the link below to view a blank version of the report card your child will be bringing home in December. The first page gives an explanation of the indicators "1-4."
Please also note, although the report card template will be similar to the report card that your child brought home last year in Kindergarten, that the academic expectations have increased significantly since Kindergarten and will continue to do so throughout this year.
Students will be assessed in Music and Physical Education by Mrs. Buonomo and Mrs. Fraser.
Students will receive comments on the report card related to reading, writing, mathematics, and science or social studies. Comments will also include information about your child's personal development, citizenship and character in learning.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding report cards. E-mail is the best avenue for these questions.
