Oct. 24 - 28, 2022

 Hello, Grade 1 families!

Learning Intention: I can recognize and analyze letters and sounds in words. 

Since September, we have been working in small reading groups to focus our reading work more intensely and explicitly for each child. During this time we work on letter names, letter sounds, decoding (reading) CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) words, encoding (spelling) CVC words and learning about high-frequency words. We have small group instruction with Mrs. McKay every day and then read decodable books with Miss Pearl (our lunchroom supervisor) and Ms. Grant (our new Literacy support teacher for Gr 1 & 2). 

One fact I just read about is that within our lists of high-frequency words, the first 13 words make up more than 25% of printed words. If we can help our students store these words in their brains, it frees up a lot of time and memory for decoding other words. When I teach these words, we discuss what words are decodable (ex: and) or have decodable parts (ex: to). The 13 words are: 

1. the
2. of
3. and
4. a
5. to
6. in
7. is
8. you
9. that
10. it
11. he
12. for
13. was

For all words, we go through steps to ensure we know the word. 

1. Say it! We say the word and activate its meaning. Ex: and, I like cookies and ice cream. 
2. Tap it! We analyze the sounds we hear in the word. We use our arms to show the sounds we hear. (Ex: /and/)
3. Map it! We look at how the word is spelled and how the sounds we hear relate to the letters written. We use boxes and put one sound in each box. Ex: a | n | d  
4. Write it! We either write the word on whiteboards or sky-write it in the air. 
5. Use it! We use the word in a sentence with our partners. 

We also met with our Grade 4 biddies this week. Ask your child who their buddy is! We completed a Halloween Escape Room to try and help Mrs. McKay turn back into a teacher... Check it out here!

Oct. 17 - 21, 2022

 Hello, Grade 1 families!

Learning Intention: I can combine ideas in a logical sequence to create sentences. I can add images to written messages. I can print letters and words in appropriate size and spacing. I can write consonant sounds in the beginning, middle, and ending of words using the letters that represent them. I can apply capital letters when writing the first word of a sentence. I can identify and use end punctuation in sentences.

We have begun writing in our journals. These notebooks have blank space at the top of the page and lines at the bottom. During our journal writing time, we write the date (we can find this on the calendar in the classroom!), copy a sentence starter from the SmartBoard, complete the sentence, and add a picture that matches the sentence. I am very impressed with how students are experimenting with their invented spelling and using their knowledge of letter sounds. 

On the first day of the week, we complete the journal prompt: "On my weekend I...". Students are encouraged to stretch out words and write down the sounds they hear. In our reading groups, we do this by saying the word and tapping down our arm for each sound we hear before we blend the word together. Ask your child to show this to you. During the rest of the week, we used prompts related to our social and science topics. 

After completing a few journal entries this week, we worked as a class to create a rubric. I have attached a photo for you to see the things we discussed.  We will use the target to guide our feedback and allow students to see their next steps. 

Oct. 10 - 14, 2022

 Hello, Grade 1 families!

Learning Intention: I can identify colours in various natural and manufactured objects. I can predict and describe changes in colour resulting from mixing primary colours.

In science, we have been learning about creating colour as our first topic this year. We have explored the colours we see in summer and fall. Students completed a couple of experiments where they predicted what would happen if we mixed two primary colours. We have explored this learning through food colouring and through paint on leaves. As we continue through this learning, we will see what happens when you add white or black to primary colours. Students will be creating their own Mix It Up! book to make these predictions. Leaf art came home on Friday. Ask your child how they made each of the colours on their page. 

We had an exciting trip to the Fire Hall on Friday. We got to learn all about smoke detectors and then we looked at the truck. While we were looking at the truck and turning on the lights and sirens, the firefighters had a real emergency and we had to leave. It was neat to see them doing their job to keep our community safe. We hope everyone in the emergency is ok!