June 2017
To my wonderful ones:
I miss you and I will be in to visit soon! Your new teacher, Mrs. Bridel, is great and I know you will be very happy with her. Mrs. Spratt, Mme. Menard, and Mrs. Pora gave me lots of updates while I have been away so far and it sounds like there have been many exciting things going on, such as: fun school activities (like a singing performance you watched!), some of you were on vacations (how fun!), and even a new sister for Jacob (congratulations to Jacob and family!). When I come in to visit I look forward to talking to each of you and getting many more updates.
I was very lucky to be your teacher this year, thank you for being you! Each one of you is very special to me.
Love,
Mrs. H
Dear families:
I look forward to going in to say a proper farewell to the kiddos, I miss them very much already! My doctor is monitoring a few things that have come up which requires me to be off work earlier than expected, but please rest assured that baby and I are doing well. Mrs. Bridel and I will be working together to ensure the end of year reports reflect this whole term.
I want to thank you very much for a wonderful year working with you and your child. What a great class community we shared. I wish everyone all the best as the school year comes to a close and the safest and happiest of summers ahead.
God Bless,
Mrs. H
This letter went home Monday to parents who are volunteering on our Field Trip:
To my wonderful ones:
I miss you and I will be in to visit soon! Your new teacher, Mrs. Bridel, is great and I know you will be very happy with her. Mrs. Spratt, Mme. Menard, and Mrs. Pora gave me lots of updates while I have been away so far and it sounds like there have been many exciting things going on, such as: fun school activities (like a singing performance you watched!), some of you were on vacations (how fun!), and even a new sister for Jacob (congratulations to Jacob and family!). When I come in to visit I look forward to talking to each of you and getting many more updates.
I was very lucky to be your teacher this year, thank you for being you! Each one of you is very special to me.
Love,
Mrs. H
Dear families:
I look forward to going in to say a proper farewell to the kiddos, I miss them very much already! My doctor is monitoring a few things that have come up which requires me to be off work earlier than expected, but please rest assured that baby and I are doing well. Mrs. Bridel and I will be working together to ensure the end of year reports reflect this whole term.
I want to thank you very much for a wonderful year working with you and your child. What a great class community we shared. I wish everyone all the best as the school year comes to a close and the safest and happiest of summers ahead.
God Bless,
Mrs. H
May 2017
Items for this year's Fun Fair raffle baskets are being collected now. Our class is in charge of the basket "Oh Baby!". Thank you for your contributions.
This letter went home Monday to parents who are volunteering on our Field Trip:
Monday, May 8, 2017
Thank you for volunteering for our field trip to Carleton University on Friday, May 12th!
We were lucky to have many volunteers this year and all are welcome to join for the day. If you are no longer able to attend, please let us know.
On the day:
- Students will take the bus. We are due to arrive at the university at 9:45.
- As there is a charge for parking (we believe it is $11) at the University, some parent volunteers may choose to meet at St. Mary School and drive together. Parent volunteers can park in lot P5 at the University (which is right beside the entrance to the fieldhouse building where the students will meet).
- Lunch - please bring $10 cash for lunch on the day (for you, your child’s lunch fee is already covered).
- The students will be taking the bus back to school at 3PM. Should you choose to bring your child home with you at this time, please let their teacher know.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
We look forward to spending the day with you!
Thank you,
The Grade 1 Team
Open House/Upcoming Field Trip
It was so nice to see many of our class families this morning! I hope you enjoyed yourselves at the open house.
We are all very excited for next week's field trip. The trip is scheduled for May 12th. We are lucky to have many parent volunteers; all volunteers are welcome! If you signed up to volunteer, a letter with more information about the day will be sent home with your child on Monday. Thank you for joining us, it's bound to be a fun day!
Thank you and have a wonderful weekend,
Mrs. H
April 24
In math we are working on Money! Please practice the names and amounts of the following coins: penny, nickel, dime, quarter, loonie, toonie. Students wrote in their agenda today to study the sheet that went home - but it didn't get to them today; sorry for any confusion! They will come home with the study sheet tomorrow (it is a list of the pictures of the coins, their names and values).
All the best,
Mrs. H
April
The grade ones are very excited to present their songs and readings to the whole school on Friday, April 7th at 9:45 AM for the monthly assembly! Parents are welcome to attend.
Here are the links/lyrics to the songs so you can practice at home too:
https://youtu.be/aoehyq6X650 (The Creation Song)
https://youtu.be/paCAG-ksUgU (I'm Part of God's Creation)
Butterfly Song
If I were a butterfly
I'd thank you Lord for giving me wings
If I were a robin in a tree
I'd thank you Lord that I could sing
If I were a fish in the sea
I'd wiggle my tail and I'd giggle with glee
But I just thank you Father for making me, me
CHORUS
For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me
If I were an elephant
I'd thank you Lord by raising my trunk
If I were a kangaroo
You know I'd hop right up to you
If I were an octopus
I'd thank you Lord for my fine looks
But I just thank you Father for making me, me
For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me
If I were a wiggly worm
I'd thank you Lord that I could squirm
If I were a fuzzy, wuzzy bear
I'd thank you Lord for my fuzzy, wuzzy hair
If I were a crocodile
I'd thank you Lord for my great smile
But I just thank you Father for
making me, me
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
I'm very proud of how far the students are coming along in their addition and subtraction learning. Please support them at home - ask them about their favourite strategy to use when solving problems!
Toys & personal items
Please do not send your child’s personal play items from home (eg., toys, stuffies, personal books, trading cards, etc.) to school. Issues are arising due to these belongings which, unfortunately, takes away from our learning time. Your help in keeping these items at home is very much appreciated! Please note that if your child is asked to present an item for show and tell, a letter will be sent home in advance.
March
It has been a busy few weeks in our grade 1 classroom! A few weeks ago, we celebrated our 100th day of school. On this day, we celebrated our learning with the other grade 1 class by having an afternoon of '100th Day' themed learning activities and centers.
Math - students are learning to add and subtract. There is a strong emphasis on teaching effective mental math strategies. Please help your child at home by asking them what strategies they use to add and subtract (drawing pictures, using a number line, visualizing in your head) and help them gain mental math strategies by practicing the "doubles" (1 + 1 = 2, 2 = 2 = 4, etc.), counting on (choose the larger number when adding then count on the rest), using friendly numbers (can you make ten then add on to that?). It is also an important skill to be able to pick out the important information in a word problem and know how to solve it.
LA - March kicks off our Read-a-Thon! Please read the letter that was stapled in your child's agenda and use the log provided. I hope we have many students reach their goal of 200 minutes of reading and I look forward to seeing who the top two readers will be who get to have a pizza lunch with the teachers! Please continue practicing super sentence writing at home.
Religion - We have been learning about John the Baptiste and baptism. March is the beginning of Lent. Students have been learning about Lent and important words such as: fasting, sacrifice, and penance. Father Bill has encouraged children to fast by trying not to be angry with others, or trying to be more kind to others.
***Please return report card slips and envelopes***
***Please bring in paper towel and toilet paper rolls for Art Day on Thursday, March 9***
February
Self-Regulation
We have been talking about the 4 zones of regulation (green, blue, yellow and red). We all encounter trying circumstances that test our limits from time to time. If we are able to recognize when we are becoming less regulated, we are able to do something about it to feel better and get ourselves to a better place. This comes naturally for some, but for others it is a skill that needs to be taught and practiced.
We have a wonderful safe place in the class that the children can go to to help them get to that green zone (calm) when needed. In our safe place the children can practise breathing techniques that they have learned (balloon, star, pretzel, bubble ). This is an area where the child can go to help them better regulate their emotions to make good choices.
The Red Zone is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions. A person may be elated or experiencing anger,explosive behavior, when in the Red Zone.
The Yellow Zone is also used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions; however, one has some control when they are in the Yellow Zone. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles, or nervousness when in the Yellow Zone.
The Green Zone is used to describe a calm state of alertness. A person may be described as happy, focused, content, or ready to learn when in the Green Zone. This is the zone where optimal learning occurs.
The Blue Zone is used to describe low states of alertness and down feelings, such as when one feels sad, tired, or sick.
January 20, 2017
On Monday, your child will bring home their new poem entitled, 3D Shapes (see below). Please help your child study the 3D shapes in this poem for a test they will have on Friday. They do not need to know how to spell the names of the shapes correctly; the names will be provided and they will have to match them to the correct shape. They will also be tested on the 2D shapes (below) in the same way.
Thank you for your at home support,
The Grade 1 Team
January 9, 2017
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and happy time with their families over the holidays.
As we begin this new year, students will be discussing their learning goals and ways to work towards achieving them. In Math, we will begin our new unit: Geometry. In Language, weekly spelling tests will now commence. Students will write their first test this Friday! Please help them prepare by setting aside a few minutes each evening to practice writing out their word wall words.
Wishing you all the best this year,
Mrs. H
December 20
I hope everyone is enjoying themselves during this busy time of year!
It is busy in the classroom as well; we are wrapping up our Data Management unit and are working hard on our reading and writing skills. Students are using adjectives to add more details in their writing!
As we gear up for the holidays, I encourage you to continue reading with your child, praying the Hail Mary, and using Dreambox for math skills practice. In the new year, we will be starting a new calendar routine. Please help your child prepare by practicing the days of the week, months of the year, and how to read dates on the calendar.
All the best to you and your family.
God Bless,
Mrs. H
December 5, 2016
We've added a number 7 to the Star Writers chart below. It is "adds details". Students are encouraged to add describing words and details as to where, what, why, and who it is they are writing about.
In math, we are beginning our unit on Data Management. It is a great unit to cover this month with lots of fun surveys and graphs to make about the Christmas season! Last week, we did a lot of work with our new class "rekenreks". See some pictures of the students in action below:
Student portfolios will be sent home by the end of the week with reading and math (measurement) assessments to see, sign, and return.
Thank you,
Mrs. H
November 16, 2016
The Grade 1's are becoming STAR WRITERS!
Language and Math Centers in action...
Here are just some of the learning activities students are involved in when we have center time in the classroom:
At the listening station, students listen and read along to some of their favourite stories.
***Please send in headphones for your child to use at school. They will be very useful for your child at the listening center, for RAZ Kids reading, Dreambox, and more! I will have them in safe keeping in a labelled zip lock bag and your child will bring them home at the end of the school year or when you send a note to request they come home. Thank you in advance!***
When students "write the room" they use the clipboard to write and read words around our classroom. Many students today enjoyed reading and writing the colour words.
Students love to time how long it takes them to complete this alphabet puzzle.
Fly swatters have more than one use!
This reading game has students finding sight words as quick as they can.
Printing practice is fun using these whiteboards.
Guess Who? the Numerals Edition!
Measuring items in the class using non-standard units
November 2016
This beautiful art was created with the Grade 1's and Mrs. Pora.
They were inspired by Van Gogh's Starry Night.
We have started our Measurement unit! Students are exploring measurement by ordering objects from their desk and realizing that they need to line them up along a line at the bottom in order to properly compare them.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Have a safe and happy Halloween weekend. Students can wear black and orange on Monday but no costumes please. Library and poetry books are due back to school on Monday. I hope you are enjoying the online resources, Dreambox and Raz Kids.
All the best,
Mrs. H
Monday, October 24, 2016
As we begin a new week of learning in the classroom, please support your child by counting with them and practice reading and writing the weekly words. In Religion, we are working on learning the Hail Mary Prayer. This would be a wonderful prayer to include in your child's morning or bedtime routine.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!
As we continue on with our classroom learning this week, please support your child at home by having them practice counting to 100 by 1's, 2,'s, 5's, and 10's, and back from 20 by one. And as always, read, read, read!
Thank you,
Mrs. H
Coming home first week of October:
Your child's work bag will contain recent work your child has done in class. Please take a look at how they are doing and look for any feedback to see if they should continue to practice what they have been working on at home. Please have your child return this bag daily so it can be filled up with new work for you to keep.
When the Portfolio comes home, it means there is an assessment for you to look at, sign, and return the next day. Should your child need more practice on the topic that was assessed, extra practice work will be provided.
The Reading and Math at Home duo-tang contains very important information for at home learning resources. Please look here for: RAZ Kids login information, DreamBox Math login information, a leveled book for at home reading. The book that comes home needs to be returned to school each day. Each week your child will have the opportunity to read this book with a Parent Volunteer. Once they are reading it fluently, they will be provided with a new book, so keep practicing that fluency at home!
Thank you very much for your at home support.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
The grade 1's have been having a great first month of school! In Math, we have wrapped up our patterning unit (please watch for an assessment to come home next week for you to sign and return) and are moving on to Number Sense and Numeration - representing and counting numbers. Our book study this week was "The Dot". Through this story, students practiced retells, character studies, making connections and more. I encourage you to continue working on tidy printing with your child at home, as well as daily reading practice. Next week, you will receive some great reading and math resources that you can work on at home with your child.
Thank you,
Mrs. H
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Check out some of our patterns!
Monday, September 19, 2016
We are off to a great start this year in Grade 1! Last week, in Language Arts, we studied the book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom". Students learned to make connections, predictions, and retells through this story. Ask your child to retell it for you! This week, we are focusing on our writing skills. Please help your practice their short vowel sounds and continue to work on printing skills.
In Math, we are patterning away! I am so impressed with all the AB, ABC, and AAB patterns the students showed me today. We will continue working on knowing our pattern rules and structures this week.
Please watch for your child's Poetry Book to come home today. Each week, a new passage will be added that you can practice reading with your child at home.
Program night is this Thursday at 7pm - I look forward to meeting you!
God Bless,
Mrs. H.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
It was so wonderful meeting my students yesterday! We had a lot of fun on our first day getting to know each other, and we continue to today. Please watch for the Student Information Verification form to come home with your child today with their agenda. This needs to be returned with any corrections by Friday, Sept. 16th.
Thank you,
Mrs. H.
September 2016
Dear Families,
I hope you all had a safe and happy summer! As we kick off this back to school month, I've provided you with some information on the Math and Language learning that will be happening over the next few weeks. You'll find some strategies that you can use at home to support your child's learning.
Mathematics
Our first unit is about sorting and patterning. Our goals for this unit:
- Recognize attributes. Children look for things they think have something in common. For example, they may choose objects that are the same colour, size, or shape.
- Describe and draw patterns.
- Talk about a pattern rule.
- Use one attribute to make a pattern.
How can you help at home? Try a few of these activities:
- Make a colour pattern using different-coloured crayons or markers (green, green, yellow; green, green, yellow; green, green, yellow). Have your child describe the pattern and tell what comes next.
- Sort laundry or grocery items into groups with your child (all socks, all shirts). Talk about how the items in each group are the same.
- Ask your child to sort cutlery when you set the table. Ask what is the same and what is different about the items (forks have tines, all pieces have same handles).
- Collect various shoes at home and put them into a pile. Ask your child to sort them (summer/winter; laces/Velcro; adult/child). Ask: “How did you decide what to put in each pile?”
- Go on a pattern hunt at home with your child. See how many things you can find that have patterns (sweaters, socks, rugs, dishes). Ask your child to describe the patterns.
Language Arts
Our language arts program will begin the year with different focuses for each area:
In reading, your child is working on the reading strategies:
- Eagle Eye (Look at the picture for clues to figure out the word)
- Lips the Fish (Get your mouth ready for the first sounds)
- Chunky Monkey ( (Break the words into chunks you already know)
In writing, your child will work on completing sentences and “sound spelling” unknown words. For example: I like ________________. They are encouraged to compose complete sentences independently.
*Please remember to watch your child’s letter formation and pencil grip when they are writing at home.
In oral communication, your child will work on appropriate listening behaviours and making
connections to stories they have read or listened to.
Connections:
- text to text (“That reminds me of another book because…”)
- text to self (“That reminds me of when I …”)
- text to world (“That reminds me of something I saw on the news…”)
As always, should you have any questions, please contact me using the agenda.
I look forward to beginning this learning journey with you!
All the best,
Mrs. H
