First Grade News

August 17, 2015

Curriculum Highlights

Writing Workshop: Rituals, routines and procedures for writing

Review vowels and consonants Why are they important?
Reading workshop: Who are we as readers? How to choose a book?
Who are we as Mathematicians? What do mathematicians do?
Student Learning Results Think Creatively, Reason Critically, Learn Enthusiastically,
Communicate Effectively, Collaborate Constructively, Live Ethically

Reminders

There is a lost property box in the hallway between the playground and art/ music rooms
where you can check for missing items. If items are labeled with name and class it makes for an
easy return.

If your child is regularly buying lunch or snack you may need to top up his/ her account.
You can do this by going directly to the main office with a cheque and your childs name.

Melawati is a cashless campus so please do not send cash to school.

Friday August 21 Hari Raya Dress Up Day

Thursday August 27, 6:30pm, - Open House Melawati Studio and then after up to
the first grade common area. Please be aware that the time scheduled with the first grade team is
about 20 minutes for a team presentation and 10 minutes to visit classrooms. This is a short
amount of time with a lot to cover so we really want to talk about what is most important and
relevant to all. If you have any questions you would like specifically addressed please send them to
your child's teacher so that we can prepare to cover what many parents are interested in. This is
not a time to talk about individual student's progress. Parent conferences are coming up in
October when you will have individual time with the teacher and further questions may be
answered. If your child's teacher has any urgent concerns about your child he/ she will contact you
directly.

News from Ms. Tindalls class

This week we are talking about predictions and continue to discuss the possibility of many
solutions to one problem. You can reinforce this at home by talking with your child about
many solutions to a problem and ways of solving a problem. Point out that there is
usually no one right answer. For example, you have a problem in your family where the
family is rarely ready on time for school and work in the mornings. Brainstorm ways of
solving that problem. Big sister might decide to put her clothes out and pack her bag the
night before, little brother might decide to set his alarm earlier, mom might decide to eat
breakfast in the taxi on the way to work and dad might decide to exercise after work
instead of before. Each person has a valid solution. There is no one right answer. This
also ties in with our behaviour expectation of: Solving Problems Positively.
In class we have been working very hard to come together as a team and cooperate in the
classroom. Research tells us that the best learning environment for children is a
cooperative one, with little or no competition. Students in first grade are not compared
against one another, but instead against themselves and the progress they have personally
made. I have seen much progress already. Students are helping each other and asking
other students for help when needed, they are encouraging others both when they make a
mistake or do something great, and they are beginning to express themselves in terms of
how it feels to support each other, rather than compete. The students are overcoming their
fear of making mistakes and are beginning to see them as a way to make learning plans
and opportunities to learn. Please help to reinforce these ideas at home. Not only does it
make for a more productive learning environment, it also makes for happier children.
In partnership, Ms. Tindall

Monday
Reading: Ask an adult about when he or she was a child learning to read. What was the
hardest thing about learning to read? What stories did they love to hear? Read?
Math: Play UNO or any other card game you know. Discuss with your game partner why it is
important to follow the rules and what makes a good sport.
Tuesday
Reading: Discuss with an adult your favourite places to read. Ask your family members
where their favourite places to read are. Why do you like to read there? What makes them
good reading spots?
Math: Play UNO or any other card game you know. Continue your good sport discussion.
What do people do and say who are good sports?
Wednesday
Reading: Tell an adult what types of books you like to read. Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction? Why? Do you enjoy love stories? Drama? Adventure? Funny stories? Books about
planes, animals, fairies? Ask an adult what types of books they enjoy reading and why.
Math:
Go on a counting spree. Choose something all family members own (such as shoes,
socks, underwear!) and count how many each person has. Write down the numbers then put
them in order from the least to the most.
Thursday
Reading: Tell an adult how you chose a book today. What were you thinking about? What
made you pick that book? Ask an adult how they choose the books they read. Do they take
recommendations? Share books with friends? Are they part of a book club?
Math: Write the numbers 1 20. Check. Did you write them tall and around the write way?
(Use the resource sent in your folder this week to check your form)

Friday
Reading: Tell an adult what is a just right book. Ask an adult how do they choose just
right books.
Poem Collection: Read poems and songs from the poem collection. Put your finger on each
word. Return the poem collection to school on Monday.

Think before you print!

Do you really need a hard copy of this?