Grade One May News
This lovely month has already brought us animal visitors and a wonderful music concert, as well as welcome opportunities to celebrate the unfolding beauty of spring. Recess activities include soccer games, animal stories invented with little stuffies, chalk drawings and running with ribbon streamers.
In math we are finishing data management with applications like independent surveys and comparative graphs.
Time to the hour and half hour is our next focus, and of course we continue with number games and problem-solving in our new math books.
In science we will look closely at the needs of living things and at types of energy. The vegetable garden in front of Queen Mary is ready for us to plant our seeds, and we have talked about the various parts of a plant and their uses. Ask your child what plant parts he/she is eating at dinner! As well, we are receiving tiny painted lady caterpillars to care for until they become butterflies. We will be carefully tracking their growth. It is a very exciting day when we release them in the schoolyard!
In reading we are focusing on consonant blends (fr, bl, sh, ch, th) and the long o vowel sound. After reading a story we are thinking about the message of the story - what the author wants us to learn or think about. There is also a focus on non-fiction text and its characteristics. Each child now chooses a non-fiction book from the library to keep in their desks as well as their home book. In writing, our riddles are very popular and each day a few authors read their riddle for the class to guess. We celebrate the riddles that are so well written that it is easy to guess what they are describing. This will gradually shift toward simple poetry.
Looking ahead, our final field trip will be June 14 at the Ecology Park and Beavermead for a full day of learning and fun!
cheers! Mrs. Mac
Grade One April News
Here’s hoping that everyone had a lovely weekend in the sun and a good holiday, and perhaps the Easter Bunny came your way. We were lucky enough to go for a spring walk on thursday to notice some seasonal changes and watch for birds, squirrels, dogs, cats, and even a concrete cow.
This month in math we will be looking at data management. That includes graphs, surveys, Venn diagrams, charts, and glyphs.
We will also keep working on adding and subtracting to 12. Next we will look at temperature.
Social studies will continue with community and mapping, while our structures unit in science is wrapping up. Living things and life cycles will be our new focus, and to that end we have some little chicks in class for this week. They grow remarkably fast, and the children should see changes by the end of the week.
In reading we are focusing on chunking words into smaller parts and adding/taking away suffixes such as s, ing, and ed. After reading a story we are thinking about what the story reminds us of, and answering some riddles about the characters. In writing we will be continuing with lists, and introducing writing riddles.
Bridget has two remaining music sessions with us, this week and next. The children have really enjoyed experimenting with the giant rainstick we have in the class and learning about different note values - “ta’s” and “ti-ti’s”. We will soon use them in musical patterns.
Our field trip to see “Goldirocks” was definitely outstanding. We were fortunate enough to have the very front row, and it was extremely engaging! The lively musical score included country, rap, and rock. Everyone had fun comparing the story and talking about the characters afterwards. A big thank you to Mrs. Matthews for arranging and financing this trip for the primaries.
Next we are off to the police station and the fire station on April 17!
Cheers, Mrs. Mac
March News
March has certainly come in like a lion! But we had lots of fun with our February Mud collages - imagining ourselves jumping into the luscious puddles that filled our playground. Now we have talked about the first signs of spring and the steps to make maple syrup, along with a tasty sampling of Staples syrup from the Farmer's Market on little pancakes. We have looked in the school yard for the first buds and walked the block in search of spring. More to come!
In math we are talking about adding, subtracting, and problem solving. We will review the hundreds chart and counting by 2's, 5's and 10's.
Social Studies is focusing on community and helpers in our community, as well as building models of a town and moving into simple mapping.
In gym we are working with balls - dribbling, passing, underhand and overhand throws, and relay races as well as partner work with games.
It was with some regret that we have boxed up our Space unit in science, only to find that the Structures unit is just as awesome. We have looked at materials and fasteners, and worked with paper, magnetic, plastic, and wood materials for building. The most popular activity has been using the screwdrivers on our sample wood pieces. We will be testing different materials for flexibility, strength, and water resistance as well as designing our own chair.
We have followed this theme in reading - with stories of amazing sandcastles, tree houses, and imaginative constructions. As well, we acknowledged Dr. Seuss' birthday and have focused on some of his books. In writing we continue with description and are looking at the long vowel sounds a (ay, ai, a-e) and e (ee, ea, e-e). Ask your child about the Super Letters vowel rap - we are trying to learn it by memory.
Our field trip to see Cadence was a wonderful opportunity. They are amazingly talented men, singing a capella the entire time but adding vocal renditions of instruments that sound just like the real thing. Their harmonies were polished and they presented jazz, blues, pop, and rock and roll genres. Most of all they were very, very animated and had a lot of fun.
To follow, we are lucky to have Bridget Foley as our next Music Champion musician coming into our class. She will start on wed. March 21 for four weeks. Bridget is a well-known singer in Peterborough, comfortable with jazz, gospel, and pop.
Our next trip will be to Showplace to see "Goldirocks" the musical on April 4th, then on to the Fire Station on April 17.
HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE MARCH BREAK!!!
Upcoming Events in Grade One!
One Hundred Days of School
Feb. 10 will mark our 100th day in school this year. We are planning to celebrate with a sharing of the many forms of 100. Please allow your child to make a collection of 100 things to bring to school - examples are paperclips, straws, macaroni, pipecleaners, barrettes, etc.- and help them to organize and display their collection.
Valentine's Day
On Feb. 14 we will be having a Valentine's Day party. There will
be Valentine’s mailbags posted in the room for all to “mail” their cards. A class list is on the back
of this note for making cards. Snacks for sharing are welcome. Drinks will be provided.
Family Concert
On Feb. 17, in honour of Family Day, the grade 1/2
and our class will put on a mini concert for families
in the auditorium at 2:15, followed by free refreshments
and time to visit in the classroom.
Tuesday Dec. 20-Turkey Lunch
Wed. Dec. 21-Concert at 2:00/6:30 and we visit the Multicultural Festival in grade 7/8
Thur. Dec.22-Potluck Lunch for our class and cookie making
Fri. Dec. 23-11:30 school sing-a-long and popcorn
December News
First I must thank all of you for your home support and your efforts at helping make the transition to full days easier for your child this term. It does make a big difference.
This month we have been focusing on retelling stories and making connections with them. We talked about characters, and thought about any times when we had been in a similar place. In reading we have practised some letter blends (ch, sh, er) and looking for little words inside other words. We have almost mastered leaving spaces between words in our writing!
In science we have revisited the five senses with Christmas treasures on the science table, and noticed some changes in Nature.
Shape names and forms have featured in math, both two-dimensional and 3-D as well as work with numbers to 20. And in gym we have worked on balance, tag games, and the parachute.
In January we will have a guest musician visit us four times with lessons, an opportunity to learn some break-dancing moves with a dancer, and on Jan. 13 a trip to Warsaw Outdoor Education Centre! It should be an exciting month.
After the holidays we will return to school January 9th. From now until then may the spark of your little one rekindle the magic that glows in all of us.
Take care, Mrs. Mac
NOVEMBER NEWS
Dear Parents,
Our little red maple by the climber has slowly released its leaves as the cooler weather has arrived, and we have reluctantly added layers to keep ourselves warm. We have seen lovely weather to play in the rustling leaves, match different kinds of leaves, and estimate the number of spots on a maple leaf. Now we watch the wind blow them in little tornados, and marvel at the skeleton branches, then skuttle inside to get warm!
In the classroom we continue to reinforce listening skills, and sharing thoughts with others. After a read-aloud, the students are encouraged to talk about the characters in the story and the point of view. They are also invited to express their personal thoughts or feelings about the character through a description, a riddle, or a painting. We continue to work on sight words, letter sounds, and chunking words for reading strategies. You can reinforce literacy at home by pointing out signs, looking for words hidden inside a larger word, and encouraging your child to write riddles on his/her own.
In math we have talked a lot about the number ten as an anchor number, using the ten frame. Now we compare numbers as being more or less than each other, and practise putting them in the correct order. We are also looking at how to break apart a number (decompose) e.g. 7 can be a group of 3 and a group of 4 - and to add (compose numbers), e.g. 2 and 3 together make 5. In our math centres we have looked at linear measurement using non-standard items like snapblocks, popsickle sticks, and plastic links. Later we will be moving into some geometry to look at identifying, sorting, composing and decomposing 2-D shapes. You can reinforce math at home by encouraging your child to estimate and count out things in their world, compare it to ten, notice shapes, and complete puzzles.
Mrs. Daley is focusing on friendship for social studies.
In art we are emphasizing shape, form and texture. In drama we are describing and making inferences about characters. In music we are beginning to play a steady beat using different instruments and move to a steady beat using different patterns.
In the gym we are exploring movement, hoops, and games.
Science has us looking at the human body, starting with the five senses and then looking at some main body parts and their function.
Thanks as always for your wonderful support! Please jot me a note, or find me before or after school if you have any questions or concerns.
Cheers, Mrs. Mac
October 2011
Dear Parents,
The fish have arrived! Finally the aquarium is set up, and we have several kinds of tetras and guppies as well as snails living with us. They provide a bit of calm and beauty in our day and have been much enjoyed.
And I am very happy to welcome our new friend Jordan to the class - he has adapted very well and all have included him readily. And just in time for Picture Day on Monday October 17!
October has been an exciting month so far - we have talked about the seasons and visited the Queen Mary vegetable garden and flower garden several times to see the changes that are happening. We have dug potatoes and beets, picked corn and beans and cucumber and tomatoes, focusing on seeds. The great tall sunflowers have been impressive plants to examine! We have also gone on treasure hunts for cosmos seeds, prickly plants, and soft leaves. One day we made apple pie, and read The Apple Pie Tree. Now we are focusing on the changing tree leaves and comparing their colour, shape, size, and texture. We have talked about the role of leaves - and how we eat some kinds of leaves! This is all part of our science curriculum, which will turn towards the life cycle of the pumpkin as the month continues.
In literacy we are reinforcing listening skills and sharing thoughts with others. After a read-aloud, the students are encouraged to state the main idea of the story or restate information from a nonfiction text. They are also invited to express their personal thoughts or feelings about what has been read. We continue to work on sight words, letter sounds, and chunking words for reading strategies. By the end of the month, all students should be started on their home readers to practise these skills, as well as have a list of sight words to work with at home. Home practise is critical to a solid reading foundation, but listening to stories read aloud is equally important in these early years so please keep up that wonderful sharing time :)
In math we have talked a lot about the number five as an anchor number. Now we can compare numbers as being more than five or less than five. We have introduced math centres and worked with many different kinds of manipulatives to make arrangements of a number, recognized dice number patterns, as well as practising how to tell about a number with pictures, numbers, and number words. We will continue focusing on individual numbers up to ten, and use ten as the next anchor number. You can reinforce this at home by encouraging your child to count out things in their world and compare it to five (or ten), notice numbers in their world (house number,phone number, calendar number) and make groups of two with real things.
Mrs. Daley has focused on responsibility for social studies. In art we will focus on line and on colour. In drama our popular stories have been The Enormous Potato and The Scarecrow's Hat. They love to act the characters!
Looking ahead to Halloween, there will be a black and orange day at Queen Mary on the Monday, but no actual Halloween costumes. We will have a little party and play some games with a gently spooky theme. If you wish to contribute a snack to this day please let me know - it would be most welcome :) I would encourage you to make it a healthy choice as I'm sure the sugar will be generous that evening!
Thank you for your wonderful support. I am always available to chat before or after school if you have any questions or concerns.
Cheers,
Mrs. Mac
Welcome to grade 1! 
September 2011
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the wonderful world of grade one!
I am really excited about planning a great year for your child to enjoy. It is always my hope that the children will grow both in their love of learning and in the knowledge that they are good learners.
Many things will remain the same as in kindergarten - the message bags back and forth each day, indoor velcro shoes left at school, two nutrition breaks, integrated learning in the classroom, and shortly we will also start the home reading program for homework practise.
You may find at first that a hectic full day every day is tiring for your child. Full sleeps as well as consistent routines at home become extra important. It seems though that children adjust to the schedule and return to their usual energy by Thanksgiving.
To ensure that your child’s days are less stressful, please make sure to label their clothing and their reusable food containers, and pack non-sugary snacks to give more sustained energy. For the first month we will line up outside our back door at 3:30 so that you can easily find your child and they will feel safe. To this end, it is advantageous for you to be there right at 3:30 so they do not worry. And so that you don’t worry, never hesitate to discuss any joys/concerns with me either before or after school, by note, or by phone. We are a team together, you and I, and communication makes us strong.
And whenever possible, please make time to read a story to your child each day. Research has shown that this is the single most important thing you can do to help your child with school.
It makes an enormous difference to their lives.
Cheers to a great year!
Mrs. Mac
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