February Update

As usual it has been a very busy month!

In math this month we have been working on our addition and subtraction skills. We have been doing math drills to strengthen our skills. If you would like more practice at home you can go to http://www.factmonster.com/math/flashcards.html for interactive flash cards.

We have been working on story elements in our reading groups (along with continuing to practice our decoding and fluency). Remember that Raz-Kids is a great way to practice reading at home. I encourage everyone to read every night! You can also practice your word families at home. Visit http://www.users.nac.net/dominica/wordfam.html for a list of the word families and some ideas for practicing them at home.

As it is February, we have been focusing on kindness and friendship. We read Enemy Pie and Bat's Big Game to talk about ways to treat our friends. We are also working on creating a class book about kindness.

Keep reading!
~Mrs. Johnston :-)

January Update

Well it has been a busy start to the year already! The class has been working hard to get back into the routine.

Math
During math we have been working on measurement. The Grade 1 students have just finished linear measurement (non-standard) using various objects from the classroom - shells, blocks, marshmallows, paperclips, etc. Today they started measuring the area of surfaces using paper, shape blocks, and unifix cubes. They had lots of fun!

The Grade 2 students are finishing up with linear measurement and worked with their rulers today to measure objects in centimeters. They couldn't wait to take the measurements of things around the room!

Writing
This term we are really focusing on improving our writing skills. We have started a weekly writers workshop. Last week we talked about 'Topic' and how to write about one topic. This week we are talking about adding details to our writing about our topic. We are also working on writing about sequences using the words first, next, then, and last.

Reading
Our reading groups are continuing and you may have noticed a new envelope that now goes home. Please remember to return it every Monday! During reading we are working on retelling stories and finding the main idea. We are also working hard to practice our decoding skills (sounding out words, blending sounds, looking at pictures for clues). Make sure to practice reading every night, and re-read the books sent home to improve that fluency!

Over the next week I will also be sending home sight word lists to show you the words your child is able to read and the ones they need work on. Practice these regularly.

Science
During science we are continuing with our living things unit. We are talking about classifying animals and learning about their needs. This week we talked about warm and cold blooded animals and will go on to talk about their needs. This term we will be doing an animal research project!

Health & Career
The Grade 1 and 2's have been working hard on the goals they came up with at the beginning of this month (including Mrs. Johnston - to write on the blog more!). We wrote them all down and are trying hard to practice them everyday. We have also been working on our conflict resolution and use ABCD when we have a problem (ask your child what this is).

We are working on learning lots of new things this term! Tomorrow we will be ending our week with a visit from the Ghostriders! :-)

Christmas Concert Song

Well it is that time of year again! We are starting to get ready for our Christmas concert. This year our class will be performing Nat King Cole's "I'm The Happiest Christmas Tree." We have just started to learn our song, but will be ready by our show! Below are the lyrics so you can practice singing it at home (unfortunately I couldn't upload the music - the Nat King Cole version on youtube is a little different than what we will be doing).

I’m the happiest Christmas tree

Ho-Ho-Ho, Hee-hee-hee

Someone came and they found me

And took me home with them

Oh, I’m the happiest Christmas tree

Ho-ho-ho, he-he-he

Look how pretty they dressed me

Oh, lucky, lucky me

I got shiny bells that jingle

And tiny little lights that tingle

Whenever anyone passes by

I blink my lights and I wink my eye

Oh, I’m the happiest Christmas tree

Christmas day, wait and see

I’ll be laughing happily

With a ho-ho-ho, he-he!

Pattern Bracelets

Today our class finished up with repeating patterns by making pattern bracelets. They had so much fun coming up with unique patterns. No two were the same!

Just a reminder to practice reading on Raz-Kids!

Name ten frames and chalk art pumpkins

Last week the grade one and two students practiced using ten frames by putting their names on a ten frame! The followed the rules filling the ten frame from left to right and filling the top row before the bottom row. Next, they found out how many letters are in their names and compares them to the number ten by writing how many more letters they would need to fill up the ten frame. They look great!

We have also been studying all things pumpkin. For our art centre students created chalk art pumpkins. Thy started by drawing their pumpkins in black paper. Then they traced over their lines with white glue. Once the glue dried, the students used a chalk rubbing technique to fill their picture with colour. The results look amazing! Good work on our pumpkin patch grade 1 and 2's!

Odd/Even numbers and pumpkins!

This week we have been learning all about odd and even numbers. We have been practicing them through some games on the smart board, a pocket chart sort, some cut and paste activities and even a game of scoot! Be sure to ask your child how to tell if a number is odd or even! 

We have also started learning all about pumpkins. We started with describing the way a pumpkin looks, feels, smells, sounds, and tastes. Over the next few days we will be learning about the life cycle of a pumpkin and even counting how many seeds are inside. It will be a lot of fun!

Ways to support literacy at home

Hello!

Many parents ask the question, "How can I support my child's reading at home?" So, I have put together a short list of some ways your can help support your child's reading at home. 

·        Read together everyday

·        Read cereal boxes together; find letters, letter sounds, and words on cereal boxes

·        Have your child write a shopping list

·        Look through magazines and the newspaper together

·        Practice writing greeting cards

·        Look for letters or letter sounds on licence plates while driving

·        Read names on signs (eg. McDonalds, Stop)

·        Use flash cards to practice letter sounds or sight words (these can be done by putting them on the     floor and saying a letter sound or word, then having your child hop on the letter/word)

·        Write in a diary or journal

·        Write notes to each other

·        Listen to books online (eg. www.storylineonline.net)

·        Practice the sight words from the planner pages (look for them in books, practice spelling them,        etc)

·        Play letter sound Pictionary  or regular pictionary

      These are only some ways to support your child at home. I encourage parents to create a pro-literacy environment by making books available in the home and making reading a part of your routine. Take a trip to the library and help your child find something they enjoy - you child is more likely to read something they are interested in! Feel free to post some ways you help to encourage reading at home.