September 26, 2010

Dear Parents
Have had a busy, fun, week -making some Thanksgiving turkeys; learning our addresses;
getting our pictures taken; exercising with "Rock and Roll Teachers"; "Fit Kids"; reviewing our alphabet sounds (sound pictures); knowing about vowels and consonants and sounding out
quite a few consonant, vowel, consonant words; orally counting to twenty and playing the math
game "On the Nose"; writing numbers to 20; learning that we belong to many groups (Social);
Making our first computer slide on Kid Pix for what will eventually be a slide show; earning way too much "funny money" (I call the program - Catch a Child Being Good - and rewarding them a lot when behavior is great);etc. The teachers had to be the students on Friday, the students got to stay home - we learned a lot and now can pass those ideas on to our classroom activities and work. I really am trying to do differentiated learning this year, so some students may have work adapted (amount expected to be complete, or spelling list adjusted, diverse reading levels met, etc.)
I'VE TOLD MY CLASS, I ALWAYS GET THE SMARTEST AND MOST WELL BEHAVED CLASS
EVERY YEAR, AND I DO!!!!! They really are doing a phenomenal job (of moving from ECS
short day with a lot of social time, to working a full day and producing excellent work, and participating in a lot of movement activities in between. It is a big challenge for them, and
a change each year for myself.
WE ARE HAVING SPENDING DAY THIS WEEK - THAT IS WHEN THEY GET TO TAKE THEIR FUNNY MONEY AND SPEND IT AT MY LITTLE STORE. It benefits their counting, and rewards their wonderful efforts. I realize no one is perfect, including myself, and reward accordingly.
Unfortunately I have a Dr. appointment and some other tests on Monday, but will be back on Tuesday.
I WILL NOT SEND IN THE SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDER UNTIL WED., BECAUSE OF MY ABSENCE ON MONDAY.
Many grade one teachers from our School Division will be at our school on Thursday. They will
be given Math units (our math program changed last year) , make some games, learn technology sites, etc. Our Grade One teachers at each school have been assigned their units. It is funded partly by an AISI program. As grade one teachers, we are excited to have all these resources, and be working together in the Division. Your student will definitely benefit!
On October 6, we are having an author visit our school. She will spend about an hour with Gr.1.
We have been reading her books in library time. CAN'T WAIT!!! This doesn't happen very often.
THANKS FOR MAKING SURE YOUR STUDENT HAS ALL THEIR SUPPLIES - REMEMBER THOSE INSIDE SHOES. (They are doing very well at remembering to change their shoes, and where to put them on the boot racks.)
THANKS AGAIN FOR PROVIDING SUCH WELL MANNERED, ENERGETIC GRADE ONE
STUDENTS!