Friday, September 28, 2012

September 28, 2012

Thanks to everyone who supported the Terry Fox fund raiser.  Our class raised $22.00!

Spelling test results are in the front pockets of agendas.  It's clear that people are practising at home, since there are LOTS of 100% papers going home again today.

Enjoy the weekend!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

September 27, 2012

Remember that tomorrow afternoon we will be running around the school block as part of our school's Terry Fox fund raiser.  We're trying to have everyone in the class to bring a toonie to donate, if possible.  Thanks for your support for this.

Study hard for tomorrow's "ay" spelling test!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

September 26, 2012

We've returned to the plastic book bag program, but will periodically throw in a book like yesterday's, just to keep things interesting ...

Please remember that we will be participating in the Terry Fox Run Friday afternoon.  If you can send a "toonie for Terry" to help with the school's fund raising for this event, that would be great.

We introduced two new words today: "not" and "this".  The sight word vocabulary just keeps on growing here in Room Four!

Giving your child some time on the Star Fall Phonics link (on the left side of the blog - lower down) will help them strengthen their word attack skills and sight word expertise.  As well, I added a new site - ABCya! - to the links.  It, too, should help with phonics and sight words.

If you have any empty, clean tin cans (any size) that you could send to school for a special project, I'd love to have some.  The cans should have one end intact.  Thanks.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

September 25, 2012

Parents, you'll have the night off from reading tonight.  The first graders are bringing home a book that they've authored themselves, and they're planning on reading to you!  Enjoy!

We've practised reading the book here at school, so the students should be able to knock everyone's socks off with their wonderful reading.  The book is illustrated to give the students a pictoral nudge if they're stuck.  (This is a perfectly fine way for them to help figure out written text at this point in their academic lives.)

If your child gets stuck on a word, a useful strategy they should employ is ask to themselves "What do I know about this word?"  Then they can start saying things like, "Well, it starts with a "c" .... that says "c" like the start of cat ... then it has an "a" .... that says "a" ... " etc.

We've been working on reading smoothly, so that it doesn't sound like a robot is speaking, so lavish lots of praise on that smooth expression, if you hear it!

Monday, September 24, 2012

September 24, 2012







Our class took a walk over to the community garden area this morning, where Mrs. D'Antonio gave us a wonderful tour.  We felt, tasted, and smelled our way through the tour, and we even got to dig some spuds AND make garden sushi!  Does life get any better than that?  If anyone has not visited the gardens, it's a lovely thing to do on a fall afternoon (or morning).

The spelling list ("ay" words) went home today.  Study hard for Friday's test!

Thanks to everyone for keeping such good track of the books and activities that match them from the plastic bag reading program.  We are missing a few of the activities - if any are kicking around your home, could you please return them?  Thanks.  (The activities are used over and over so it's important that they are kept with the bags.)

We saw a great performance this afternoon on wildlife in the mountain parks.  The performers presented information on wolves, bears, snails, goats, etc. - and were very entertaining.  (It was almost as much fun watching the audience as it was watching the performance ....)

Thursday, September 20, 2012

September 20, 2012

Study hard for tomorrow's spelling test!  (The words all have an "ot" ending.)

Remember that there will be a noon dismissal for students tomorrow.

Thanks very much to everyone who contributed to our shopping spree at the United Church thrift shop this morning.  Thanks too, to Logan's mom for coming along as one of our shopping gurus - we appreciate your expertise!  The scarecrows are made, christened (the boy is Spook and the girl is Plum), and hung on the bulletin board outside the library upstairs. 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

September 19, 2012

We will be going to the thrift shop in the basement of the United Church this Thursday morning.  We plan to shop for scarecrow clothing as part of a language arts/art lesson.  Please send a small donation - even 25 cents would be fine - to contribute to our shopping adventure.  Thanks.

Remember that school photos will be taken Thursday morning, as well.  Practise those smiles!

Monday, September 17, 2012

September 17, 2012

Notes regarding school photos went home today.  (School photos will be taken this Thursday.)

We've been practising the number and colour words, if you need some more words to work on in the evenings.  (We've worked on the numbers one through ten so far.)  We've also been practising counting to 100 - there's a good challenge!

Just a heads-up for this Friday: there will be a noon dismissal to allow teachers to attend a professional development afternoon.

Friday, September 14, 2012

September 14, 2012

Spelling test results are in the front pockets of student agendas.  What a great result everyone had!

Students also began writing their own agenda entries today.  We'll try to continue this practise from now on.

Enjoy the weekend!

Thursday, September 13, 2012

September 13, 2012

Happy Birthday, Addi!  (And thanks for the delicious cupcakes!)

Reminders:
1.  It's Meet the Teacher Hour tonight from 6:30 - 7:30.  Bring bowls and spoons if you'd like to have some ice cream at the beginning of the evening.
2.  Tomorrow is our first spelling test.  Study hard!
3.  A note went home regarding an opportunity for students to appear in a video for the Icefield Visitor Centre.  I just now read the note and saw that the casting call for interested people was last night.  My apologies - I didn't receive my copies of the letter until today. 
4.  Students brought home the first five Companion Reading assignments today.  (The Companion Reading program is one of our foundations of literacy in Grade One here in Room Four.)  Please review the material on the sheets with your child.  This will help reinforce what has been taught in class.  The sheets do not have to be returned to school.

We are still hoping to tempt a parent to sit on the School Advisory Council to represent our class.  Meetings are held once a month - anyone interested?

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

September 12, 2012

Reminders:  1. There is a school advisory council meeting upstairs in the staffroom tonight at 7:00.  We're still looking for a room rep - anyone interested?  We are also still looking for a key communicator.  Let me know if you'd like to take on this job (with our thanks!) as well.
                    2.  We will be going to the museum tomorrow morning, right after recess, to look at the train display there.  We will return by the regularly scheduled lunch hour.
                    3.  Please check to see if your child knows his or her birth date.  (We use birthdays as part of our computer logins, so it's handy if everyone knows when they were born ...)

Hopefully the book bag program is going well.  Thanks for returning the books each morning, and for looking after and returning the contents of the book bags.

Come and check out our Cornflake leaves bulletin board.  The students did a great job!

Friday, September 7, 2012

September 7, 2012

Swim notes and school newsletters were sent home today.

Remember to return the signed student info and computer user agreement forms as soon as you can.  Thanks.

Book orders are due Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

September 6, 2012

Happy Birthday to Rowan!  He turned 6 on the 6th - pretty special!

Book orders went home today and are due (with payment, please!) Monday. 

I also meant to send home a book on train safety, but managed to forget to hand them out before the bell rang.  I caught up with a few people in the hallway and on the playground, but I know I missed lots of students... my apologies.  I'll send home the books tomorrow for those people who I missed today.

We reviewed yesterday's sight words (the, I and is) and practised the letter formation and sounds for m, n, f, s, and a.  At-home review of these letters and words will help everyone solidify their learning.

We will be starting our first computer classes tomorrow.  Passwords are set up with students' initials and birthdates, so it's helpful if everyone knows when their birthday is.  Please check with your child to see if they can tell you their correct birthdate, and teach it to them if necessary.  Thanks.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

September 5, 2012

The students have a short homework assignment for tonight: review the words  I, the, and is.  There's a note in the agenda regarding this.

I meant to send book orders home today but forgot to hand them out ... oops.  My apologies.  I'll send them home tomorrow.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

September 4, 2012

Welcome to our class blog!  The blog will be used to post annoucements, reminders, "bouquets" etc.  Also, there are links on the right hand side - just click on them to explore some sites and activities that we'll take a look at this year.

The students are all bringing home agendas today.  Please check these daily, then sign them and return them to school the next morning.  There will be notes, book orders, permission slips. etc. in the pockets of the agendas from time to time.  Today's agenda pocket holds lots of treats: insurance forms, phone lists, student info forms, and computer user forms.  Please complete and return the computer and student info forms asap.  Thanks.

We don't have time set aside for snacking during class time, but students are welcome to bring a recess snack and, later this month, the school's Brain Boost (fruits and/or veggies delivered daily by volunteers to the classrooms) should kick in.   (Students do eat brain boost food - if they choose - during class time.)

We are looking for school council reps and classroom communicators for Room 4.  School council meetings are held once a month.  Key communicators phone out or email parents/caregivers as needs arise.  If you are interested and willing to help out, we'd be grateful!