Week 5

MESSAGE FROM MS.STAROSTECKI

I've had a couple of parents ask me a few questions about the Home Reading and Rainbow Words...

With home reading, once your child has 'mastered' their book you may read other books (i.e. books from home or the library). If you read a book to your child that also counts as their books read, however, I recommend you ask them a few comprehension questions after the story is read. On Fridays, I will be reading with your child and afterwards I will exchange their books. I would LOVE to have a volunteer to help me out with exchanging their home reading books on Fridays. It should only take about half an hour. Please contact me if interested.

As for Rainbow Words, although I encourage practicing these words at home every night I do not want your child to become frustrated. If your child cannot seem to memorize a word move onto the next one, talk about the letter sounds, and/or make it into a search and find game in their favourite book ("Can you find the word all on this page?")

Congratulations to our Student of the Week!

REMINDERS

HOME READING The books will be exchanged every Friday. You may also read books from home or the library, just make sure you log it! Our classroom goal is to read (or have a book read to us) at least 7 books per week.

NO SCHOOL October 9th Thanksgiving

SCHOOL PHOTOS must be completed by October 10th (can also be ordered online).

SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDER due October 19th.

FIELD TRIP Fred Penner Show on October 19th. Click here for more information.

NO SCHOOL on October 20th (PD Day)

INDOOR SHOES If your child has difficulty tying their shoes independently, please purchase the bungy laces or lock-up laces for their inside shoes. I believe you can find them at Walmart and/or Payless. It will really save some time getting ready during certain transitions and ensures their safety during gym class.

SNACKS & BIRTHDAYS In an effort to provide students with the healthiest environment I can, I am encouraging you to provide healthy snacks for school snacks and celebrations (i.e. birthdays).
Some healthy snack foods:

Cereal with milk
Low-fat cheese melted on a whole-grain tortilla
Fresh cut-up fruit with yogurt for dipping
Graham crackers and low-fat milk
Yogurt or Yogurt Tubes
Vegetables and low-fat dip
Fruit
Whole-grain crackers or toast with peanut-free butter or hummus
Fruit salad
Low-fat string cheese
100% juice
Whole-grain muffins or bagels

MATH

This week the students finished up their Patterns unit. They practiced replicating, extending and creating various numeric patterns and they were challenged to the students to identify and create a pattern that has more than one attribute. Next week, the Grade 1s will begin their Numbers 1 to 10 unit.

LANGUAGE ARTS

RAINBOW WORDS Our new Red Words for next week are: but, can, for, have, I. I encourage for you to practice Rainbow Words with your child to increase their exposure and improve their word recognition. I will be informally assessing each student at the end of each week to see if they are able to read and recognize their Rainbow Words.

WORDS THEIR WAY The students practiced sorting their beginning consonant sounds (Cc, Dd, Ff, Hh). They can sort most of the sounds independently and they tried sorting them with a friend.

PRINTING This week the students practiced and refined their mountain letters (v, w, y, x, z) I will be sending a printing practice sheet for those letters on Monday and will be due by Friday. The sheet provides parents with some instructions and tips on how to refine their child's printing.

ALL ABOUT ME I sent "All About Me" Bags home with some students this week. I will continue to do so at the end of each week. If your child has an All About Me bag, please follow the instructions, and return the bag after the weekend. We will use these bags to learn more about our classmates, learn about asking/answering questions, and participate in shared writing.

LISTENING GAMES I read the book, Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper to 1C this week. Our phonological awareness activities were centered around the book this week. Deep in the woods in an old white cabin, three friends make their pumpkin soup the same way every day. The cat slices up the pumpkin, the Squirrel stirs in the water, and the Duck tips in just enough salt. But one day the Duck wants to stir instead, and then there is a horrible squabble, and he leaves the cabin in a huff. It isn't long before the Cat and the Squirrel start to worry about him and begin to search for their friend.

DAILY 5 The Grade 1's continue to work on their goal of 15 minutes during Read to Self. This week they made it all the way to 6 minutes and 5 seconds! Way to go 1C! While they Read to Self the students are practicing the Eagle Eye and Lips the Fish strategy. Eagle Eye serves as a reminder to look at the pictures for clues when reading a book. Lips the Fish looks at the beginning and ending sound of a word. Keep up the great reading 1C!

SOCIAL STUDIES

This week, 1C focused on identifying clothing that they might wear that identifies them as part of a group (i.e. sport team, scouts, etc.) The rest of the week was spent talking about Thanksgiving. When I asked 1C what kinds of things they were thankful for they had some amazing responses.