November 24-28

 Dear Parents,

Thank you to all those parents who attended conferences this week. I was so excited to share all of our progress and learning!

Reminders:

-Our Dance residency begins next week!

-Library book exchange on Wednesday

-WIth the cold weather please remember all your outdoor gear and an extra pair of mittens.

Social Studies

In Social Studies and through our literacy time we have been building our understanding of “Belonging”.  Specifically, we have looked at one special community that we belong to, our FAMILY!  Through reading stories, viewing short videos, discussions, and sharing, grade ones have added to their understanding of our FAMILY community. This idea of family has guided our work in literacy social studies and art. Please take a look below to see all of our good learning.

Learning Intentions

Social Studies

• I can identify which groups I belong to 

• I understand I belong to more than one group

• I appreciate that belonging to groups enriches my identity

Literacy

Students will be able to:

• Plan a narrative using a simple picture plan or organizer.

• Use simple sentences that make sense and stay on topic.

• Use vocabulary that fits the story, including feeling words and action words.

• Share story plan and writing with others.

Art

Students will be able to:

• Create a portrait that represents their family in their own creative style.

• Use shapes, lines, and bright colours to show people and emotions.

• Recognize that families can look different and show this in their artwork.

• Express personal identity through artistic choices (colour, size, details)

Literacy

During our focused literacy lessons this week we have been learning about one of the sounds that “C” and "U" make.  This week we concluded our lessons on learning C says “k”.  The following are some home practice that your child may do to solidify their understanding of this tricky sound.  

We have now completed focused literacy lessons for the following sounds:

a    m s  t  p  f  i  n  o  c  d u

Just like counting, continued review and practice of letter sounds and making words help to solidify them into automatic skills in both reading and writing. 

November 17-21

Dear Parents

We have had a great week in grade one! We have been working on building our understanding of community and continued to look closely at the changes in our local environment during the season of fall.  Students were excited to meet our gym teacher Mr. B!   

Reminders:

• Please check your child's take-home folder.  In it you will find our Communication Folder.  Please read over the material provided, sign it, and return it on Monday.
• Parent-teacher conferences are on Thursday after school and Friday morning.  Please book a conference to discuss your child's learning.

 Science and Literacy

The last few weeks, we have been learning about seasonal changes in our local environment.  Students have been making thoughtful observations in our learning grounds, reading and listening to non-fiction text, along with collecting information from videos to build their understanding of the changes in our environment at this time of year, what animals are doing to prepare for winter, and how our own activities change at this time of year.  Students represented their understanding through images and writing to capture the changes that happen during the Fall.  Please take a look below some of our representations. 

Learning Intentions

• I can observe seasonal changes in a local environment
• I can discuss how changes in the way an environment looks, plants look and animals look is connected to seasons 
• I can investigate how animals behave in fall, such as migration
• I can describe an environment, using information gathered using my 5 senses.
• I can organize my thoughts to share ideas and information Ideas
• I can create written messages that align with an intended audience or purpose
• I can connect pictures to personal experience
• I can show understanding through pictures

November 13-14

Dear Parents,

I hope that everyone had a restful Fall Break.  This week, it was great to be back together for a few days!

Reminders:

-Conference manager opens on Monday.  Parent-Teacher conferences are on Nov 27 and 28.  Please book a time to discuss your child's learning.

-Library book exchange will be on Wednesday. Please send your child's library book.

-With the cooler weather, please send your child with the appropriate outdoor gear to play at recess and lunch.  With wetter conditions, it is a good idea to send an extra pair of socks and pants.

Social Studies and Literacy

In grade one, we have been learning about "Belonging" in connection to the Social Studies curriculum.  Through reading and discussing several mentor texts, students built their understanding of our class as a community and the roles and responsibilities that come with belonging to it. Together, we created a classroom promise of ideas that we all agree to follow and respect.  Take a look at our classroom promise as represented through pictures and words!

Learning Intentions:

I can:

• Understand that stories can reflect relationships, community, and belonging.

• Identify central ideas and messages in the story (e.g., kindness, teamwork, inclusion).

• Make personal connections between the events in the story and their own experiences at school.

• Describe characters and how they show caring behaviours toward one another.

• Retell the story in their own words, pictures, or dramatization.

• Share opinions about the story and explain why it is meaningful.

• Create visual representations of what “class family” looks like

• Listen actively to others during classroom discussions about community and belonging.

• Express their ideas clearly through writing and pictures about what makes a classroom feel like a family.

• Participate respectfully in group conversations, following turn-taking rules.

• Ask and answer questions about the story to deepen understanding.

Relationship Skills & Community Building

I can:

• Demonstrate ways to show kindness and empathy to others in the classroom.

Social Studies Citizenship & Belonging

I can:

• Identify ways people cooperate and work together in a community like a classroom family.

• Recognize the classroom as a community where everyone has roles and responsibilities.

• Explain how rules help people live together respectfully and feel safe.

November 3-7

Dear Parents,

This week, our learning focused on Remembrance Day. We built our understanding of Remembrance Day, peaceful communities, and the important contribution of our Canadian Forces through literature. Students expressed their thoughts and knowledge by creating artwork, creating visual messages, and through their thoughtful participation in our school-wide ceremony to recognize and show respect for the special community of those who have served and continue to serve our country through the Canadian Forces.  

Learning Intentions

• I can organize my thoughts to share ideas and information Ideas

• I can create written messages that align with an intended audience or purpose

• ​​I can transfer my understanding of words to different situations.