I00th Day of School is Approaching!

We will be celebrating the 100^th Day of School on Tuesday, February 18^th.  For this students are asked to bring 100 little goodies for our 100^th Day Party Mix.  It always works out to be a wonderfully colourful mix of sweet and salty that the students enjoy.  Please send your child’s contribution to the mix in a “zip lock” baggie.  Some suggestions; raisins, dry cereal, goldfish, pretzels, M&Ms, fun fruits, jelly beans or mini-marshmallows. Use your imagination! And remember, it is important to have 100! Please note: No nuts or M&Ms (Smarties are okay).

How to Make a Monster

We had a monsterously marvelous morning at the Telus World of Science learning about how monsters and other creatures are made and some of the ways ideas are transformed into stories.  Thank you Mrs. Rowland, Mrs. Sparrow and Mrs. Legault for helping to make this a meaningful and fun experience!  I am pumped to try the puppeteering with a shadowbox as soon as Mr. Towne can get one built. 

Ready to get started!

A fun Storytelling Activity.

Shadow box. Little Monsters jumping on the bed!

 Shadow Screen - Wild Things!

The displays were, well, SCARY!!!

 

Valentine's Day

Celebrating Valentine's Day is so special in Grade One.  Students are beginning to read well enough to enjoy the messages and they truly love giving and receiving the cards.  Following is a list of classmate's names so you are sure not to forget anyone.  Having your child print the names on their own is a great exercise but is best spread over a few days so I am sending this well ahead. As well, snacks are being provided by the following parents: Mrs. Lesnik - drink, Mrs. Hugh - snack (veggies or fruit), and Mrs. Rowland - sweet. We will have our party in the afternoon on February 14th.
Kaelyn,  Rathan,  Devin,  Matthew,  Lincoln,  Marissa,  Keanna,  Tristen,  Jessie,  Kiera,  Torretto,  Carson,  Bethany,  Rafael,  Madison,  Austin,  Jack,  Gage,  Mrs. Towne
 

Math News

We are working on learning our 'DOUBLES' by heart to 6 + 6 = 12.  Students will practice reciting starting with 1 + 1 = 2, 2 + 2 = 4 up to 6 + 6.  When we have this mastered we will try using the strategy 'Doubles plus 1' and 'Doubles plus 2'. If you know the fact 5 + 5 = 10, then you can quickly figure out 5 + 6 = 11 and so on. For some students this is a great way to develop Mental Math Skills. This is fun!

Happy Birthday Rafael!

Thank you Rafael's Mom for bringing in the Birthday treat!

January News

It is great to be back into the swing of things in 1T!  We are moving ahead.
Language Arts: 
Students should be confident reading words with short vowels as we are beginning to work on long vowels and consonant blends and digraphs.  
The silent 'e' makes the vowels long; 'hop' becomes 'hope' and 'tub' becomes 'tube'
When two vowels go walking the first one does the talking in words such as pie, meat, boat.

In writing we are working on creating a picture in the reader's mind using descriptive words (adjectives and adverbs). Ask your child about the 'Suitcase' writing lesson we are doing.  Students were asked to describe items inside the suitcase; The small, brown old-fashioned suitcase with a worn leather handle and metal fastener.  Ask your child about the item he/she described.

Math:
We are working on a strategy in addition and subtraction we call 'Counting on' and 'Counting back'.  We 'count on' or 'count back' 1, 2 or 3.  For 4 or more we have other strategies.

Start with the greater number and count on.
See: 7+1=___   Think: 7...8
See: 2+8=___   Think: 8...9,10  
And of course it is the same for 'counting back'. 
Note: The goal is to do this without a number line, but some children may still need one for support.