Term 2 recap

Here is a quick recap of some of the many things we have been up to these days.

In Second Step, we completed our third unit on Emotion Management. We learned the calm down steps and brainstormed some positive self-talk to use when we are feeling worried, sad, angry, or frustrated.

In our integrated studies units, we completed our celebrations unit by writing about our understanding of the Chinese New Year. I have posted all of the students' written work on the bulletin board outside of our classroom and I am working on creating a photostory (where students will read their written work aloud) which I hope to post online sometime next week.  A big merci to M Bazin for working with us on this unit.  He has now moved on to teach in Grade 2. 

We have also been learning about our 5 senses (so far we have gotten through 3:  La vue, L'ouie, and L'odorat.)  We have been doing experiments and adding to a poster we created as we complete our learning on each sense.  We will be connecting our knowledge of our senses to other learning for the remainder of the year. 





In language, we have been exploring different sounds, and sight words, as well as learning many different reading strategies.  We practice these strategies through large group, small group work, individual activities, as well as  when reading with a partner, and reading to self.  The last few weeks we have learned that ai and ei make the same sound as è but that ai, er, and ez at the end of the word make the same sound as é (like the english ay in day). 

In writing, we have been evaluating different samples using a checklist that we created of what good writers do.  We have been placing the different samples along our writing continuum once we have evaluated how well the writer did.  Students will be asked this term to begin to evaluate their own writing in this same way. 

Orally, we have come so far this term in our speaking!  The students are doing an amazing job using their French to answer and ask questions and are even beginning to remember to speak to their peers in French without reminders!  In order to speed this along (and to work on some common errors in French), we created Pas d'excuses (No Excuses) lists in order to remind the students of words and expressions that they should be able to use in French without reminders or help, as well as some common errors that have been discussed at length that students should be applying when speaking (ie. not saying ma papa - they should be saying mon papa because papa is masculin). 

In math, we practiced counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s (using 100 charts and by counting a larger number of objects), and we explored different addition and subtraction stories to 10.  We also explored ways to make 5 and 10 (by adding and subtracting), and learned to represent numbers to 20 using a ten frame.   Next term, we will work on addition to and subtraction from 20, and we will learn about three-dimensional shapes. 

I am very proud of the class in their progress this term, and I am looking forward to seeing all of you for three-way conferences in order to celebrate your child's learning and set goals for the last few months of grade 1. 

Program summaries

Physical Education with Mme Muzika:

We started out the second term working on a gymnastics unit. We focused on landings, statics (supports and balances), rotations, locomotions and springs. We are continuing our work with manipulative skills—throwing, catching, and hand dribbling, and this term we spent some time working on foot dribbling and other soccer skills. We have also been working on our rhythmic movements, as we have been learning and creating a variety of dances.


Arts Education with Mme Graham:

Music·         Continuation of Orff Schulwerk singing·         Introduction to the Orff instruments - - playing different rhythm patterns·         Identified the strong beat and the weak beat

DANCE
·         Introduction to high, medium and low levels
·         Enjoyed songs with movements and learned to step the beat

DRAMA·         Practiced drama skills through short plays such as Aesop’s fable “The Lion and the Mouse”

General Release with Mme Ward:

For this past year, I have been teaching multiple topics to Mme Hegarty’s grade 1 students on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons for 50 minutes each. This term we have finished up our unit on Healthy eating which included topics such as food groups, Canada Food Guide daily suggested servings and how eating healthy effects our body systems.

We have recently begun two new units during our time together. On Tuesdays, we focus on First Nations education and on Wednesdays we are focusing on animals.

If you have any questions or concerns for me I will be available during interviews in my office on the 3^rd floor beside the art room. If you would like to contact me separately, please call the office or let Mme Hegarty know and she will forward you my contact information.

Some tips for reading with your child

In class, we have been learning different strategies to help us become better readers.  

Some of the strategies are:  

• using picture cues
• checking for understanding (always asking:  does this make sense?)
• looking at initial letter sounds of an unfamiliar word
• recognizing sight words
• noticing letters that go together to make a sound (ch, en, am, etc.) and then sounding out an unfamiliar word
• paying close attention to punctuation in order to read with expression

Many of these strategies (and many others) are modeled in the following videos.  You can help support your child by encouraging him or her to use these strategies when reading in English or French. 

Here is a video that shows some Before Reading Strategies, such as how to read pictures in order to get your child thinking about the subject matter and any vocabulary that may come up while reading the book:

Here is a video that demonstrates many of the During Reading strategies mentioned above:

I hope it helps!

Happy Reading!!

La phonétique - update

I hope you and your child are enjoying practicing for the oral speaking presentations.  So far I am very impressed with the enthusiasm and effort all of the students are showing towards this challenge!

Yesterday, I had the students send home their phonétique duotangs so that you could see what sounds I have explicitely taught so far this year.  They are:
é (like ay in day),
è ê (like e in wet),
en an em am (like an in want),
g doux (French soft g, found in words borrowed from French like garage or mirage) - used with e, i, and y (ge and gi, and gy)
g dur (hard g, like in go) - used everywhere else (gr, gl, ga, go, gu)

Speaking of the hard and soft g sounds, we tried this activity today where you can try to read the g words and drag and drop them in the correct category.  We didn't have time to do all of the words so I told the class that I would post it on the blog so that they could try it at home.  You can find two versions of the activity by clicking here.  Next up, we will learn about the hard and soft c's, which (spoiler alert!) follow the same rules as the hard and soft g. 

I hope this update helps you to support your child with his or her reading at home. 

As always if you have any questions, please let me know .

Oral speaking activity

Concours d'art oratoire

Our students have been presented three easy French poems and were asked to choose one to memorize and present to our class at the end of next week.

Please have your child practice to memorize his or her poem by reading it nightly as part of the home reading program in order to be well-prepared and feel confident in presenting to the class next week.

During the presentation we will be looking for:
- a clear and loud speaking voice
- enthusiasm
- audience eye contact
- a relaxed and natural body
- a memorized poem.

All students will be presenting their poem to the class next Wednesday and Thursday the12 & 13th. The school will be holding the Concours d'art oratoire assembly on March 17th, and we will have three students from our class volunteer to present their poems on this day.

You will find your child's chosen poem in their sac vert tonight. Thanks for your help with this activity. We think it will be great practice and a lot of fun!