How to support your child at home…
- Read individually and with a family member daily using a variety of literature.
- Encourage journal and story writing while focusing on neatness and handwriting.
- Facilitate research topics of interest.
- Promote discussion about daily learning and activities.
- Look for opportunities and jobs to reinforce and support skills that promote independence.
- Practice skip counting, play card games and board games with dice.
- Look for opportunities for independence; measuring while cooking or baking, counting money, finding patterns at home or in nature.
- Use math in everyday situations.
- Practice mathematical thinking and problem solving.
Reminders
February 7th: Stories Beneath the Surface – field trip to the museum. Please bring a $2 donation.
Language
Students have settled into their Daily 5 routine. They have successfully learned ‘Read to Self’, ‘Work on Writing’, ‘Word Work/Study’, ‘Read to Someone’, and ‘Listen to Reading’. Each day during our Daily 5 time, students choose the order in which they want to practice their literacy. Students generally have time for 3/5 options each day. I am able to conference individually with students or in small groups each day and set goals for reading and writing.
***WORD WORK/STUDY: word study work will be changing this term. Students will continue to work within their level on short vowels, blends, digraphs, long vowels etc. in class, but will also work on 8 specific high-frequency words each week that will be tested on Fridays. These 8 words will be written in their agendas each Monday so that you and your child can practice at home.
HOME READING
Dear Families,
Snuggle up and read with your child!
I cannot stress enough how important it is for students to reading at home. The purpose of a home reading program is to help “grow readers”, children who read competently and independently purely for the joy of reading! I encourage students to read for a minimum of 20 minutes each night. In each home reading bag there is a reading logbook that can be filled out each night.
Books
Any book can be included and recorded as part of the classroom Home Reading program. These include personal books, magazines, comic books, graphic novels, books from the classroom or library (school or public). In the case of novels, each chapter (or 20-minute reading session) can count for an entry in the logbook.
Record Sheet
When your child has read for 20 minutes, completed a book, or 1-2 chapters, they can fill out an entry in their logbook. Please help them to do this.
Book Exchange
Home Reading bags/books/logbooks must be returned to school every Friday. Students will choose new home reading books at the beginning of every week to take home.
Care of Books
I ask for your assistance in ensuring that the books are handled with care, as most of the books in my classroom library are from my personal library. Some of the classroom books are old and with your cooperation they will be enjoyed for many years to come! Please keep the books in a safe place and transport them to and from school in the plastic bag I have provided.
I hope you and your child will enjoy the time spent together as you explore the magical world of books!
Thank you,
Ms. Langille
Writer’s Workshop: This week students will begin learning about the components of a story. Students will use a planning strategy to map out their own story to write. Students will work through the writing process (as taught in class) to produce a final copy that they will share aloud with their classmates.
French Pilot Project: Every Wednesday afternoon. Students are learning basic French language through songs and games.
Library: Tuesdays at 11:10am.
Read Aloud: We are reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets written by J.K. Rowling.
Math
Our classroom bank and currency has been up and running for a few weeks now. Students have been learning how to handle money, earn money (through classroom jobs, care of materials, being your best tickets), save money and make change in the classroom. Students will be able to purchase for time for work they really enjoy, such as ‘listen to reading’, ‘drawing time’, ‘read to self’, ‘work on writing’, and ‘read to someone’ time.
Many students will continue to practice various strategies for addition using different materials and manipulatives to solidify concepts.
We will also begin discussing the process of substraction. Students will also continue with their geometry work. They are learning about line and polygons before moving on to 3-D objects.
Science
Salmon Study: All of our Chinook salmon eggs have grown into fry. This week students will continue to study this stage of the life cycle. Ask your child about the salmon! They have so much to tell!
Social Studies
We are continuing to study ourselves with the hope that understanding ourselves will lead to a greater understanding of the people in our community and the world. This week we will explore our fears and bravery and how we can overcome them.
Trips to the Museum
February 7, 14th: Stories Beneath the Surface – students will learn about the Castlegar Dam and its effects on Revelstoke and Arrowhead.
April 11th: Sinixt – students will learn about the First Nations people who lived in their community.
June 14th: Students will piece together a timeline of the history of Revelstoke.
Arts Education
Music: Wednesdays, 8:30am with Mrs. Snider (Please direct all questions regarding the talent show to Mrs. Snider)
Gym
Mondays (nature walk through the back woods with myself), Tuesdays (Mrs. Snider), Thursdays (Mr. MacKenzie): 8:30am
Classroom Community
This week we will continue Play is the Way. Students will be learning various games to support the core competencies outlined in the curriculum.