Friday, September 28

Well, September's a wrap!  What a great month!  I am so pleased with the progress the students are making!  They have grown so much already!

Terry Fox - an absolutely beautiful day for our annual Terry Fox walk.  Each year we keep Terry's dream alive!  It is our responsibility to continue to teach our children the heroic legacy of Terry Fox.  It was wonderful to see the whole school, big ones partnering with the little ones, all walking together in the spirit of Terry Fox.  I will try to attach some photos to view!

Apple Words - again, kudos to kids and parents for practicing!  I am so thrilled to say that ALL the grade one's improved!!!  That's what we are working for so keep up the practicing! 

Thank you to Tracy Wenger for helping in the classroom today!  She did a wonderful job testing the students on Apple Words!

Thanksgiving - our annual Thanksgiving meal is on Friday, October 5.  We hope you can come.  The Grade one's will eat a bit early at 11:30.  We will be introducing our new staff members at 12:00.  You are welcome to come and eat at 11:30, if you'd like to eat with your child.

Operation Christmas Child - each year, with the Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day themes, I discuss supporting Operation Christmas child.  Here is a link to the website and I will send more info next week.  I like to discuss Operation Christmas Child at Thanksgiving to remind the students how fortunate we are to live in Canada.  Also, it helps the students to understand the concept of war and again, how fortunate we are.http://www.samaritanspurse.ca/operation-christmas-child

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, September 25

Terry Fox Pledge sheets - these sheets actually went home the first week of school but very few were returned.  The sheets have been sent again.  Please return by Thursday.

The students watched a video about Terry Fox today.  If you would like to view it, here's the link. Terry Fox ESPN  I'll be showing again tomorrow as a number of students were out during that class.  This is an excellent, short video that gives a simple overview of Terry and the Marathon of Hope.
Ask your child about Terry - I was pleased that some of the students knew about him.  Of course, he's our greatest Canadian hero.
We also practiced running like Terry - ask your child to show you.

Remember that you are welcome to join us for the Terry Fox Walk @ 10:45 on Friday.

Monday, September 24

A beautiful autumn weekend!  I hope you got a chance to get outside and enjoy it!  It was so beautiful I had no excuse and washed my windows!!!!

Terry Fox Walk is on Friday.  Please make sure your child has outdoor running shoes that day  (no Crocs, flip flops or cowby boots, please).  Also a warm jacket.   We will be selling hot dogs for lunch at $1.00.  Please note in agenda if your child brings money for hot dogs.

One final week with the Book bags and then we will begin the Home Reading Program next Monday.  Please make sure to have the Book Bags back for Monday, October 1.

A reminder to note in agendas if your child is going anywhere else beside home.  This includes babysitters, Canskate, a friend's house, etc.  Thank you!

Apple words test will be Friday afternoon.  I will test students on either the 1st ten words or 20 words depending on the level they have achieved. 
Our goal is to know all the apple words before the end of October so remember to practise!

Also, a reminder that school begins at 9:00.  When your child is frequently late, he or she misses important phonics lessons.  Of course, occasionally lates happen but try to keep them to a minimum.  Missed work needs to be finished at recess and the students' don't like that very much!

Enjoy the lovely fall weather...... we know what's coming!

Friday, September 21

Today the Grade One's enjoyed the beautiful 'summer' weather and went on a walk with Mrs. Clark for science.  Ask them what they say, heard, and touched.  Tomorrow is officially fall!

Today was our first Word test of many!  The students tried their best.  They are tested on a 3 second timed Power Point.  Now, I know that many parents will say, "He/she knows them at home."  however, I am looking for mastery - no sounding out at all. They must give me the word within the 3 seconds.

Congratulations to Jonathan, Tori, Hailey W., Austin and Victoria who have moved to the next group of Apple Words.  For next Friday they need to practice all 20 Apple words.

Congratulations to Jonathan Rolleiser for achieving 100%!  Tori Rutherford and Hailey Wenger both recognized 12/13.

If your child did not move on, please study the same 10 words for next Friday.  Remind the students to really look at the beginning sound as some were guessing.

Next week we will begin our Thanksgiving unit already!  Happy harvesting!

Wednesday!

Another busy day!
Today we added the sound for 'h'.  Check to see if you child can show you the action, tell you the sound and print you both the upper and lowercase letter.  Remember, letters start at the top!

Homework:  For most of your children, it's reading My Yellow Book 3x.  A few have both the Red and Yellow book as they weren't finished their red books yesterday.  Really try to practice these little reading books as it helps to foster sight word recognition and left to right reading and writing.  Note that your children are trying to spell the words themselves!  I am proud of their attempts!

The students had both Health and Library today with Mrs. Hunter so most have library books.  If they did not receive a book, their books must be overdue.  I'll note this in the agenda tomorrow.

PRACTICE THOSE APPLE WORDS!!!!!!!!

Tuesday Update

Today we reviewed the letter sounds of 'a, s, t, p, i, n, c, k,' and introduced 'e'.  Review these sounds at home as well.  They should be able to tell you the letters and sounds.  If not, practice these often so your child doesn't fall behind.  We will move quickly past letter review and into vowels, blends, etc.

I hope you are having fun with the book bags.  Thank you for noting in the agendas items that are damaged or need replacing.  I appreciate the good care taken with the bags.  After Thanksgiving we will begin our actual Home Reading Program.

Printing - we are focusing on a few key printing skills and you can help reinforce this at home.

1.  Pencil grip - old habits are hard to break but the correct pencil/crayon grip is:  pencil pinched between the tips of the thumb and first finger with the other fingers underneath supporting the pencil.  Please correct your child's grip if they are 'finger wrapping' (not holding the pencil with the tips of the finger). 
2.  Letters start at the top!  We will begin really focusing on the correct formation of letters in your child's name so....... time to break the old habits!  ALL letters start at the top!   The only exception is lowercase 'e'.  We teach this letter by:  start in the middle, bat the ball out straight, run around the bases almost back to home.  Get your child to show you!

Apple Words
I was very pleased to see that all the Apple words were out of the agendas!  I assume this means they made it home.  Remember to practice for 5-10 minutes each night this week.  The children were very excited to tell me how many words they knew!

School Supplies
If you haven't sent them - please do!  We go through pencils and crayons quickly!  Also, please send extra clothes and a paint shirt.

I am really enjoying the students!  They are very eager to learn and quite cooperative.  We have had some minor incidents between some of the boys.  I don't always hear of things that happen on the playground so please remember your child to make sure to tell ME about incident they are involved in (but not tattling on others).  I can't really address issues that happen last week if I don't know about them and, days later, the students don't even remember what happened.  I try to deal with minor incidents at school but I will contact you if I think it's necessary.
Finally, if you have any questions, give me an email and I usually can get back to you right away in the morning.

Monday Update

Hope everyone had a chance to get outside over the weekend and enjoy the beautiful fall weather while it lasts!

As promised, I sent home the Apple words!  These are really the first 10 Fry Sight words.  We have been working on these words at school in our 'tubs' and on the Word Wall.  I will test all the students on Friday to see how they are progressing on the words.

 

Please practice the following 10 words for this week.  The words are:  a, it, is, of, the, and, in, to, you, that. 

On Friday I will test your child on the above words.  If he or she passes 8/10 words or more, I will then attach another sheet of words to their test sheet.  You can then substitute those ‘apple words’ to the 10 words already given.  Please do not practice more than 10 words at a time.  This is too overwhelming for them at the beginning of the year. 

If your child does not know 8/10 words I will ask you to practice the same ten words again for another week.  We will continue in this pattern for the rest of the year.  Some children will learn the words very quickly and others will not.  This is absolutely fine because they will be learning at their own rate.  I will keep you aware of their progress and let you know if I have any concerns.

When your child has completed all 25 ‘apple’ words (Level 1A) we will go on to Level 1B ‘sun’ words. 

At school we also practice these words initially but after a while the children will only receive practice at home so it is very important that they begin practicing each night for 5-10 minutes.  A good sight word vocabulary is essential for them to become fluent readers.

Please check your child’s agenda for his or her sight word testing mark.  I try to assess this each Friday. You will also notice that I test on the color words that we practice in class.  These aren’t sent home in the apple words.  I will not send these words home to practice as I want to know how well the children are attending to the words we are using in our writing each day.

Please call me if you have any questions!  Remember to keep practice time short, daily and fun!  Some strategies are:

Swat! – use a fly swatter to swat the word (they love this!)

I spy – I spy a word that starts with “r” (sound).  They should be able to find it and tell you it.

Memory – turn over the word that the parent says.  Count how many turns it takes and beat your record or play against the parent.

Put the words on the frig or a door so they are easily seen.

Count the letters in the words and order them from most letters to least.

Practice printing the letters on a chalkboard, wipeboard, paper etc.

Mrs. Burzynski

Apple Words

Re:  last post.  Didn't have time to send Apple words.  I'll send them Monday!

Book Bags!!!!!

September 14, 2012

Book Bags

Today your child brought home a Book Bag.  These books and activities are intended to help foster the habit of reading daily with an adult. 
1.  Each bag is different but all contain a book and some kind of activity to foster reading or math skills.
2.  Each book is designed to be READ TO your child but many children will be able to read along with you and may be able to read the book to you after an initial reading.
3.  Each book and activity needs to be completed with an adult.
4.  Each bag needs to be returned after 1 or 2 days or we will run short of bags.
5.  Please put the bag in a safe place where smaller children can't damage it.
6.  Make sure all materials are back in the bag.
7.  Add the sight word or words to your child's Word Ring.  If he or she already has that word on the ring, don't add it again. 
8.  Keep the word ring at home.  DO NOT SEND BACK IN AGENDA, BOOK BAG OR LIBRARY BAG.  The children can just review these words at home.  I don't test on the words but it helps them to build a larger sight word vocabulary than just the Apple words.  I suggest keeping the Word Ring with the Apple words.
9.  If there is an activity worksheet, send it in the agenda and I will look at it and admire it and send it back home again with a sticker!
10.  If something appears to be missing from the book bag, please note it in the agenda.  Thanks!

11  ENJOY THE BOOK BAGS!  THEY ARE MEANT TO BE FUN!

If you have any questions, just email or call.
Mrs. Burzynski

Apple Words
I am also sending the Apple words to cut out.  I am sending only the first 10 words and you can beginning practice them with your child. 

Have a great weekend!  I'm off to Edam to watch my daughter play volleyball!

Tuesday and Wednesday

Yesterday was busy as usual!  We reviewed the letter sounds 'a' and 's' and introduced 't'.  Most of the students remember the letters and sounds.  We also finished out Red booklet and it will be going home on Wednesday.
In Art class, we traced leaf shapes on to our sponge painted papers to create fall leaves for our classroom tree.  It looks like autumn in our room now!

Today we review s,a,t and introduced 'i'.  If your child is still uncertain of letters and sounds, remember to practice these at home.  In grade one we do a quick review but the students really need to know their sounds.  In fact, today we began writing in our Journals!  The students did a good job!

Before lunch we divided into our school house teams and played some rousing games of Tug of War and a funny relay game.  Lots of fun and one of the things that make Hillmond a great school - big kids and little kids working and playing together!

In gym, we are working on a Tag game unit.  Today we played Vegetable Soup and Color Tag.

I am currently working on ERI testing.  This testing gives me a good indication of each child's reading strengths and weaknesses.  I will share the results of the testing with each parent when it is completed over the next 2 weeks.

Thanks so much for the clearly marked envelopes with school fees and Hot lunch.  Makes it much easier for me.
Finally, if you wish to order Scholastic Books I will send the order in next Monday.  Cheques only made out to Scholastic Canada.  Thanks!

Monday, September 10

We started our day with a yummy pancake breakfast supplied by the SRC!

We are learning new words!  The students are working in 'Tub words'.  These are the very beginning Level 1A Fry words ('Apple words' that you will get shortly).  We played a game called SWAT today to practice learning the words on our Word Wall.

Handwriting without Tears - is the name of our printing program.  Some of the letter formations may be different than you have taught your child.
We are focusing on holding the pencil correctly with a 2 finger pincher grip and all the other fingers underneath.  Please correct your child's grip at home as well as old habits are hard to break!  They should be able to hold onto the pencil while holding onto a cotton ball in their hand using 2 fingers to hold the pencil, 1 finger under the pencil and the last 2 fingers holding the cotton ball in the palm of their hand.

Today we joined the Kindergarten class for computers and for phys. ed.  Of course, we also needed Center time!

If I sent you a note regarding Overdue Library books, please resolve this ASAP.  Until outstanding books are returned or paid for, your child will be unable to borrow further books and we don't want that to happen!

Thanks for sending in paint shirts and registrations.  Last call for both by Wednesday please.

Paint shirts

I neglected to add paintshirts to the supply list.  Please send a paint shirt ASAP.  A large T-shirt works best.  Please label with name.
Thanks!

Thursday, September 6

We had a great day again yesterday!  We went for a walk throughout the school to take photos for MY SCHOOL booklet. 
We have begun learning the color words.  Yesterday's word was RED and we will be completing our RED activities today.  Challenge your child to spell the word RED!

The grade one's will be completing a Early Reading Intervention screen over the next week.  This helps us to assess which children show good readiness skills, which children have developing readiness skills and which children will need more one-on-one intervention.  Initially, we provide ERI instruction for those children who have developing readiness skills.  We find that they are ready to learn to read and just need a little boost.  Those students who are at a pre-emergent readiness level will receive ERI instruction later in the year when they have more readiness skills.  I will talk to you if your child will be receiving ERI instruction.  It is a great program!

Unfortunately, I will be away on Friday to attend a funeral in Spruce Grove, Alberta.  The grade one's will be in the very capable hands of Mrs. Lynn Priest.

Have a great weekend!
Mrs. B.

First Day!

What a great first day!

We read a book called First Day Jitters - about a teacher who didn't want to go to school.  The students thought that was pretty funny! 
We discussed how we felt about grade one, a new teacher,  learning to read, etc and used happy faces or sad faces to show how we felt about each questions.  I'm glad it was mostly happy faces!
The morning was spent unloading school supplies.  Please try to get any missing supplies to school by next week.
We enjoyed phys. ed. today, just with grade one, but starting Thursday gym will be combined with Kindergarten like last year.

I forgot to put a paintshirt on the supply list!  I find a large T-shirt works best.  Please label with name if possible.  Sorry about that.

A great day and I am now even more excited about this year!
Mrs. B.