Grade 1

Wow! What a week! We certainly have so much to give thanks for.

Sports Day was a huge success. Well done to all our little athletes and a big thank you to all the parents who were there to help.

Due to the shorter week we have just had, we will do the same memory verse next week. (Ps 84v11) They only need to memorize and recite ‘For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord God bestows favor and honor.’

Just a reminder that Friday the 7th will be a half day. Please pick your child up between 12.00-12.30 from the Dorms.

We need to do a little catch up in Math, so next week we will finish off patterns and then start Fractions (halves and fourths). Homework is a practice sheet of patterns. There are a couple fun songs on Youtube for Patterns. Here is one  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBjjxSx45-Q&t=21s  Also, don’t blame me if your children come home singing ‘Banana Banana Meatball!’ hahaha  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ9q4U2P3ig&t=23s

In Science we will be moving into our new topic Earth and Sun. Lots of exciting investigations ahead.

In Literacy, we are reminding ourselves of some grammar skills and reviewing phonics so far. We will also be focusing on our speaking and listening in the children’s individual presentations to the teacher about their Social Studies project about weather and the seasons. There is no spelling test, instead we will be doing a Reading Test on Friday. Please ensure the test sheets are sent back to school on Friday so we can use them to grade the children. There is no other Literacy homework apart from Reading your book over the weekend. On Monday, there will be a letter coming home about an online reading program that the school is trialing for the next 30 days. It is called ”Reading Eggs” and each child will have their own login. We are looking forward to your feedback on this new system.

Show & Tell – we will continue with our guessing game. Children do not need to bring anything for this. They will describe a person, place or thing for the rest of the class to guess.

Have a great weekend!

Yippppeeeee! Its time for a long weekend!

We are now going into our final week of Weather and Seasonal Change in Science. We will be ending with a fun experiment that explores how special animal coverings can keep them warm in winter. Here are 2 video clips:

https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/blubber-gloves/

We had fun sorting and classifying this week.  The children enjoyed the practical activities very much. Sorting Homework has been sent home. Next week we will be moving onto Patterns.

Tip: I have discovered the website ABCya (https://www.abcya.com/) Paige and Emma find it fun and the learning opportunities are great for Math. The children use this website regularly to practise their Literacy and Math skills, and to have fun!

Show and Tell: We have now finished with sharing of photographs. I would like to try something different next week. A guessing game. Please help your child choose a person, place or thing. They are to describe it, without naming it, so that the class can listen carefully and then guess who or what it is. For example, Paige could describe her sister Emma or her favorite fruit.

Literacy: we have now finished with our Narrative Writing. Next week we will be revising some grammar and phonics skills we have learnt this quarter. For the spelling test this week, children need to revise all 20 words that they have had in the past 2 weeks. On Friday, they will be tested on 10 of these words.

Friday is Sports Day. Children need to wear a blue tshirt and normal PE shorts and trainers. They must have their hat, water bottle and a snack to take with them. We will be leaving school at 08:15. Please make sure you are on time. All children need to pay $3 towards the cost of the transport and facilities for the day.

Hi Moms and Dads,

 

I am busy doing homework with Paige now, and thought it might help you to send answers for 2 of the story sums.  (See attached) The children have been doing each of these steps in class but I have assisted throughout the process. Story Sums / Word Problems are challenging. We will be practicing this topic throughout the year.

 

Kind Regards,

Mrs. J Every

GRADE 1 – NUMERACY AND SCIENCE

 

Hi parents,

We hope that you have had a good week.

The children have worked very hard in our topic Story Sums this past week. I am so proud of them. We are going to be revisiting Story Sums throughout the year to get as much practice as possible. I have sent home a Story Sum practice sheet for homework. Our new topic for next week is ‘Sorting and Classifying’. I have prepared fun zip lock bags of various items for them to sort and then give reasons for their groupings.

In Science, we will be doing thermometer readings.

In Literacy, this week we have been focusing on the story of Cinderella, the characters, the setting and the plot. Next week, we will be doing our final Narrative planning and writing assessment piece based on Cinderella. This is an in-class writing session that will go towards their Quarterly grade. Remember to practise spellings from the Spelling Menu for Friday’s test. Homework this week is to read a story setting, guess which story it is from and draw it. Please return the sheet by Friday.

Social Studies Project – there will be an information sheet coming home with details about a Social Studies Project for the children to consolidate and show their knowledge of the weather and seasonal changes. This is due by January 29th. Please ensure that your child complete the project on their own.

Please remember that Friday 24th is a half day. Children are to be collected between 12:00 and 12:30 from the Dorms.

Sports Day has been scheduled for January 31st. Grade 1 need to wear a blue t-shirt and normal PE shorts/trainers. Please see the email from Coach Kring for more details, the cost is $3 per child to be paid by Monday January 27, 2020.

We are now back into the swing of things and your children have settled back into their normal routine.

 

Homework will now be sent altogether on a Friday to be returned by the following Friday.

 

Bible Verse: Please note that next week’s verse (Exodus 15:2a), should read: “The LORD is my strength and my song. He has given me victory.” Thank you for your support in helping your children to learn their weekly Bible verses. These do make up 40% of their overall Bible grade. Each Quarter, we also award a certificate to those children who have learnt every verse that Quarter.

 

In Literacy, we are changing our spellings routine. Children will now receive a ‘Spelling Menu’. They can choose different ways of practising their spellings, whichever way suits them. The words will be based on the Grade 1 High Frequency Words that all children are required to learn to read and write by the end of the year. We will also be practising these words daily during Phonics lessons. New spellings will be sent home on Fridays with the homework. Every three weeks, the children will be tested on a mix of words already learnt to see if they have retained the words:

Week 1 – HFW list 1

Week 2 – HFW list 2

Week 3 – a mix of words from list 1 & 2, no more than 10 spellings.

Literacy homework – there are 2 double-sided sheets this week. One is a Phonics sheet on the short /e/ sound and the other is grammar sheet using punctuation correctly. Please return by Friday January 17. Reading books are due back on Thursday ready to be changed for next weekend.

 

In Math we will be doing Word Problems. Homework booklet due by Friday January 17th.

 

Our next Show and Tell will be showing and sharing about a special photograph.

 

In Science we will be looking more closely at seasonal changes in animals which include hibernation and migration, resulting in changes in habitat. Here are 2 videos you can show your kids at home:

Welcome back!

We hope that all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years.

This week we will be getting back into routine as quickly as possible.

 

Reminders:

1A – New Library books will be chosen on Wednesday, if your child returned their old one before Christmas.

1B – New library books will be chosen on Tuesday, if your child returned their old one before Christmas.

 

Homework

After much discussion with yourselves and the rest of the staff, we have decided to combine the homework days. On Fridays, your child will receive their spellings, reading books, Literacy and Math homework to be completed by the following Friday. Occasionally, we will also ask your child to complete a project/special task. You will be given plenty of notice for this. Thank you for your support.

 

In Literacy, we are continuing our Narative story writing. This week we are revising settings and descriptions. There is no spelling test this week. Please help your child to practise their sentences for the reading test on Friday. Please continue to read and record any home reading on your child’s Reading Log book. Books should be returned by Thursday of each week ready to be changed and sent home on Friday.

 

In Math, there is a practise sheet this week on addition. Please return this by Friday. In class, we will be doing revision of concepts taught so far.

 

In Science we continue with Weather and Seasonal Change, looking more specifically at Precipitation: rain, hail, snow and sleet. We are  looking forward to some finger painting of trees in season in Art.

 

A reminder that there will be no more toys in Show and Tell. We continue with our favorite books and will start with holiday highlights.

Dear Parents,

Thank you so much for the thoughtful gifts and cards we have received. We feel so blessed to be able to teach your children and can’t wait for the new year to start.

Just a reminder that tomorrow is our Christmas party day. School ends at 2:45pm as normal. Children can wear party clothes (appropriate to run around in outside!), no high heels.

We plan to eat lunch at 11:30am so please ensure any party donations are in the classroom by then.

Have a wonderful Christmas break. See you all in January!

Mrs Every & Mrs Wade

We have had a lovely week together!

Lots of fun in Science as we continue learning about Seasons and Weather. A big thank you to Gilbert Miller (Dominic’s dad) for coming in to tell all the Grade 1’s about Weather. They loved your presentation and all the items that you brought in.

Another thank you to Anthony Echenique and his team for coming in with Xander’s Canine dog for a very interesting Animal Presentation.

In Math this week, we revisited what we have done in Grade 1 so far. After the activities were all marked, we held conferences with each child to go through what they had done, highlighting their strengths and setting goals for improvement moving forward.

Next week we are focusing on following verbal and written instructions to make some exciting things. There is no spelling test next week!

Wednesday is Christmas party day. We will be celebrating the birth of our Lord and the end of the term. Children must wear school uniform (unless they have earned a free dress down day voucher), however, if they wish to wear a Christmas hat or something sparkly in their hair, they may do.

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday, rest lots, play lots and enjoy family time wherever you may be. See you all on January 6, 2020!

Wow, wow, wow! What a wonderful Christmas play! We loved seeing all the kids on stage. A proud moment for us both. Thank you all for being there and for helping them learn their lines in the weeks leading up to the concert.

You may have noticed our lovely boat by the white gate has had a bit of a spruce up (thanks Mrs Holtzhouse!). The K&1 children and teachers will be working on an art project involving this – watch out for updates! If you can think of a good name for our boat, please let us know and the children will decide. Also, if anyone has some sewing skills, please let us know as we would love to make a flag for it.

In Literacy, we are continuing our Narrative writing. We have just been working on the story ”Aliens Love Underpants” by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort. A very funny story! We have learnt how to sequence a story through pictures, use adjectives to describe characters and different story openers. Next week, the children will be planning, editing and writing their own stories.

In Math we will be continuing in Subtraction. For homework, I could like the children to complete the Subtraction Activity Sheet by Friday, Dec 13th.

The children are really enjoying all the Animal Presentations. Now we will be continuing into the topic ”Weather and Seasonal Change”.

For Show and Tell next week, the children can either share their favorite Christmas memory or they can bring their favorite book and tell us about it.

Christmas Party will be on the last day of school – December 18th. We’re planning lots of fun activities and games! There will be a sign up sheet on 1A’s door for party contributions. Children must still wear school uniform but they may bring a Christmas hat/something sparkly for their hair. School ends at 2:45pm as usual.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs Wade & Mrs Every

Its almost concert time!

Please can all children meet in the Music Suite at 18:00 on Monday evening. We will take all costumes already handed in to the Music Suite. Children should arrive in lightweight clothing, such as tshirt and leggings/shorts, to wear under their costumes.

In Literacy, we are continuing our story writing. Next week, we will be concentrating on story openings and describing characters.

We had a fun week doing different addition activities. Math homework is an addition sheet. The children are encouraged to use counters. Next week we will be moving onto subtraction.

Very excited to be starting our Animal Presentations from Monday! We will do a few every day and hopefully get through all 30 children by Friday. Our next topic in Science is Weather and Seasons. There are many fun songs on Youtube that the kids can enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfAB4BXSHOAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZjpI6fgYSYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmSKsyJ15yg

There is no Show and Tell this week, as we are doing Animal Presentations. Reminder: No toys for Show and Tell. We will inform you of what the weekly topic will be after all the animal presentations.

Handwriting Homework: Please write out this weeks memory verse.

Spellings: Will be sent home on Monday for a test on Friday.

We loved meeting with you all at the parent-teacher conferences. Thank you for all your positive feedback and encouragement.