February 6-10th

It was a wonderful week in room 9 transitioning to the changes and being a grade 1 family. 

Here is a look at our week -

I can learn about the past and how individuals/groups shaped and changed history. I can identify the meanings to new vocabulary. I can formulate my own opinions and share them with the group.  

This month is Black History month and we took the time this week to explore new vocabulary, learn about individuals and discuss our opinions on the stories we shared. We began by looking at the terms diversity and race then the terms racism and prejudice. As a group we spent time formulating our understanding of these concepts from anchor texts we read along with videos and student voice. From there we went on to read about three individuals who had dramatic impacts and shaped history - Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr and Viola Desmond. Here is a sample of student documentation after reading about these individuals- 





Phonics/Sight words - This week we continued finishing our work on the /th/ diagraph (when two letters form a single sound) as well as the sight words - she, do, how, their, if. This work was sent home with the students mid week.  
We will send home our reading passages on /ng/  to practice and new sight words by next Wednesday. Please continue to have your child read and practice the passages at home along with the sight words. Playing games such as memory or scavenger hunts is a great fun way to learn these new words. This week we played Xs and Os with our words as well - 



I can add numbers to 20 using different strategies such as counting on, mental math, fingers and visuals. 
This week we focussed on adding numbers through games. Students learned that simple games using dice or cards are a great way to learn the process of addition and apply different strategies. 
The first game we played is called what is under my thumb. First one student rolls two dice (hidden from their partner) then they look at the sum (4 +2 = 6) then they cover one dice with their finger (2)  and call out to their partner the sum - 
"6 , what's under my thumb? Their partner needs to determine what number when added to 4 equals 6. 




The next game we played was sum 5 - this involved using all the A, 2, 3, 4 cards of a deck of cards. Students turned the cards over and played a memory style game where they had to find 2 cards when added together equal 5. 
This game was then varied by adding the four 5 value cards and playing sum 6. We will continue to add the other cards from the deck to play Sum 7, 8, 9, 10. 
Have your children teach you these games at home. Both of these are great games to play at home with inexpensive materials needed. 


I can learn about my community, discovering the important aspects that make it unique. help it thrive and make it a place where all creatures can live together.  I can be mindful of the land and all those who call it their home. I can identify directions while out on the land and identify important features. 
This week we were fortunate to head out on the land with our grade 1 partner class to explore our community a little deeper. We spent time identifying  some of the important aspects of Ramsay around our school such as the little playground, upper fields, skating rinks, community gardens, tennis/basketball hoops and the look out at Scotsman Hill. There we practiced being mindful of the land and ourselves and listening and looking for signs of others that call Ramsay home as well as looking for landmarks that help us navigate directions. We also documented in our nature journals what we were able to visualize in the 4 directions.  



Reminders/Up coming events - 
Tuesday Feb 14th Valentines Day - students can wear pink, or red  and bring cards for their peers if they wish. We have 22 students in our class. You may just prefer to have them sign their cards with their names as it is easier for distributing. If students really wish to personalize their cards I have put a list of students names in our google classroom. 

Thursday, February 16 -

  • Staff Convention – No Classes for Students

 

, February 17 -

  • Staff Convention – No Classes for Students

 

Upcoming Events:

 

February

20 – Family Day – No School

21 – Mar 24 – Shadow Puppet Residency w/ Monica Ila

22 – Pink Shirt Day – All staff and Students are encouraged to wear PINK to show you care




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