Sept 25 - 29, 2023

Hello, Grade 1 Families, 

Learning Intention: I can appreciate multiple points of view, languages, cultures, and experiences within my groups and communities. 

This week we have done a lot of learning about heroes and how one person can make a big difference. We focused on Treaty 7 week last week and this week we learned about the importance of Orange Shirt Day, Truth and Reconciliation, and how Every Child Matters as well as continued our learning about Terry Fox. We learned about Phyllis Webstad and her experience with residential schools. This is how Orange Shirt Day began. We also listened to Phyllis' story about her experience and shared how this would make us feel. Some of the emotions we discussed were sadness, anger, and frustration. 

As a school, we are committed to Every Child Matters and acknowledging the survivors of residential schools. Each class took up this learning in different, age-appropriate ways. Every student painted a rock, orange and we placed them all together in the shape of a heart by our learning grounds. On Thursday morning, we began our day with an interactive land acknowledgment created by the Calgary Public Library and the singing of a morning Cree song. 

Sept 18 - 22, 2023

Hello, Grade 1 Families, 

Thank you to all of the families I met with during conferences. I enjoyed hearing more about your child and how I can support them this year. 

Learning Intention: I can recognize and analyze letters and sounds in words. 

Every day we have been meeting as a whole group and focusing on a new letter. Students are learning letter names and sounds. We also focus on the correct mouth position for the sound and are reminded not to add extra sounds such as "uh" to our letter sounds. We have also been learning about the airflow when making sounds and are learning new fun words such as "fricative". Ask your child if they can tell you what a fricative sound is and why it is called that. This time is filled with movement, the ABC song, searching for letters, and learning how to write each letter. 

Reminder: When your child is printing, have them start their letters at the top. We are also focusing on writing our names using the proper case, so an initial uppercase letter followed by lowercase letters. Once we have moved through a group of letters, decodable books will be sent home for children to read each night. More information on how to support your child with reading at home will be sent home in the coming weeks. 

We will be creating a piece of art on a lid next week. Please send a plastic lid (ex: margarine, yogurt) with your child. 

Sept 11 - 15, 2023

Hello, Grade 1 Families, 

Learning Intention: I can demonstrate various ways of moving safely through space during physical activity. 

During our gym times, which we have every day, we have been working on moving safely in our gymnasium and outside spaces. Students have been learning tag games and tarmac games they could play outside during recess. Our focus has been to always be looking and watching for other people and obstacles so we can remain safe and prevent injuries to ourselves and others. Ask your child which tag game is their favourite and why? See if your child can teach you a new tag game. When we assess this skill we are looking for students to safely navigate through personal and general space, consistently making thoughtful choices to avoid collisions or obstacles. As well as demonstrate a strong understanding of safety principles.

We had the opportunity to work with iPads this week. Students used a QR code to access Lalilo and Starfall. Lalilo is a reading program and home access information was sent home this week. Links to both, Lalilo and Starfall, can be found on the sidebar of our blog as well. 

"My favourite game was freeze tag because you put out your arms for someone to come and unfreeze you." ~ IC

"I liked the hot dog tag game because you lay on the ground and people come and be your bun beside you." ~VW

"Everyone's It tag because I liked how everyone was it." ~HG

"I liked the abracadabra game because you tell us fun things to do." NB

"I liked the hot dog tag because you had to squirt ketchup on your friends." VK

Please remember to book a conference time! I look forward to chatting about the start of our school year, your child and what we will learn this year. 

Sept 4 - 8, 2023

 Hello, Grade 1 Families, 

Learning Intention: I can create healthy relationships with my peers and friends built on trust and respect. 

We begin each day in a Sharing Circle. We have a new way of greeting each other every morning and then moving around the circle, we respond to a new prompt. Students are learning the names of their peers and finding things in common with each other. We are working on building a classroom community where we all feel safe, listened to and respected. 

During our Sharing Circles, we follow protocols such as listening to others when they are talking, we pass a sharing stone around and the one holding the stone is able to share, students are encouraged to share but do not have to share and can say: "pass", everyone is equal and everyone belongs. 

For example: 

• Greeting: Roll the ball to a peer and say good morning. 
• Sharing: What is your favourite thing to do at recess? Share something you are grateful for. 
• Activity: Who's Missing Game - Students close their eyes while I ask one child to move outside the room. They open their eyes and try to figure out who is missing.

A request. Please have your child go to the bathroom before they come to school. We have a lot of children who are going to the bathroom within the first 15 minutes of our day. Thank you!