| Mrs. Clunas' Creative Grade 1 Class |
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Welcome to our Grade 1 Class Webpage
Mrs. Clunas's Creative Ones
March 1, 2010 General Information******************It is really quite warm in our classroom this year so please have your child dress in layers just in case he/she gets too warm.**************** I am so happy that I've had the pleasure of meeting your child. I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing summer and you are geared up for the year. Students in my class have the opportunity to work in small groups, large groups, independently and one-on-one with me. I eagerly anticipate an exciting and rewarding year working with your child. The grade one curriculum contains many challenging opportunities and activities. We will be holding a "Meet the Teacher" bbq on September 30th, 2009. This will give you a chance to visit the classroom and learn more about what your child is and will be doing this year. I look forward to meeting you at that time. I will update this webpage after the first Monday of every month. If you do not have access to the internet please let me know and I will send home a paper copy for you. I am trying to save paper by asking you to check out what is happening in our classroom on-line. Please send in a box of tissues for our classroom. We go through a lot especially when the sniffles arrive in the late fall! Thanks to those who have already brought in a box! Just received a letter regarding the brand of tissue called “Puffs with Lotion”. The lotion in the tissue contains shea butter, which is derived from shea nuts (a tree nut!). I had no idea that there was even a connection between shea butter and nuts, so please check the box before you donate. Bell times for this year: 8:55 a.m.-entry 9:00 a.m.-classes begin 10:00 a.m.-recess 11:40 a.m.-lunch 12:40 p.m.-entry 12:45 p.m.-classes begin 2:15 p.m.-recess 3:25 p.m.-dismissal
Homework Routines
2. make materials available to the homework zone 3. remove distractions (turn off the t.v.) 4. set a time frame and stick to a schedule 5. offer guidance but don't do the homework 6. offer praise
Homework Books Your child's red homework book is in the backpack. Each night, you and your child will be responsible for completing the work with that day's date on it. Please do not do more that that night's homework. It is important to decide upon a good time and location for your child to complete his or her homework. These are the kinds of routines that will follow your child through his/her schooling. I will check the homework every morning and record completion on the report card. "Hug A Book" Program (or Home Reading Bag) Your child brought home a Home Reading Bag today. Each morning your child will get to exchange the book for a new one. Please read the book every night with your child. We are easing into the program with easier books and they will gradually increase in difficulty, however, we are limited to the materials we have in the classroom. I have added baggies filled with cards with pictures and words for your child to read. Your child may bring one of these bags home instead of a book. Agendas We will be using agendas this year. The agendas are designed to keep students organized and provide a means of communication between teacher and parent. You child will write a few words in it every day to let you know what we are doing the next day. Feel free to write me notes in the agenda and I will do my best to answer that day. Agendas this year cost $8! Library We will have library every Day 1 during the year. Please have your child return the book before that day. Physical Education Students must have a pair of clean indoor running shoes for use in the classroom and in the gym. They need to leave these at school. Your child will not be able to wear outdoor shoes inside and your child needs to wear shoes for safety reasons. Please no sandals or Crocs. Students are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing for phys. ed class. Mr. Howe and Mr. Switzer will be our phys. ed teachers this year. Our phys. ed classes are on Days 1, 3 and 5 in the afternoon. Lunch Students are encouraged to bring healthy snacks and lunches in reusable containers. Be advised that there are students at our school who have severe nut allergies, please avoid sending foods that contain nuts. Students who choose to eat at school will be eating in our classroom.
Students are encouraged to bring a litterless lunch if possible. All snack and lunch garbage will go home with the students...we don't want to smell leftover food in our classroom and we don't want the ants coming in for their lunch either! Money All money should be sent to school in a sealed envelope or baggie. I would appreciate if you put your child's name on it and send the exact amount. Thanks! Scholastic Book Clubs I will be running a Book Club in our classroom. I will be sending home order forms every month. Three order forms will be sent to represent the different levels of reading that the students in my class may be at. I ask that the books be paid for by cheque made out to Scholastic Inc. Please return the form by the due date. If we order a minimum then I am able to buy new books or educational games for our classroom. Please consider ordering a few books throughout the year as it helps your child and our classroom community. March book orders due: March 5, 2010 Pick-up We ask that you wait for your child outside the grade 1 and 2 doors. If you need to pick up your child during the day, please check at the office. I will send your child to meet you at the office. If you are a volunteer within the school please sign in at the office and wear a visitor's pass. This is for your child's safety. Throughout the year, if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know through a note or phone call to the school (905) 668-8779. By working together I know that we can make this a happy and successful year for you and your child. Amy Clunas Great tips for reading:
Important dates-
Tuesday March 2 - Scientist in the School p.m. (Energy Makes it Happen!) Thursday March 4 - Safety Village p.m. Friday March 12 - last day before March Break Homework Expectations Parents, if you see work that has come home and it looks incomplete without a note from me to complete it, then it should be sent back to school the next day. It probably was taken home by accident and needs to be done at school. You will know if the work is complete if it has a sticker, stamp, comment or check mark on it. Reading - Please continue to review the vowel sounds with your child. Point to a vowel and ask your child the name of the letter, the sound it makes and the action that goes with it. We are also practicing silent reading and choosing an appropriate book. We have started guided reading groups. Writing - We will be writing focussing on finger spaces, punctuation and capitals where necessary. Spelling - Spelling with sight words begins on Monday November 2. There will be 7 to 10 words written in the agenda and those will be our spelling words for the week. We will have spelling centres in the class once a week and then hold our Spelling Bingo on Friday morning. Spelling Bingo is like a spelling test and will be sent home every Friday (hopefully!)
March 1 spelling words : jump, read, pull, carry, clean, fly, ride, pick, eat, drink Math- We are now working on addition facts to 10. Keep practice counting by 1's, 2's, 5's and 10's to 50. We have also been working on some problem solving activities in class. Your child is asked to solve a math problem using manipulatives found within the classroom and show an answer using pictures, numbers and/or words. This encourages your child to problem solve on his/her own and figure out different ways to reach a solution or solutions to a problem. Science/Social studies - We have started our Energy unit for science. You may complete the Ontario Power Generation booklet at home if you wish. If work is not completed during the day, then I will send it home to be completed. This work should then be returned the next day for me to check. Completed work will have a check mark, stamp or sticker to indicate that it is finished. If it does not have a check mark, stamp or sticker send it back to be done at school! It was taken home by accident. When your child is the special helper, he/she may bring in something for Show n' Share. Your child will be told when he/she will be the helper for the day. (I go in alphabetical order). March 2010
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
Hot Links http://www.berenstainbears.com http://www.enchantedlearning.com http://www.tlsbooks.com/gradelevel.htm http://www.kidsdomain.com/kids/links/Black_History.html http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/index.html http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/
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