Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Happy Halloween!  We had a fun day today!  Our morning began with some fun counting and math games.  We worked on the skill called "counting on."  Counting on is when you say the bigger number (of two possible groups) and then keep going.  We combined counting on with number writing practice to play one of our games.  In round two, we practiced representing numbers with tally marks after counting on.

Later on, we welcomed the Magician, Richard Young, to Grade One.  He put on a wonderful show that was based on several of our recent topics in science and math: colours, patterns, and sorting.  He also had a really neat way of helping us remember the terms transparent, translucent and opaque.  To help us remember transparent, he put a card with the words "mom" and "dad" inside a clear glass, and to help us remember the translucent, he put a loose one cent coin into a frosted glass.

This afternoon we changed into our costumes and went on parade around the school.  Then, we learned to say, sign and read a Halloween poem called, "Five Little Pumpkins."

Reminders:

• Christmas Market is on Saturday, November 18 from 10-3
• Similar to last year, we are holding a raffle the day of the market. So far we have a few wonderful prizes compliments of local businesses, however, we are still looking for a larger item such as hockey tickets. If you know of anyone generous and able to help out in this way please have them contact market.kennethdtaylor@gmail.com right away. 

Friday, October 27, 2017

Today we were very lucky to have a special presentation in our gym.  The "Earth Rangers" program put on an assembly about protecting animals and their habitats, and brought along a few furry friends for us to see.  

In math this morning, we learned a new game.  It is called, "Race to 100."  In partners, we took turns rolling a die and then adding that number to our current position on the game board.  Soon we will practice playing with multiple dice for practice with addition and subtraction.  

Reminders:

• Next Tuesday is Halloween.  We will be having a parade of costumes through the classrooms in the afternoon.  If your child chooses to bring their costume to school, please make sure they can change into it without much adult support.  We ask that you do not send masks, makeup, weapons or violent costumes.  Healthy snacks are appreciated.
• On Tuesday morning we have a special science presentation coming to Grade One.
• Our field trip/activity fees have been uploaded.  Please access your MY CBE account to pay these: https://webapps.cbe.ab.ca/MyAccount/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fMyAccount%2f
• Friday, November 3 is Movie Night.  Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:00 (Despicable Me 3).  

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

The students filmed some of their poems today which are posted below for you to see!

Monday, October 23, 2017

This morning at stations we worked on identifying, creating and writing rhyming words, as well as our book projects, sight word recognition and our new iPad app.  Our new letter for printing today was "j" and we enjoyed hearing the story for that letter.  In the afternoon we created number sequences that showed skip counting by ten, and then built the numbers using ten frame cards.

Just a reminder that popcorn will be available for purchase on Wednesday and Thursday for $2.  We also have a fun assembly on Friday, when we will be visited by the "Earth Rangers" program.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

This morning we began with our first lockdown drill of the year.  We practiced what to do in case there was danger in our school building (the example we used was a dangerous animal, such as a fox, getting into the school).  We learned how to move against the back wall and sit quietly in our locked classroom.

Later on, we continued with our "Me Bag" presentations in social studies.  These presentations are helping the students showcase what they love (which is our current school wide theme).

In the afternoon, we learned how to print the letter f, practiced our counting and also continued with our "Hello Fall, Goodbye Summer" books.

Please note that today your child brought home his/her login information for the RAZ Kids online reading program.  This login card is taped to his/her purple folder.  If the folder did not come to school today, then the login information will be taped tomorrow.  Please feel free to add this program into your nightly home reading routine.

RAZ Kids Link

 

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

This morning we were busy at our guided reading table working on a variety of group specific tasks.  This included practicing:

-our letter chants

-beginning and ending blends

-digraphs

-sight words

We are making good use these days of our large whiteboard table and are recording our observations of the texts we work with.  

In math we started our counting and number representation unit.  We were introduced to our 100 charts and used them to practice counting in a variety of ways.  Counting forwards, backwards and skip counting will be something we practice daily going forward.  

Today we also started a new writing project titled, "Hello Fall, Goodbye Summer."  We are writing our first books and will add to them over the course of the week.

In the afternoon we enjoyed working on detecting rhyme, and sang the funny song "Willoughby, Willoughby, Woo" after playing our sock matching game.

Friday, October 13, 2017

This morning we were busy adding past work samples to our visual journals (scrapbooks), completing a pattern assessment and finishing off our letter 'e' and 'l' printing.  We also visited the learning commons for a book swap and received our new reading/poetry duotangs.  Our poems will help us with our Fry words list and overall reading confidence!

Today was our final day with our patterning unit in math.  Next week we will be branching into subitizing and representing numbers.

Please remember to keep up with the home reading program!  It makes a tremendous difference to your child's learning.  Also a reminder that there is no school on Monday and that picture day is on Wednesday.

All About Me Bags

Please note that a small homework assignment was sent home today for social studies.  In your child's backpack you will notice a brown paper bag and an instruction sheet.  The students will be collecting a few small items/photos that tell about them.  Please return the bag to school on Tuesday, October 17.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

In social studies we are busy exploring the idea of belonging.  Today we talked about how all people, regardless of their physical appearance experience the same feelings when they are either included or not included in a group.  Some of the feeling words we brainstormed for belonging were: full, happy, excited and lucky.  Some of the feeling words we brainstormed for not belonging were: broken, empty, lonely and sad.

In math, we are now working on translating patterns.  After we determine the rule (the letters in the core) it is easy to translate from one attribute to another.  For example, when we see the pattern: red, red, blue, green, we determine the core is AABC and can then translate it to jump, jump, turn, clap (among other options).

Calgary Public Library Book Truck

Interest to participate in the Book Truck was not as high as we would like thus we will not be partnering with them at this time.  We will look at a spring opportunity for students to tour the truck and learn more about their Summer Reading program.  New participation forms will be sent home at that time.  Thank you to all families who responded.

Ken Taylor Staff

Fun Lunch Reminder

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Today we got out the paintbrushes and worked on mixing white and black with blue to create shades and tints.  This formed the sky background for our hot air balloon colour wheel project.  We also cut out our pictures and glued them into the hot air balloon basket.  Tomorrow we will assemble the pieces and put it all together.

In our language arts stations, this week we began using the RAZ kids program on our iPads.  Soon, login information will be sent home if you choose to access this program after school as a supplement to home reading.  Also coming home in the coming weeks will be a poetry folder of poems for the children to practice with you.

Our class has been working hard on showing kindness to others and caring for our classroom/school.  The students are learning to take initiative with jobs around the classroom (e.g. looking for things to clean up without being asked) and are also working on including everyone in activities (e.g. inviting new friends to read together).  Overall, the students have formed a wonderful team thus far into the year!

Jacket Racket

Dear Parents,

Jacket Racket is a volunteer organization with the goal of ensuring that every child from Kindergarten to Grade 12 has a warm winter coat to wear to school. 90% of donations come from schools. The jackets are then distributed to children in schools where there is a need. This year we are inviting our students and parents to participate in a coat drive for Jacket Racket.  They accept gently used warm winter coats, snow pants, hats and mittens for all ages. Often whole families are outfitted, so any size is welcome.

A box will be set up in the Embassy for collection from October 10, 2017 to October 24, 2017

We encourage you to generously support this worthy project.

It is a great opportunity to help students who may be less fortunate.

          www.jacketracketcalgary.com

Thank you for your support.

Student Leadership Group and Mrs. Fraser

Monday, October 2, 2017

Today's weather kept us busy changing in and out of clothes!  If your child came home with any clothing items that do not belong to him/her, please return them to school tomorrow.  Just a friendly reminder to label all of your child's items and to please pack an extra change of clothes (including socks) in their backpack each day.  Thank you!

Today we had language arts stations in the morning, and were excited to make iPads one of our new activities.  We learned how to login using our student numbers.  Tomorrow, is our first day having parent volunteers assist us with our stations.  The office is now accepting volunteer applications for those families needing clearance.

We learned a new colour poem today, in preparation for our colour wheel art project coming up.  Later on, we worked on printing the letter "q" and heard a funny story about Queen Elizabeth and her body guard.  In math, our patterns are coming along.  We are working hard on identifying the "core" in a pattern and are moving towards labelling each element with a letter symbol (ABBA, ABC, AAB etc.)

Remember to complete the nightly home reading activities and return the book when ready!