February News

It is hard to believe that February is here already!  Students have been working hard to do their personal best in both classroom work and in social interactions with their peers at recess times.  Ask your child how they are being a "great classmate?" 

Reading at Home

Please remember that your child should be reading at least 10 minutes each night, at home.  A good goal to work on is becoming a fluent reader.  As your child reads, listen for fluency (the tone and rate at which they read).  To achieve fluency, your child may have to read their book many times.  Fluent reading sounds very natural.  If your child is reading word by word, ask them to "make it sound like talking" and see if this makes a difference. You may also want to record your child reading and play it back for them, asking if they think they sound expressive?  Thank you for continuing to read at home regularly!

Writing

The students have been working hard to develop their writing skills and are learning to use capitals and periods appropriately and to remember to put finger spaces between their words.  While phonetic spelling is accepted and even encouraged, the children are expected to spell the words that are on our "word wall" correctly.  Now we are working on including describing words and detail in our writing.  The children have been working in their journals to print two sentences.  We have also been practicing identifying and printing rhyming words and putting words in alphabetical order (ABC order).


Math
The 100th Day of School is almost here! We count up to it from our first day of school in September.  The number 100 is such a landmark number and we will put a lot of time and effort into exploring all we can about it during our math centres, this month.  "100 Snowmen" is a fun book we will be reading and we will be celebrating that we are 100 days smarter!


Valentines Day is quickly approaching as well.  Please look for our Valentine's mailing list (classmates’ first names only) in your child’s agenda!


Together in learning,

Mrs. M. Novak

Reading Practice

Home Reading Folders were sent home a few weeks ago to help your child in his or her quest to become an effective reader.  Please try to read with your child at least 10 minutes per day.  A Treasure Chest Prize will be awarded each time your child reads 10 books!

This year in Grade One we will be working hard using reading strategies that will help your child comprehend text better.  Our class will work on a variety of reading strategies throughout the course of the school year.  We will work on each strategy multiple times.  The goal for your child is to be able to apply all of the strategies independently before, during, and after reading. 

Reading is the most important skill a child learns in Grade One, where the emphasis in on learning to read.  By Grade Two, the emphasis shifts to reading to learn.  Therefore, the stronger your child's reading skills are, the easier Grade One will be!

Thanks so much for your support at home!

Mrs. M. Novak

Welcome

Welcome to our Blog!  What a great start in Grade One!  It has been wonderful working with your child and seeing so many smiling faces.  I am really looking forward to sharing many experiences with your child this year!

In math, we are working on patterns.  In class we have talked about the core of the pattern.  The core is at the beginning and is the smallest part of the pattern that keeps on repeating over and over again.  We have discussed what changes in a part.  Together we came up with a list of things that can change in the pattern.

-colour

-size

-shape

-number

-letter

-object

-growing

At home, you can have your child find patterns in their environment. 

Thanks for your support!

Mrs. M. Novak

Year End Reminders...

It’s hard to believe that our year is almost at an end!  We’ve had a wonderful year, full of celebrations and personal and academic growth. I am so proud of each and every student and the progress they have made over the year!

Grade Two is just around the corner… What can you and your child expect?  What can you do to prepare?  Many things will stay the same.  You will continue to support and encourage your child.  You will continue to work with the teacher to give your child the edge everyone needs to get the best from the school experience.  Learning will carry on.  In many ways, Grade Two consolidates the learning of Grade One.  You can prepare for a successful year in Grade Two by continuing regular reading times, challenging your child with real-life mathematical tasks, and taking advantages of opportunities for your child to write.

Let the weeds take over the garden, skip lunch, and forget to feed the fish, but DO NOT SKIP REGULAR READING WITH YOUR CHILD!

Thanks for an amazing year!!

Together in Learning,

Mrs. M. Novak

Book Fair Reminders

The book fair will run from Monday, May 6 until Friday, May 10, during 2nd nutrition break, in the school library.  It will also be open from 5:00-6:00 pm before the school play on Tuesday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 8.  All purchases benefit Cobblestone school!

MAY news...

It is hard to believe that May is here already!  Time flies when you're having fun!  

Reading & Writing
Please continue to participate in the Home Reading Program! It really helps support your child's reading ability and their confidence in reading.

We are working on procedural writing - How to... 

Together the children and I will demonstrate how to ...Make Rainbow Floats (you can ask them how to make one!).  There will be more to come this week and next.  It’s a chance for children to “be bossy and tell people what to do.”
Useful/Helpful Transitional Words:
First
Next
Then
After
After that
Finally

Math

We are just finishing up our Money Unit and our next unit of study is Telling Time. The children will be making a clock in class. They will be using our clock manipulatives at school and their homemade clock will be sent home for extra telling time practice.

The children will learn to read digital and analogue clocks, and then use them to identify benchmark times (e.g., times for breakfast, lunch, dinner; the start and end of school; bedtime) and to tell and write time to the hour and half-hour.

They will also name the months of the year in order, and read the date on the calendar.

The children will also estimate, measure, and describe the passage of time, through investigation using non-standard units (e.g., number of sleeps; number of claps, number of flips of a sand timer).

We will continue to work on positional/directional words and pattern counting by 1's, 2's, 5's 10's and 25's to 100.

I'm sure time will continue to fly, as we have fun learning during our Telling Time Math Centres!

Together in Learning,
Mrs. M. Novak

Choosing the Right Book...

Choosing the right book.  Some children may choose a book that is just right, too easy or too hard.  We have talked about what each book would look like.  I have written some descriptors that we generated together.

Too Easy (not really paying attention/reading too fast)
Have you read it lots of time before?
Do you understand the story very well?
Do you know almost every word?
Can you read it smoothly?

Just Right (paying attention to words/not stuck on every word/not rushing)
Is the book new to you?
Do you understand a lot of the book?
Are there just a few words a page you don't know?
When you read, are some places smooth and some choppy?

Too Hard (can't understand words/reading so, so, so slowly)
Are there more than 5 words on a page you don't know?
Are you confused about what is happening in most of the book?
When you read, does it sound pretty choppy?
Is everyone else busy and unable to help you?

Together in Leanring,
Mrs. M. Novak

March News & Requests...

Math

In math, we have been working on Geometry where the students are identifying common 
two-dimensional shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, circle, oval, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, etc.).  We are also working on three-dimensional figures (cylinder, sphere, cone, triangular prism, pyramid, rectangular prism, cube, etc.).  The students will be required to sort and classify them by their particular attributes (e.g., colour, size, sides, lengths, and corners, etc.) using concrete materials and pictorial representations.  Students will investigate how shapes work together to make new shapes and creating pictures with 2D shapes.  Geometry vocabulary can be challenging for students!  With your child, look for 2D shapes and 3D figures in the environment to help familiarize them with some of the mathematic language (e.g., another word for vertices is corners). 

Classroom Donations

If you haven’t had the chance to send any in this year, please help us out!  We are in need of plastic spoons and we are always in need of glue sticks. Most students have run out at this time in the year.  Any donations are always greatly appreciated!

Together in learning,
Mrs. M. Novak

February News

It is hard to believe that February is here already!  Students have been working hard to do their personal best in both classroom work and in social interactions with their peers at recess times.  Ask your child how they are being a "great classmate?"  As the weather continues be quite cold and snowy, please make sure your child has an extra pair of mittens and socks in their backpacks.

Reading at Home

Please remember that your child should be reading at least 10 minutes each night, at home.  A good goal to work on is becoming a fluent reader.  As your child reads, listen for fluency (the tone and rate at which they read).  To achieve fluency, your child may have to read their book many times.  Fluent reading sounds very natural.  If your child is reading word by word, ask them to "make it sound like talking" and see if this makes a difference.  You may also want to record your child reading and play it back for them, asking if they think they sound expressive?  Thank you for continuing to read at home regularly!

Writing
The students have been working hard to develop their writing skills and are learning to use capitals and periods appropriately and to remember to put finger spaces between their words.  While phonetic spelling is accepted and even encouraged, the children are expected to spell the words that are on our "word wall" correctly.  Now we are working on including describing words and detail in our writing.  The children have been working in their journals to print two sentences.  We have also been practicing identifying and printing rhyming words and putting words in alphabetical order (ABC order).


Please mark your calendars... A reminder that on Monday, February 11th, we will be celebrating 100 days of school, 100 days of friends and 100 days of fun!!  Thank you for your help at home on the 100th Day project. It is greatly appreciated!


Please look for our Valentine's mailing list (classmates’ first names) in your child’s agenda!


Together in learning,

Mrs. M. Novak

Happy Holidays!!

The children have made you a special gift for Christmas! Please remind them to check their backpacks before Christmas morning! Have a wonderful and safe holiday filled with joy!  See you in the New Year (Jan. 7)!


Sincerely,

Mrs. M. Novak

Home Reading Program

This year in Grade One we will be working hard using reading strategies that will help your child comprehend text better.  Our class will work on a variety of reading strategies throughout the course of the school year.  We will work on each strategy multiple times.  The goal for your child is to be able to apply all of the strategies independently before, during, and after reading.  I have prepared a Home Reading Folder for each family to help your child in his or her quest to become an effective reader. 
Home Reading Folders were sent home last week.  Please try to read with your child at least 10 minutes per day.  A Treasure Chest Prize will be awarded each time your child reads 10 books!  




Thanks so much for your support at home!






Mrs. M. Novak

Parent Teacher Conference Reminder

Just a quick reminder to please sign up for parent-teacher conferences online at
http://bit.ly/CobConferences2018. Please note that our Book Fair will be running in the library during conference hours.  I look forward to meeting with you!

Together in learning,
Mrs. M.  Novak

Halloween Reminders...

On Wednesday, October 31st, we'll be having our annual Halloween parade at 9:00.  Parents are invited to come to watch and see all the amazing costumes!  Please remember to send students in costume (including any make-up).  Students will be given the option of wearing their costumes all day or to take them off during first nutrition break.  Please ensure there is a labeled bag for costumes to travel back home. We ask that no weapons or scary masks come to school.  We will have our own classroom celebration in the afternoon.  If you wish to send in treats, we have 17 students. Please remember that all treats must be nut-free and store bought.  Thanks!





Yours hauntingly,

Mrs. M. Novak

Welcome & Reading Practice

Welcome to our Blog!  What a great first month in Grade One!  It has been wonderful working with your child and seeing so many smiling faces.  I am really looking forward to sharing many experiences with your child this year!

Today, Grade One's were given "Word Family Books to #5" for reading practice before Home Reading Folders come home.  Please try to read regularly with your child!  Reading is the most important skill a child learns in Grade One, where the emphasis in on learning to read.  By Grade Two, the emphasis shifts to reading to learn.  Therefore, the stronger your child's reading skills are, the easier Grade One will be!

Thanks for your support!

Mrs. M. Novak

Year End Reminders...

It’s hard to believe that our year is almost at an end!  We’ve had a wonderful year, full of celebrations and personal and academic growth. I am so proud of each and every student and the progress they have made over the year! 

Grade Two and Grade Three is just around the corner… What can you and your child expect?  What can you do to prepare?  Many things will stay the same.  You will continue to support and encourage your child.  You will continue to work with the teacher to give your child the edge everyone needs to get the best from the school experience.  Learning will carry on.  In many ways, Grade Two consolidates the learning of Grade One.  You can prepare for a successful Grade Two and Grade Three by continuing regular reading times, challenging your child with real-life mathematical tasks, and taking advantages of opportunities for your child to write.

Let the weeds take over the garden, skip lunch, and forget to feed the fish, but DO NOT SKIP REGULAR READING WITH YOUR CHILD!

Thanks for an amazing year!

Together in Learning,

Mrs. M. Novak

June Updates...

June is a busy, fun-filled month and our learning continues!

Our Math focus is Graphing & Probability

We'll be learning how events at school can be certain, likely, unlikely, or impossible.  Here are some examples:

• Certain:  We will have recess.
• Likely:  We will write in our journals each week.
• Unlikely:  Half the class will be absent.
• Impossible:  We will grow wings and fly home.

You can discuss events in your home that are certain, likely, unlikely, and impossible!





Social Studies Projects

Students have been working hard on our Social Studies unit, "Communities Around the World" and on researching and creating their "Cool Country" project at school.  At home, ask your child what country they have picked to become an expert on.  Some examples of discussion questions are:

• What types of food do the people eat in _____? 
• Tell me about the clothing worn in ________.
• Why would they wear clothing like that?
• What holidays are celebrated in ______?  

We have invited other classrooms to our Travel Show at the end of the week and our travel experts look forward to sharing about their Cool Country!

Together in Learning,

Mrs. M. Novak

April News

Story Writing

We are working hard at becoming stronger writers and writing several sentences that make sense!  We have been working on Narrative Writing (story writing) and our goal is to write a story with a beginning, middle and end.  When the children write a narrative, these are the following criteria that need to be considered when writing: 

Beginning - Introduce the characters and the setting. Middle - Time for the plot.  Introduce the problem.  The problem the character(s) faces is straightforward to understand.  Add the details/events of what is happening in the story. The story contains the details.  It has a beginning, middle and end, and a logical sequence. End - Solve the problem in the story.  This is called the solution.  The resolution to the story is logical and simple to understand. Make your ending satisfying to the reader.

You can always encourage your child at home to write a story about something that really interests them (e.g., holidays they love to celebrate, games they like to play).  Finding the motivation to write is key and one page can turn into two or three!

"Peep-achute" Challenge

We have a special STEM challenge coming up next week that we'll be doing with our Reading Buddies!  Our challenge requires us to design and engineer a parachute for a Peep Rabbit to safely fly in.  We are in need of marshmallow bunny "Peeps," rubber bands, coffee filters (basket type), and string.  If you are able to help us out with any of these items, it would be greatly appreciated!

Together in Learning,

Mrs. M. Novak

Namaste...

Our ten week yoga program begins this month.  The children will really enjoy this wonderful opportunity!  Yoga will take place most Mondays until the month of April.  Please try to send your child in comfy clothes (e.g., yoga pants, sports pants, etc.) on Mondays!  There is no cost to students and yoga mats are provided.  Ask your child what poses he or she has learned and how yoga makes them feel.

Happy Holidays!

The children have a special gift that they have made for you!  Please remind them to check their backpacks before Christmas! Please have a safe and happy holiday filled with wonderful memories!  See you January 8th!


Sincerely,

Mrs. M. Novak 

Kids A-Z Home Reading Program

Kids A-Z (Raz Kids) is an online reading program that your child can use at home! This program will help to provide the extra reading practice that is important to your child's reading development.  They need to read, listen and self-record reading while following along.  The children are also encouraged to do the comprehension quizzes as well.

The children were given a special log-in and password information today (glued to front page of their agenda).  It would be a good idea to add the address to your computer's "Favourites" bar.  I am in the process of navigating my way through the website. I hope that you and your child enjoy exploring this fun resource!  This will be our home reading program for the year.

Just a reminder that Spelling quizzes take place on Friday mornings.  Remember that spelling test marks are not recorded for use on Report cards, but a large sight word vocabulary will help your child meet Ministry Expectations in both Reading and Writing.  The most important part of spelling is your son or daughter's ability to use these words in their journal writing and daily writing.

Thank you for your support in helping to make our spelling/word study program and reading program a success!

Together in learning,

Mrs. M. Novak