Welcome
Happy New Year to all our St. Michael families! I welcome you back to school!!! I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and a restful holiday filled with laughter, family and friends.
January is already here, and that means it’s “back-to-school” time again! Many fun and exciting things to do and learn are in store for your child during the coming weeks!
January is already here, and that means it’s “back-to-school” time again! Many fun and exciting things to do and learn are in store for your child during the coming weeks!
January Themes
Religious Education
This month we will learn about the epiphany and how God is always with us. We will focus on how God cares for us and our world. The students will be lead through discussions about taking care of one another and the world in their day to day experiences.
Language Arts
Our literacy initiatives will continue to focus on Guided Reading and further developing skills to improve fluency. At the end of the month children will be re-tested on the Primer Words sent home in November. The primary writing focus will be Personal Recount Writing, where students will be expected to a short paragraph recounting the events that have happened to themselves in order (i.e., a snowy day, a day at the beach, Christmas morning). Students will be introduced to graphic organizers to organize their thinking and will also use transitional words such as first, then, after that, finally to recount the events in order. The children will continue to be encouraged to use capitals, periods, proper spacing and high frequency spelling words.
Math
The children will be learning about linear measurement using non-standard units. They will have many opportunities to measure, compare, and describe lengths and heights. They will use measurement terms such as longer, shorter and taller. Measurement will continue into the month of January. Check out the website for activities you can do at home with your children and links to computer games children can play on-line.
Science
Our Unit of study will be Understanding Earth and Space Systems: Daily and seasonal Changes. In observing their environment, students become aware of changes that take place in it, including changes in temperature, sunlight and in plants and animals. The study of Daily and Seasonal Changes focuses on easily observed changes that occur in cycles, including day and night and the four seasons, and on how these changes affect living things (humans, plants, animals).
This month we will learn about the epiphany and how God is always with us. We will focus on how God cares for us and our world. The students will be lead through discussions about taking care of one another and the world in their day to day experiences.
Language Arts
Our literacy initiatives will continue to focus on Guided Reading and further developing skills to improve fluency. At the end of the month children will be re-tested on the Primer Words sent home in November. The primary writing focus will be Personal Recount Writing, where students will be expected to a short paragraph recounting the events that have happened to themselves in order (i.e., a snowy day, a day at the beach, Christmas morning). Students will be introduced to graphic organizers to organize their thinking and will also use transitional words such as first, then, after that, finally to recount the events in order. The children will continue to be encouraged to use capitals, periods, proper spacing and high frequency spelling words.
Math
The children will be learning about linear measurement using non-standard units. They will have many opportunities to measure, compare, and describe lengths and heights. They will use measurement terms such as longer, shorter and taller. Measurement will continue into the month of January. Check out the website for activities you can do at home with your children and links to computer games children can play on-line.
Science
Our Unit of study will be Understanding Earth and Space Systems: Daily and seasonal Changes. In observing their environment, students become aware of changes that take place in it, including changes in temperature, sunlight and in plants and animals. The study of Daily and Seasonal Changes focuses on easily observed changes that occur in cycles, including day and night and the four seasons, and on how these changes affect living things (humans, plants, animals).
Congratulations
I would like to congratulate all the Grade 1 students for singing and performing like angels at our St. Michael Annual Christmas Concert. I am very proud of their hard work and efforts. Thank you to all the parents for taking the time at such a busy time of the year to come and cheer us on!
Reading Corner
To promote reading in the classroom and oral communications skills, we will be starting Reading Corner. Each day, an assigned child will read a story of their choice to the class. This book can be from home, library or even their Guided Reading book. The story should be approximately three to five minutes in length. Please ensure your child is comfortable and familiar with the text chosen. The assigned date for your child will be posted on the monthly calendar with the letters RC in front of their name.
Buddy Bear...Coming Soon
We have a new addition to our Grade One class. Beginning this month, Buddy Bear will start visiting two friends each week. Every Monday or Friday, one student will be chosen at random to take Buddy Bear home for four days. When your child brings him home, have Buddy participate in the various activities your family does to help him feel part of the family. Buddy comes with his own adventure journal to record all the things he did with your family. Your child will be responsible to recount the events Buddy engaged during his stay at your family home in Buddy’s Adventure Journal. If possible, take some pictures and put them in my book otherwise simply draw a picture of what they did together. Buddy is so excited to go home with all of the children in our class. When Buddy returns to school, your child will present to the class the adventures he/she shared with Buddy. Please remember to keep buddy safe and clean! (Feel free to throw him in the wash for a bath!)
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Winter Weather
Winter weather is here! I continue to encourage students to wear hats, gloves and warm jackets to school. Please continue to label all articles of clothing. Also, extra pair of socks and change of clothing (to be kept in their baskets) during the winter months is also recommended.