We launched our home-reading program last week. Thank you to everyone for remembering to listen to your child read daily and return the book bags to school each day. Such reading programs are typical in most primary grades and promote daily reading practise of appropriately levelled reading materials. The books are selected so that they are not too hard and not too easy, and should provide opportunity to practise strategies for unknown words. If you feel the book your child brings home is unduly difficult or much too easy, please let me know. When your child is stuck, have him/her: 1. Say the first sound of the unknown word and reread starting at the beginning of the sentence, then 2. Sound it out / Stretch it out, then 3. Skip the word to finish the sentence and come back to it. Students are expected to read the provided book out loud each day and have an adult record that they have done so. Multiple readings of the same book are encouraged to promote confidence and mastery. I understand families are busy and there may be nights when you just don’t have time to read, please be sure that the book is returned to school anyway as we will be using it at school on a daily basis.
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Now that the students are settling in to the demands of grade one and two, we are moving ahead with some exciting new lessons. In Math we have started using our daily calendar books and are hard at work making and writing equations (more info on these in later posts).
The foundational skills required by students in order to develop Math skills is Number Sense. Number Sense provides the substantive meaning required for addition and subtraction, as well as more advanced mathematical concepts. Without number sense a child may spend years struggling to understand even the most basic of concepts. According to Naylor’s (2007) definition, “number sense is a feel for the size and meaning of numbers, the relationships between numbers, the ways numbers can be put together and taken apart and the connections between numbers and the world around us” (p. 35). A student with number sense can:
Number Sense often develops informally in home settings prior to entering school, though for some students it may take a more structured approach and a few more years. Students without Number Sense may be able to count, but wont understand the value attached to the word, or recognize if seven is less than five, or more than. Given Number Sense is an important component for learning mathematics it is essential time is devoted both at home and at school to developing these skills. One of the best ways to support the development of Number Sense at home is through play and talking. When building towers with blocks or Lego, be sure to make comparisons and ask which tower is taller or shorter. Which tower has less blocks and how many more blocks are needed so that both towers are the same height. Games that require spatial understanding, balance and strategy such as Jenga, Connect 4, and pick-up sticks are great for building Number Sense. When playing these games with your child, try to avoid telling your child what to do, rather ask him or her what their next move might be and what they would do differently next time. Additionally, asking your child math related questions while going about your regular routines can be very beneficial. When setting the table for dinner ask "how many more forks would we need if we had 8 people eating at our house?" or if you are out for a walk and see three birds ask "how many birds will there be if 4 more birds come?" The list below contains some basic sight words that we will be studying this year. The words have been chosen to represent specific (sometimes tricky) word patterns that your child will encounter as he or she becomes a proficient reader. As a result, many of the words cannot be sounded out in a traditional way and must be learned by sight. Your child should spend some time each day reviewing these words with an adult. The amount of time will vary according to the readiness level of each individual child. The goal is for your child to be able to read and spell these words from memory.
This word list is meant to aid your child. It is used in conjunction with the reading and writing experiences at school. Studying these words should not be a cause of anxiety or stress for your child. If you find it becoming a burden because your child is experiencing great difficulty, please let me know.
We have had a great start to the school year! I am looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the Meet the Teacher night on October 9th. It will be an opportunity for you to visit our classroom and see where all the magic takes place. If you are unable to make it on Thursday please make a point of stopping by the classroom one morning to say "hi" and introduce yourself. Below is a link to the informational hand-out that I will have available Thursday night. You will find our class rules and some informational bits that will help both you and your child.
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Ms. Shawna WoodPassionate about teaching, learning, inclusion and kindness. Archives
August 2019
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