Good evening,
Well time has been flying! Things are going very well in our class.
A reminder that there is no school this coming Friday, October 1st as it is a professional development day.
The last day to turn in Norcard money and info is tomorrow, Monday September 27th. Please send this along with your child tomorrow.
This week I introduced an incentive program to encourage students to express themselves in French. I placed laminated 'je parle en francais' grids on each student's desk. Each time a student makes an extra effort to use French vocabulary from our words of the week, colours or numbers (not simply bonjour or merci), they will receive a sticker. On Fridays (or Thursday this week) I'll open my "store" where students can purchase items with their hard earned stickers. Items available for "purchase" include pencils, erasers, and small toys. This incentive program has worked very well for my immersion students in the past, so I hope it will have a positive impact for this group as well.
The school will be doing a Terry Fox run on the afternoon of Thursday September 30th. Students are invited to make a donation of $1 if they so choose. Donations are welcome anytime, but please have them in by Thursday at the latest.
I sent home the October menu with students on Friday. If you'd like to order milk, pizza, or hot dogs for your child, please complete the form and return it by this coming Thursday.
Homework! I did assign homework once this week, but there will be more regular homework this coming week. I will be giving students two courier bags this week. The red courier bag will be for homework, so whatever scribbler/duotang is in the red bag will contain the homework. Students will also have a gold courier bag. The gold bag will be for transporting books from school to home and back. Students will begin taking homework and reading materials home in these two courier bags on Tuesday evening of this week.
For your information, here is our schedule for specialty classes:
Day 1 Music
Day 2- Phys. Ed.
Day 3- Music
Day 4- Phys. Ed.
Day 5- Music & Computers (computer class begins in October)
Day 6- Phys. Ed. & Library
Because I was out of the classroom at workshops for two days last week, I decided that we'd spend some more time working on patterning and we did not begin working on the next chapter in our Math book which deals with numbers from 1 - 20. However we will be starting this new chapter on Tuesday.
The words of the week this week are: voici, jour, petit, petite, pour. We'll be also be working on vocabulary related to school supplies and objects in the classroom. We'll wrap up our focus on colours with a project of making a small book about birds of various colours that will get students writing simple sentences about the colours of different birds that they will colour in their book.
Because it's a short week, we may be working on some of the same topics early next week, it just depends how the students get along with the material.
We are planning a fieldtrip to Arlington's Apple Orchard for the morning of Wednesday October 13th. I will be sending permission slips home this week. The cost is $2 per child. If anyone would like to volunteer to come along, please let me know.
Please send in old t-shirts/button-up shirts for when we paint. I will have a few in class, but not enough for everyone. If you have any you'd like to donate to the class, please send them along with your child.
Lastly, a word about birthday invitations. We strongly recommend that students pass out any birthday party invitations outside of school hours.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)
Ellen
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The Week of September 20th
Hello!
First things first: Wednesday September 22nd is picture day. I sent home cards last week where parents are asked to indicate which type of background they'd like for their child's school photo. Please make sure to send that in before Wednesday.
I also sent home envelopes/info for sub day. Sub day is on Wednesdays. If you'd like to place an order for your child, please complete the form, put exact change in the envelope and send it with your child in their agenda by Tuesday.
Also, this week I will be away from the classroom on Monday and Thursday for workshops. Ms. Becky Stewart will be subbing for me. She is bilingual and has experience working with primary grades. I'll strive to have her as my regular sub so that the students don't have to constantly adapt to different substitutes when I can't be there.
This week we'll continue to delve into the vocabulary of colours. We'll also begin to learn the vocabulary for the parts of the body. We'll begin to use the 'Paul et Suzanne' series of books to assist with these goals.
The words of the week for this week are fille, garcon, c'est and du. Your child will always write the words of the week in their agendas, if you'd ever like to practice them with your child.
In Math this week we'll be starting to explore numbers from 11 to 20. We'll also begin to represent numbers in different ways i.e through different groupings and in written form.
Homework will also begin this week. I will send home homework on Tuesday evening. This week's homework will be related to practicing vocabulary for colours and numbers.
Just a quick reminder that Friday, October 1st is a professional development day, and there will be no school that day
Lastly, if any parents would like to volunteer in the classroom by coming in and reading to the children, assisting with an art activity, or sharing a special talent, please let me know! It's wonderful for students to see their parents in action in the classroom.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments you may have.
Looking forward to another great week with the grade ones.
Ellen
First things first: Wednesday September 22nd is picture day. I sent home cards last week where parents are asked to indicate which type of background they'd like for their child's school photo. Please make sure to send that in before Wednesday.
I also sent home envelopes/info for sub day. Sub day is on Wednesdays. If you'd like to place an order for your child, please complete the form, put exact change in the envelope and send it with your child in their agenda by Tuesday.
Also, this week I will be away from the classroom on Monday and Thursday for workshops. Ms. Becky Stewart will be subbing for me. She is bilingual and has experience working with primary grades. I'll strive to have her as my regular sub so that the students don't have to constantly adapt to different substitutes when I can't be there.
This week we'll continue to delve into the vocabulary of colours. We'll also begin to learn the vocabulary for the parts of the body. We'll begin to use the 'Paul et Suzanne' series of books to assist with these goals.
The words of the week for this week are fille, garcon, c'est and du. Your child will always write the words of the week in their agendas, if you'd ever like to practice them with your child.
In Math this week we'll be starting to explore numbers from 11 to 20. We'll also begin to represent numbers in different ways i.e through different groupings and in written form.
Homework will also begin this week. I will send home homework on Tuesday evening. This week's homework will be related to practicing vocabulary for colours and numbers.
Just a quick reminder that Friday, October 1st is a professional development day, and there will be no school that day
Lastly, if any parents would like to volunteer in the classroom by coming in and reading to the children, assisting with an art activity, or sharing a special talent, please let me know! It's wonderful for students to see their parents in action in the classroom.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments you may have.
Looking forward to another great week with the grade ones.
Ellen
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Week of September 13th
What a great first week! It was really interesting getting an introduction to my sixteen new grade one students over the past week. They are a lovely group.
Firstly, a few housekeeping items:
Last week we began practicing writing letters, and we will continue on with that this week.
The students were introduced to the vocabulary for the numbers from 1 to 10 last week. We will be reviewing that information this week and I'll be introducing them to regularities and patterns. They'll also begin using their Math activity books this week.
Many students have also asked if they can take their agendas home. They are very excited about their agendas! They won't be taking their agendas home until I begin assigning homework. The agenda is a another communication tool that we can use to discuss how your child is getting along.
Your child may have mentioned the 'Behaviour Wheel'. It's a classroom management tool that I'm using with our class. I will explain it in more detail during the open house.
Again, if you have any questions, drop me a line at elmullally@edu.pe.ca
See you on Tuesday,
Ellen
Firstly, a few housekeeping items:
- There is an Open House at Greenfield school this coming Tuesday September 14th at 6:30pm. I'll be giving a brief presentation in our classroom at 6:30pm and again at 6:45pm for those of you who may have more than one child attending the school and therefore more than one classroom to visit. At 7:00pm there will be an assembly in the school gym for a short presentation about Greenfield school and a Q & A session.
- Your child has been given an information package regarding Norcard, the school's annual fundraiser. For more information about the fundraiser, please visit the school's website at http://www.edu.pe.ca/greenfield If you have not received this package, please let me know.
- Please do not send your child with a lunch that needs to be heated. There is no microwave in the classroom, and I cannot leave the class unsupervised to go heat lunches. Thank you for your cooperation regarding this matter.
- Milk order forms were sent home last week. If for some reason, this info did not make it home to you, please contact me and we can make arrangements.
Last week we began practicing writing letters, and we will continue on with that this week.
The students were introduced to the vocabulary for the numbers from 1 to 10 last week. We will be reviewing that information this week and I'll be introducing them to regularities and patterns. They'll also begin using their Math activity books this week.
Many students have also asked if they can take their agendas home. They are very excited about their agendas! They won't be taking their agendas home until I begin assigning homework. The agenda is a another communication tool that we can use to discuss how your child is getting along.
Your child may have mentioned the 'Behaviour Wheel'. It's a classroom management tool that I'm using with our class. I will explain it in more detail during the open house.
Again, if you have any questions, drop me a line at elmullally@edu.pe.ca
See you on Tuesday,
Ellen
Monday, September 6, 2010
The First Week of School
Hello!
Welcome to my blog for the grade 1-D French immersion class at Greenfield School. I am new to the 'blogosphere', but I'm sure this blog will serve as a helpful communication tool. Its purpose is to keep you, the parent, informed of what's happening in our class from week to week, as well a space to post info related to reminders or special events. At any time, please feel free to contact me by email at elmullally@edu.pe.ca.
This week is primarily about introducing the students to the school building, myself, their classmates, and to school and classroom routines. We will be starting some work with the French language this week, but it will be very gradual. Most people, adults and children alike, have some anxiety when first faced with a new language. It will take some time for most of the students to get comfortable enough to begin using French.
During the first few weeks there will be no homework. Homework will be begin in late September or early October, depending on how the students are getting along.
Some of the topics I will be broaching with the students this week are the alphabet in French, colours, numbers from one to ten and a few key phrases, such as; Bonjour, Au revoir, Je m'appelle, Tu t'appelles, Je suis un garcon/fille, etc.. I will also be introducing the students to Dimoitou, a puppet I'll be using to facilitate many French language activities throughout the year. Students will also be learning a few simple songs in French this week that will reinforce the material covered in our lessons.
I'm looking forward to day one with the grade ones :)
Welcome to my blog for the grade 1-D French immersion class at Greenfield School. I am new to the 'blogosphere', but I'm sure this blog will serve as a helpful communication tool. Its purpose is to keep you, the parent, informed of what's happening in our class from week to week, as well a space to post info related to reminders or special events. At any time, please feel free to contact me by email at elmullally@edu.pe.ca.
This week is primarily about introducing the students to the school building, myself, their classmates, and to school and classroom routines. We will be starting some work with the French language this week, but it will be very gradual. Most people, adults and children alike, have some anxiety when first faced with a new language. It will take some time for most of the students to get comfortable enough to begin using French.
During the first few weeks there will be no homework. Homework will be begin in late September or early October, depending on how the students are getting along.
Some of the topics I will be broaching with the students this week are the alphabet in French, colours, numbers from one to ten and a few key phrases, such as; Bonjour, Au revoir, Je m'appelle, Tu t'appelles, Je suis un garcon/fille, etc.. I will also be introducing the students to Dimoitou, a puppet I'll be using to facilitate many French language activities throughout the year. Students will also be learning a few simple songs in French this week that will reinforce the material covered in our lessons.
I'm looking forward to day one with the grade ones :)
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