Monday March 31, 2014

Good afternoon, 

Homework tonight is for those students who have not finished their research for the science fair. By tomorrow, everyone should have written 3 points about their topic. 

Spelling tests have been marked and returned. Please sign them and bring them back to school tomorrow.

Spelling Review Words

far

sea

while

realize

together

children

begin

easy

always

often

Friday March 28, 2014

• Communication books were NOT sent home today. I will send them home as per usual on Monday March 31, 2014.
• I have sent students home with their report cards and their 3rd quarter major subject exams. Please sign everything and return it by Tuesday April 1, 2014.
• Students should start working on the second step of their Science fair projects which is to research their topic. Some students were able to find books at the library yesterday. Others will need help from their parents to use the internet, visit a local library, or speak to someone knowledgeable on their subject. By Tuesday April 1, students are asked to bring in their science booklet with part 2 completed. They should have between 2-3 points about their topic.
• Thank you again to all of you for helping to create such a supportive learning community in Grade 1. I couldn't have done it without your encouragement and kindness.

Have a GREAT weekend everybody!

Thursday March 27, 2014

Hi everyone,

• Tomorrow we will have a Stations of the Cross walk beginning at 8:30 am. This is instead of Mass this month so please come to school in your proper school uniform.

• Reminder tomorrow is a half day and students will be dismissed at 12:00 pm without lunch.

• If you have a meeting scheduled please try your best to be prompt as we only have 10 minute intervals per meeting. If you did not schedule a meeting you may write to me in the communication book to book another time. =)

• No homework tonight. I have been conferencing with students regarding their Science Fair projects. Some questions need to be refined so they may have brought them back home tonight with a note from me. Today during library I encouraged students to look for books related to their subjects so please talk with them about what they found. Thank you for all your support and help, as always =)

Wednesday March 26, 2014

This morning we had a great English lesson covering a variety of topics, some review, and some new. Below, students are coming up and editing English text. They did a great job at explaining their corrections. Way to go!

In Science class, I was able to have conferences with about half of the students regarding their Science Fair question. We did talk more about it with the full class but if there are any problems or difficulties coming up with a question please let me know tomorrow. The science fair questions are due tomorrow and the first page of the booklet is to be filled out and handed in then.

Math homework pages 52-53

Tuesday March 25, 2014

• We did a lot of phonics and reading this morning. In phonics we went over consonant digraphs (two consonants that make one sound, such as, sh, ch, and th). In Reading we continued our story about Whistling Willie and did a lot of practice pages. Students had some time throughout the day to work on pages 98-103. Whatever was unfinished is due for homework.
• Reading Journeys Homework Pages 102-103
• We had a great Math class this afternoon. We talked about three new vocabulary words, flip, turn, and slide. We talked about how objects can me moved in different ways. After the lesson I had some students come up to demonstrate what they had learned. Below are photos of Huan moving a rectangle by either flipping it, turning it, or sliding it across the board. Students had to recognize and tell him which action he was performing. Everyone did a great job!
• In Science we continue to talk about the scientific process. I showed students an example of a finished display board and we went through most of the steps together. We also made an example poster which I will keep in the classroom for reference. Today we got through: title, question, hypothesis, materials used, and procedure. We will continue tomorrow. 
• In Science class we talked some more about how to narrow down a question upon which to base your science fair project. Tonight I will be sending students home with their scientific process booklets. I would like them to go over their thought processes with their parents and choose a final question which they will work around and finally write on their poster board. I know that students who are working in groups will need to go over it with their own parents and then with their parents so everyone's final question will be due THURSDAY MARCH 27.
• NOTE: We will be using these booklets over the course of the next month to guide us through the process of getting ready for our first science fair. If possible, please keep them in a folder so they don't get ruined. They will count towards the final mark. Thank you!

Monday March 24, 2014

Spelling Words

always

music

those

both

mark

often

letter

until

• We had our spelling tests and they have been marked and returned. Please sign their books and send them back to school tomorrow.

• Just a reminder that if you would like a meeting on Friday afternoon please write to me in the communication book and suggest a time between 12:10 and 4:00 pm

• This morning we finished our Magic Finger story by Roald Dahl. Afterwards the students used their creative writing skills to write about what they think happens next. It was great to read their ideas :)

• In Science class we spoke more about the scientific process about how to choose a question for our science fair projects. All students received a a package of papers to help guide them through the process. Their homework is to talk with their parents and brainstorm about questions for their project. I explained to them that when we planted seeds into cups and altered the conditions (one got sun, one got water, one got both) that our question was "What do plants need to grow tall and healthy?" We will continue to refine our questions tomorrow and then move on to the next step.

Friday March 21, 2014

We had so much fun at the aquarium yesterday. I was SO impressed with our students and how well behaved they were. It was a long journey there and back and they were wonderful on the bus rides as well as at the aquarium. They had a lot of fun in the wading pool and it was very cute to watch how excited they were. Thank you all for such a fun day!

They have been busy little bees today. This morning we looked at photos from the field trip and wrote a short reflection about where we went, what we did there, and what we enjoyed. Afterwards we did some reading from our Journeys book and worked on two exercise pages. Students who did not finish will have to do this for homework. Journeys Page 92-93

Afterwards we went to the library since we missed our usual library period yesterday. We continued practicing with position words and following directions in Math class. In Social Studies, we talked about needs vs. wants.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Kenting Aquarium Photo Diary

Thursday March 20,2014

Thank you for a great day. You were all wonderful! 

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Hi everyone,

We had a happy, sunny day!

• Parent/Teacher Conferences will be taking place on Friday March 28, 2014. If I have any concerns or feel a meeting is necessary I will contact you directly. Otherwise, if you would like a meeting please write to me in the communication book as soon as possible and suggest a time between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on that day. Thank you everyone!
• Communication books DO NOT need to be brought to school tomorrow as we will be gone on a field trip all day. Please bring them back on Friday March 21.
• Please look at the previous post for all of tomorrow's important information

Below are some photos of our students working in groups to come up with solutions to problems using a five step process. 

School Field Trip - Thursday March 20

School Field Trip

March 20, 2014

8:30am leave for the Aquarium
11:15-12:00 Tour of the Aquarium
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Free time
2:00pm Return to School

Dress Code: Proper school PE uniform

Things to bring:

• personal medications
• HEALTH INSURANCE CARD
• sunscreen
• sunglasses
• coat
• cap
• extra change of clothes (sports day shirt or extra PE uniform)
• water bottle
• towel
• mosquito repellent
• plastic bags for dirty or wet clothes

*** Students may bring two healthy snacks. No junk food please.

*** NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES OTHER THAN A DIGITAL CAMERA (NO IPADS, MP3 PLAYERS, CELL PHONES). If you want to send a cell phone with your student, their homeroom teacher must hold on to it.

Tuesday March 18, 2014

Hi everyone,

I'm sorry there was no post yesterday. I wrote it but must have forgotten to hit the "publish" button.

We had a great day today. This morning we did some antonym/opposite practice and in Math this afternoon we talked about ordinal and cardinal numbers and started to learn about position words such as:
next to, on, under, in front of, between, behind, beside, near, in, far away from, across from, to the left/right of
I tested the students by showing them a picture of a bedroom on the projection screen. Students had to make true sentences about the picture using a position word. For example, the books are on the desk.

We talked about the Scientific Process/Method and watched a short video about two students going through the process for their first time. I hope to do an experiment in class on Friday and go through all the steps with the students. Please brainstorm ideas for a topic you are interested in if you have not already. It's important we all go through each of the steps at roughly the same time (as the rest of the class) After I do the experiment in class I will help students form their questions for their own science fair.

English homework page 74-75

Have a great night!

Thursday March 13, 2014

Hi everyone,

Thank you for another great day of exams. I am so impressed with our Grade 1's and how well they have been adapting to test taking. Tomorrow we will have our last exams, Science and Social Studies. Again, students will be dismissed at 12:00 pm without lunch so please send healthy snacks for the morning.

Great work everyone, get a good rest tonight and I will see all of you tomorrow!

Wednesday March 12, 2014

Wow! What a busy day!

The students did a great job writing their first two exams, Language and Spelling, and Math.

Please note that I did not send home the communication books today unless I had something specific to tell you.

Tomorrow will be a half day. Students will be dismissed at 12:00 pm and lunch will not be served. Please make sure your child comes to school with healthy snacks for brain food and has enough pencils and erasers.

Tomorrow's exams are: Reading and Math

Happy studying! Go to bed early and get a good rest so you come in relaxed and ready to succeed!

Tuesday March 11, 2014

Hi everyone,

There are still a few people who are sorting out their groups for the Science Fair. As soon as I have a final list I will post it on the blog just to make sure we are all on the same page. I will also send home a form for you to fill out and let me know what your topic will be. Today I am sending home a few ideas for those of you who haven't decided yet. Only one group per topic so if you want to do one of those from tonight's list, please let me know as soon as possible so I can take it off the options for everyone else.
Also, a great site online is http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html
They have a lot of different, easy, but interesting experiments you can try at home. I have printed off a few for you to get an idea but take a look for more. =)

Tomorrow we will begin our 3rd quarter exams.

LANGUAGE AND SPELLING
PHONICS

Please come with extra pencils and erasers, healthy snacks, and a book to read after you complete your exam. Don't forget to smile, you will all do great!

Monday March 10, 2014

Hi everyone,

We spent most of the day today reviewing for our exams which begin Wednesday.

Please make sure your child has enough pencils and erasers and healthy snacks.

If you have not already decided about the Science Fair, please let me know by tomorrow if you would like your child to work on their own, or with a partner (up to 3 per group). Also write to let me know of a topic if you have chosen one.

Spelling tests have been marked and return. Please sign them and bring them back to school tomorrow.

There will be no spelling test next Monday because I want students to concentrate on their exams this week. We will spend time practicing old spelling words throughout the week.

Happy studying!

IMPORTANT SCIENCE FAIR INFORMATION

Dear Parents and Guardians and Grade 1 Super Kids,

Our school will be having a Science Fair on April 24 and 25!
We hope that, with your enthusiastic encouragement, your child will participate in the fair by preparing a project. This will be an exciting experience for your child!

Although students receive help at school from teachers, parent support and assistance are essential to
your child’s success. This is one of those opportunities for families to work with children and brothers and sisters to help each other.

I am confident the following benefits will result from your child’s participation in the Science Fair:

• œ Reinforcement of grade level science, literacy and math skills 
• œ Fostering curiosity, awareness, and creativity 
• œ Increased scientific knowledge 
• œ Learning research techniques 
• œ Growth in ability to work independently 
• œ Having fun with science! 

In addition to the opportunity to work on a project, the Science Fair provides students with an increased awareness of science and an opportunity for them to develop positive attitudes about themselves and their work. The science project allows children to use critical thinking and problem solving skills learned in science and in math.

Please decide who you would like to pair up with based on your geographic location (as much of the work will need to be done at home) and let me know also what your topic will be.

Please find a list of websites below to help you choose a topic:

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/

http://www.surfnetkids.com/science_fair_ideas.htm

http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/scifair/index.html

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/

http://www.fatlion.com/science/

http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/HomeExpts/HOMEEXPTS.HTML

http://www.reekoscience.com/

If you have trouble finding a topic, I have a book of experiments for children that they can look at during school time. I cannot lend it out, however, because I am borrowing it from another teacher myself. Please write a note in the communication book to let me know who your child will work with. They may work alone or up to a group of 3. If you could let me know Monday March 10 who you will be working with, that would be ideal. Tuesday March 11 at the latest please.

This is an example of Science Fair project. Students should pick a topic that excites and interests them. They must have a question they want to find an answer to, follow a procedure to find the answer, and then write about what they learned. They will need to write everything out and put it on a poster board similar to the one found above. Like I said, we will work on this in class but much of it will also need to be done at home. Closer to the date of the fair, students will bring their projects into school and I will help them with the finishing touches and we will practice presenting their findings.

Reading Exam Preparation

The reading exam will contain questions about the story below, Little Rabbit's Tale. Because this story is in the first Journeys textbook, which students no longer have, I typed it up here for you to study from.

Little Rabbit’s Tale

Little Rabbit sleeps under an old apple tree. Just then, the wind starts to blow. The branches shift in the wind.

THUMP!

Something hits Little Rabbit.

“Oh, no!” The sky is falling!” yells Little Rabbit. “I’ve got to try to tell everyone!” Little Rabbit hops off to find Goose.

Goose sits in his rowboat. The tip of his rod starts to twitch. “There’s no time to fish!” yells Little Rabbit. “The sky is falling!”

“Let’s go, Little Rabbit! We need to go tell Beaver!”

Goose and Little Rabbit use the rowboat. They go up the stream.

Goose peaks inside. Beaver is eating a snack. “There’s no time eat, “ says Goose. “Let’s go! The sky is falling!”

“Oh my!” says Beaver. “We need to go tell Turtle.” Beaver, Goose, and Little Rabbit dash up the hill.

Turtle sleeps under a log. TAP, TAP! Beaver taps on Turtle’s shell. Turtle peeks out. “There’s no time to sleep, “says Beaver. “Let’s go! The sky is falling!”

“Oh, no!” yells Turtle. “What can we do?” “Let’s run back home,” says Little Rabbit. “I want to tell my mother!”

Turtle, Beaver, Goose, and Little Rabbit run fast. They hop over the log, dash down the hill, …and jump into Goose’s rowboat. Then they go as fast as they can down the stream.

Little Rabbit hops in the door. “Mother, the sky is falling!”

“Who told you such a thing?” asks Mother Rabbit.

“Beaver told me!” says Turtle.

“Goose told me!” says Beaver.

“Little Rabbit told me!” says Goose.

“Well let’s just go outside and look at the sky, “ says Mother Rabbit.

Just then, the wind starts to blow. The branches shift in the wind. THUMP! Something hits Little Rabbit.

“Oh no! The sky is falling!” yells Little Rabbit.

“The sky is not falling,” laughs Mother Rabbit. “An apple just fell from the apple tree!”

“I didn’t get to catch a fish, “says Goose.

“I didn’t get to eat my snack,” says Beaver.

“I didn’t get to sleep,” says Turtle.

“I’ve got a plan,” says Little Rabbit.

“Can my friends eat with us?”

“Yes,” says Mother Rabbit. “Go wash your hands while I get more plates.”

HOORAY!  Little Rabbit has a nice meal with his friends. After that, they all have homemade apple treats!

The friends lived happily ever after!

Friday March 7, 2014

Today we read out all the kind actions from the Kindness Wall. I wish you could all see how sweet they are. After I read something, they all clap and thank the aforementioned person. At the end, we do a drum roll and I count the ballots and announce the Kindness Star. Look at Andrew's reaction when he won! PRICELESS! Way to go Grade 1! You are all WONDERFUL.

There is no assigned homework this weekend. Please prepare yourselves for Monday's spelling test and next week's exams. Make sure to fit in time for rest and play! See you all Monday =)

***Please be sure to check the communication books for a lot of important exam and science fair information. I have also posted all of this previously on the blog. Thank you :)

Important Exam Information

Hi everyone, 

Here are the rest of the exam review. If you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to ask me and I'll be happy to over a concept with you. I will be sending home hard copies of the review tonight. Happy studying super kids, you will all do great! 
Reminder: Please send healthy snacks to school next Wednesday-Friday for extra brain food between exams! Also, don't forget to bring extra pencils and erasers.

3rd Quarter Exam Schedule

**Please note that I have changed the exam schedule slightly from last semester. I feel that 3 exams a day is too much for our Grade 1 students and puts unnecessary pressure and time constraints on them. I have talked it over with administration and received approval to spread their exams out over the course of three days instead of two. SO, students will write 2 major subject exams Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. This will give them more time to write each test should they need it. Keeping in mind that some students won't need the extra time, I encourage them to bring in books to read once they finish writing exams. 

Wednesday March 12, 2014 (Regular school schedule until 4pm dismissal)

Language and Spelling

Phonics

____________________________________________________

Thursday March 13, 2014 (half day, no lunch served, students dismissed at 12pm)

Reading

Math

____________________________________________________

Friday March 14, 2014 (half day, no lunch served, students dismissed at 12pm)

Science

Social Studies

3rd Quarter Reading Exam Review

• Students will be tested on the following stories from their Journeys Reading textbook:

Little Rabbit’s Tale (Please note that this story was from the first Journeys textbook so if students need copies of the story please ask me as soon as possible)

The Tree

Amazing Animals

• Be familiar with the sequence of events in each story

• Be familiar with the bold vocabulary words from each story

        (Little Rabbit’s Tale: falling  try  use  rowboat   something   wash)

• Contractions and Compound words will be tested

• Students should be able to write the two words that stand for the following contractions:

        They’ve   You’re   he’ll  I’ve  She’s  can’t  don’t  isn’t (they have, you are, he will, I have,            she is, can not, do not, is not)

• Be prepared to read a short excerpt from the stories and answer questions about it

• Students should be able to tell what the main idea in each story is

3^rd Quarter Science Exam Review

·         Be able to classify animals into their appropriate groups (birds, fish, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects)

·         Know some distinguishing characteristics between the groups

Example: Mammals have hair or fur and give birth to live young.

Birds have wings and beaks.

Fish have gills and breathe under water.

Amphibians have smooth, wet skin.

Reptiles have dry skin with scales all over it.

Insects have six legs.

·         Be able to list the needs of living things

·         Distinguish between the needs of plants and animals

·         Be familiar with the following vocabulary: gills, reproduce, nutrients, roots, stem, leaf, fruit, flower, seeds

·         Be able to label the parts of a plant (roots, stem, leaf, fruit, flower, seeds)

3^rd Quarter Social Studies Exam Review

·         Recognize common symbols for mountains, hills, water, cities, and capital cities on maps

·         Know appropriate colors for land and water on a map

·         Know the direction of North, East, South, and West

·         Be able to look at a map and answer questions such as, Which continent is south of North America?

·         Know how many continents there are and which continent we live on

·         Vocabulary Words: Hill, plain, neighbourhood, resource, predict

·         Name 2 resources you can find in Taiwan (gold, marble, natural gas, copper, limestone, coal)

·         Understand why saving resources is so important

·         Be able to tell 1 way to save resources

·         Recognize that people around the world have different kinds of homes

·         Be able to tell 1 reason why people must think about the weather when they are building their homes

Thursday March 6, 2014

We had a very busy day today in Grade 1!
The students worked really hard doing English Language grammar review and a Math practice exam in the afternoon. Way to go! I rewarded their hard work with a Magic Finger video at the end of the day.

No homework tonight. I hope everyone has a chance to rest tonight and I'll see you here tomorrow for another big day!

Please note that students will have their health exams tomorrow. All of them have brought home their books.

Also, I will be posting the rest of the exam review content tomorrow as well as sending home hard copies with students.

Take care!

Tuesday March 4, 2014

Phonics Homework Page 145-147
Whatever was not finished in class is to be done for homework.

For anyone who hasn't already, please do your corrections and sign yesterday's spelling test to return to school tomorrow.

Tomorrow students will have their Music Exam during 4th period from 11:15-12:00 pm.

EXAM REVIEW

The rest of the exam reviews will be posted tomorrow and Thursday.

3rd Quarter Language and Spelling Exam Review

• Students must be able to edit short sentences. For example, add capitals at the beginning and to proper nouns, and put appropriate end marks.
  Example:  i likes to run and play at break with pam                                                                                          I like to run and play at break with Pam.
• 
  
• Write the correct adjective for each sentence between er and est.                                                   Example: The boy is shorter than the girl.                                                                                                        The girl is the kindest in the school.

• Add adjectives to sentences. Example: I like pizza. I like cheese pizza.

• Correct the spelling of days of the week. Example: mondaay Monday

• Write the opposites of words. Example: big small

• Pronoun verb agreement

I like

You like

He/She/It likes

We like

They like

• Choose the correct pronoun to replace nouns. For example, John is eating snack. He is eating snack.
• Write WAS or WERE Example: I was sick yesterday.

3rd Quarter Math Review

• Be able to draw the line of symmetry in a shape
• Write the fraction 1/2
• Make a pattern
• Draw plane and solid shapes
• Be able to count faces, edges, and corners of shapes
• Count sides and corners of shapes
• Complete fact families

Example: Whole 10 Part 8 Part 2

10-8=2

10-2=8

8+2=10

2+8=10

3^rd Quarter Phonics Exam

§   Change adjectives into “er” form

Example: cute cuter         ugly uglier       green greener

·         Write the contraction or the two words that make up the contraction                            Example: is isn’t      couldn’t could not

·   Choose from a list of words to make compound words (snow + man = snowman)

·  Count the syllables in a word         Example: elephant = 3 syllables

·  Recognize words with soft and hard g

Soft g: ge, ga, gi

·         Recognize words with soft and hard c

    Soft c: ce, ca, ci

                       Happy Birthday Grace!

In Science class we made a Venn diagram to compare plants and animals. Way to go Grade 1!