I am very excited to be teaching grade 1 again at Dewson this year, and I can't wait to get to know my new students!
I have found this blog to be a great way of staying in touch with parents and students at home. I update often, so sign up for emails or check frequently for the most up-to-date information! I hope you find this to be a very useful tool.
On the first day of school, I will send home a detailed letter outlining some of the subject areas and routines for the year (copied below). You are also invited to write me a letter so that I can get to know your child better and faster! From now on, I will do most of my communicating via this blog in order to save paper.
Throughout the year, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns so that I can do the best job possible!
I look forward to meeting with you all very soon,
Sincerely,
Tamara
tamara.mitchell2@tdsb.on.ca (don't forget the '2')
Here's the First Day Online Newsletter - please keep scrolling to other posts containing tons of other information that may be helpful as we get started.
A Day in the Life of a First Grader in Area 24
Welcome parents and students of area 24,
My name is Tamara Mitchell, and I will be your child’s teacher this year at Dewson Public School. I started my education, like your child, in a French Immersion program in Bowmanville, Ontario. I also participated in an exchange trip to France. As well, I come from a very musical family and look forward to sharing my experiences with the class. I’m looking forward to learning about each of my students and creating a community of learners in our classroom.
Our school day will contain several components that are outlined in the following pages. In addition, we will be establishing a few routines in our classroom, which are discussed later in this letter. I thank you for taking the time to read and discuss this information with your child. Please feel free to contact me at the school if you have questions or concerns at 416-393-9120. I welcome your communication and will return your call as soon as I can.
This newsletter and more will be posted on our class blog (see communication). Please inform me if you cannot access the blog as I will try to limit my use of paper newsletters after today!
Yours in sharing the caring of our children,
Tamara Mitchell, B. Mus. (Hon), M. Ed., B. Ed. (OISE)
Subject Components
Français
All instruction will take place in French. Each day we will devote a large block of time to our literacy components (these include reading, writing and oral communication, with an emphasis on developing French vocabulary). We will use elements of a program called ‘The Daily 5’ or ‘Les 5 au quotidien’. The Daily 5 is a structured language program that helps students develop the daily habits of reading, writing, and working with peers that will lead to a lifetime of independent literacy. The 5 elements of the program are are: Read to Self, Read with Someone (buddy reading), Listen to Reading, Work on Writing and Word Work. In September, we will begin establishing each of these components.
Once the components are established, students will be able to work independently or in small groups on an activity while I work with a small group on their particular learning needs. Conferences enable me to assess students’ understanding and abilities and give students more focused instruction.
Math
Our math periods will include the following components:
Before the Problem Solving (Introduction to today’s work)
The class gathers and engages in an activity or solves a sample problem that will help them recall prior learning related to the concept being taught.
Once students are ‘warmed up,’ they are given a problem to solve or an activity designed to build their knowledge related to the unit of study. Before leaving the carpet area, students discuss the problem or activity, paraphrase instructions and ensure that they understand the task at hand and their responsibilities. They may begin to orally plan the strategies that they will use to solve the problem or predict outcomes.
During the Problem Solving
Students work with a partner or in a small group to solve the problem or complete the activity. During this time, I may confer with individuals to assess their skills, knowledge and needs, or I may support small groups of students with similar learning needs.
Students who complete the activity early are provided with an extension to the day’s work. For example, they may be asked to:
try to find another possible way to solve the problem;
draw or write a sentence explaining what they did.
After Problem Solving
Students gather to share and discuss their solutions and approaches to the problem/activity. Students learn to evaluate critically (and kindly) the validity and efficiency of the range of approaches demonstrated by their peers. Together we summarize the main points of the discussion and ensure that everyone understands what was agreed upon. I may demonstrate a particular strategy at the end of the lesson and give students another opportunity to apply their learning the following day. As we progress through the year and develop our writing skills, some practice work in the math cahier my be assigned in class.
Science and Social Studies
Students work on Science or Social Studies activities related to the current unit of study. Both Science and Social Studies will be highly linked to our literacy component. I will make an effort to provide a wide selection of books related to our current unit of study for students’ use during literacy periods. There will be a great deal of hands-on exploration in science in particular. It is always beneficial to have some parents in to help with these activities!
The Arts & Physical Education
Visual art will be integrated into every unit of study this year. Students will have opportunities to show feelings and understanding through art, and work independently on their own creative pieces. Music will be taught by Mr. Stephen Greene, Drama and Dance by Mr. Michael Lee and Health and Phys. Ed. by Mme Mary Ann Kowal. We will supplement our fantastic specialty programs with lots of singing and drama games in class and 20 minutes of daily physical activity (DPA or APQ) on non-gym/dance days.
The following schedule may help you pack for school each day, but know that our schedule may change if classes need to be rearranged. A complete and updated daily schedule will be provided at Curriculum Night. Please ensure that your child has running shoes at school every day (even on non-gym days). These can be left in Area 24’s shoe bin unless you need them to be brought home.
Day 1 - Music & DPA Day 2 - Gym Day 3 - Library & DPA Day 4 - Drama & Dance Day 5 - Gym
If you are interested in learning more about specific curriculum expectations, please visit the Ministry of Education’s Website: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/
Other Routines & Information
Community Circle
Everyone in area 24, including myself, is part of a community of learners. It takes time to build a community that is inclusive, supportive and appreciative, but this is our goal. Throughout the first term we will be participating in many fun community-building activities as a class; however, Community Circle is one activity that we will use regularly for the entire year. Community Circle is an opportunity for us to share how we are feeling, discuss class agreements, solve problems as a group and celebrate successes. In grade 1 it is particularly important for children to become comfortable speaking French with their classmates. Community Circle is a great opportunity for this.
Expectations
On the first day of school, we co-created our own set of classroom agreements and signed a class contract that we will refer to throughout the coming weeks and school year. Our agreements center around the following principles:
attentive listening (on écoute)
active participation (on participe)
mutual respect (yourself, others, things) (on est respectueux)
appreciation (on dit merci)
I would appreciate you taking the time to review these agreements with your child.
At-home-work
While there will be no “homework” in the traditional sense this year, it is crucial that all students develop a consistent reading routine at home. Students are welcome and encouraged to take a book home everyday to read with a parent or guardian. Reading at home makes a huge difference in a child’s development as a reader, and reading together with a loved one helps children develop an enjoyment and love of reading! There are tips for establishing a reading routine, as well as a link to the TDSB Homework Policy, posted on the class blog.
In addition to reading, I think it is very valuable to talk to your child about what they have done at school. You may want to expand on what we have done, or review it. I hope that you will find my blog to be an excellent tool for keeping up with the class. I will make every effort to give you conversation starters and specific questions you can ask to get your child talking!
Library Exchange
Our book exchange period will occur with Mme Gaudreault every Day 3 (starting Thursday, September 5th), but books may be returned to our class bin at any time during the week. Students are encouraged to sign out 2 books on their library card. One book must be French. I appreciate your help in reminding your children to have their books ready to return or renew each week!
Bravo!
I believe in recognizing students for the good things they do at school. The Bravo! note gives me an opportunity to write a short note to students to thank them for an act of kindness or particularly good behaviour (for example, helping a friend or helping to tidy up even when it wasn’t their work area). I will send these notes home, and I hope you enjoy reading them with your child!
Class Blog & Communication
I have created a blog for area 24. This will enable me to provide parents with current information on what we are working on in class, special events happening at Dewson, and other reminders! You can access the blog at http://aire24.blogspot.com/
Another valuable form of communication between yourself, your child and me, is the communication pocket. I have provided each child with a zipper pocket that they can keep and hopefully reuse in grade 2. All I ask is that you replace it should it ever get lost (they are available for $1 at the dollar store). Any notes, forms or work will be sent home in the pocket, size permitting. Please return forms or send notes to me via the pocket - I will check them every afternoon (if I need to receive a note earlier in the day, please make sure your child knows to give it to me). This is a great way to start teaching your child how to stay organized. Try to make it his/her responsibility to unpack his/her pocket every evening and put it in his/her bag for the next day.
Aside from written notes, the best way to reach me is via email at tamara.mitchell2@tdsb.on.ca (don’t forget the 2). I will return emails as soon as I have a minute during school days.
I will be in touch when we are in need of volunteers for trips or special classroom events. If you know that you are interested in volunteering in our classroom, or supervising on a field trip, please let me know by checking the appropriate box on the attached letter. You can also let me know how best to reach you.
Allergies
All students are to refrain from bringing any products containing peanuts to school. Some children in our class and school have severe allergies to these products. Thank you in advance.
Labeling & Supplies
To limit lost items at school, please remember to label your child’s belongings (e.g., lunch bag, hat, boots & shoes). Thank you! In Area 24, all students share classroom supplies (pencils, erasers, markers etc.). Students are not required to bring their own materials, but may do so if they are prepared and willing to share with others.
Getting ready for school
In grade 1 we expect students to prepare themselves for recess with very minimal assistance. Please practice shoe-tying and zippering skills at home. This will help your child, and our class, get to recess and gym on time. Thanks!
Scholastic
Area 24 participates in monthly Scholastic book orders. I encourage you to participate in this program whenever possible. The first order form is attached to this newsletter. If your family has French books at home that you are no longer using, we will gladly accept them as donations to our classroom library!