I've had fun unpacking our classroom and am excited to meet my new customers! I'm thrilled to have some grade twos in the mix this year. I'm looking forward to diving into some new material with them and I know they'll be great role models for the grade 1s! For those of you who know me already, nothing much has changed in my routines, so much of this beginning of the year stuff will be a review. I'll try not to bore you!
For my brand new students and parents, I have found this blog to be a great way of staying in touch with families 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. There is already a lot of (hopefully) useful information posted for you below, so when you get a minute, please scroll down!
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 or Second Grader in Room 211
Welcome
parents and students of Room 211,
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 if you have questions or
concerns. I welcome your communication and will respond 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, speaking and
listening, 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.
Science
and Social Studies
Students
work on Science or Social Studies activities or projects 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.
Students will explore science topics through many hands-on experiments.
This
year, the grade 2 students from room 211 and room 214 (the 2/3 split) will have
their Social Studies and Science periods with our librarian, Mme Marie-Chantal
Gaudreault. Our students are very lucky to benefit from her experience as both
a teacher and librarian and will have an entire library worth of books at their
disposal for learning about our community and the world. Our grade 1 students
will be doing their Science/Social Studies at the same time as the grade 2s, so
nothing will ever be missed.
The
Arts & Physical Education
Visual
art will be integrated into many units of study this year. Students will have
opportunities to study the work of well-known artists, show feelings and
understanding through art, and work independently on their own creative pieces.
Some Music and Drama will also be integrated into our French language study. I
look forward to sharing my own musical background with the kids! I’m very
excited to share that Mme Mary-Ellen Morgenstern is back at Dewson this year to
teach Dance and Drama (nobody does it better). Our students will also be
participating in a grade 1/2 French choir led by Mr. Stephen Greene and Mr.
Pierre Tredille.
Health
& Phys. Ed. will be also taught by Mr. Tredille. We will supplement our gym
program with 20 minutes of daily physical activity (DPA or APQ) on non-gym/dance
days. Please see the “Dress for Success” information sheet for tips on how to
dress safely for gym class.
Dewson
is once again using a 10-day (rather than 5-day) schedule. I will provide
copies of our class schedule for all families as soon as we work out the kinks.
In the meantime, please ensure that your child has running shoes at school
every day. These can be left in room 211’s shoe bin unless you need them to be
brought home. (It is a good idea to leave running shoes at school even once our
gym and dance days have been confirmed, so that they are never forgotten!)
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 room 211, 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. We will be participating in many fun community-building
activities as a class. Community
Circle is
one activity that we will use regularly. It is an opportunity for us to share
how we are feeling, discuss class agreements, solve problems as a group and
celebrate successes. In grades 1 and 2 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, materials) (on est respectueux)
✓
appreciation
& positivity (on
dit des choses gentilles)
We
will continue to discuss what each agreement looks like. For example, attentive
listening means eyes up, hands to yourself and we raise our hand to share. I
would appreciate you taking the time to review these agreements with your
child.
At-home-work
While there will be very little “homework” in the traditional sense this
year, there are many ways that you can support your child’s learning at home.
Many children are excited to start school and have homework. If you’d like to
say, “Mlle Mitchell gave us this homework”, that’s fine by me!
First, 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
October/November, we will begin our formal borrow-a-book system and I’ll
provide information about it at that time.
In addition to reading,
children will have words of the week beginning this
week. These will be high frequency words which children should be able to
recognize quickly, regardless of the context (like jumping-off points for
reading). Words will match the sound we are focusing on at school so that
students can practice what they are learning. Words will come home every Monday and will be posted on the blog as well. This week,
and regularly on the blog, I will
provide ideas for how to work with these words at home. The goal is to spend a
few minutes playing with these words every day so that your student would be
able to recognize them quickly in a sentence. Grade 2s have an additional
writing component, which is explained in their cahier.
Finally, 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 every Day 3 and 8 (starting Thursday, September
8th), but books may be returned to our class bin at any time. Students are
encouraged to sign out 1 French book on their library code. I appreciate your
help in reminding your children to have their books ready to return or renew
every 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 room 211. 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://mllemitchell.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 next year. All I ask is that you replace it should it ever get
lost (they are available for $1.25 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 teach students how to use their pocket
and place any mail for me in the bin on my desk each morning. Please ensure
that any forms or money you are sending have your student’s name on it, as
there is usually a delay between when I receive mail and when I can go through
it with a checklist. Try to make it your child’s responsibility to unpack
his/her pocket every morning at school and evening at home, and put it in
his/her bag for the next day. This is a great way to start teaching your child
how to stay organized.
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. You can also send a note in the
communication pocket or leave me a message at the school (416-393-9120).
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
Please
inform me of any allergies or medical conditions your child has, and if they
are bringing a puffer, Epi-Pen or other medication to school. 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 room 211, 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
All
students will need running shoes for gym. Room 211 has a shoe bin where
everyone is encouraged to keep a pair of indoor/gym shoes. On rainy days, an
extra pair of socks (or even two) is a great idea. If you like, your child can
keep a little bag of clothes on their hook in case they need them.
In grades 1 and 2 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
Room
211 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.