Monthly Archives: June 2012

The Best Thing About Grade One…

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is YOU!  Take a moment to listen to the children comment on their favourite “thing” about Grade One!

Did you have a favourite moment or event in your classroom or school?

My favourite moment was when I received your book of letters.  You touched my heart!  It made me realize that when I found our school, I found a “family” and a “home.”  Thank you for all of the wonderful memories and stories shared together.  My heart is perfect because you’re inside of it!

• Audio recording, My Favourite Thing About Grade One

The Best Thing About Grade One- audio

See You Later

See you later, alligator,

In a while, crocodile,

Bye-bye, butterfly,

See you soon, racoon,

Take care, polar bear,

Out the door, dinosaur!

Thank you, Angie!  We loved this chant!

 

 

xox

We Sing a Goodbye Song

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Musician, Jack Grunsky’s, “Adios, Farewell, So Long,” song is the perfect “good bye” song for us to sing.  We “can part as friends” and “I hope that we meet again,” want to see you again” are bitter sweet yet hopeful words.  We know that change happens, we hold fond memories of our fun filled times together, and we hope to connect with each other again.  Listen to us sing this beautiful song to one another…

Adios, Farewell, So Long

 

Summer Reading

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Parents often ask us for Summer Reading suggestions.  I will add my “favourite”  Grade One “read to self” and read aloud books, below.  Please consider visiting the Public Library, sign up to represent our school, join the Summer Reading Club.  As well, the Library has a wonderful literacy program for children.  Drop by and watch a puppet show or participate in some Reader’s Theater! Encourage your children to read and “log” their books onto a special sheet provided by the library.  At the end of the summer, the children can attend a medal ceremony that “celebrates” their reading achievements!  The children are proud to wear their reading medals back to school to show teachers and friends! This is a wonderful opportunity to promote and encourage summer reading and further develop literacy!  Sign out some of the titles listed below, find a favourite reading spot, snuggle up, practice and enjoy reading together.

Mrs. Nielsen’s Recommended Summer Reading for Emerging Readers–

Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo

Mr. Watson’s Saturday drive in his Cadillac turns into an adventure when an unexpected guest appears in the back seat, and when Mercy takes the wheel.

Frog and Toad Are Friends– Arnold Lobel… children “love” this pair
Piggy and Elephant series… anything by Mo Willems is guaranteed to start a giggle; try some Reader’s Theater voices
The Cat in the Hat – Dr. Seuss…classic
Waiting For Wings – Lois Ehlert…simple, colourful, highly creative
Feathers For Lunch – Lois Ehlert
Ralph – Lois Ehlert – A Mrs. Brancati recommendation… for anyone who has a dog.  Parents will laugh, too!
My Garden – Kevin Henkes…How does your garden grow…? Truly, a beautiful, evocative, read aloud!
Brown Bear, Brown Bear– Bill Martin Jr./ Eric Carle – young children “love” pattern books
Polar Bear, Polar Bear – Bill Martin Jr./ Eric Carle… You’ve caught on by now!
Good night Moon – Margaret Wise Brown…my daughter’s favourite as a child; anything to avoid the inevitable sleep time!
• Watch an interview with creative and inspiring author/artist, Lois Ehlert!
Reading
• Lulu and the Brontosaurus- Judith Viorst

This is a delightful Junior Novel for the fluent reader.  As well, consider this novel as a read aloud for Primary/Early Intermediate.   It is delightful!

Wings at Last

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Our Painted Lady was “waiting for wings!” Now she is ready to fly!

A caterpillar doing the J!

Our Painted Lady Butterflies were bedazzling as they fluttered from the cage and sailed off on the breeze!  Approximately 14 days ago, our caterpillars did the J and attached themselves to their container lids!  Each one formed a chrysalis.  Inside the chrysalis, amazing things were happening!  Nature was working her magic!  About 14 days later, a butterfly began to emerge from the chrysalis.  Soon, even more emerged!  Did you know that the Painted Lady’s head pokes out of the chrysalis shell first?  Slowly the butterflies stretch out their wings.  They rest and let their wings dry out.  The butterflies are covered in tiny scales.  Soon they are ready to fly.  Today we launched our butterflies!  Two remained in the cage to rest and heal.  We know that our butterflies will flutter through the neighbourhood, sipping nectar along the way!

Thank you, Mrs. Brancati for sharing your larvae with us!

Thank You, Jada!

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As a teacher, one often wonders, Did I make a positive difference in someone’s life?  Did I remember to stand up for someone when they needed a voice?  Did I lift someone just a little bit “higher”up in this world?  After all, that is what a teacher must do.  Today I opened a letter from a former student, now in Grade Five, who has moved far away.  Jada told me that I was a “favourite” teacher and that she remembered a day that I told the class to stop laughing when she made a “mistake.”  She just wanted to say, “Thank you.”  Jada, I thank you for being the quiet, sweet natured, and kind Grade One learner that I remember.  I know that those qualities will always grace you.  Thank you for caring enough to say, “Thank you.”

xox

Mrs. Nielsen

 

 

 

Let’s Celebrate Sports Day Today!

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“Let’s go Red Team!  Let’s go!

Let’s go Blue Team!  Let’s go!

Let’s go Green team!  Let’s go!”

We can’t wait to celebrate with our teams today!

Note to all… Well… it rained and it poured, however that didn’t stop us!  We had an indoor Sports Day!  Lots of laughter, teamwork, and pure delight filled the halls of our school!  We worked as teams to build towers, create and fly paper airplanes, eat a cracker, and more!

What was your favourite Sports Day event?

Welcome to Ms. M

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This afternoon we had a guest Grade One teacher visit our classroom.  Ms. M is a Grade One/Two teacher in Switzerland and she is completing an educational program which includes visiting a school in Canada.  We located Switzerland on our globe and discovered that it doesn’t have a coastline!  Switzerland is surrounded by four other countries—ask us, we know!  “What time do you start school in Switzerland?” (Answer- 8:15...Oh my!)  “What time does the school day end?” (Answer 3:30–4:00)  We found this information interesting; children get a “break” every 45 minutes of the school day!  Everyone goes home for lunch and the lunchtime is an hour and a half. “What if you can’t go home for lunch?” (Answer- You eat in a cafeteria and your families “pay” for the service.)  “Do you have “play” time in Grade One?” (Answer- “No.  Not really…”)  The children begin to learn English in Grade Two and French in Grade Five.  Children come to school speaking several languages, depending on their parent’s language and country of origin. We learned a lot about a school day in Switzerland!  We want Ms. M to come back and spend more time with us!

Can you locate Switzerland on a map?  Which countries surround Switzerland?

Venus is Moving

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and will pass in between the sun and the earth this afternoon.  Venus will appear as a tiny black dot in front of the sun.  Remember that the light can be very bright.  Do not look directly into the sun as you could damage your eye sight.  Venus in Transit will not happen again until 2117!  Better not miss it!

http://old.transitofvenus.org/sarah.htm