ISB Grade 1

In Social Studies this year, the first grade students are focusing on personal development. We are using the I.S.B. WE CARE (Character and Respect Education) program as a resource. The second character trait the students are learning about is RESPECT.

What is RESPECT?

A respectful person values all people. He is courteous, polite and accepting of differences in people. A respectful person does not judge people by how they dress, their gender, their culture, race, religion, or the amount of money that they have.

Children can show respect by being accepting of people of all cultures or who speak different languages or are different in other ways. Be aware that different cultures show respect in differently. Ways children can show respect at school are by: listening when someone else is talking and not interrupting, handling feelings of anger peacefully (not calling names or hitting), cooperating with the teachers and teacher assistants, asking for permission before using something that belongs to another person, taking turns, using good manners and being polite.

Modeling Respect at Home

One of the most important challenges parents face is to help our children develop strong characters based on good values. Your child will learn how to treat people with by watching how you treat others. Be a good model of respectful behavior. Below are a few simple ideas adapted from Brighter Vision Publications.

1. Show respect to your child by spending time with him, listening to him and speaking to him in a respectful manner.

2. Speak respectfully of others, even if the person being discussed is not a friend. Remember that your child often hears adult conversations that are not intended for him to hear. Avoid stereotypes or labels based on race. Don’t tell or laugh at jokes that are at the expense of someone else. Help your child to understand that you respect all people. Be clear to your child that your housekeeper, nanny, driver and other people who the family comes in contact with deserve his respect.

3. Be respectful of the elderly. Many cultures revere their aged and the term elder is generally a term of respect. Teach your child that seniors have valuable experience and may have great stories to tell

4. Take good care of property you are allowed to use and don’t take or use property without permission.

5. Look for ways to talk about respect with your children. In the stories you read or the programs you watch with your children, look for characters that show respect and those who do not. Discuss the characters’ actions and the resulting feelings of those around them.

6. Take the time to help your children develop a respect for life and the world around them. Go on nature walks. Plant a garden. Visit an elderly family member or friend. Watch baby animals at a farm or zoo. Guide your child in understanding that life is precious.

Sincerely,

The First Grade Teachers

Before the break, Grade 1 had their first Character Assembly.

Three students in Room 104 were awarded a certificate for showing responsibility and for being leaders in our class.

As part of our social studies unit, we explored what it means to be responsible and how do we show it.

The students pictured below were always responsible and could always be relied on to do the right thing.

Congrats to M.V.E.,  J.B. and J.K.

We are so proud of you!

October 26 – October 30

Dear Parents,

Welcome back!  Hope your October break was full of wonderful memories.  It seems like your children have good small moments to write about in the upcoming writing unit.  Our new unit will focus on writing for readers.  This means that students will take the time to write neater, put in spaces between their words, use the word wall and spelling dictionary to write some words quickly and correctly, write with a focus, and take the time to sound out words.  I know…it sounds like a lot, but your kids can do it!

In math we will be finishing up our Geometry Unit.  Please remember that there is a great game in the Investigation website called Shapes.  This game is what we use in school so your child should know what to do and how to manipulate the program.

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, November 3: Early Dismissal at 1:00
Wednesday, November 4: Parent Education Workshop 7:30 am

Monday, October 26

-Book to read to you
-Math:
-Word Sort: Have your child show you how to sort their pictures or words

Talking Point:

Tuesday, October 27

-Book to read to you
-Math:
-Word Sort: Try a Tricky Sort: This is an activity where your child will sort the pictures or words, then turn their back and you mix the sort up and try to “trick” them.  Your child will then sort again.  The kids really enjoy this and think its fun.

Talking Point:

Wednesday, October 28

-Book to read to you
-Math: Page 37
-Word Sort: Try a Speed Sort: You time your child sorting and see if they get faster each time.

Talking Point:

Thursday, October 29
-Book to read to you
-Math: Page 37 We were not able to finish the math lesson yesterday.
-Word Sort: Word Search: Look for words with the parts/sounds that your child is studying this week

Talking Point:

Friday, October 30

-Book to read to you
-Math:

Talking Point:

Have a wonderful weekend!

Our next unit in mathematics is called Solving Story Problems. We will be working on mathematical ideas such as adding and subtracting whole numbers, counting to higher numbers, counting sets of objects, and finding multiple combinations of a number.

Click here to download the Parent Letters:
Math Parent Letter Unit 3: Solving Story Problems

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

October 12 – October 16

Dear Parents,

Many teachers are usually a little nervous about Parent Teacher Conferences, including me, but we are also excited to have the opportunity to spend some time getting to know the parents and learning about the children outside of school. I want to thank all the parents for being so open about their children, supporting learning, and for all the laughs we had while exchanging stories.

In your child’s Friday Folder you will find a copy of the conference notes that I had discussed.  Some will also find a copy of the high frequency words that we like to see children in first grade, at first, read quickly and then also write quickly.  These are only for the parents who did not receive one during the conferences.

Some parents were interested in ways to work with their child at home.  I thought you would like the link to our Grade 1 portal at school, which lists many learning related websites, organized into learning subjects.  You can find it at: http://guest.portaportal.com/isbg1

Also, want to remind you that Khun Annee does a great job of taking pictures of your children during the month and then uploading them to our flikr account.  Take a look!

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, October 15: 7:00 ES Science Night
October 19-23: October Break
Tuesday, November 3: Early Dismissal at 1:00

Monday, October 12

-Book to read to you
-Math: Page 30
-Word Sort: Have your child show you how to sort their pictures or words

Talking Point:

Tuesday, October 13

-Book to read to you
-Math:
-Word Sort: Try a Tricky Sort: This is an activity where your child will sort the pictures or words, then turn their back and you mix the sort up and try to “trick” them.  Your child will then sort again.  The kids really enjoy this and think its fun.

Talking Point:

Wednesday, October 14

-Book to read to you
-Math: Family Letter
-Word Sort: Try a Speed Sort: You time your child sorting and see if they get faster each time.

Talking Point:

Thursday, October 15
-Book to read to you
-Math:
-Word Sort: Word Search: Look for words with the parts/sounds that your child is studying this week

Talking Point:

Friday, October 16

-Book to read to you
-Math:

Talking Point:

Have a great October Break!  I can’t wait to see all of the small seed ideas your children write in their notebooks when we return!

October 5 – October 9

Dear Parents,

Today’s letter will be short.  Just want to say that I am looking forward to meeting with you for Parent Teacher Conferences.  Please think of any questions that you may have for me.  I may not have an answer during the conference, but I can always get back to you later.

I hope you saw the letter about the small moments seed notebook that was in the Friday Folder.  Your child will benefit greatly from your involvement.  Please talk about small moments and how a small moment seed can grow into a wonderful story.

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, October 7:  7:30 ES Parent Education Workshop
Thursday, October 8: Parent Teacher Conferences
Friday, October 9: Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, October 15: 7:00 ES Science Night
October 19-23: October Break

Monday, October 5
-Book to read to you
-Math:
-Word Sort: Have your child show you how to sort their pictures or words

Talking Point: The kids are starting to work on their Science notebooks.  Ask them what they decided to write about and why they have Science notebooks.  Some may be able to give you an answer, but others may still be forming their answers.

Tuesday, October 6
-Book to read to you
-Math:

Talking Point:

Wednesday, October 7
-Book to read to you
-Math: Family Letter
-Word Sort: Try a Speed Sort: You time your child sorting and see if they get faster each time.

Talking Point:

Thursday, October 8: Parent Teacher Conference Day
-Book to read to you
-Math:

Talking Point:

Friday, October 9: Parent Teacher Conference Day
-Book to read to you
-Math:

Talking Point:

Have a great weekend!

Students ask each other, “What are you writing about today?” “What happened next?” “Can you tell me more?” Click here for more photos!