Welcome to Mrs. Murray's classroom site! This year promises to be exciting for all of us. We are a class of 22 students with Mrs. Shari Carter as our intrepid SEA. Below is a guide to the routines and programs in our grade one class.
The ABC's of Grade One
with Mrs. Murray
A Art is a big part of our grade one classroom and we can be very messy. If worried about spills and splatters, please send an old shirt (labeled) to be used as an art smock.
Absences: you will need to let the school know if your child will be absent. Please call the office at 604.903.3370. You may leave a message 24 hours a day.
B B.E.A.R. (Be Excited and Read) is the acronym for our home reading program – 15 minutes each night! Return home reading books daily and B.E.A.R. books on Friday’s.
Birthdays: Sometimes families like to bring in a little treat on a birthday or special holiday. This is an option, but please let me know in advance. To recognize birthdays in the classroom we sing and read a special birthday book and the birthday child may also wear the special birthday hat for the day. The birthday child also visits Ms. Wilson in the principal’s office to receive a special pencil and hand stamp.
Bathroom Breaks: Unless a child takes obvious advantage, s/he may go to the bathroom whenever s/he asks. The sign-out symbol is a three-fingered W.
C Communication is important. Feel free to contact me whenever you have a question, comment or concern. You can reach me by phone at 604.903.3370, in person, by email ([email protected]), or by note.
Curriculum summaries for all grades available: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp
Chime In: Poetry learned in class to be read at home over the weekend and returned on Monday mornings.
D Dolch words: high frequency words your child needs to know by sight. Words will come home on a ring, please practice them regularly!
E Energy breaks happen often in the classroom when we all get up and move!
FFrench as a second language is an integral part of the IB Program at Capilano. In grade one the focus is on calendar activities.
We also do have lots of fun, fun, fun!!!
G Our class has two scheduled gym periods at the moment: Tuesday and Thursday. Please ensure that your child has runners for gym days, and dresses appropriately.
H Homework is to read nightly for 15 minutes (B.E.A.R.)! Sometimes additional work will be sent home, but I try to avoid weekend work.
I IB Mission Statement: The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
Independence is a goal for all students because it builds self-esteem and self-confidence. All are very capable of doing many things on their own and I encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves in the classroom. Please work on the following self-help skills at home with your child: zipping, tying, dressing, etc.
JWriting takes place every day in grade one. One way we accomplish this is through writing stories in our Journals during writer’s workshop. Encourage your child to write at home for a variety of purposes.
K Kilometre Club will be up and running shortly. Students run around the field (3 times equals 1 kilometer) and all distances are tracked and celebrated. It provides a much needed energy break as well as social time. We do aim to go out rain or shine, but will avoid downpours.
L Library: weekly class visits on Wednesday mornings for story time, literary activities and book exchanges. Books are to be returned to the classroom every Wednesday.
M The grade one math curriculum (following Math 44) provides students with mathematical experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics that will continue throughout their school career and lives. Math concepts are covered through our daily calendar and math workshop routine.
Music is twice weekly, on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s.
N Nutritious snacks and lunches: A variety of foods including fruits, raw veggies, cheese and crackers are all great snack choices. www.laptoplunches.com has some good ideas!
O Oral language is a hugely important piece of grade one; speaking and listening, expressing ideas and organizing thinking are all practiced and encouraged throughout the day.
P Grade ones use planners! This helps them become responsible for managing their homework tasks. Please support this effort by reading and signing your child’s planner each night. I write in each one every day!
Q Questions? Please feel free to call, stop in or send a note.
R In grade one, students will participate in Reader’s Workshop and Guided Reading; shared and interactive reading will also take place. Ours is a reading rich classroom!
Tuck the recess snack in a separate pocket or bag in the back pack for easy access – having to go through the lunch kit to dig out the recess snack is awkward and time consuming.
S Scholastic: Scholastic order forms will go home on a regular basis. I am enthusiastic about the club, both as a teacher and as a parent. It is a wonderful way to build a home library for your child. If you wish to place and order, please return the form and your cheque made out to Scholastic Book Club (no cash). Note that there may be different money amounts for different provinces; be sure to remit the cost for B.C. orders. I usually allow 4 days between the time the order forms go home and the due date.
T Tuesday mornings have a bit of a different twist this year. Students will begin each Tuesday with music so will be asked to line up at Miss Dunkley’s door.
Toys are discouraged in the classroom for obvious reasons. If they come to school, they are to be kept in the backpack… as always there are exceptions, like Stuffy Day.
Try, try, try to have your child to school on time each morning!!! It is disruptive for all when students arrive late.
Units of Inquiry
In the IB PYP program, students will investigate six transdisciplinary units of inquiry each year under the following themes:
- Where we are in place and time
- Who we are
- How the world works
- How we express ourselves
- Sharing the planet
- How we organize ourselves
· Lines of Inquiry - these define what the students will be investigating within each unit
· Questions - are taken from the lines of inquiry and help to guide the investigation and are framed using the key concepts.
· Key Concepts - are "clusters of important ideas that can be grouped usefully" (Making the PYP Happen, 2009). They include: form. function, causation, change, connection, perspective, responsibility, and reflection.
· Skills - each unit focuses on skills that transcend all disciplines and are important for children to develop in order to become life-long learners. They include: thinking skills, social skills, communication skills, self-management skills, and research skills.
· Attitudes - having knowledge and skills alone does not make an internationally-minded student. Students need to be taught specific attitudes towards other people, the environment, and learning that contribute to the well-being of all. These include: appreciation, commitment, confidence, cooperation, creativity, curiosity, empathy, enthusiasm, independence, integrity, respect, and tolerance.
· Learner Profile - "The aim of the IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognize their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world" (Making the PYP Happen, 2009). To this ends, the PYP program encourages students to be: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective individuals.
· Duration - This indicates approximately how long students will be involved with each unit of inquiry.
(Making the PYP Happen, 2009)
V Volunteers are welcome in our classroom – a schedule will be available in October. Note: School volunteers are required to complete the Volunteer Questionnaire prior to their first visit, and to register at the school office prior to coming to the classroom.
W Please make sure that your child is dressed for the weather and provide extra pants , socks and indoor shoes to be left in a bag on their cloakroom hook, just in case!
X, Y & Z Your ideas… and suggestions are welcome.
At Capilano we are working towards zero garbage lunches! We would like lunches to be packed in recyclable or re-useable containers. Children will also require a daily clean cloth napkin to use as a placemat.
Zzzzzz …. Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest!