Curriculum Newsletter

Curriculum Newsletter

September 2017-January 2018

GRADE ONE and TWO

Mrs. Halsall, Mrs. Holman, Mrs. Hoogers, Ms. McCullough, Mrs. Ross,

 Mrs. Taylor-Schryvers & Mrs. Wacker

Montessori students will be introduced to and work with a variety of Montessori Materials as they pertain to their learning.

Language Arts Language learning takes place in and across all subject areas. Oral language and listening skills are developed through: Classroom discussion Partner sharing Following instructions Songs, stories, poems and rhymes Reading skills will be developed through: Independent reading Reading with a partner Guided reading (reading with teacher guidance) Reading with older buddies Class read-alouds and discussions Reading strategies Writing skills will be developed through: Using pictures, words and sentences to represent ideas Personal stories and journal entries Creating collaborative classroom books Printing practice (top to bottom, left to right) Word study Phonics  review (letter sounds) Instruction on decoding/segmenting (sounding out words) Spelling practice Word families (rhymes)

Math Patterns and Relations Identify, create, describe and compare patterns Sorting according to various attributes and rules (size, shape, colour, etc.) Number Sense Counting with one-to-one correspondence Number arrangements to 10 Represent numbers using pictures, words and symbols Compare and order numbers Exploring place value Counting forwards and backwards by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s Number Operations Adding and subtracting numbers to 10 (grade 1) Adding and subtracting two digit numbers without regrouping (grade 2) Technology The use of technology will be integrated across the curriculum.

Social Studies Moving Forward From the Past Students will explore their personal and family histories by: Observing how they have changed and stayed the same through time (losing teeth, growing, learning new skills, new responsibilities) Observing how their families have changed and stayed the same through time (new members, moving, new experiences) Students will be introduced to historical thinking using key words such as: past, a long time ago and present	Science Students will learn about the 5 senses: Awareness of senses and how they are used to provide information Function of senses and how they are cared for Describe adaptations to limited sensory abilities Students will learn building skills through: Construct objects and models of objects using a variety of materials Identify the purpose of different components Problem solve
Physical Education Students will be work on fundamental movement and health skills through: Cooperative Games Scoops and Balls Ball Skills Volleyball Floor Hockey Students will have use of the gymnasium for Physical Education 3 times each week. In addition to going to the gymnasium students will have movement activities in the classroom each day.	Health and Life Skills Students will: ·       Learn about the importance of following rules and routines Develop self-awareness Learn to communicate and solving problems – Peace Education Exploring their feelings and work on developing empathy Introduce the Zone of Regulations, green zone in control and ready to learn, yellow zone lose of some control and difficult to learn, red zone you have lost control and unable to learn and blue zone not feeling our best.
Music -Mrs. Schulz & Miss Nair Students will: ·       Learn a variety of songs and singing games that give opportunities for developing in-tune singing, and exploring the musical elements of beat, rhythm and pitch.  ·       Be introduced to musical notation through rhythmic values (ta, or quarter note and titi, or eighth note), and through visually representing high/low pitches.   ·       Respond to music through movement, beginning with moving in place and progressing to dances and games that involve moving through space.  ·       Participate in direct listening activities, through movement and playing along on non-pitched percussion.	Art Students will explore elements of art such as: ·       Line ·       Colour ·       Composition Students will work with a variety of medium ·       Markers ·       Crayons ·       Pencil Crayons ·       Watercolours ·       Oil pastels Students will begin to analyzes, evaluates and responds critically to art works by looking critically at: ·       Their own art ·       Art of classmates ·       Art of professionals