Thursday, April 16th

Good Morning!

Please note that Monday is a Non-Instructional Day and my next blog post will be up Tuesday. Have a great weekend!

Reading and Writing

See Monday's post and please follow up with me through email (drew.babcock@sd78.bc.ca) or Remind if you are having trouble accessing the links, or if you have questions about the work.

Math

Extended practice: Easter bunny subtraction, students are familiar with these types of sheets.

Art Project

This week I've made a video explaining a salt art project. Check it out!

Fun Activity

Make some Cat Hat Kabobs in honour of Dr. Seuss's birthday!

Student Pictures

Hi Abby!

Alex's map and writing

 Ray's writing

😎 Mrs. Babcock

Wednesday, April 15th

Good Morning!

Reading and Writing

See Monday's post and please follow up with me through email (drew.babcock@sd78.bc.ca) or Remind if you are having trouble accessing the links, or if you have questions about the work.

Math

Adding and subtracting game.

Drama

The Drama curriculum in grade one is pretty simple. This short activity is a great warm-up before a dancing activity found on YouTube (Just Dance) or GoNoodle.
Your child is going to spell their first name in the air using their body parts. The body parts they need to use must go in order from top to bottom:

1st Letter: Head
2nd Letter: Arm
3rd Letter: Hips
4th Letter: Knee
5th Letter: Foot
(then repeat if there are more than 5 letters)

Fun Activity
Make an animal sculpture using recycled materials from around your home!

Tuesday, April 14th

Good Morning!

I hope that you had a wonderful Easter weekend and that you were able to work on some of the activities I posted last week. I would love to see more pictures of your child's learning! I would also love to share some pictures of your child learning and their projects on the website. If you send me a picture, just let me know if it is private or if it is ok to share on the website. Please note that this website is not protected, and visible to everyone on the internet.

Don't forget to take a look at the Morning Routine and Online Resources!

WEEK TWO

Sight Words  that, soon, must, all, too

Print or make your own sight word flashcards. Post them on the fridge, a door, or somewhere your child will see them. The key is repetition through the week.

Reading 

This month our focus is Community, which ties in to the Grade One Social Studies curriculum. Please see right sidebar with reading group names. Your child will know their reading group. You should spend about 20 minutes per day on a lesson, in addition to the 20 minutes per day that your child reads independently.

Writing 

Time Capsule

Don't forget to use the Writing duotang to help with independent writing. 

Math 

Please remember the most valuable part of your teaching will be the discussion and hands on practice with your child.

Monday: 57-58

Tuesday: 59

Wednesday: 60-62

Thursday: 63-64

Friday: review, complete unfinished pages, work on the beginning of the book.

Mindfulness activity 

Mindfulness activities can be a great way to calm anxiety and hyperactivity.

Shark Fin: Place the side of your hand on your forehead, with your palm facing out to the side. Close your eyes. Slide your hand down your face, in front of your nose. Say “shhh” as you slide your hand down your face very slowly. Do the 5 S’s while you move your hand: Sit up straight, sit still, sit silently, soft breathing, shut eyes. Try to do this activity for two minutes.

Fun Activity
Draw a map of your home. Send pictures!

😎 Mrs. Babcock

Friday, April 10th

Hello parents, guardians and students,

I hope you are well and are managing through this time. Each Friday, you will be given some ideas for activities on top of the general structure already provided by Mrs. Babcock. As previously explained, the assignments are optional. If you would like to email me pictures or short videos of finished assignments, I’d love that, but it’s not required. My email address is Jessilee.Schaff@sd78.bc.ca. I also encourage students to try Storyline Online. It’s an online resource where books are read aloud. Super cool! 

Kindest regards,

Miss Schaff

This week, your assignment is to create a something that shows your support and gratitude for front line workers.

Front line workers are doctors, nurses, care aids, grocery store workers, delivery drivers, postal workers, daycare workers, emergency responders, and any other essential service. Essential service means they cannot stay home because our community needs them to operate.

Please have discussions together. Do you know anyone who is a front line worker? What would happen if we didn’t have them? 

Guidelines

1. Use supplies you already have.

2. Decorate in anyway with any materials.

3. Can be made out of recycling/fabric scraps/ an old t-shirt ... anything! Use your creative minds!

4. Have fun!

Ideas

A sign

A poster

A window display

Decorate an old t-shirt

Write a song, letter or speech

Or create a video

I look forward to seeing your creations!

❤- Miss Schaff

Thursday, April 9th

Good Morning!

Reading and Writing

See Monday's post and please follow up with me through email (drew.babcock@sd78.bc.ca) or Remind if you are having trouble accessing the links, or if you have questions about the work.

Math
Extended practice, go here: Extra math

Art Project
I would love to see the finished projects! Paint or colour a striped background and add your Cat in the Hat drawing on top!

Fun Activity
Create a pet rock!

Student Pictures

Hi Alex!

Wednesday, April 8th

Good Morning!

Reading and Writing
See Monday's post and please follow up with me through email (drew.babcock@sd78.bc.ca) or Remind if you are having trouble accessing the links, or if you have questions about the work.

Math
Subtraction Game

Physical and Health Education

Part of the Grade One Physical and Health Education curriculum is teaching practices that promote health and well-being, including illness prevention through washing hands and proper hygiene. A very timely lesson for you to explore at home!

Materials:

Glitter

Paper towels

Hand lotion

Hand soap

Procedure:

Ask: What is a germ? How big is it? Why is it important to wash your hands?

1. Put a small amount of hand lotion in each student’s hands. Have them rub it all over their hands. Sprinkle  a small amount of glitter into your child’s hands. Have them rub their hands to spread the glitter evenly.
2. Depending on how adventurous you are, let your child walk around your house touching things for a few minutes. Comment on how germs can spread around your home and other places, just like the glitter OR skip to the next step.
3. Next, have them try to get the glitter off with dry paper towel.
4. Then, have them try to get the glitter off with plain, cold water. 
5. After that, have them use warm water, with soap, to get the glitter germs off.

Ask, “What does the glitter represent (germs)? What happened when you tried to get it off with just paper towels? Cold water? Warm, soapy water? Why is it important to properly wash your hands?

Fun Activity

Paint your sidewalk or driveway! Instructions

Student Pictures!

Tuesday, April 7th

Good Morning!

Reading and Writing 

See Monday's post and please follow up with me through email (drew.babcock@sd78.bc.ca) or Remind if you are having trouble accessing the links, or if you have questions about the work.

Math
Hands On Activity:

Subtraction Squish
You could ask a variety of subtraction problems aloud or you could also use flashcards with this activity, allowing them to work independently.

Set up a line of tape and write the numbers from 0-10. Get some play dough ready.

Once you ask the subtraction problem, have your child line up the correct number of play dough balls and then squish them to find the right answer. (For instance, if the problem was 10-6, they would put a  ball on each number up to 10, and then squish 6 of the balls.  Looking at the remaining un-squished spheres, helps them see the answer is 4.)

Website credit

Author of the Month
April is Dr. Seuss Month in our classroom, and around the world. Check out the Seussville website for activities, recipes, crafts, and printables.

Fun Activity
Make Dr. Seuss Top Pops!

Monday, April 6th

Good Morning!

This week will be a test run to see if everyone is able to access the documents that I will share. You will need Adobe (free!) on your computer. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are not able to view the documents so I can help right away and/or adjust the way I am sharing. I would love to see pictures of your child's learning! I would also love to share some pictures of your child learning and their projects on the website. If you send me a picture, just let me know if it is private or if it is ok to share on the website. Please note that this website is not protected, and visible to everyone on the internet.

Don't forget to take a look at the Morning Routine and Online Resources!

WEEK ONE

Sight Words  ran, but, pretty, so, what

Print or make your own sight word flashcards. Post them on the fridge, a door, or somewhere your child will see them. The key is repetition through the week.

Reading 
This month our focus is Community, which ties in to the Grade One Social Studies curriculum. Please see right sidebar with reading group names. Your child will know their reading group. You should spend about 20 minutes per day on a lesson, in addition to the 20 minutes per day that your child reads independently.

Writing 
Week 1 Writing Lesson

It will take several days to work through this! If you would like to work on something a bit less intensive, ask your child to write 2-3 sentences about spring. All writing will require direct help from you - brainstorming words and writing key words for them. Encourage "inventive spelling" - having them sound words out and spelling them incorrectly. This not only gives them a sense of pride and independence, it's much better for their development. They will not learn anything if they are just copying your spelled words. Students will learn how to spell more words correctly as their reading advances and as they progress through school. Please use this portable word wall and add it to the writing duotang that I sent home. If you cannot print it, make your own! In class, I do expect students to use the word wall and spell those words correctly.

Math 
I will be assigning math from the JUMP math book that I included in your child's take home package. If you are unable to pick up this package, please contact the office and they will get the package to you.

Pages 1-43 are review of some things we covered in Term 1 and Term 2. At the end of Term 2, we began to work on single-digit subtraction. Below is a general guideline of pages to complete this week. Please remember that completing more pages each day does not equal more learning. The most valuable part of your teaching will be the discussion.

Monday: 44-46

Tuesday: 47-49

Wednesday: 50-52

Thursday: 53-56

Friday: review, complete unfinished pages, work on the beginning of the book.

Mindfulness activity 
Mindfulness activities can be a great way to calm anxiety and hyperactivity.

Mindful Breathing: Sit down. Put both hands on belly. Close eyes or look down at hands. Take three slow deep breaths, noticing your hands being moved. Count 1, 2, 3 for each breath in and 1, 2, 3 for each breath out. Quietly ask (answer in your mind): What is moving your hands? Is the air filling your lungs? Can you feel the air moving in through your nose? Can you feel it moving out through your nose? Can you hear your breath? What does it sound like?

Fun Activity 
Go on a nature walk and use this Spring Walk Bingo sheet to record what you see. This activity would be fun with siblings!

😎 Mrs. Babcock

Schedules and Expectations

Good Morning!

Before we begin our online schooling on Monday, I would like to go over some expectations in regards to home schooling.

1. Everything is optional!

2. No work will be due, or handed in.

3. At this time, I will not be assessing work.

4. I will provide more work than I expect you to complete, so you can choose which things work for your family.

5. Your main focus should be health, safety, and spending stress-free quality time as a family.

6. Your child WILL catch up next year!

What You Can Expect Each Day

A blog post will be released at 7am every morning, Monday to Friday. Work through the assignments at your own pace. Grade One and Online Resources (right side of blog) will be updated regularly. 

Monday:

• Five new sight words
• Reading, Math, and Writing for the week
• Fun activity
• Mindfulness activity

Tuesday:

• Reading/Writing check-in and reminders, available to assist with individual student needs
• Math: hands on activity
• Fun activity
• Author of the Month activity

Wednesday:

• Reading/Writing check-in and reminders, available to assist with individual student needs
• Math: game
• Fun activity
• Wild Card Wednesday: a different curriculum element each week from Career/ADST/Drama/Health

Thursday:

• Reading/Writing check-in and reminders, available to assist with individual student needs
• Math: extended practice
• Fun activity
• Art project

Friday:

• TBD by Miss. Schaff

Please note that book work and work sheets are not the best way for your child to learn, or to keep pace with where they are expected to be academically. The absolute best thing you can do is have lots of conversations through the day, ask them questions that involve critical thinking and problem solving, teach them new skills that involve multi-step instructions (i.e. baking, building, creating) and to work reading and math naturally into their day (through observation and conversation).

I've created a school day schedule that I think is more reasonable for six and seven year olds than the COVID schedule that's been circulating on the internet.

Sample Schedule for First Grade Students:

9:00-10:00	Academic Time	30 minute Morning Routine, 30 minutes Reading Work
10:00-11:00	Recess	Family walk and/or outdoor play
11:00-12:00	Creative Time	Creative play, drawing, Legos, music, baking, art project
12:00-12:30	LUNCH
12:30-1:30	Academic Time	Math, Writing, Other
1:30-2:30	Home Chores	Clean rooms, put away toys, take out garbage, pet care
2:30-3:00	Quiet Time	Reading at-level books, nap, puzzles, yoga, movies

Student Supplies

Good Morning!

APRIL 6TH UPDATE: PLEASE CONTACT MRS. STANWAY IN THE OFFICE IF YOU HAVE NOT PICKED UP THE SUPPLIES YET

When you are able to pick up your child's belongings (the office will be in contact with you), you will find a basic package that I've put together. Here's what's included:

JUMP Math workbook

We do not use this program in our classroom, so it will be unfamiliar to your child. Feel free to have your child work at their own pace through this book. They will likely need help with reading and getting started. On the blog, I will assign units and page numbers to meet the curriculum but please do not feel that you must finish this book, or hand it in. I would love to see progress pictures though!

Morning Workbook

Students are very familiar with this book and can work at their own pace. If they have not finished all of the pages, they can go back and practice. It is filled with our grade one sight words!

Writing Duotang and Writing book

Please teach your child how to use the writing duotang as a reference during writing. It has a letter sound chart, common words, and writing goals. The writing book can be used for daily writing practice. I will provide writing ideas on the blog. 

Supplies

Your child has been provided with 5 pencils, an eraser, a glue stick, and either crayons or pencil crayons. I have also sent headphones home. Please keep headphones handy so that they can be used for future online learning.

Please note that I have kept some supplies at the school because I do not know how this school year will end. In May, I will reassess what should be sent home. I am hoping that students will be back at school and will need the rest of their supplies here!

😎 Mrs. Babcock