Curriculum Night

1. Curriculum Night Madame Trivedi, OCT. Grade One French Immersion Elder’s Mills Public School - YRDSB

2. Preamble • In the event that you have any questions, you are welcome to write a note in your child’s agenda and I will contact you at my earliest convenience. You may also leave a message on the school voicemail 905-893-1631 ext. 112. • Please be aware that our program provides the Grade 1 Ontario Ministry Curriculum and that all subjects are taught in French. For more information about the Ministry Curriculum you are welcome to visit ministry website

3. Education Team • This year, we are pleased to offer your child an exciting educational experience at Elder’s Mills! Here is a list of the teachers with who your child will be learning in Mme. Trivedi Grade 1 Class: • Me Madame Trivedi (Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, Music) • Monsieur Ghomffo (Art) • Madame Montana (Drama/Dance, Phys. Ed./Health) • Madame Montana (Primary Lead, Literacy Coach)

4. Entrance/Exit Routines & Expectations • In order to facilitate a safe and orderly school day, please ensure that you and your child are mindful of the following expectations for entry and exit: • Parents are not permitted in the school building –parents must report to the office • 1st bell rings at 8:37 first entry, children enter the school and get organized with learning materials • 2nd bell at 8:45 at this point children are in the classroom, O Canada, announcements • Children who arrive after 8:45 are late and must report to the office before coming to class • Children are expected to bring dossiers and agenda to school and back home daily

5. Timetable • Literacy instruction occupies 100 minutes daily (Oral Communication, Reading, Writing, Media Literacy) • Math instruction is provided daily • The other curriculum subjects are provided at various times during the week as per our class timetable (i.e. Science, Social Studies, Health & Physical Education and the Arts [Music, Drama, Visual Arts, Dance]) • Phys. Ed. is on Mondays and Fridays with Madame Montana • Children must wear appropriate foot wear or they will sit out • Health is on Mondays with Madame Montana • Art is on Thursdays and Fridays with Monsieur Ghomffo • Library Literacy and Book Exchange will be with Me • Drama and Dance is taught on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with Madame Montana

6. Daily Literacy Program • We begin the day with Shared Reading • E.g. the morning message • During Literacy time, and other subject areas, the teacher will conduct a Read Aloud • When reading a story, the teacher models fluency, expression, proper pronunciation of words, makes references to the pictures then leads the students to think about how the story relates to their own experiences • Guided Reading is an important part of your child’s daily reading development Very soon, the teacher will work with small groups of about 5 children to reinforce the reading strategies that were modeled during the read aloud

7. Daily Literacy Program (cont.) • Independent Reading • Students are beginning to read very simple pattern books and can read them independently at their desks or on the carpet using a reading telephone • Reading with a Partner • Students will begin to read their simple texts to a friend in the days and weeks to come

8. Learning Objectives and Success Criteria • We provide learning objectives and success criteria to help students know what they are learning and what they need to do to be successful: • the learning objective explains to children what they will be learning (curriculum expectation in child friendly language) • the Success Criteria acts as a reference to help children know if they are doing their work correctly and achieving the learning objective

9. Homework Expectations • Homework will begin in early October. Look out for a duo tang labeled “Mes devoirs” and a plastic bag labeled “La lecture”! Homework will consist of a review activity and reading of the texts provided in the reading bag • It will include a calendar with homework activities for the entire month. • Please be advised that the “Mes devoirs” homework duo tang and “La lecture” reading bag must be brought to and from school daily. • Homework is intended to be completed at home and is an opportunity for children to practice the concepts that they have previously learned at school. Each activity is designed to last a maximum of 10-15 minutes. • Homework does not get assessed, however may be checked and reviewed by the teacher

10. Special Events/Trips • Each year, we provide excursions that are intended to be extensions of what we are learning in the classroom. Therefore, all of our field trips and presentations are directly linked to the Ontario curriculum. • Examples of activities: • Visits and fun activities with real scientists • Health presentations by allergy experts • Science trips to the Toronto Zoo • Literacy, drama, dance or musical presentations • Physical activities by Jungle Sport • Dance activities with the Dance 24/7 company

11. Behaviour Management • Our children often require support to maintain appropriate behaviour for learning and interaction with others. Here are a few examples of how we support the children in our class: • 1 – 2 – 3 Magic (children may receive a green card for good behaviour, a yellow card for a warning when inappropriate behaviour arises and a red card when inappropriate behaviour continues and merits further intervention by the teacher and reflection on the child’s part)

12. Behaviour Management (cont.) • Agenda (the teacher may circle the sun/face beside today’s date to indicate how your child’s day went- smiling sun=a good day, timid sun=a so, so day, overcast sun=a challenging day) • Rewards (e.g. special pencils, stickers, etc., may be given out to reward or further encourage positive behaviour and efforts.)

13. Communication with Parents • Teacher/Parent communication is vital to your child’s learning. Here are the most effective means by which we can communicate: • Written notes in your child’s agenda • Phone calls/voicemails directed to the teacher’s extension • Monthly calendar from classroom teacher • Includes important dates, reminders, the curriculum expectations for the month and what you can do at home to help support your child’s learning • Monthly school newsletter (Electronic versions sent via your e-mail address. Let’s save our environment!)

14. Communication with Parents (cont.) • Descriptive Feedback • Very soon, you will begin to receive a folder labelled “Regarde mon travail!”, with examples of what your child is learning, along with feedback on your child’s achievement and recommendations for improvement. Please take the time to review the work with your child, sign it and return it to school the following day. • Tests • Most tests will be sent home in a folder labelled, “Mon dossier d’évaluation” with a rubric, a sheet that will detail your child’s achievement. Just like the “Regarde mon travail” folder, kindly take a moment to go over the test with your child, sign it and return it to school the following day.

15. Attendance • When your child arrives late to school, he/she must report to the office before going to classroom as previously communicated • Consistent attendance is imperative for instructional purposes • When your child is late in the morning in particular, it disrupts the consistency of their French language instruction and routines • General absences (e.g. doctor’s appointments, illness) must be reported to the office by phone and not to the teacher • Any planned extended absences (e.g. vacations/trips) must be reported to the office as well as the teacher in writing • Homework is not provided for extended absences/vacations

16. The Ontario Report Card • This year, you will receive three formal reports about your child’s learning • Progress Report (November) • Term 1 (beginning of February) • Term 2 (end of June) • Learning Skills and Work Habits • We are interested in how your child learns as well as what they are learning while at school. Let us consider some examples of what learning skills look like and sound like.

17. Responsibility

18. Independent Work

19. Collaboration

20. Initiative

21. Self Regulation

22. Merci! Thank you! • We have just begun the school year and the future is bright for your child! Take the time to have a family meeting to discuss the routines and expectations with your child. With your support, I am confident that your child can be successful this year. In the event that you have any questions that arise from this information package, you are welcome to contact me at your convenience.