Mrs. L. Mullenger and Ms. B. Hawley

1. Grade One Curriculum Mrs. L. Mullenger and Ms. B. Hawley

2. Welcome to Curriculum Night How we work How we learn

3. Tips for Home Reading ***Tips and Word-Attack Strategies Word-attack strategies help students decode, pronounce, and understand unfamiliar words. They help students attack words piece by piece or from a different angle. Model and instruct students:

4. Use Picture Clues •  Look at the picture. •  Are there people, objects, or actions in the picture that might make sense in the sentence? • Sound Out the Word •  Start with the first letter, and say each letter-sound out loud. •   Blend the sounds together and try to say the word. • Does the word make sense in the sentence? • Look for Chunks in the Word •   Look for familiar letter chunks. They may be sound/symbols, prefixes, suffixes, endings, whole words, or base words. •    Read each chunk by itself. Then blend the chunks together and sound out the word. Does that word make sense in the sentence?

5. Connect to a Word You Know •   Think of a word that looks like the unfamiliar word. •  Compare the familiar word to the unfamiliar word. Decide if the familiar word is a chunk or form of the unfamiliar word. •  Use the known word in the sentence to see if it makes sense. If so, the meanings of the two words are close enough for understanding. • Reread the Sentence • Read the sentence more than once. • Think about what word might make sense in the sentence. Try the word and see if the sentence makes sense. • Keep Reading • Read past the unfamiliar word and look for clues. • If the word is repeated, compare the second sentence to the first. • What word might make sense in both?

6. Use Prior Knowledge • Think about what you know about the subject of the book, paragraph, or sentence. • Do you know anything that might make sense in the sentence? • Read the sentence with the word to see if it makes sense.

7. Word Rings • From 50-75% of all words used in school books, library books, newspapers, and magazines are in the Dolch Basic Sight Vocabulary of 220 words (preschool thru Grade 3).  The Dolch word list is made up of "service words" (pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and verbs) which cannot be learned through the use of pictures. 

8. Word Families • Imagine how confusing our language must appear to emerging readers!  Sometimes vowels are long, sometimes they're short, and sometimes they sound altogether like another vowel.  How can a struggling reader make sense of it all? • Word families (also known as phonograms or "chunks") can really help your students "crack the code" of our inconsistent language by providing some predictable patterns within words.  As you and I learned to read, we picked up these patterns effortlessly, and they still help us when we try to decode new words.  When we direct our students' attention to these same patterns, they too will be able to untangle the seemingly unrelated sounds of English.

9. What patterns are these?  Here's an example:  I see the word, "C-H-A-L-K ". Now, how can I figure out how to say that word?  I'll try breaking it into chunks that I'm familiar with.  What words look like "chalk"?  Well, there's walk" and "talk", so maybe "chalk" rhymes with those words.  I know that "ch" has it's own sound, so if I add it to the "alk" chunk, I get "chalk."  That's it--"chalk.“ Can you see how much easier this method of using "chunks" of letters is compared to sounding out one letter at a time?  We break words into chunks naturally, and we can teach our students to do the same.

10. It gets even better!  Once your students become familiar with the 37 most familiar chunks, they can use them to decode 500 words. (Wylie & Durrell, 1970)       Word families are indeed an efficient way to get your children reading. at, cat, mat, sat, rat, that, pat, fat, hat

11. encourages children to make vital connections between letters and sounds helps children to become independent writers as they ask for less help spelling words gives them the ability to write anything they say, leading to longer and more interesting stories allows children to write more words than they know how to read encourages children to take responsibility for their own learning as they have more control over what they write allows for extensive practice of phonics as they use letters to represent the sounds that they hear Writing and Invented Spelling Benefits of invented spelling include:

12. Sample of Invented Spelling Der Parints, Az ur child brings home riting for the ferst tim, do not be serprized at the speling.  The Inglsh langwij is confuzing for students.  Prematur insistints that students uz standurd, or "correct" speling inhibits thair dezir and ability to rit.  We wil uz "invntd speling" in r wrk. Az parints, u can hlp ur child by prazing awl thair riting.  Let ur child red thair riting to u.  Displa thair riting around ur hom.  No that as ur child becomz familyer with riting, he or she wil mak the tranzishun to standard speling. Thank u, Techer   The National Right to Read Foundation

13. Help your child become a problem solver. Guide them to the answer. Figure it out together!

14. Recorded in students homework duotang (notices will be in the plastic pouch) To be checked and initialed nightly A homework area that is quiet and free from distraction is best Homework and nightly reading should not be a stressful time for you or your child Can be sent several times a week Used to reinforce and practice concepts and skill development covered in class Usually given several days to complete Reading books are to be kept in the plastic pouch and returned daily Homework

15. Routines • Morning: • When the bell rings (8:45)the students enter the building. They bring their homework pouch into the classroom and I collect their homework duotang and any other items that need my attention. • They listen to a classical piece, begin a skill activity, silent read. • We then begin our day (9:00) with Language Arts activities so it is important that your child arrive on time and be ready to learn. • Washroom and Drinks: • The children have three opportunities to leave the classroom. One between 9:00 and Recess, another between recess and lunch and finally the last from 1:30 to 3:00. The students are also permitted to go before they go out at recess and lunch. Excess bathroom breaks will not be encouraged and you can help by encouraging your child use the washroom before he/she leaves home for school. Drink bottles will only be permitted in the classroom on hot days. To avoid excessive drinking and spills, the children will keep their water bottles on the shelf above their coats.

16. End of the Day: We begin to get ready at 2:45. The students either write homework or paste in a typed copy. They pack their word ring, homework and notices. Once they are finished, they begin to pack their back packs for home. Homework: Homework will be given out on Monday (Tuesday when a holiday falls on a Monday and returned the on Thursday. As the year progresses, the amount of homework will increase. Currently, the children are expected to do their word rings, printing and read the book from their at home reading program.

17. At Home Reading Program: The books are leveled. Each student will read all the books in the level prior to moving to the next level. Repeated reading improves the student’s fluency. Have your child bring their reading book and word ring to school everyday; volunteers may show up to read with the children! Computer: During computer lab the children have the opportunity to play educational games found on my web page and we will begin word processing with “Word” and “Kidpics”

18. Discipline • 123 Magic • Time Out • Behaviour Notices • Positive Recognition • Bullying Education • Choices/Consequences Education • Reward Tickets - 30 = computer time • Marbles Full container – free exploration

19. Schedule

20. Communication • E-mail – hawleyb@staff.ednet.ns.ca • Web Page • Message from web page http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/hawleyb/ • School Phone - 493-5164 • Homework Duotang

21. Volunteers • Grade One is a very important reading year. The children can always benefit from volunteers who read with them. If you have some time, drop by and support the children’s reading.

22. I look forward to working with you and your child.