How To?

This week in Literacy we have been focussing on Sequential Writing or How To writing. We learned about what Sequence writing is and where we see it in our every day life (ex: recipes to make chocolate chip cookies), we then wrote our own "How To" instructions for brushing your teeth.

Students were then challenged to make their own "how to writing" on making paper airplanes. As a class we watched a video on making airplanes and made them together talking about each step. Students were then given a checklist and a graphic organizer and set out on writing their own 4 step set of instructions to help others learn how to make paper airplanes. 

         


Why Teach Sequencing?

Sequence writing is one of the most important literacy skills we can teach our students. By learning to write in sequence students are working on expressing their ideas clearly and proficiently. It will help them to develop their thought process which will help them as they continue to grow as learners. Sequencing will also help students in their reading as they will be able to clearly identify and write about each part of the story. 

• Sequencing will also help students in their reading as they will be able to clearly identify and write about each part of the story. 
• Students will begin to understand the structure of what they are reading, how it was put together and how they can do that in their own writing.
• Understand how texts are kept cohesive through the use of linking devices such as transition phrases
• Organize information and ideas in their own writing.
• Develop problem-solving skills that are important in other curriculum areas too.

For our students, being able to identify the sequence of events in a piece of writing is essential for them to gain a clear understanding of what they are reading. An important reading comprehension strategy, sequencing allows students to make sense of how events unfold in their reading. This helps them to develop a logical flow in their own writing that readers can follow easily.

Sequence writing and sequential order are important in other curricular areas as well. For example, when writing about a Science experiment it is important to write instructions in an important order to ensure success. This form of writing is also important in Social Studies to ensure Historical Events are in the correct order, from timelines of students lives to important events happening in our City/Country/World. Finally this writing is an important part of problem solving in Math.

Why Read?

One of the major focuses of our year is reading. Students are taught a variety of strategies to help them decode new words as they progress in their reading journey. When you are at home reading with your child encourage them to call upon these strategies.

Reading at home with your child is one of the most important things that you can do to help them in their education. Even before they can read books themselves children learn to love the sound of language through printed words and being read to. By listening to someone read to them children are able to use their imagination and expand their understanding. This also helps them to develop their listening skills which is so crucial. Even after your child learns to read and becomes more independent it is still important to set time a side every day to read together. At this time if we choose books that are of interest to our children but above their reading level you challenge their understanding and can often motivate them to work on improving and growing. Aside from just reading together we often encourage parents to talk to their child about the book that they read. Making connections to the books we have read and just talking about stories can often inspire children love of reading as they see themselves in the stories. When a child develops a love of reading this can transfer over into all areas of their learning. They may progress from reading stories to reading books that teach them about animals, facts about the world, or even the world of coding! Reading books with our children is the stepping stone to creating passionate, life long learners.

In the classroom we set aside time each day to work with students in Guided Reading Groups. These groups allow us to read out loud with a group of students everyday. We are able to make predictions about the text, read the book, make connections and do follow up activities. This is one way that can strengthen our relationship with students while strengthening their reading skills. We work with the same book throughout the week which allows the students to work on their fluency and comprehension while reading books that relate to their interests. By working in smaller groups students are often more excited to share their connections to the text and gain confidence in what they are reading. Ask your child what book they are reading during Guided Reading time! 

Using our Senses as Scientist

This week we became Scientists and Inventors after a local company reached out and asked for our help in designing a new sound proof box!

Dear Ron Southern Grade One,

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!! 

Sound control is a big issue for science and a big business in society. Making movies takes extraordinary sound control. Unwanted noise can ruin an important scene. Traffic noise on highways makes people living in the area angry. Engineers and airport staff are always trying to reduce noise from airplane engines. People in some apartment buildings can hear casual conversations in other apartments that make peace and quiet seem impossible. Sometimes people have secrets that they want to keep from others. They are faced with how to talk so only specific individuals hear the conversation. And, while many are engaged in trying to eliminate unwanted sounds, some spies are busy trying to hear those seemingly hidden sounds.

Getting rid of unwanted sounds is the primary business of the "Silence Is Golden" sound proof company. We are looking for engineers to invent new ways to eliminate unwanted sounds. We want you to invent a box that can "hide" the sounds of a cell phone or an alarm clock. The box that wins this competition will be the one that weighs the least and contains sound so that it cannot be heard from 6 meters feet away.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with.

From,

The Sound Proof Guys

Students made predictions about how the boxes would work by using existing knowledge about their hearing and sound. In their groups of 4 they quickly got to work designing their plans. Once they sketched out their box and decided on materials it was time to get work inventing new sound proof technology! 

    

Students spent two days designing, testing and refining their boxes. The next step will be for students finish writing about the Scientific process by explaining how they made their boxes, why the work and what were some things they observed through the inventing process. 

By using real world scenarios and allowing students to solve real world problems the ideas that students are learning often becomes more meaningful and can spark excitement in the learning process. Research shows an increased value of authenticity when students are engaged in teaching strategies that use real-world problems. This teaching strategy also encourages students to become more aware of the choices they make in society.  By working on this scenario our Grade 1's learned why we need to have sound proofing in our lives, what would happen if we were always around loud noises and why we should take care of all our senses. 

Writing on Different Surfaces

This week we have been exploring with using a multitude of vertical surfaces and erasable surfaces in the classroom. During both Literacy and Math times students are using the SMART board, whiteboards, easels, chart paper, whiteboard tables, clipboards, and windows to practice their spelling, write sentences and create/solve Math equations.

There are so many benefits that students gain from using vertical surfaces that they don't get when working just at a desk with pencil and paper.

1) Shoulder and Elbow Stability: By writing on larger surfaces students are creating larger movements  which helps to strengthen their joints and muscles.
2) Midline Crossing: When writing on a large surface students cross the midline of their body with their dominant hand. This helps to increase strong hand dominate.
3) Pencil Grasp: Because students wrists are extended as they write on a vertical surface they work on bettering their stabilization creating a better pencil grip.
4) Hand/Eye Coordination: Students are more engaged and have more area to look at which helps to keep them focused and encourage hand/eye coordination.
5) Sensory: For students that have a hard time sitting while they work this gives them an opportunity to focus less on their wiggles on more on their work!
6) Core Strength: We have been working on increasing our core strength through stretching, work out of the day in gym, sitting properly and not using our hands when we get up. By having students stand or even kneel as they work there is less chance of slumping over which betters our posture and our core strength.
7) Collaboration: As students are working on larger surfaces they are able to work side by side with one or two other students. They challenge each other, they work together at solving problems, help each other with spelling words and they create masterpiece's together. Who doesn't love working and collaborating with friends!

We have watched students creativity grow this week with the collaboration and vertical writing and we can't wait to start using these surfaces in our Science and Social Studies!