Welcome to Welcome to Grade 1 Grade 1

Second Semester!Second Semester!

Teacher Debbie & Teacher IrisTeacher Debbie & Teacher Iris

Self Self IntroductionIntroduction * I am from eastern Canada.* I am from eastern Canada.

* I am the homeroom teacher for * I am the homeroom teacher for Class 102.Class 102.

* I am married to Teacher Matt.* I am married to Teacher Matt.

* We love living in this part of Taiwan.* We love living in this part of Taiwan.

Education Education * I hold a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from * I hold a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from

St. Francis Xavier University.St. Francis Xavier University.

* I hold a Diploma in Corrections from * I hold a Diploma in Corrections from Algonquin College.Algonquin College.

* I have completed T.E.Y.L certification which * I have completed T.E.Y.L certification which focused on teaching English to Young focused on teaching English to Young Learners.Learners.

Work ExperienceWork ExperienceI have extensive experience and training in I have extensive experience and training in

youth counseling including child youth counseling including child development, behavior modification, and development, behavior modification, and

learning theory. learning theory.

Before leaving for Taiwan I was senior Before leaving for Taiwan I was senior management within the group home system management within the group home system and a Model Foster Parent for the Canadian and a Model Foster Parent for the Canadian

government.government.

I have taught grade school in Taiwan for 9 I have taught grade school in Taiwan for 9 years; 4 years in Taipei and 5 years in years; 4 years in Taipei and 5 years in

Zhongli.Zhongli.

Class RulesClass Rules

1. Respect your teachers.1. Respect your teachers.2. Respect others.2. Respect others.3. Follow Korrnell school rules.3. Follow Korrnell school rules.4. Always do your best.4. Always do your best.5. Speak English all morning.5. Speak English all morning.

CurriculumCurriculumReading Class:Reading Class:A. Reading Text and Practice BookA. Reading Text and Practice Book

B. Purple Writing Book - critical concepts B. Purple Writing Book - critical concepts

C. Blue Writing Book – spelling and sentence C. Blue Writing Book – spelling and sentence writingwriting

Phonics Class:Phonics Class:A. TextA. Text

B. Stories within the textB. Stories within the text

Language Arts:Language Arts:A. Language Arts TextA. Language Arts Text

Parent & Teacher Parent & Teacher CooperationCooperation

* Cooperation is based on communication.* Cooperation is based on communication.

Let me know if your child is having Let me know if your child is having

any kind of difficulty.any kind of difficulty.

* Second semester grade 1 is more work * Second semester grade 1 is more work at aat a

more difficult level. Let's reduce the more difficult level. Let's reduce the stress.stress.

* Encouragement is the key this semester. * Encouragement is the key this semester.

ObjectivesObjectives

* My main objective is to outline ways * My main objective is to outline ways in which 102 students will improve in which 102 students will improve skills critical to grade 1. skills critical to grade 1.

* I also want to let you know what is * I also want to let you know what is going on in Class 102 this semester.going on in Class 102 this semester.

ImprovemenImprovementt

OfOfSkillsSkills

Improving Reading SkillsImproving Reading Skills* Critical grade one reading skills include:* Critical grade one reading skills include:1. Reading for meaning.1. Reading for meaning.

2. Recognize sequence of events, cause & effect, character, 2. Recognize sequence of events, cause & effect, character, and setting.and setting.

3. Recognize possible outcomes of a story.3. Recognize possible outcomes of a story.

4. Use phonetics to break down unknown words.4. Use phonetics to break down unknown words.

5. Ability to discuss the story.5. Ability to discuss the story.

* Listening skills are important.* Listening skills are important.

* Please don't ask students to read if I * Please don't ask students to read if I assign 'listening' homework.assign 'listening' homework.

Improving Reading Skills: Improving Reading Skills: Dolch ListDolch List

* The Dolch List is a list of words * The Dolch List is a list of words

common to texts for early readers. common to texts for early readers.

* They are sometimes called “sight words” * They are sometimes called “sight words” because students should know them by because students should know them by sight.sight.

* Lists will be sent home for review and * Lists will be sent home for review and practice.practice.

Improving Reading Skills: Improving Reading Skills: Dolch ListDolch List

* The Dolch List is a list of words * The Dolch List is a list of words

common to texts for early readers. common to texts for early readers.

* They are sometimes called “sight words” * They are sometimes called “sight words” because students should know them by because students should know them by sight.sight.

* Lists will be sent home for review and * Lists will be sent home for review and practice.practice.

Improving Reading Skills: Improving Reading Skills: Family Reading NightFamily Reading Night

* This is a special night where you and your child sit * This is a special night where you and your child sit down to discuss or read a story together. This will down to discuss or read a story together. This will greatly improve your child's love of reading, their greatly improve your child's love of reading, their comprehension, and fluency skills. This is about comprehension, and fluency skills. This is about quality of practice, not quantity. If your child has quality of practice, not quantity. If your child has difficulty let me know and I will help. Help me to keep difficulty let me know and I will help. Help me to keep this experience very positive.this experience very positive.

* * For the 1For the 1stst week week of the story ask about characters of the story ask about characters and general questions about the story. and general questions about the story.

* * For the 2For the 2ndnd week week of the story ask students to read of the story ask students to read to you.to you.

Improving Vocabulary Improving Vocabulary Skills: Vocabulary Skills: Vocabulary

CardsCards * This semester students will make vocabulary card. * This semester students will make vocabulary card.

Cards will be used for review at home. Cards will be used for review at home.

* One card is used for one word. On one side the word * One card is used for one word. On one side the word is written in large print accompanied by a picture. is written in large print accompanied by a picture. Written on the other side is the meaning (for math Written on the other side is the meaning (for math and science words) or a sentence (for Reading and science words) or a sentence (for Reading words).words).

* This is meant to be a visual and tactical way of * This is meant to be a visual and tactical way of practicing vocabulary and spelling. It may help practicing vocabulary and spelling. It may help students who struggle.students who struggle.

Improving Speaking Improving Speaking Skills:Skills:

Superstar English BoardSuperstar English Board* Iris and I continue to encourage students to correct * Iris and I continue to encourage students to correct

mistakes when they speak English.mistakes when they speak English.

* The “Superstar English” Board is a * The “Superstar English” Board is a

positive way to help students correct positive way to help students correct

mistakes common to second language speakers.mistakes common to second language speakers.

* Students have stars (with their names) which they * Students have stars (with their names) which they place onplace on

the board when they are making a real effort to speak the board when they are making a real effort to speak English. English.

* Your praise will promote progress.* Your praise will promote progress.

Improving Writing Improving Writing SkillsSkills* Focus is on quality not repetition. * Focus is on quality not repetition.

* Students will learn to write on * Students will learn to write on one lineone line with a with a focus onfocus on

proper letter position, size, and spacing. proper letter position, size, and spacing.

* Your praise is more useful than repetition!* Your praise is more useful than repetition!

* Positive feedback and correction is * Positive feedback and correction is

individualized. individualized.

Improving Phonetic Improving Phonetic SkillsSkills* Phonetics is a focus in everything we do in Class 102* Phonetics is a focus in everything we do in Class 102

including speaking, reading, and writing.including speaking, reading, and writing.

* Recordings improve listening and pronunciation * Recordings improve listening and pronunciation

skills while not straining their eyes. Therefore, I will beskills while not straining their eyes. Therefore, I will be

recording parts of the phonics text this semester. recording parts of the phonics text this semester.

* Mini books are for phonetic repetition, not vocabulary. * Mini books are for phonetic repetition, not vocabulary.

Your child is on task if they can recognize the phoneticYour child is on task if they can recognize the phonetic

lesson words in the story. lesson words in the story.

Improving Class Improving Class ParticipationParticipation

1. 1. Superstar English BoardSuperstar English Board – On – On special occasionsspecial occasions the whole class the whole class will receive a token. This token is given in recognition of an will receive a token. This token is given in recognition of an effort by the whole class to speak English in the morning. This effort by the whole class to speak English in the morning. This effort is reflected in the number of stars on the Superstar effort is reflected in the number of stars on the Superstar English Board. English Board.

2. 2. Magic BoxesMagic Boxes – During class magic boxes are placed on a – During class magic boxes are placed on a student's desk if she/he is paying attention, very involved, or student's desk if she/he is paying attention, very involved, or getting work done. This rewards focused students and getting work done. This rewards focused students and encourages other students to follow.encourages other students to follow.

3. 3. School & Parent Recognition School & Parent Recognition - Students will work harder to - Students will work harder to please you. Join in our praise of your child's progress and hard please you. Join in our praise of your child's progress and hard work.work.

4. 4. FootballFootball – We will focus on one special day a month for a game. – We will focus on one special day a month for a game. This is more realistic given our schedule. Regardless of our This is more realistic given our schedule. Regardless of our busy schedule, I think this is important and I will make it work busy schedule, I think this is important and I will make it work better this semester. Students will still collect footballs to enter better this semester. Students will still collect footballs to enter the game. the game.

Improving Improving Friendship and Friendship and

CitizenshipCitizenship““Have You Filled a Bucket Today?”Have You Filled a Bucket Today?”* This book is based on a well known system used by * This book is based on a well known system used by

schools to help develop friendship and avoid bullying. schools to help develop friendship and avoid bullying.

* The idea is that we walk around all day with our * The idea is that we walk around all day with our imaginary buckets. We can be kind to others and fill imaginary buckets. We can be kind to others and fill their buckets (bucket fillers) or we can be mean and their buckets (bucket fillers) or we can be mean and dip from their buckets (bucket dippers).dip from their buckets (bucket dippers).

* This is a wonderfully positive way to build * This is a wonderfully positive way to build a class of students who can work a class of students who can work together, get along, and avoid conflicts.together, get along, and avoid conflicts.

* We will be starting this program within the next few * We will be starting this program within the next few weeks. weeks.

Discussion Discussion NotesNotes* E.S.L Department Weekly Schedule* E.S.L Department Weekly SchedulePlease remember that we take 2 weeks to do most lessons.Please remember that we take 2 weeks to do most lessons.

Therefore, students are not expected to complete all the Therefore, students are not expected to complete all the homeworkhomework

for that lesson listed in the E.S.L schedule that goes home weekly.for that lesson listed in the E.S.L schedule that goes home weekly.

* Communication Books* Communication BooksI want to thank parents for excellent communication during theI want to thank parents for excellent communication during the

first semester. Continue to let me know if your child needs help orfirst semester. Continue to let me know if your child needs help or

if you have questions or concerns.if you have questions or concerns.

Taiwan S.P.C.ATaiwan S.P.C.A * Our donation was given to the S.P.C.A!! * Our donation was given to the S.P.C.A!!

* Teacher Art and I will be planning a fund raising event for * Teacher Art and I will be planning a fund raising event for the S.P.C.A this semester focused on raising money for the S.P.C.A this semester focused on raising money for animal wheelchairs.animal wheelchairs.

* Students from 4* Students from 4thth grade will work with 1 grade will work with 1stst graders to help graders to help organize and run the event.organize and run the event.

Second Semester Second Semester SuppliesSuppliesYour child will need:Your child will need:

1. 1 pencil sharpener (that fits in their pencil 1. 1 pencil sharpener (that fits in their pencil box).box).

2. 1 box of pencil crayons.2. 1 box of pencil crayons.

3. 1 package of 3. 1 package of very thin tipvery thin tip markers. They markers. They will be used to trace pencil writing.will be used to trace pencil writing.

4. 100 Cards for vocabulary and spelling.4. 100 Cards for vocabulary and spelling.

5. Small box for the cards (could be recycled).5. Small box for the cards (could be recycled).

6. The white writing mat and erasable 6. The white writing mat and erasable markers. If these are at home please return markers. If these are at home please return them to school.them to school.

Thanks for your time. If you have Thanks for your time. If you have any questions let me know.any questions let me know.

Grade 1 second semester is going Grade 1 second semester is going to be awesome!to be awesome!

Some Fun for the Some Fun for the StudentsStudents

Let's see if 102 students Let's see if 102 students can pick Teacher Debbie can pick Teacher Debbie out of some pictures of out of some pictures of me when I was younger.me when I was younger.

Students: Can you find Students: Can you find Teacher Debbie?Teacher Debbie?

How about now?How about now?

Chili Chili