Farewell Grade 1 Families – Have a Wonderful Summer!

As we reach the end of another amazing school year (even though it was interrupted with a teacher strike), I want to take a moment to thank all of our Grade 1 families for your support, encouragement, and partnership throughout the year.

It is hard to believe how much our students have grown since September! Over the course of the year, we explored our Alberta curriculum through reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, art, physical education, and outdoor learning experiences. Together, we learned to read and write with greater confidence, solve increasingly challenging math problems, think critically, ask questions, and share our ideas with others.

One of the greatest joys of being a Grade 1 teacher is watching students discover their strengths and develop confidence in themselves as learners. This year, I have had the privilege of seeing tremendous growth in every student—not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. I have watched students become more independent, resilient, kind, and thoughtful members of our classroom community.

To my wonderful students: thank you for your curiosity, enthusiasm, laughter, and hard work. I have loved being your teacher and watching you learn and grow each day. Whether we were reading stories together, solving math problems, exploring nature in the learning grounds, creating art, or celebrating classroom successes, every day brought something special. I am so proud of all that you have accomplished this year.

To our families: thank you for trusting me with your children and for supporting their learning journey. Your encouragement at home has made a tremendous difference, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside you this year.

As summer begins, I encourage everyone to keep learning through everyday experiences. Read books together, write stories and journals, play games, explore outdoors, visit the library, ask questions, and most importantly, make wonderful memories with family and friends.

I wish each of you a safe, relaxing, and joyful summer break. I know our Grade 1 students are ready for the adventures and learning that await them in Grade 2 in the fall.

Thank you for a truly memorable year. It has been an honour and a pleasure to be part of your child's Grade 1 journey.

Have a fantastic summer!

Lots of Love Ms. Craik

Good afternoon families,

Happy Father's Day, wishing you all a wonderful day today!

I hope you all have had a lovely week! Our grade 1 friends continue to work so hard in classroom. Huge thank you for the organization of our Pancake breakfast on Thursday how fun! 

Our Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation Through Learning on the Land

This year, our Grade 1 students continued to build their understanding of Truth and Reconciliation through meaningful experiences in our school learning grounds. We recognize that learning about the land helps children develop respect, responsibility, and appreciation for the many relationships that connect people, plants, animals, and the environment.

As a school community, we are committed to learning from and caring for the land around us. Together, we will play, learn, and care for the plants, trees, and living creatures that share our learning grounds. Through hands-on experiences, students  developed an understanding of reciprocity—the idea that when we receive gifts from the land, we also have a responsibility to care for and nurture it in return.

By exploring, observing, and caring for our outdoor spaces, students strengthened  their connection to the natural world while learning about stewardship, respect, and belonging. These experiences support our ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation by helping children understand their relationship with the land and their role in caring for it now and in the future.

Grade 1 Learning Intentions

Science (Alberta Curriculum)

• I can observe and describe living things in our learning grounds.
• I can identify the needs of plants and animals and explain how they survive.
• I can recognize how people affect the environment and how we can care for it.
• I can explore the relationships between plants, animals, people, and the land.
• I can demonstrate ways to care for living things and natural spaces.
• I can ask questions and make observations about the natural world around me.
• I can record what I notice using pictures, words, and labels.

English Language Arts and Literature (ELAL)

• I can listen to and share ideas about my experiences in nature.
• I can ask questions and communicate my observations about plants, animals, and the environment.
• I can use drawings, labels, words, and sentences to share my learning.
• I can read and respond to stories, teachings, and informational texts about the land and living things.
• I can build and use new vocabulary related to nature, stewardship, and community.
• I can create simple texts that describe what I observe and learn outdoors.
• I can participate in conversations that show respect for different perspectives and experiences.

Connection to Truth and Reconciliation

• I can show respect for the land and living things.
• I can recognize that the land is important to many people and communities.
• I can demonstrate responsibility by helping care for our learning grounds.
• I can understand that caring for the land is one way we show gratitude and reciprocity.
• I can learn from the stories, knowledge, and experiences that help us understand our relationship with the land.

See you all on Monday friends for our last week of GRADE 1!!!!

Ms. Craik

Happy Friday Grade 1 families,

What a wonderful fun week we had! Lots of things going on in our classroom as we prepare for the end of the school year.

HUGE thank you to all the students who returned their library books for the final return. Awesome to see! Please see Mrs. Norman's kind words below. 

"Hi Tasha

Thank you for bringing your students in today. I always love reading and speaking with them.

I checked in all the books and.....

THERE ARE NO MORE CHECKED OUT!!!

Super proud of your group. They and you are all rockstars ❤️

Thank you for all of your support this year. Best year ever!!"

This week a highlight was in gym, Our learning intentions for gymnastics were; 

• I can balance my body in different ways using different body parts.
• I can move safely through space while doing gymnastics activities.
• I can create different body shapes at high, medium, and low levels.
• I can show control when rolling, rocking, and balancing.
• I can use strong and safe body movements during gymnastics.
• I can travel in different directions using gymnastics movements.
• I can demonstrate body awareness while moving on mats and equipment.
• I can follow safety rules during gymnastics activities.
• I can try challenging movements using my personal best effort.
• I can combine movements to create a simple gymnastics sequence.
• I can cooperate respectfully with others during gymnastics activities.
• I can describe how physical activity makes my body feel.

  

“I like doing gymnastics because I learned how to do the rope swing.” — Aidan

“I used to be scared of heights, but now after doing gymnastics, climbing is not that scary.” — Althea

“I liked gymnastics because I learned how to properly climb the ropes.” — Sophia

“I liked our gymnastics unit because I have never swung or climbed up that high.” — Ellie

“I liked gymnastics because it was fun to climb the ropes.” — Henry

“I liked gymnastics because I did not know I could climb that high.” — James

“I liked climbing the ladder on the climbers, and I felt like a king.” — Hans

“I learned how to balance on the thin beam.” — Arleigh

“I liked gymnastics because it was fun to swing like a monkey on the ropes.” — Brooke

“I liked the climber because it is such a big ladder.” — Aurelia

“I loved gymnastics because I got to try new things.” — Lyla

See you on Monday morning friends,

Ms. Craik

Happy Friday families,

I hope you all have a lovely weekend ahead! Another amazing week in grade 1. We returned to gymnastics this week and had a ton of fun with this. This week was our last week checking out library books with Mrs. Norman, next Wednesday we will return them for the year. Thank you again to all the families who continue to participate in our home reading decodable books program.

A highlight of our week this week was starting a new unit in Math (Data collecting and Graphing) Our learning intentions for this were;

Data Collection

• I can ask questions to gather information from my classmates.
• I can share my ideas and answers during a class survey.
• I can collect data about people, objects, and events in my classroom.
• I can record information that I gather from others.
• I can sort information into categories.

Organizing Data

• I can organize data into groups.
• I can use tally marks to keep track of information.
• I can sort data by similarities and differences.
• I can help create a class chart using collected data.
• I can compare groups of data.

Graphing

• I can help build a concrete graph using real objects.
• I can create a pictograph to represent data.
• I can use pictures or symbols to show information.
• I can label categories on a graph.
• I can read information shown in a graph.

Interpreting Data

• I can answer questions about a graph.
• I can tell which category has the most or least.
• I can compare information shown on a graph.
• I can explain what a graph tells me.
• I can use data to make observations.

Mathematical Thinking

• I can make predictions before collecting data.
• I can check if my graph matches the data collected.
• I can explain my thinking when looking at a graph.
• I can use information from a graph to answer questions.
• I can share what I notice about data patterns.

Student-Friendly June Learning Targets

•  I can collect information and organize it in a chart.
• I can create a pictograph using information I collected.
• I can read and interpret graphs.
• I can compare data and explain what it shows.
• I can use graphs to answer questions and share my thinking.

 

Have an amazing weekend! See you all on Monday morning friends!

Ms. Craik

Good evening grade 1 friends,

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and stayed dry and warm. We start gymnastics again this week please make sure you are dressed for this. We have our last library book exchange for the year this week as well. HUGE thank you again to all the kids who are participating in home reading. 

One of our highlights of the week this our residency with the Calgary Flames. Our learning intentions for this were:

Ball Hockey/Flag Football Residency

Grade 1 Alberta Wellness Curriculum – “I Can” Statements

Active Living & Movement Skills

• I can move safely when I play games with others.
• I can run, stop, and change directions while playing.
• I can kick, throw, catch, or pass a ball with control.
• I can hold and use sports equipment safely.
• I can practice balancing, dodging, and moving in open space.
• I can follow game boundaries and stay in my space.
• I can try new movement skills during hockey and football activities.
• I can move my body in different ways during warm-ups and games.

Cooperation & Teamwork

• I can work together with my teammates.
• I can take turns and share equipment fairly.
• I can encourage others during games and activities.
• I can listen to coaches, teachers, and teammates.
• I can include others when we play.
• I can show kindness and respect during games.

Wellness & Personal Growth

• I can keep my body active and healthy through play.
• I can notice how exercise makes my body feel.
• I can use calming strategies when I feel frustrated or excited.
• I can try my best even when a skill feels challenging.
• I can practice good sportsmanship when I win or lose.
• I can make safe choices during physical activities.

Rules, Safety & Responsibility

• I can follow the rules of a game.
• I can play safely with sports equipment.
• I can remember to look where I am moving.
• I can help keep myself and others safe during activities.
• I can participate responsibly during games and practice.

Reflection & Confidence

• I can talk about skills I am improving.
• I can set a goal for my movement skills.
• I can celebrate my effort and growth.
• I can feel confident trying new games and activities.

. 

See you all in the morning!

Ms. Craik

Good morning grade 1 families,

I hope you are enjoying your weekend so far. We had a lovely week together after the long weekend. We welcomed a new friend to our classroom as well. Some of our learning intentions for this week were surrounded around Math and subtracting. Please see below for the student outcomes. 

Reminder Wednesdays are still our library book exchange I believe we have 2 more book exchanges and then those are done for the year. Thank you also to those who still continue to partake in the decodable home reading program.

Our learning intentions for Subtraction math facts to 20 and understanding operations; 

• ⭐ I can show subtraction as taking away, comparing, or finding the missing part.
• ⭐ I can solve subtraction equations to 20 using different strategies.
• ⭐ I can explain what subtraction means in a math problem.
• ⭐ I can use pictures and drawings to help solve subtraction problems.
• ⭐ I can use tallies to show and solve subtraction equations.
• ⭐ I can use a number line to count back and solve subtraction problems.
• ⭐ I can use a hundreds chart to help me subtract numbers.
• ⭐ I can use counters, cubes, or objects to model subtraction.
• ⭐ I can use ten frames to help solve subtraction facts.
• ⭐ I can find the missing number in a subtraction equation.
• ⭐ I can show my subtraction thinking in more than one way.
• ⭐ I can explain the strategy I used to solve a subtraction problem.
• ⭐ I can choose a math tool that helps me solve a subtraction equation.
• ⭐ I can use counting back to solve subtraction problems.
• ⭐ I can use counting on to help find the difference.
• ⭐ I can use known facts and patterns to help solve subtraction equations.
• ⭐ I can solve story problems using subtraction strategies and tools.
• ⭐ I can check my subtraction answer using another method.
• ⭐ I can represent subtraction equations using numbers, words, pictures, and objects.
• ⭐ I can solve subtraction problems to 20 independently using a strategy that works for me.

.

See you all on Monday friends, don't forget our ball hockey and flag football residency start this week.

Ms. Craik

Happy Friday long weekend grade 1 families,

I hope this email finds you all well. We had a lovely week together this past week. Thank you to all of you for returning your library books this week friends. Mrs. Norman is very proud of our classroom keeping good care of our books and returning them all on time, keep up the great work!

One of our highlights this week was starting our classroom animal research project together. Our learning intentions for this were:

Grade 1 Science “I Can” Statements – Coyote Research Project

• I can ask questions about coyotes and learn new facts.
• I can describe what a coyote looks like using pictures and words.
• I can identify body parts that help coyotes survive in nature.
• I can explain where coyotes live and what they need to survive.
• I can describe what coyotes eat and how they find food.
• I can explain how coyotes move and stay safe.
• I can identify how coyotes change or adapt during different seasons.
• I can compare coyotes to other animals I know.
• I can share ways people can safely live near coyotes.
• I can use illustrations to show scientific ideas about coyotes.
• I can share my learning about coyotes with others.

Grade 1 ELAL “I Can” Statements – Coyote Research Project

Reading & Viewing

• I can find information about coyotes in books, pictures, and videos.
• I can listen carefully to learn new facts about coyotes.
• I can use pictures and words together to understand information.
• I can ask questions before, during, and after learning.
• I can talk about important facts I learned about coyotes.

Writing & Representing

• I can draw detailed pictures to show my ideas about coyotes.
• I can label my illustrations with words.
• I can write simple sentences about coyotes.
• I can use sounds I hear to spell words.
• I can organize my ideas so others can understand my learning.
• I can add facts to my pictures and writing.
• I can share my ideas using both illustrations and words.

Oral Language

• I can talk about what I learned about coyotes.
• I can share my ideas clearly with classmates and teachers.
• I can listen respectfully when others share their learning.
• I can use new science words when talking about coyotes.

Student-Friendly Learning Goal

We are learning to research and share information about coyotes using illustrations and words.

Success Criteria

• I can learn facts about coyotes.
• I can draw detailed illustrations.
• I can label and write about my pictures.
• I can share my learning clearly with others.

Thank you friends also for continuing to take part in our home reading program with our decodable's. It is so great to see the growth this time of year with our amazing kiddos in their literacy skills. 

Have a fabulous weekend friends or those on trips have safe travels! See you all Tuesday morning.

Ms. Craik