Year 1General InformationDownloadsTimetables:
1.1/1LRO Term 1 Timetable Programme Overview: Class Communications:
Year 1 Parent Info Night slides Welcome to Year 1 at Discovery College.The 2011-2012 Year 1 team consists of Mrs Kellie Gallagher (1KGR – 1.3), Miss Sarah Bennett (1SBT – 1.2) and Mrs Loretta Romano (1LRO – 1.1). We are well supported in our classroom activities by a wonderful group of Educational Assistants namely Mrs Genevieve Kong in 1KGR, Mrs Maren Gasser in 1SBT and Mrs Nicole Cresswell in 1LRO. They work tirelessly to assist with the day-to-day activities and routines. We are also fortunate to have the expertise of Mrs Lizzie Hudson and Ms Sue Tsoi who work regularly in our classrooms as part of the Learning Development team providing ongoing support for the needs of our students. To contact us please use our email addresses as listed: We look forward to a year full of many new learning experiences and rewarding moments together with ongoing success for all. Warm regards News & UpdatesNovember/December 2011It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of Term 1. The few weeks before the Christmas break will be busy for everyone as so this is a good chance to remind you to read ‘The Explorer’ each Friday and check for dates on the Discovery College Website. Unit of Inquiry Book borrowing/Returns
Wet Weather Days It would also be helpful if students who need to walk to school on wet weather days have their shoes and socks packed in their school bag. By wearing boots or flip-flops to school they won’t end up having to stay in wet school shoes or socks throughout the day. Absences Class Parent Representative Activities It was also brought to our attention that some parents did not receive any emails in regards to the Halloween event. If this was the case for you then we would encourage you to forward your details to your CPRs to avoid finding out at the last minute about any future events. Please find the names and contact details for each class representative below:
Fine/Gross Motor Skills FINE MOTOR SKILLS - Painting Try to alternate between large, stubby brushes and smaller, finer brushes. The smaller the brush is, the more control they need over their hands. Also try getting them to do some painting with cotton swabs. This develops their pincer grip; needed for learning how to write. - Playdough Children will get some great fine motor skill exercise out of Playdough especially if you add some extra equipment such as rollers and cookie cutters. - Cutting Bring out the scissors and some old magazines and let them get to work. Cutting requires a lot of coordination. - Threading Buy some beads to thread or use some colored pasta and string. This activity requires a lot of control and a steady hand. - Blocks Start out with larger blocks and move your way towards the smaller variety. The smaller the blocks, the more control they need to develop.
GROSS MOTOR SKILLS - Running Create a game that requires moving quickly. This is great for encouraging the development of gross motor coordination. - Climbing Take them to the park and let them climb all over the jungle gyms. Each time they try, they will get a little better because they are developing those important gross motor muscles. - Hopping Try a game of hopscotch. All that hopping about is developing some balance. - Ball play Kicking, rolling and throwing are some great ways to encourage gross motor development and you don't need anything more that a ball and a little bit of room. Smaller balls require a little finer control but you should aim to get a ball that is easily picked up. - Batting Get out the baseball bat and polish up your batting skills. This is a hard one for kids to master but well worth the reward. Try a bigger, thicker bat to start with and work your way up to a smaller one. You can also try tennis, golf or racquetball. Points of Interest
Important Dates
Regards, Loretta Romano Year 1 Teachers October 2011Dear ParentsThank you for helping to make your child’s transition into Year One at Discovery College as smooth as possible. We have been delighted with the way our students have adapted to school life. Please continue to support your child by continuing to encourage them to become independent, allowing them to pack their own school bag at home and reminding them to unpack their bag upon arrival to school. This includes taking out their diary and alerting the teacher to any messages that may be inside, placing their water bottle in the marked containers in their classroom and returning their fluency books into the returns tub. ReadingIt was wonderful to see so many parents at our recent Year One Reading Workshop. For those of you who couldn’t attend the materials are available to download on the Year One website.The students have been taking home nightly reading books, Fluency Books, for a few weeks now. Please mark which books your child has read on the list that is in the zipper pouch. Your child should be selecting the books they take home independently from the correct coloured book tub. Remember, if your child is already reading, these are books that the children can read independently. They should be quick and easy for your child to read. If your child is beginning to learn to read, they may need you to support them by reading the book to them first and then help them as they try to read it back to you. This should be an enjoyable time for you and your child. If your child is tired or frustrated, stop and try again at a time that is convenient for you both. Please refer to the parent handout from the Parent Information Evening to guide the home reading. Students will regularly bring home an extra fluency book in their book folder. These books have been explored, read and discussed as part of our guided reading groups. We love to hear how your child is progressing with their reading at home. Please take the time to provide regular and brief feedback in your child’s diary to inform us of their successes and challenges. LibraryThe children have enjoyed visiting the library and selecting their own books to take home. These books can be kept at home for two weeks and returned when finished or on your child’s library day. If there is a book that you have not read yet or that you would like to continue to read again, simply keep it at home and return it when you are ready. Overdue reminder notices will be issued after the two week loan period elapses. Your child is always allowed to have up to three items on loan at any one time.WeatherAs the weather in Hong Kong is extremely changeable and unpredictable we highly recommend that you purchase a DC raincoat that can be kept in your child’s school bag. These raincoats go over your child and their school bag so that they are completely covered during a downpour. Please note that we do not allow umbrellas at school. Remember to name the raincoat!UniformWith the cooler weather starting to settle in we have noticed students wearing an assortment of jackets to school. The DC hooded jacket or the lighter PE jacket are available to purchase from the PTA shop. Please ensure your child wears these to school as part of their daily uniform. Once again, it is important to label all items of clothing with your child’s name. Refer to the uniform section on page 37 of the Parent Handbook for further information or the PTA/Uniform sites through the College websitePlease continue to dress your child in their PE uniform every Wednesday and Friday. It is also important that if your child has long hair, it is tied back daily. All students need their hat at school every day. These MUST be worn at all times in the playground. Most Year 1 students now have their House coloured shirt. These are to be worn on House Assembly days and during House team events such as sports day. House meetings are always advertised in the weekly explorer so please take note when these shirts are to be worn. Students will also be reminded of the days to wear their House t-shirt during class. These coloured shirts help the children to connect with their House teammates throughout the school and to feel a part of the school spirit! Snack/LunchThe children have settled into the routine of having snack and lunch in the classroom with their peers and the introduction of cafeteria lunches has gone well. We ask that you involve your child when selecting lunch from the cafeteria menu so they can explain their preferred food choices. Cafeteria lunches MUST be pre-ordered well in advance so please refrain from ordering lunch only a few days before required. We have begun to put stickers in diaries of students who have found it difficult to eat their lunch to help keep you informed of your child’s eating habits.It has been pleasing to see that the students are becoming more responsible at managing their own food bags and containers. Please help your child to be independent by showing them which is their snack pack and which is their lunch bag and by providing packaging that can be easily opened by your child. We would also appreciate if you could continue to prepare healthy, nutritious snacks and lunches for your child to eat. Home TasksAs well as supporting your child with their reading we ask that you spend time revisiting the rhymes and songs in the green folder. They are a fun way to share time together through song, actions and even exploring words, especially those that sound the same. New poems and rhymes will be added regularly. As part of our Units of Inquiry vocab bags will be sent home from time to time for you to work with your child. These contain key words and activities designed to promote discussion and further exploration of the concepts under investigation in class. As they are shared among the class we ask that these be returned by the due dates so other students can enjoy them.Points of interestImportant dates
Regards Kellie Gallagher Sarah Bennett Loretta Romano Year One Class Teachers August 2011Welcome to our first week at school for the 2011-2012 academic year!This is the beginning of an exciting journey for your child. It is a very important year in a small child's life because it is the start of his/her formal education. We feel privileged to be a part of this process. We know that you are also eager to share in this learning journey with them and we look forward to supporting you to do this. There are many important milestones that lie ahead as the children learn to read and write, grow in their independence and responsibility and develop strong friendships with their peers. An exciting time lies ahead for us all. Information evening and parent workshops Curriculum information Snack time Drink bottles Book folders Timetables Library Points of interest
Important dates Thank you for ensuring your child has a smooth start to their school life. Regards Programme of InquiryONGOING UNIT OF INQUIRYTransdiscipinary Theme – How we express ourselvesAn inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.
Central Idea Lines of Inquiry
Teacher Questions Concepts Learner Profile UNIT 1 Central Idea Lines of Inquiry
Teacher Questions Concepts Learner Profile UNIT 2 Central Idea Lines of Inquiry
Teacher Questions Concepts Learner Profile UNIT 3 Central Idea Living things have certain requirements that are needed for growth and survival. Lines of Inquiry
Teacher Questions Concepts Learner Profile UNIT 4 Central Idea Lines of Inquiry
Teacher Questions Concepts Learner Profile UNIT 5 Central Idea Lines of Inquiry
Teacher Questions Concepts Learner Profile English Language OverviewReadingThe secret to children's early reading successes are regular practise and time to discuss the storyline. Just asking a few questions about the story helps children reflect on what has been read. We encourage you to return to the text if they have not quite understood. Comprehension is necessary because decoding words is only one part of reading; it is important that the reader makes meaning from the text. Don't forget the value of the pictures. Children love to gain visual clues from the pictures on each page. Use the pictures by asking your child to make predictions of the storyline based on what they can see and then check by reading the text. Much in-depth discussion can occur using this method to complement the reading process. Encourage your child to re-read a passage or sentence where there has been some difficulty decoding. This is a very good strategy because when children need to decode a word it slows down the fluency and meaning is often lost. Re-reading is a good strategy to adopt. Here are some other helpful hints:
Sounds RevisionPlease make a regular time to go through the letter sounds. A few sounds each day, with the actions, should keep them in the children's minds. This can occur incidentally, as you read a bedtime story (by looking for the sounds you are focusing on) or even by playing a game of "I Spy" as you travel around Hong Kong. It is easy to incorporate the sounds work into the day; it just takes a bit of thought and sometimes creativity. A method to help reinforce two-letter sounds (blends) is to find matching rhyming words. Many of these sounds are located in the middle or at the end of words. Writing lists of rhyming words will also assist with handwriting practice and prove useful for revision work at a later date. WritingAs mentioned it is very important to revisit the sounds as these equip the children with the knowledge they need to begin the writing process and further develop their writing skills. It has been fabulous to see the children really listening for the sounds in each word they write. At first they may hear only one or two of the most obvious sounds. As they continue developing and practising they will be able to identify more sounds in the words they are writing. Please praise all attempts when they are involved in writing tasks at home. A great way to keep a record of special events or family outings is to use a diary/journal. After discussion and reflection of an event the children can write a sentence about their activities and complete it with an illustration or attach a photograph. It doesn't have to take much time. A writing book could become a valuable record for the future as well as having the children write for a real purpose. Just imagine how much fun they will have sharing the book with other family members. A very powerful tool for identifying and writing the sounds heard in words. At home, any writing practise is an excellent way to check phonic awareness and enables focus on correct letter formation. SpellingIt doesn't take long before the Year 1 children become more adept at identifying words they need to spell/write. Our classroom spelling activities encourage the students to examine words to make them easier to remember. By discussing vowels and how they work with other letters, word shapes, words within words, blends etc. the children gain further insight into how language works. The aim is that they will be able to transfer this understanding and apply it to the spelling of words in their daily writing tasks. Later, the LOOK, SAY, COVER, WRITE, CHECK method will be introduced as a way for the children to examine and practise spelling commonly used words. Year 1 Maths OverviewThe following document outlines the Maths units covered in Year 1. Please note the timing and duration of these are approximate and may change to suit the needs of a particular class. As each unit begins, Maths targets for that unit will be posted below. Ongoing targetsIn Mathematics we cover a number of ongoing targets, which we focus on throughout the year. They are very important and will be regularly revised in class. We also encourage that the students revise these concepts regularly at home to keep them fresh in their minds. Unit targetsThroughout our Year 1 Mathematics units, the students are working towards achieving targets that show their understanding of the content and their ability to implement them in various contexts. Student success for each 'I can' statement is measured through their formative and summative assessments, a range of 'hands-on' classroom activities and observation of the student's understandings as well as independent working skills. Unit 1 - Numbers: Unit 1 Targets (PDF) Unit 2 - Pattern & Function: Unit 2 Targets (PDF) Unit 3 - Time: Unit 3 Targets (PDF) Unit 4 - Shape & Space: Unit 4 Targets (PDF) Unit 5 - Number: Place Value: Unit 5 Targets (PDF) Parent information bookletsThese targets show some of the things your child should be able to do by the end of a particular year level. These expectations are from the English National Curriculum, which is the basis of the ESF Scope and Sequence document, which along with the IB Scope and Sequence informs the curriculum for primary at Discovery College.
PMP ResourcesPMP Parents Night September 21 2010: Slides (885KB PDF) • Handouts (266KB PDF) List of websites that contain reading games for children (PDF) Year 1 Reading Workshop presentation slides: PDF (Mac/PC, 1.5MB) • Keynote (Mac, 3.8MB) • Powerpoint (PC, 815KB) The Case for Play: Get the Facts (The Ultimate Block Party publication | 180KB PDF) Child's Play: It's All in a Day's Work (The Goddart School For Early Childhood Development | 130KB PDF) The Playwork Primer (Alliance for Childhood | 350KB PDF) Homework |
CURRICULUM 
PYP Year 1
The joy of learning to read (2009)
