Clarification

Dear Parents,

I wish to clarify that the blue exercise book that the boys need to submit to me must consist of broad lines, similar to the Spelling exercise book. I have returned some of the boys the book they have submitted to me earlier. Kindly help your child to purchase the correct book which is meant for the lower primary. I do apologize for the inconvenience! 

Kindly note that the second Spelling test (List 2) will be conducted next Monday, 4 February. 

Thank you very much for your attention and assistance!

Spelling

Dear Parents,

1. Please be informed that the Spelling book has been returned to the boys today. Kindly monitor your child in doing the corrections (if any), and remind him to submit the book tomorrow after you have signed it.

2. The following boys have not submitted the blue exercise book:
*Cavan
*Zane
*Jovan
*Ryan
Kindly prepare the book for your child and get him to submit the book tomorrow.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation!

English File & Spelling

Dear Parents,

1. English File
-The boys took the file home today. Kindly check Unit 2 Booklet and sign on the cover page.

-Kindly ensure that your child submits the file on Tuesday, 29 January 2013. 

2. Spelling Test 1
-Kindly note that the weekly Spelling test will be conducted on Mondays.

-However, Spelling Test 1 will be conducted on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 because I will not be in school on Monday, 28 January 2013.

-The ten words to be tested are:
*dog
*frog
*sheep
*farmer
*cow
*duck
*pig
*mud
*tub
*screamed

-Kindly note that during the test, I will read out the sentences containing the words to be tested. 
For example, I will say, "The dog is chewing on its bone happily. Spell the word 'dog'." The boys need to write only the word 'dog'.

-The following boys have yet to submit a broad line exercise book needed for the Spelling tests:
*Jeric
*Edison
*Charlton
*Zane
*Jovan
Kindly prepare the book for your child. 

Thank you for your attention and cooperation! Have a blessed weekend!

Spelling-Clarification

Dear Parents,

I wish to clarify and emphasize that the boys are tested on only 10 words for each Spelling test. The underlined words in the sentences given on the right are exactly the same as those on the left. The words tested are taken from the big book or related to the unit/theme. The words are depicted in sentences so that the boys learn them in context.

So don't worry; the boys only need to learn 10 words each time! Meanwhile...

Updates

Dear Parents,

Here are some updates for you:

1. Speech and Drama lessons

-These lessons are conducted every Monday by two instructors from an external vendor.

-The programme teaches the boys phonics and voice projection. It also aims to involve the boys in creative role-play and drama.

-The activity booklet which is used during the lessons will be returned to the boys upon completion of the programme.

2. Literacy Block Programme

-Today the boys had their first reading session with the mummies, and they really enjoyed themselves!

-The boys were put in groups of fours or fives, and they spent about 20 minutes listening to a story being read to them.

-Next week, the mummies will re-read the story, and do the first activity in the SPUR booklet with the boys.

Thank you, mummies, for your participation and commitment! Your enthusiasm is indeed infectious!

3. Library Reading Incentive Card

-Today the boys went to the library and were briefed by the librarian, Auntie Mei.

-Tomorrow I will be distributing the Library Reading Incentive Card to the boys.

-Kindly write your child’s BC number on the card.

-Your child is encouraged to visit the library during the 10-minute breaks, recess and after school. (Kindly note that the library closes at 4.30pm every day.)

Rules to remember when using the library:

-The Library Reading Incentive Card must be presented to the librarian if your child wishes to borrow the library books. Alternatively, he can tell the librarian his BC number but he will not receive any stamp on his card.
-A maximum of 4 books can be borrowed per day. To encourage all the boys to read widely, every boy is allowed to borrow only 1 book per genre or author.

-Reference books (with a red tag) cannot be borrowed or taken out of the library.

-The loan period is 2 weeks. Parents will be sent a reminder via email when the book is overdue.

-If a book is lost, your child is liable to pay for it.

-New books can be purchased at the library. Kindly approach the librarians if you are interested.

-A lost Library Reading Incentive Card can be replaced but kindly remind your child to be very careful with his card.

-Kindly remind your child not to borrow any books for his friend too.

I have taken some photos of the boys in action on Monday and today! Kindly allow me some time to post them on the class blog. I will keep you informed when they are ready for viewing.

Thank you for your attention and patience! Have a good evening ahead!

Handwriting

Dear Parents,

Thank you for your assistance in making sure that your child submitted his English file and the Stellar Handwriting book to me today!

I have marked  Worksheet 2 & 3 in the Stellar Handwriting book. I find that many of the boys have difficulties forming the letter 'M' in its upper case and the letter 'y' in its lower case. Generally the boys need more practice in copying accurately, and writing neatly. 

Tomorrow I will return the book to some of the boys. If your child shows you his book, kindly take a close look at his work, especially the mistakes he has made, and sign on Page 11. Also, kindly remind your child of the importance of neat handwriting in order to produce work that is legible. 

Thank you for your kind assistance and participation! Have a great week ahead! 

Goodies for today!

Dear Parents,

Here are what the boys took home today:

1. English File
-The Unit 1 booklet has been filed. Kindly sign on the cover page.

2. Stellar Handwriting Book
-Kindly take note of Page 5.
-Kindly sign on Page 9.
-Kindly assist and monitor your child in completing the exercise on Page 11.

3. Information Sheet on Grammar and Vocabulary Items covered in Term 1
-Kindly keep the information sheet at home.

4. Spelling Lists (Term 1)
-Kindly keep the lists at home.
-The test dates are as follow:

  Spelling Tests for Term 1 (Every Monday)

Unit	Date
1 & 2	*29.01.13 (Tues) I will not be in school on 28.01.13 because I need to attend my investiture in NIE.
3 & 4	04.02.13
5	18.02.13
6	25.02.13
7	04.03.13
8	11.03.13

Kindly remind your child to submit the English file and Stellar Handwriting book on Monday, 21 January.

Thank you for your attention! Have a blessed weekend ahead!

Change of plan

Dear Parents,

The boys did Page 8 & 9 of the Stellar Handwriting book today. However, many of them were unable to complete the writing in class. Hence, they are allowed to take the book home. Kindly remind your child to refer to Page 5 for the correction formation of the letters in their upper and lower case. Upon completion, kindly sign on Page 9 and remind your child to submit the book tomorrow.

Thank you for your attention and participation! Have a good day ahead!

Reward

Good morning Parents,

Today I will be getting the boys to practise forming the letters of the alphabet in their upper and lower case. It is going to be a lot of hard work! Hence, I have bought each boy a lollipop. I will remind all the boys to take the reward home to check with you if he could eat it. I am sorry I did not manage to post this blog entry yesterday. If your child has any dietary restriction that I should take note of, kindly email me at amandastertan@yahoo.com.sg.

Thank you for your attention! Have a fabulous day ahead!

Updates

Dear Parents,

Here are some updates of what 1Goodness has been doing:

1. The boys have completed all the learning sheets in Unit 1 (The Farm Concert).
-Most of the boys are getting used to the routine of writing their name and class, and the date on every learning sheet.
-Many of them are trying very hard to form the letters of the alphabet correctly and neatly. A few need further practice at home.
-The Unit 1 booklet will be put in the English file. Kindly remind your child to bring the file to school tomorrow if he has not submitted the file to me.
-The boys will take the English file home this Friday.
-Kindly sign on the cover page of the Unit 1 booklet and remind your child to submit the file to me on Monday, 21 Jan.

2. Today the boys did Worksheet 1 in the Stellar Handwriting book.
-Worksheet 1 requires the boys to join the dotted lines to complete some patterns.
-The patterns consist of straight lines, curved lines, or straight and curved lines.
-The primary objective of this exercise is to raise the boys' awareness that the letters of the alphabet are made up of straight lines, curved lines, or straight and curved lines.
-This exercise also serves as a warming up exercise before the boys embark on the journey of forming the 26 letters in their upper and lower case.
-Tomorrow I will teach the boys how to form each letter correctly.
-They will take the book home this Friday to show you what they have done.
-Kindly take note of Page 5, and emphasize to your child how each letter should be formed in its upper and lower case.
-Kindly remind your child to submit the book to me on Monday, 21 Jan.

Thank you for your attention! Have a blessed evening!

Literacy Block Programme

Dear Parents,

I would like to share some information with you regarding the Literacy Block Programme which was initiated in 2006. The primary objective of this programme is to arouse the boys’ interest in reading independently after experiencing the enjoyment of being read to.

1. Literacy Block is carried out once a week for 1 period (starting from Week 3, Wednesday, 23 January 2013).

2. During the thirty-minute session, a parent volunteer (Reading Mum or Reading Dad) will read a storybook to a group of five boys.

3. In the following week, the RM or RD will conduct an activity with the boys using the SPUR (Super Passionate Ultimate Reader) booklet.

4. Each group will be given a storybook to be read over two consecutive weeks. A different storybook will be provided fortnightly.

5. The reading session will be conducted outside the classroom but within the school compound.

On behalf of the boys in 1Goodness, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the seven mothers and one father who have kindly volunteered to serve as our Reading Mum and Reading Dad. Thank you very much, Mummies and Daddy! I am sure the boys would look forward to seeing you every Wednesday morning!

Updates

Dear Parents,

Today the boys and I re-read the big book 'The Farm Concert'. After reading, the boys completed two learning sheets in the Unit Booklet.

Below are some observations and advice I would like to share with you:

1. Many of the boys are unable to distinguish between the letters in their upper and lower case. Kindly remind your child of the following:

-If a word begins with a capital letter, the capital letter is the biggest and tallest letter in the word. If there is a tall letter (eg. 'h') in the same word, that letter is as tall as the capital letter. The rest of the letters must be smaller and shorter than the capital/tall letter.
eg.     Shoes

-Kindly emphasize to your child that he must write the words/answers on the lines provided. They should not be floating in mid air.

2. The boys are required to write their name and class, and the date on every Learning Sheet.
-Kindly train your child to write his name correctly, his class as '1Good' and the date in this format eg. 8 January 2013.

3. Kindly ensure that your child has a pencil sharpener and knows how to use it. He also needs a ruler, an eraser and some colour pencils. Corrections are to be done using a green colour pencil, so kindly ensure that your child has one.

Many of the boys have submitted their books and English file to me today. Thank you very much for helping your child to collate them for submission! I hope to be able to complete the collection by the end of the week.

Thank you for your attention! Wishing you a pleasant evening!

Updates

Dear Parents,

I met the boys for the first time today. We read the big book ‘The Farm Concert’ and I must say many of them were very enthusiastic and responsive!

Below is some information I would like to share with you:

1. Submission of books and file

·      Kindly submit the Stellar Handwriting book, the blue exercise book, 1 broad line exercise book (Spelling Book) and the English file by the end of Week 1.

·      Kindly write your child’s name and class on the front cover of all his books and file.

2. Homework File/School Diary

·      Kindly provide your child with a simple plastic file (with a button or zip) to keep all homework given by the teachers and notices from the school.

·      This file has to be brought to school every day together with the school diary or your child’s own notebook.

3. Stationery

·      Kindly provide your child with the necessary writing and colouring materials.

·      Kindly label all his belongings.

4. Absence from school

·      If your child is absent from school, he may collect the necessary school work upon his return.

·      If your child is absent for a longer period of time and you would like to collect the school work personally, kindly contact me to make the necessary arrangements.

5. Weekly Spelling Test

·      Kindly note that the weekly Spelling Test will be conducted every Monday, starting from Week 4.

·      The Spelling lists will be distributed to the boys in due course.

Thank you for your attention! Have a blessed evening!

Introduction

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year to all of you! My name is Mrs Amanda Aster Tan. I am the English language teacher of 1Goodness. I have just joined the Catholic High Family. Previously I taught in a co-ed SAP school for 18.5 years. In September 2010, I returned to NIE to further my studies for 2.5 years. 2013 promises to be an exciting year as I embark on the teaching journey again!

I am glad to be able to accompany your child as he continues his learning journey. I hope to work in close partnership with you to help him discover the joys of learning, and to mold him into a child of academic and character excellence.  As such, I would like to establish and maintain open communication with you.

Please feel free to:

1.     email me at amandastertan@yahoo.com.sg. I will email my response as soon as I can.

2.     call the school and leave a message with the office clerk. I will return your call as soon as I can.

3.     write me a note and get your child to hand it to me.

I will also use the class blog as an additional platform to keep you and the boys informed and updated on important matters related to the class/school/subject.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation. I look forward to a wonderful partnership with you! Happy 2013!

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Amanda Tan