JOHN MITCHELL SCHOOL

Dear Parents

 

The Revised National Curriculum has been fully implemented at our school. We will teach the children knowledge, skills and values that they will need to be competent, responsible, critical thinking individuals.

 

There are 7 critical outcomes and these are the most important skills we want the learners to attain, besides basic reading, writing and mathematical skills that they need.

 

The critical outcomes are:

 

• Problem solving

• Making informed choices

• Work successfully in a team

• Organise and manage oneself

• Evaluate information critically

• Communicate clearly and effectively

• Use science and technology successfully and meaningfully

• See the world as a set of related systems

 

The child will be assessed along his/her own paths of achievement and not compared with others. He/she will experience satisfaction and grow in confidence as they progress. The child will be given vast oppertunities to become actively involved in gaining knowledge.

 

Parental involvement is essential for the success of this programme. Please watch out for homework sheets and newsletters that will inform you of what assistance is needed.

 

Most importantly, we urge you to contact us if you have any questions or matters to discuss. Parents, learners and educators working together will ensure that we make each year a successful one. We thank you for your support and enthusiasm.

 

It is important for parents to bear in mind that their children are individuals and will work at different levels and speeds. For this reason it is important that you do not compare your grade one child with another.

 

At the begining of the school year your child will begin an introductory programme which consists of four (4) stages. Each stage gets progressively more difficult. The children go through these stages at their own pace.

 

STAGE 1

During stage one the educators get to know the children and identify their capabilities. During this time the children are encouraged to feel safe and secure at school.

 

STAGE 2

During this stage we build on what the children already know. They are now consciously taught specific things e.g.

• Balancing, ball games

• Shape rcognition, tracing, copying and colouring in shapes

• Cutting

• Number rhymes

• Position (in, on, under, etc.)

• Naming body parts

• Finding differences and similarities in pictures

• Listening to stories, noises, commands etc.

• Easy patterns between wide spaced lines.

• Reading and writing their own names.

• Reading product names OMO, SPAR, etc.

• Discussions

• Colour simple pictures

 

STAGE 3

During stage 3 we build on what the children have been tought and the tasks get more difficult. They complete some of the following tasks:

• Jigsaw puzzles

• Use body parts to complete specific actions

• Building patterns / pictures using shapes

• Recognising shapes in everyday objects

• Comparison (big/small)

• Numbers up to 5

• Left and right

• Introduction to sounds (letters)

• Sorting objects, identifying common property

• Identifying similarities and differences in pictures  / letters

• Memory activities

• Hopscotch, skipping

• Cutting out more complicated pictures

• Making ‘things’ using plasticine

• Threading beads, nuts, macaroni, etc.

• More complicated writing patterns with wide lines letter formation.

• Very simple reading of repetitive sentences, e.g. I see the dog. I see the cat.

 

STAGE 4

 

During stage 4 we start taking what the children have learnt and apply their knowledge to formal schooling like addition, subtraction, spelling, reading etc. They will complete some of the following tasks:

 

• Draw a person with more detail

• Identification of emotions

• More detailed and difficult patterns created by the children

• Left and right jigsaw puzzles

• More / less activities

• Similarities and differences in words and sentences

• Building own simple words using loose letters.

• Drawing circles around specific letters in a passage

• Simple spelling and reading activities

• Sewing with wool on card/paper

• Making a picture dictionary

 

By the time most children have completed the introductory programme it is already the end of May. In June some children will receive simple readers and some will be introduced to simple addition and subtraction operations.

 

During the third term many children will be able to build their own words and very simple sentences. Many children will be able to count to 10 and complete addition operations up to the number 5. Children will be able to identify most of the 26 letters.

 

During the fourth term children will continue reading, building words and writing sentences. They will also complete addition and subtraction operations up to 10.

 

Please encourage your child at home and also encourage them to complete the tasks set for them on their own. Most importantly enjoy this year with your grade one child!!!

 

PARENTAL CONTRIBUTION

 

1. Maintain a relaxed comfortable atmosphere at home.

2. Give the child a wide variety of experiences e.g. visit the zoo, fire station, airport, historic points of interest etc.

3. Be enthusiastic about school and school activities.

4. Give children a chance to talk about themselves and their interests.

5. Answer your child’s questions in a simpledirect manner.

6. Praise your child for his accomplishments.

7. Develop his/her sense of independence by giving him/her responsibilities.

8. Encourage your child to associate with other children.

9. Encourage your child to develop appropriate interests.

10. Teach your child the correct names for people and places.

11. Let your child see you read for enjoyment.

12. Provide materials similar to those that your child uses at school for him/her to play with. (Crayons , glue etc.)

13.Insist that your child follow instructions and pay attention.

14. Expose your child to other sources of reading materials besides books (menus, magazines, etc.)

15. Show interest by following your child’s progress at school.

16. Provide daily newspapers or regular magazines.

17. Monitor your child’s television viewing  – let them watch the early news.

18. Encourage and help your child complete homework tasks.

19. Try to read to your child on a daily basis.

20. Spend quality time with your child engaged in discussions.

  

Language guide – especially for parents

 

1. Encourage your child to talk to you and take the time to talk to him/her.

2. Try to give your child your undivided attention for at least a few minutes everyday.

3. Let him/her tell you what he/she did, what he/she said or how he/she did it.

4. Ask him/her questions about his/her activities and encourage him/her to speak.

5. Listen to his/her ideas.

6. Reward him/her with verbal praise – that was good, you did well!

7. Make your child aware of the sounds around him/her, identify sounds with him/her, play games with sounds (imitate sounds and have him/her tell you what they were).

8. Let him/her look at pictures, and name and describe what he/she sees.

9. Help him/her make up stories about pictures, things and people around him/her.

10. Answer his/her questions.

11. Take every opportunity to talk to your child.

 

Please remember that we are available if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Note that: NO educator will be called out of class during teaching times. Educators may be contacted at the following times:

 

Before school:            07:20 to 07:30

1st Break:                  09:40 to 09:55

2nd Break:                 12:10 to 12:30

After School:              14:00 to 14:30

 

PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE RELEVANT EDUCATOR IF YOU NEED TO SEE HIM/HER AFTER SCHOOL.