Loving Language in Grade 2 In 2023, the Ontario Government made changes and updates to the Grade 1-8 Language curriculum. These changes were developed by research surrounding the Science of Reading. Through this research, it is abundantly clear that learning to read and developing related skills such as the ability to spell, requires evidence-based, explicit instruction that encompasses areas such as letter sound knowledge, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. At Bayview Glen, explicit reading instruction has long been an essential component of our Language curriculum. This year in Grade 2, we are proud to continue the work started by the Grade 1 team’s ‘Walk to Read’ initiative, with our updated ‘Reading Mastery Transformations’ programme. ‘RMT’ is a direct instruction reading programme, meaning that it provides a structured learning process; learning strategies are broken into sub-skills which students continuously review and practice, until mastery is reached. Every day, the Grade 2 students engage in small-group reading lessons with their teacher and peers. In each small group, students work to decode individual words, read and answer comprehension questions on short stories, and discuss vocabulary and language concepts, such as contractions and homographs.
In addition to our updated reading programme, the Grade 2’s have also begun a new, evidence-based spelling programme this school year — UFLI Foundations. Rather than focussing on memorizing the spelling of a list of words, which inevitably will be forgotten days later, UFLI focusses on teaching students all of the essential letter sounds and blends that make up words in the English language. This programme follows a carefully developed scope and sequence, designed to ensure that students are able to master and practice spelling and reading skills before moving on to more challenging concepts, and allows students to apply these skills with automaticity and confidence. The growth we have seen already in Grade 2 from the use of these programmes has been wonderful. Students are much more confident in both their reading and writing, and echoes of “How do you spell…?” and “What does this say?” are a rarity. We are excited to continue to see growth not only in language abilities, but in student confidence, in Grade 2! Brittany Camilleri Grade 2 Homeroom Teacher
Investing in Young Minds: A Classroom Economy at Bayview Glen In our Lower School, Grade 5 students are participating in a practical and engaging teaching programme, which is helping them gain a deeper understanding and respect for financial literacy. Alongside this, the innovative system aligns perfectly with the school's core values, reinforcing respect, responsibility, compassion, integrity, equity, and balance. So, how does it work? The classroom economy system is a miniature version of the real world. Students earn "Bayview Glen Dollars" for their assigned jobs and are rewarded for modelling consistent good practices and showing a strong work ethic. With their earnings, they pay for their desk and chair rent, electricity bills, school supplies, and the occasional treat or privilege. This hands-on approach provides students with practical experience in real-world math skills, such as budgeting and understanding the value of saving for future goals. The classroom economy also opens doors to entrepreneurship and philanthropy, allowing students to explore the concept of investment as a means of growing their BVG dollars. Alongside this, it also encourages young business minds to give back, as students explored in December when they turned their BVG Dollars into real Canadian Dollars to raise $421 for SickKids by setting up a hot chocolate business. Since its conception in September, the classroom economy has already proven that it is more than just a teaching programme. It has shown that it is a
6
January 2024
transformative experience that instills financial literacy in young minds, preparing students for the real world. It is not only a practical way to teach students about money management, but also promotes respect, responsibility, compassion, integrity, equity, and balance, including a healthy bank balance! Gareth Jones Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher
“The BIG Why” is a Bayview Glen podcast on Lower School and Preschool Learning Conversations. Listen to the latest episode “Dollars for Desks & The Classroom Economy”, which shares about the Classroom Economy and how it connects to the Bayview Glen math programme.
