Dear Parents:

I am excited to have your child in my Grade 1 class this year! Grade 1 is

the start of a thrilling educational journey. Throughout this year, I hope to help
your child build a strong foundation that will aid in his/her educational progression.
Because I believe building literacy skills is an important foundational aspect of that
educational journey, I have decided to provide you with an outline of how I plan to
incorporate the components of reading and literacy into our daily classroom
activities.
As outlined in the Alberta Curriculum, the English Language Arts component
at the Grade 1 level, is summarized as follows:

What are words and how can I use them? How can I speak well with others
and know I am using the right words? Grade 1 students see why words are
important and how words can be used to create beautiful stories. Your Grade
1 child will experience the fun of communicating, learning and expressing
themselves.
Reading is not only essential to the components of the English Language Arts
curriculum, but I believe it is also essential to the success of learning in all other
subject areas, which is why we will be making it a central part of our classroom
learning this year.
The two main components of the reading process are: word identification
and comprehension. I have decided to expand these components into a strategy
referred to as the CAFE Menu. The CAFE Menu is intended to develop and enhance
your childs literacy development. It addresses: Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency,
and Extended Vocabulary. It also lists easy and practical ways to develop skills
within each category. I will be displaying the CAFE Menu in my classroom as a
reference and a guide for both my students and myself. I have attached a copy of
the CAFE Menu, and I would love it if you were able to reference it when you read
with your child at home. As we set goals together, I know your child will succeed!
I also hope to introduce a variety of literature into my classroom throughout
the year. Your child will have access to books that will affirm, challenge, and most
importantly, excite your childs literacy ambitions. Reading should be fun! I have
attached for your reference a list of designated books that we will be reading,
discussing and creating activities around throughout the school year.
I look forward to collaborating more with you in the future. I know that if
we work together to build strong literacy skills, wonderful learning will take place!
Sincerely,
Miss Stringam

The CAFE Menu:

C

Comprehension

Accuracy

Fluency

I understand
what I read

I can read the

words

I can read
accurately, with
expression, and
understand what
I read.

Expand
Vocabulary
I know, find, and
use interesting
words.

How can I practice?

Check for
understanding:
-What was the
story about?
-What has
happened so far?
-Name the
setting and main
characters.
-Retell the story.
-Back up and
reread.

Cross-checking:
-Do the
pictures/words
look right?
-Does it sound
right?
-Does is make
sense?

Voracious reading:
-Be a hungry
reader!
-Choose
Good Fit books.

Voracious reading:
-Be a hungry
reader!
-Practice!

-Use the picture.

-Do the words
and pictures
match?

-Reread text.

-Tune in to
interesting words
and use new
vocabulary in my
speaking and
writing.

-Infer and
support with
evidence.

-Use beginning
sounds and ending
sounds.

-Adjust and apply

different reading
rates to match
text.

-Use pictures,
illustrations and
diagrams.

Boushey, G. & Moser, J. (2012) Big Ideas behind daily 5 and caf. The Reading Teacher, 66(3), pp.172-178 (Custom Coursepack)

This Years Literature:

Author/ Illustrator: Kevin Diller and Justin Lowe
This is wonderfully funny picture book is about Octi,
the worlds only Ocitcorn (half octopus and half
unicorn). Octi has a hard time fitting in, even though
he has many unique and interesting talents! Will he
ever find a true friend?
Author: Chris Hadfield
Illustrators: Eric and Terry Fan

The Darkest Hour was inspired by astronaut, Chris

Hadfields childhood. He recalls the days of being afraid
of the dark, despite his love for space and planets. Its
the tale of how a frightened young boy learns to
overcome his fears and follow his dreams.
Author: Susan Hood
Illustrator: Sally Wern Comport

Adas Violin recounts the true story of how the

Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay came to be. We also
learn about how Ada and her friends are given the
opportunity to tour the world!
Author/Illustrator: David Litchfield
One day in the forest, a young bear cub found
something hed never seen before.
What could this strange thing be? he thought.
Shyly, he touched it with his stubby paws

Author: Robert Munsch, Michael Kusugak

Illustrator: Vladyana Krykorka
From beloved author Robert Munsch comes the classic
story of a young Inuit girl named Allashua, who
disobeys her parents and goes fishing on the sea ice.
Allashua has to outsmart the Qallupilluit when she
promises to bring her brothers and sisters back to
them.