Week Seven

Hi Everyone,

This week we continued our focus on place value for both year 1 and year 2. We looked at expanding out our numbers to understand what each digit represents.For example, 431, the 4 is four hundred, 3 is 3 tens (30) and the 1 is 1 ones. We ordered numbers according to their size by rearranging three digits into the smallest number and the largest number we can make. I feel that it is important that students have a good grasp of the place value concept as it underpins future mathematical knowledge as the curriculum develops across their schooling.

In literacy we explored the big book “Rooster and Rabbit’s Ride” and it is very pleasing to hear the fluency and accuracy of reading improving. The students are developing a good awareness of what bold font and the varying size of font means in a text, changes of expression of our voices for different characters, and varying of our pace of reading to match the expression on the faces of the characters in the illustrations. “Big Book” guided reading and Flip for five are very popular times in our literacy block. The reading stamina is improving and most students can read to themselves quietly for 5 minutes and at the end they discuss their story with a buddy. I choose a different feature of the text to focus on for the discussion. For example it may be an interesting word that they came across, or a favourite character.

In science we started the unit of work called “Schoolyard Safari” and I am sure the children came home Friday talking about the insects that we found and the ones that we didn’t, eg snails and slugs. Have a chat with your child to find out why we didn’t find any.

I am looking forward to talking with you all at the student led discussions in week 9.

Cheers

Karina

Week Six

Hi Everyone,

Our main focus in maths during week six has been on place value for the year 2s, and on one more than and one less than, bigger and smaller than for the year 1s. We have explicitly focussed on ones, tens and hundreds.

In literacy this week we explored common nouns, verbs and exclamation marks. Looked at the strategies of Chunking letters and sounds together (accuracy) and applying different reading rates (fluency). We continued working on our narrative writing and a self reflection about the our visit to the Life Ed Van.

In Integrated studies we learnt about healthy eating and keeping safe. We continued on with our Aboriginal studies learning about “How the Kangaroos got their tails”.

Cheers

Karina

Today’s notes

Hi Everyone,

Coming home today are two notes. The first note is about the student led discussions and the second note is for swimming. Please take the time to view both notes and return asap. Enjoy your long weekend and keep safe.

Cheers

Karina

A Great Session!

Hi Everyone,

Wow! What a fantastic lesson we had at the Life Ed Van. The children were all engaged, well behaved and learnt lots. Coming home today is a leaflet about the session and a note about Family Growth and Development night.

Regards

Karina

Week 5

Hi Everyone,

This week we have been busy learning the strategies of near doubling and counting backwards using a number chart to help us. We have also worked on counting a collection of objects and recognizing and writing the number. The children are all really engaged in the maths lessons and love using the dice and number charts.

In CAFE we have looked at the following strategies to expand vocabulary (use prior knowledge and context to predict and confirm meaning), accuracy (chunk letters and sounds together, and flip the sound), while continuing to work on fluency. I have noticed a big improvement in how the children are reading their texts. They are now beginning to have an awareness of the punctuation and what it means for us a readers. We have begun learning how to write narratives and will continue with this for a while.

In Integrated studies we further explored Aboriginal Studies and also learnt about Australian Animal habitats. We have also had a big focus on resilience and what this means.

I have placed the children into their sports day teams ready for Sports Day on Friday, 4th of April. Were possible I have kept them in the same teams as last year, some children requested a change and I also had to have a balanced spread of children across the teams.

Cheers

Karina

Life Ed Van Reminder

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick reminder that this Wednesday (5/03/14) will be our visit to the Life Ed Van. Please ensure that the signed permission slips are returned to me as soon as possible. Thank you to the parents who have promptly returned the slips. The session that the children will be taking part in is called “Harold’s Mystery Tour”. They will be learning about healthy food choices, location and function of age appropriate body parts, medicine safety, safety in public places and strategies to manage feelings and emotions. Please see me if you have any questions.

Cheers

Karina