Classroom News K/1

This term the K/1 students are continuing to revise the 40+ sounds they have learned and use this knowledge to blend sounds for reading and writing. They are also being exposed to some of the ‘tricky’ words which don’t follow the rules. Unfortunately, the English language is full of tricky words! For instance, did you know that there are more than 5 different ways to spell the long a sound?

• a as in gate
• a as in wait
• a as in neighbour
• a as in they
• a as in play
• a as in agent

The text type that we are working with is informative text and the students are learning about things that you might find in this type of text such as: facts, fact boxes, photos, diagrams, and labels.

They have each chosen a topic for their own informative texts and are in the process of preparing their drafts ready for publishing during Week 3. They are being challenged to write at least ten sentences for this text. 

In Religious Education, the students are learning about choices and how they are shaped by our beliefs. We have been looking at the book Miss Lily’s Fabulous Pink Feather Boa and the many choices, both good and bad, that the characters make.

This theme will continue in the Personal Development and Health lessons where the children will begin to understand that the choices we make about activity and food can also affect our health. 

The students will be setting their term goals this week and will be bringing home a copy to show to their parents. Goals are individual to each student, and are intended to support and challenge them to grow as learners. Please talk with your child about his/her goal. 

Creative Arts will be a mix this term due to our commitment to the play for the Henry Lawson Festival. All students in the school will participate in the play rehearsals. The other weeks will involve other drama lessons as well as Visual Arts on a winter theme.

NUMERACY

Kindergarten and year 1 students have been using story boards to communicate a variety of ways to represent numbers. The story board allows students to draw, write, make the collection and write number sentences.

They have also been using ten and twenty frames to solve addition and subtraction. The different coloured counters make it easier for students to see the two numbers.

Year 2/3/4 students have been developing efficient strategies for the four operations. We have looked at adding numbers by partitioning the tens and ones, using a number line and recognising the other strategies of doubles plus one and two, make a ten and doubles.

We have also look at reflective symmetry and symmetry in patterns using pattern blocks. The students created a pattern and made it again using the Pattern Block Ipad app and identifying lines of symmetry.

Year 5/6 have reviewed multiplication and division of whole and decimal numbers. We used an activity called Calculator Slido where we x and ÷ by 10, 100 and 1000. Students are beginning to recognise the pattern found when we use these numbers for these operations. Formal setting out and solving of multiplication is a concept that needs to be practised, so I suggest students attempt to solve at least two of these for homework this week.