Saturday 31 August 2019
Week Seven
Firstly, thank you to all of the Dads, Grandads and other special family members for joining us for our Father’s Day Breakfast. The students and teachers loved having you in the classroom and we hope that you all enjoyed the food and company. Wishing all Dad's a wonderful day on Sunday.
Our Book Week parade was also a huge success. The students looked wonderful in their poetry character costumes. Thank you, families, for your support of this fun celebration of Nursery Rhymes.
Our exploration of the ocean has continued. We explored the concept of floating and sinking with some hands-on experiments in the classroom. The students made predictions and tested these with real-life objects.
Tabloid Games and Whole School Sports Carnival
These two events will take place this week. All students have been sent home a note with the details of these events. Please remember to follow procedures for bringing in and picking up your child on these days. Students need to bring a labelled water bottle, school hat, suitable running shoes and their faction t-shirt to each event. Please see your classroom teacher if you have any questions.
Literacy
Phonics and sight words: This week we will be learning the sound Ww... as in watermelon and window. Our sight word of the week is we... as in We like ice-cream. We attend Wattle Grove Primary School.
Please continue to revise sounds and sight words with your child each day. Regular practise supports your child to retain these concepts.
Phonics sounds learnt so far this term: Nn, Bb, Ee, Ll, Pp
Sight words learnt so far this term: is, in, go, the, see.
Reading: Thank you for supporting our Home Reading program by returning books promptly. This has meant that all students have been able to take home our class reading book each fortnight. This fortnight's book is titled: What is Long?
There are questions on the right side of each page that can be used to support your child’s reading and comprehension skills. Please remember that children are not expected to read the book themselves yet, but encourage them to track the words with their pointer finger as you read aloud and encourage them to join in as they are able. Ask your child to find things in the book - e.g. Where is the title? Can you circle a word? Where is the full stop? They will love showing you what they know.
Please remember to return your child's library book each Monday so that it can be exchanged. Reading aloud to your child is a wonderful way of supporting their vocabulary and understanding of sentence structures.
Numeracy
We are now learning about teen numbers. This week we are learning about the number 13. We continue to practise the skills of counting (forwards, backwards, from a different starting point) and are developing students understanding of the number line by playing missing number and number sequencing games.
Monday 26 August 2019
Week Six
We have had such a great week learning the tabloid games in preparation for our carnival in week 7. We had an opportunity to do some science experiments and learn about blubber. We really enjoyed hearing their thoughts and ideas about how whales stay warm in the cold water. Next week we will be exploring what floats and what sinks.
Literacy
We are focusing on a review of the initial sounds Kk, Ll, Bb, Ee, Ww, Pp. We are continuing to explore syllables, rhyme and sight words. Please remember to pack the brain cards so that we can review sounds and add new sounds.
We have really enjoyed the news that the children are sharing with our class. If your child has not shared their favourite book with the class, please send one in this week.
Numeracy
We are learning about the number 12. We will also practise to orally ‘count on’ from a given number. We will continue to develop our knowledge of simple AB patterns. For example, blue, red, blue, red or using our body to create patterns such as touching our heads, touching our knees and repeating the pattern.
Father’s Day and Book Week Parade
Book Week Parade and Father’s Day Breakfast is on Thursday 29 August between 8.30 – 9.30am. We look forward to seeing all the Dads in our classroom (other family members can attend if Dad is unable to).
Tabloid Sport and Races
Both events are scheduled for week 7. A note has gone home, however, we will continue to keep you updated about the schedule for both of these days.
Thank you for your continued support.
Saturday 24 August 2019
Wednesday 21 August 2019
National Quality Standard
National Quality Standard
Introduction
The National Quality Standard
(NQS) has been formulated by the Australian government. It is used to guide all
staff working with children in the early childhood sector.
The K-2 team at Wattle Grove
Primary School will be exploring and reflecting upon the NQS throughout the
year. Each class blog within K-2 will contain a feature article about the NQS.
If you would like to find out
more information about the NQS, please have a look at the website:
Article
As
stipulated in the National Quality Standard, all staff focus on the quality of
each child’s learning experience. To engage in each lesson and reach their full
potential, children must be well rested. I know many children have
extracurricular activities they complete, however, some are coming to school
tired. Below are some guided mindfulness videos that are beneficial to
assisting children to relax and rest.
Cosmic Kids Zen Den
|
www.youtube.com
A fun series about mindfulness for kids aged 5+.
Jaime makes mindfulness relevant for kids, helping them develop awareness of
their emotions and sharing techniques for self-regulation.
|
Guided Imagery
|
www.youtube.com
Here you will find Guided Meditations/Guided
Imagery/Guided Visualizations for kids. These are designed to aid with
relaxation, sleep, stress/anxiety/worry and for general wellbeing.
|
Tuesday 20 August 2019
Week Five
Keeping in line with our “Commotion in the Ocean” theme we will be starting some ocean themed investigations. We are very excited to find out more about the ocean and its creatures, such as how blubber keeps whales warm in cold water and how boats float.
Literacy
We will be learning about the initial letter sound Pp…. as in piranha starts with Pp, Pp, Pp, and pineapple starts with Pp, Pp, Pp. Our sight word is 'the'.
Well done to all the children who have shared their favourite book with us. It has been wonderful listening to you speak about your favourite part of the story. We are continuing our Speaking and Listening task on My Favourite Book until all children have had a turn. Please remember to send your child with the book as the children will be using their book for another activity later on in the term.
Numeracy
Over the next few weeks we will be moving on to developing the children’s number sense for numbers 11 to 15 and beginning to look at partitioning. Partitioning is the idea that whole numbers can be broken up into smaller numbers, known as part numbers. For example 5 can be broken down in to 1&4 and 2&3. Understanding partitioning supports your children to develop the concept of simple addition and later on subtraction. We are focusing on partitioning numbers 2 to 6 through various activities and games.
To support your children please continue to practise counting forward and backwards starting from different numbers.
Other Events
Week 5 – Junior Assembly on Thursday 22nd of August
Week 6 – Book Week
Please come dressed up as your favourite Nursery Rhyme character. The Blue Group's Parade is Thursday the 29th of August.
Week 6 - Father’s day Celebrations
Father’s please join us for breakfast in the classroom with your children between 8:30 and 9:30. Blue Group will be celebrating on Thursday the 29th of August.
Week 7 – Athletics week, more information to follow.
Friday 16 August 2019
Monday 12 August 2019
Book Week Parade and Father's Day Breakfast
I apologise for an error that has been posted on our blog. In relation to the Book Week Parade and Father's Day Breakfast, the date was incorrect. It is 29 August, not 29 September. We will invite our Dad's to stay for the parade, followed by some toast and juice in our classroom. A letter will go home this week confirming the details.
See you Thursday.
Sunday 11 August 2019
Week Four
“Commotion in the Ocean” is our theme this term and we are enjoying exploring our favourite sea creatures.
Literacy
This week, we will be learning about the initial letter sound Ll…. as in lion starts with Ll, Ll, Ll, lollipop starts with Ll, Ll, Ll.
We have started our Term 3 Speaking and Listening task on My Favourite Book. A planning sheet will be sent home a few days before your child presents their show and tell book. This will be an assessment piece and will be included in their take home A3 display book. Please help your child to prepare for this activity by completing the sheet together and talking about their favourite book using the planning sheet.
Our Guided Reading Program has commenced. Please enjoy reading the text with your child and discussing the story and features of the book. It is important that the book is returned on the correct day so that all students get a chance to take a book home. Please refer to the inside right-hand panel of the reader for ideas on how to support your child’s emerging literacy skills.
Brain Cards (Blue Key Tags) also need to be returned every week so that the contents can be checked and replaced with new ones.
Numeracy
We are continuing to consolidate numbers 1 to 10, and are developing the skills of ordering numerals and using a number line to state numbers that come before and after a given number. The students are learning to count on …. this means counting on starting at any number. For example, start from 5…..6, 7, 8, 9, 10. This can be fun to practise in the car or when walking with your child. For an extra challenge, try counting backwards from different starting points, e.g. 9…8, 7, 6, 5.
Science/Sustainability
In Science we are focusing on the weather. Each day we have a Weather Wizard who observes and reports on the daily weather conditions. We will be planting our classroom pot plant and will be taking care of the plant by ensuring it has the right amount of water and sun and observing how the seedlings grow and change with time.
Sports Carnival
This is faction shirt term! Kindy students can wear their coloured faction shirts to school on Thursdays (Blue Group) and Fridays (Red Group). We have started practising games for the Tabloid Games Carnival that will be held on Wednesday the 4th of September for Kindergarten and Pre-Primary Students. This is a half day event, with Red Group students invited to attend. Further information regarding these events will be sent out closer to the date.
Week Two and Three
We have had a wonderful start to term. The students have been excited to return to school to see their friends and teachers. It has been lovely to see them settle back quickly into classroom routines and apply what has been learnt in Terms 1 and 2.
Literacy
Phonics
In week 2 we focused on the phonics sound Bb as in bat, balloon and ballerina. Week 3, we focussed on the sound Ee as in egg, elephant and envelope.
News Telling
The topic is My Favourite Book. A week before your child’s news day a planning sheet will be sent home. Please help your child to choose a book and complete the planning sheet together. We would like children to bring the book with them on their news day and we would like to keep them at school for another activity later in the term. Please write your child’s name in the front of the book to ensure its safe return.
Reading
We have started Guided Reading at school. The students have loved holding their own book and following the text with their finger as we read together. Students will begin to have these books sent home. Please spend some time with your child reading the book together. There are questions on the right side of each page that can be used to support your child’s reading and comprehension skills. Please remember that children are not expected to read the book themselves yet, but encourage them to track the words with their pointer finger as you read aloud and encourage them to join in as they are able. Talking about what is happening in the pictures and what might happen next are great ways of building your child’s understandings of what is being read. It is important that books are returned promptly on the due date to ensure they can be sent home to other students. Any questions please speak to your class teacher.
Numeracy
In week 2 and 3 we continued to revise numbers 1-10 and have been working more with numberlines. Students have been learning to find the missing number on number lines 1-10. We have also been learning to identify the number that comes before and after.
We introduced the concept of counting on. We counted objects into a bucket, e.g. 5 shells, and then counted on 6, 7, as we added two more items.
Upcoming Events
Term 3 is a busy term with many events taking place. Please make sure you continue to read school newsletters and the class blog to keep up to date.
Kindy/Pre Primary Tabloid Games and Athletics Carnival
The Kindy/Pre Primary Tabloid Games are scheduled for Wednesday the 4th of September. This is a Blue Group Kindy day. Red students are encouraged to attend. Over coming weeks we will be learning a range of team games such as the egg and spoon race, flag race, beanbag toss and circle ball in preparation for this fun day!
The school Athletics Carnival will take place on Friday the 6th of September. Kindy students participate in the opening march and a running race at the start of the day.
These are two fun days on the school calendar and we encourage parents to come along and cheer on our junior athletes!
Book Week
Book week will be celebrated in Week 7. This year Wattle Grove is exploring poetry and Kindy students are encouraged to dress up as a nursery rhyme character for the parades on the 29th (Blue Group). Ideas include Little Bow Peep, Little Miss Muffet, and Jack and Jill.
Fathers Day
We will be inviting Dad’s to school on Thursday 29th of September (Blue Group) for a Fathers Day breakfast. Please mark this date in your diaries. More details to follow.
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