Foundation 

Communicating with the Foundation Team

We look forward to partnering with you in 2022, and welcome your input: 

Holly Peters  Holly.Peters@education.vic.gov.au

Lisa Dam  Lisa.Dam@education.vic.gov.au

LITERACY IN FOUNDATION TERM ONE 

Throughout our InitiaLit lessons over the past few weeks, students are beginning to recognise the connection between sounds, letters and reading which is a critical understanding for them to develop. In order to consolidate these understandings we have been continuing to focus on students' phonological skills by breaking up words into syllables. We have also learnt the difference between a word, a letter and a sentence. 

The students have been introduced to our first letter sound set and have met the characters of the letters m - Maggie Mouse and  s - Sammy Seal, with t - Tommy Tiger and a - Andy Ant to follow! We have been learning the link between the sound of the letter and the name of the letter, and have been orally segmenting and blending phonemes. We have been completing fun and engaging activities based around these letter sounds. 

Through the InitiaLit program we participate in Storybook Lessons which is an interactive method of reading a story. Storybook reading is an essential component of the InitiatLit program and is incorporated into our weekly lessons. The children love these sessions and they assist in the development of their oral language and literacy skills. When we read a story, we stop to ask questions to check the children’s understanding, which include literal questions drawn immediately from the text and also open ended questions which encourage them to reflect on the story. Through these lessons, children are exposed to a variety of language and vocabulary that they would not have necessarily heard before and we explicitly define the meaning of these words over several lessons. 

During the first session of a Storybook lesson, we look at the author, illustrator, title and front cover of the text. We make predictions about what the book may be about and then we read the story, pausing briefly to give definitions of unknown vocabulary. After the text we support the children in summarising the story by asking about what happened in the beginning, middle and end and ask key questions relating to the story. During the second session, we reread the story, asking a variety of literal and inferential questions. This encourages the children to build meaning from the story and to practice articulating ideas. We also revisit the meaning of the new vocabulary learnt in the previous lesson. In the third session we make connections and respond to the text in a fun and engaging way. 

In Writing, the students have learned how to write using the correct writing posture and are learning how to correctly form each letter learnt, using the correct starting points and pencil grip. They have been excitedly completing their handwriting books as each letter is introduced and have been learning the correct formation of each letter. We have also been completing craft activities focused around our new letters.

EARLY YEARS INTERVIEWS

We are currently conducting the Early Years Assessment with students every Wednesday. Assessment interview times are located on the double doors where the students enter in the morning. These assessment interviews are conducted one to one with the student and teacher. Parents are to drop their children off for this interview. They will take around 45 minutes, followed by a 10-15 minute chat with parents/guardians afterwards. Please ensure that you and your child arrive on time. 

We are looking forward to an exciting first term of learning! If you have any questions please contact us via email or in person. 

SPECIALIST TIMETABLE TERM ONE

Please see below for information regarding the days each grade has their Specialist classes.

*Please note - these times are subject to change during school-wide events (eg. swimming timetables)