Mount Pleasant Road Primary School & Kindergarten

Inquiry Centre

Curriculum

Thank you! Please accept a massive thank you from all of us here in the Inquiry Centre. While this is not the start to term we were hoping to have it has been successful nonetheless. Starting up the week with a return to remote learning and the addition of whole class video calls was a little scary but all of us have enjoyed working with our students over video calls. As always we will be looking for little ways to adjust and improve, but it was a great start to see and hear our students again.

 

In Literacy activities this last week we have begun our reading groups together. This has been an exciting time as we explore digital books together. This week we focused on practising the skills of a ‘Good Reader’ and as we made predictions, text-connections, and expressed our opinions together. We also took a fresh look at recount writing together by writing a holiday list and taking on the role of Little Red Riding Hood. Next week we will begin our Narrative focus by investigating character descriptions and feelings. 

 

In Numeracy, we have begun our work on Multiplication by recapping skip counting and number lines. This will help us make the connection between addition and multiplication. Students showed their knowledge of skip counting patterns but making the jumps on a number line. Next week we will be modelling multiplication as groups, arrays and more to help us develop our understanding.

 

We have explored the past, present and future in Guided Inquiry this past week. Reflecting on Melbourne and our classrooms past, present and future. Wondering what it would have been like to be a part of the generations of people before us, and leaping into the future to think about what life might be like for future generations. Next week we will investigate ‘Artefacts from the Past’ as a way to think about the changes from the past to now. We will also be beginning to use Code.org to develop our coding skills at home. Your classroom teacher will provide a special code and a unique picture password to log on at home. Code.org will use the same knowledge and skills we were building with the Ozobots but without the need to draw lines (or charge the Ozobot).

 

Thank you all for your remarkable support, patience and flexibility,

Emma Honan, , Erin Bennets Emma Marsh, Kathy Wang, Andy Parthenopoulos, Emily Kiefte, Simone Rock,  and Aidain O’Connor.

Reminders

  • Codes Books and our new Reading Journals are out the front of the school for pick up between 9:30am and 3:00pm. These will be available until Thursday.
  • If possible, all students should reply to the check in tasks by 12:00pm. This is how we are taking attendance for the day.
  • Students can use pen and paper to complete SeeSaw activities. To print a copy of the work from Seesaw - save Activity as draft - click view original → https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AkFLEhM7-DXV-ElAwHCQnaFSAjn4padc/view
  • Reading Eggs, Mathletics and Epic Books are additional items we are providing access to and can be used at any time by all students as desired (they are not mandatory).
  • It is normal for students' work to be messy or not perfect. At school, we talk about celebrating mistakes as they help challenge us to learn and grow.
  • Please keep your child's teacher informed about changes and challenges along the way so that we can work to support you and your child further.

Student Voice

  • Alisia Y - 'I am thankful for my dad for teaching me.'
  • Tim C - 'I am thankful for the teachers and principal because they always help and give feedback'
  • Kayla S - 'I am thankful for my mum helping me with my work'
  • Zac H - 'I am thankful for Friday nights because it is the start of the weekend!'
  • Olivia L - 'My favourite thing is actually everything and also Maths!'
  • Joshua N - 'What I like about online learning is that we can communicate in different ways.'
  • Alya K - 'My favourite activity is codes!!'

Pupil of the Week

1/2BR: Eva D - 

For approaching all tasks with a positive attitude during remote learning and demonstrating leadership by helping other students with their tasks.

 

1/2E: Chitra S - 

For challenging yourself when completing your skip counting activity and listening to feedback ! You have made an excellent start to the term. Great work Chitra! 

 

1/2H: Louis D - 

For using perseverance when completing your Seesaw activities this week. You did a fantastic job showing off your skip counting skills using a hundreds chart and numberline. Keep up the great work Louis!

 

1/2K: Freddie B - 

For challenging yourself to complete all your Seesaw activities! You have made an awesome start to the term by using perseverance to achieve the goals we set each day. Keep up the great work superstar Freddie! 

 

1/2O: Sidak B - 

For your engagement and discussion during our first week of virtual reading groups. You expressed your opinions and thoughts to the group while linking to the text. Thank you Sidak!

 

1/2P: Sakina K - 

For showing a love of learning and self-regulation throughout the first week of remote learning. You have focused very well and made thoughtful comments in both our Google Meets and on your Seesaw tasks. Very impressive Sakina! 

 

1/2W: Scarlett S - 

For demonstrating perseverance when completing your Seesaw tasks this week. You have made a real effort in challenging yourself and it has been fantastic seeing your work. Spectacular effort, Scarlett!