Junior School
SARAH BOARDMAN
Acting Head of Junior School
It's hard to believe that it has been 12 months since I stepped up into the Acting Head of Junior School position, and I can’t believe what we have achieved and been able to celebrate since then.
As part of the whole School focus on building student wellbeing in our strategic plan over the last term, the Junior School staff have been reflecting on current behaviour management structures, with a particular focus on maintaining consistency across our classes. There were some key points that were highlighted as part of this review, leading to the development of a clear tracking system for all our students, and a slight restructure to the detention procedure, to bring greater impact and opportunity to reflect on choices made as part of the restorative processes.
One of the main points that were highlighted by our staff, was the importance of strong and clear communication with our families when needed; this ensures we are working together to focus on the best outcomes for each student.
Another area that was identified was the need for consistent understanding and language, especially in relation to the difference in what unkind and bullying behaviours might be. This helps to assist our students to identify and address situations appropriately.
Our student counsellor, Fiona Baudinette, will be holding a session for parents next week that looks at children’s brain development, and how families can approach different situations whilst keeping this in mind. This session will provide a good overview of the development and the impact this may have on parents at different times in their child’s life. We encourage everyone to attend this worthwhile session. Information was sent home to everyone earlier this week.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is always a very special time of year, and this year we have had the opportunity to celebrate with our mums and special visitors again in our classes. It was lovely to be able to spend time with them in our rooms and it was wonderful to see the careful choices that were being made from the stall on Thursday. We would like to wish all our Oakleigh Grammar mothers the very best day on Sunday and we hope that you all get spoilt, as you all truly deserve.
Uniform
Don’t forget that with the change over to Winter uniform there are a few things for everyone to keep in mind, to ensure we are representing our School with respect both on the way to and from, as well as during the day here at School. Having pride and wearing your uniform neatly can also help you to be ready to work hard in class. We ask that everyone remembers to tuck their shirt in and have their ties and top buttons done up. We also would like to remind people that on the way to and from School you will need to have your blazer on over your jumper at all times, in line with our School uniform policy. If you have any questions about the uniform policy, please let your class teacher know.
We look forward to another busy term, it is really flying by already! I look forward to continuing to see the wonderful work and positive approaches from everyone as the term progresses.
SARAH CAFFREY
Head of Junior School Teaching and Learning
Dear Parents/Guardians,
A very common parent/teacher conversation we have is about learning and retaining the information related to multiplication and their related division facts. Students work very hard on a daily basis to practice these number facts and master the skill of automatic recall.
In the early primary school years, the focus is on number facts and relationships and building a solid foundation to understand grouping multiples together, and dividing multiple groups out. We move to recall and transferable skill as students move up through the primary years.
In school, we combine many methods to cement the knowledge of multiplication tables and division facts. There are many methods of practice from singing, reading and writing the timetables to games and interactive devices. However, the ultimate is simply daily practice, practice, practice and there is certainly a need for this practice to continue at home. Especially when away from school, over the weekend and during school holidays.
Simply reciting a chosen set of multiplication tables whilst in the car, as a song before bed, around the dinner table, and having visual multiplication table in your house (example on the fridge) will all assist in your child learning their tables. Remember the division facts are just as important.
It's important to aim to commit one set of tables to memory at a time, and it is helpful to follow the breakdown. This way the patterns and number fact families will emerge, assisting with recalling the next set of tables.
Skip Counting
Skip counting is important in the development of fluency in calculation, number sense and as the basis of multiplication and division. It is also important to help students move from calculating by counting by ones to using number facts. For example, instead of working out 12 + 4 by counting 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, students can immediately add 4, or possibly add 2 twice. This transition to using fluent number facts is a key to success throughout school.
Skip counting from any interval in the pattern: Start at 12 and count on by 2. Start at 35 and count on by 5. Start at 18 and count on by 6.
Skip counting from any starting point:
Start at 33 and count on by 10. Start at 43 and count on by 5. Start at 21 and count on by 2.
Below are some links to fun skip counting activities:
Automatic recall of multiplication tables and division facts:
This is being able to answer timetables questions within a three second answer time. Students are recalling related fact information to develop fluency and accuracy. E.g. knowing that 3 x 5 = 15 and 5 x 3 = 15.
Automatic recall of related division facts:
This is being able to recall ‘fact families’ and is a more challenging skill to master. E.g. knowing that 3 x 5 = 15 and 5 x 3 = 15, therefore: 15 ÷ 3 = 5 and 15 ÷ 5 = 3
Below are some links to help you in supporting your children in mastering their multiplication tables:
Junior School Multiplication Tables and Related Division Facts Achievement Goals:
| End of Prep | To skip count by 2, 5 and 10 from any interval in the pattern up to 100
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| End of Year 1 | To skip count by 2, 5 and 10 from any interval in the pattern up to 100 To skip count by 3 up to 30 and 4 up to 40 |
| To recall 2 and 10 timetables up |