Year One News

Hi Year One families,

Speaking and Listening is an important aspect of the curriculum and these skills are vital in participating in everyday life. In Year One, some areas that we like to focus on include: 

• Considering the message that they want to share;
• Expressing their thoughts and ideas in a logical order;
• Expressing their feelings (likes and dislikes);
• Considering the audience they are speaking to and the language they use (casual or formal);
• The volume and pace at which they speak;
• The eye contact and body language that they use;
• Making relevant contributions;
• Responding to and asking appropriate questions; and
• Listening to others and taking turns to speak.

Some ways that we develop these skills are to encourage the students to engage in whole- and small-group discussions; in addition, participating in Show and Tell. Students are invited to share their thoughts as well as ask and answer their teacher and peers’ questions. These activities give students the opportunity to practise their skills as well as learn from others’ examples. 

At home, students can practise these skills by:

• Discussing books, tv shows or movies that they have read or watched;
• Describing items using their senses i.e. it looks, smells, feels like, tastes like;
• Describing the colour, size, number, shape or texture of a thing i.e. their favourite food, clothing, toy, a character in a story;
• Playing games such as I’m the Boss (give siblings or parents simple instructions to follow) and I Spy;
• Guessing the character in the story or movie;
• Putting on a performance (i.e. speech, opinion - why we should have desert, sing a song, say a rhyme);
• Play Schools - be the teacher (give instructions), be Kathy in the office (make an announcement on the PA system);
• Is it true? - take turns describing an object, says if this is accurate and true;
• Watch Kids News Reporters on YouTube and do the same on a topic of interest.

As your child gives these suggestions a go, they will refine the skills that they are developing at school and grow in confidence while having fun with the family. 

Please find attached the weekly planner for topics that will be taught online.