Level 2: Connect
It has been another busy and exciting fortnight in Year 2! Students have continued building their confidence across all learning areas and have shown great enthusiasm towards their learning (in particular with learning new mathematical strategies for addition and subtracting and their narrative writing). We are very proud of the effort students are putting into their classroom routines, collaboration and learning tasks.
Reading at Home Reminder
A reminder that students should be reading each night for 20 minutes to help build fluency, comprehension and confidence. Please remember to record nightly reading in homework books so we can celebrate students’ efforts and monitor their progress. Students are encouraged to return and swap their home readers regularly (on a Friday if possible) to ensure they always have engaging and appropriate books to read at home.
Homework Books Reminder
Homework books should be returned every fortnight so new homework tasks can be prepared for the next homework cycle. Thank you for your continued support in helping students complete and return their homework each fortnight.
We appreciate all the support families provide at home and look forward to another wonderful few weeks of learning ahead!
Kym Seccull, Zoe Whitaker, Jess Steel & Sean Daley
English
Core Literacy
In Core Literacy, students have been exploring a variety of spelling and word study concepts to strengthen their reading and writing skills. They have been learning about the ‘ough’ and ‘ph’ letter patterns and identifying the different sounds these can make in words. Students practised reading, spelling and using these words in sentences.
Students also explored contractions, learning how two words can be joined together using an apostrophe (for example: do not → don’t). In addition, they focussed on syllables in words to support their spelling, decoding and fluency skills.
Reading & Writing
In Reading and Writing, students have been exploring familiar fairy tales including Jack and the Beanstalk and The Three Little Pigs. They discussed the key features of narratives, including the beginning, middle and end of a story, and identified important events, characters and settings.
Students have also been developing their own narrative writing skills by learning how to organise their ideas into paragraphs and use adjectives to make their writing more detailed and engaging. Through planning, drafting and editing, students are building confidence in creating clear and imaginative narratives.
Maths
In Mathematics, students have been exploring a range of addition and subtraction strategies to solve problems efficiently and explain their thinking. They practised using strategies such as the jump strategy, partitioning numbers, compensation, adding and subtracting 10, and using number lines to support their calculations.
Students also used MAB blocks to model numbers, regroup tens and ones, and strengthen their understanding of place value when adding and subtracting. In addition, they applied their learning to money activities, practising adding amounts and working with dollars and cents in real-life situations.
Through hands-on learning, games and problem-solving tasks, students have continued building confidence and fluency in Mathematics.
One of the homework tasks for this week will focus on revising the jump strategy for addition and subtraction. Please see below for examples on how to support your child (if needed).
Inquiry
In Inquiry, students have been learning about the different types of bodies of water in Australia, including rivers, straits, oceans, lakes and creeks, and discussing how people use these waterways in everyday life. Students explored how water is important for transport, food, recreation and communities.
Students also learned about the lives of Torres Strait Islanders and how water plays an important role in supporting their way of life. After reading an informational text, students wrote about how Torres Strait Islander communities use water for travel, fishing, food and cultural practices. Through these activities, students developed a greater understanding of the importance of water to people and communities across Australia.