Achilles 

Our Learning

We’re so excited to kick off a brand new term with our wonderful Year 2 students! After a refreshing break, the classrooms are buzzing with energy and curiosity as the children dive into fresh learning adventures. This term promises lots of fun, creativity, and growth as we explore new topics and build on the skills we’ve already mastered. Here’s to a fantastic term ahead!

Reading: This term, students have been developing their reading and writing skills through a variety of engaging literacy activities. They are learning to use important comprehension strategies, such as visualising, predicting, connecting, summarising, monitoring and questioning, to build deeper understanding when reading. Students are beginning to analyse texts by thinking about the author’s purpose, context and text structures to make both literal and inferred meanings.

In reading sessions, students are also practising how to navigate print and digital texts, using tools like tables of contents, indexes and menus to find information efficiently. They are continuing to build fluency and phrasing when reading aloud, using their phonics and word knowledge, and are encouraged to re-read and self-correct to make sure their reading makes sense.

It’s wonderful to see students becoming more confident and thoughtful readers each week!

Writing: This term, our Year 2 writers have been diving into the exciting world of life stories! They started by learning about the differences between autobiographies and biographies—understanding that autobiographies are stories someone writes about their own life, while biographies are written by someone else about another person’s life.

After exploring these concepts, the students put their learning into practice by writing their very own autobiographies, sharing special moments and important experiences from their own lives. Now, they are beginning to write biographies, discovering how to tell the story of someone else’s life with care and curiosity.

Maths: Students learnt that division means sharing or grouping equally. They use real-life examples, such as sharing counters between friends, to show equal groups. They begin to understand how division is connected to multiplication. For example, if 3 × 4 = 12, then 12 ÷ 3 = 4.

Students also investigate how to measure and compare the amount of space objects take up and how heavy they are. Through hands-on activities, they:

• Estimate and measure capacity using cups, jugs, and containers filled with water or sand.
• Compare masses by hefting objects and using balance scales to find which is heavier or lighter.
• Explore volume by building and filling boxes with cubes to see how much space they can hold.
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These activities helped students develop their mathematical language, using terms such as full, empty, heavier, lighter, holds more, and holds less.

We are so impressed by the students’ enthusiasm, teamwork, and growing confidence in applying Maths to real-life situations.

Inquiry: In Inquiry, we have started learning about different cultures. We began by talking about the cultures of the students in our class and sharing special traditions, celebrations, and foods from our families. We also looked at what makes Australian culture special and learned about the culture of our neighbours in New Zealand. Students enjoyed seeing how people celebrate and eat different foods. It has been lovely to see everyone showing kindness and respect as we learn about the many cultures in our world.

SEL: In Social and Emotional Learning, Grade 2 students have been exploring how to build respectful and caring relationships with others. We discussed how everyone should be treated fairly and kindly, no matter who they are. Students practised asking for help when they need it and learned how cooperating with others can make tasks easier and more enjoyable. We also explored calming breathing techniques to help manage big feelings and thought about different ways we can show care and support to others at school and at home.

Victorian Curriculum

Below is the link to the Victorian Curriculum if you would like to take a look at what we cover throughout the year. 

https://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/level2 

Friendly Reminders

• Doors open at 8:50 a.m. and dismissal is at 3:20 p.m.
• Students need hats in Term 4. 
• Ensure your child’s belongings are clearly labelled. This includes clothing, drink bottles, hats, and lunchboxes (including lids).
• Please ensure that your child is reading their home reader for 15 minutes every night and that their reading log is filled in and signed by a parent/guardian.

• We strongly encourage students to bring along some brain food (fruit and vegetables) that they may eat in class. It is important that this is included as an additional snack in their lunchbox.

   

Best wishes,

The Year 2 Achilles Community Teachers

Britt, Belinda, Kartia, Shaveta, Natalia and Tamanna.