Prep News
Wellbeing in Prep
The Zones of Regulation
The Zones of Regulation is a powerful tool designed to support children in assessing and managing their emotions. By categorising their emotions into four colour-coded zones—Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red—it provides a simple and visual way to understand how they are feeling at any given moment.
The Green Zone represents calm, focused feelings; the Blue Zone indicates low energy, tiredness or sadness; the Yellow Zone signals heightened emotions, excitement or stress; and the Red Zone reflects extreme feelings like anger or fear.
This tool helps us become more aware of our emotional states and offers strategies for self-regulation, empowering us to better cope with challenges, make mindful decisions, and communicate more effectively.
By using the Zones of Regulation, the prep children will develop emotional awareness, learn to identify their feelings, and understand how to take steps to regulate their emotions in a fun and interactive way!
Mathematics - Patterns
In our Prep classrooms, students have been developing essential mathematical and critical thinking skills through the exploration of patterns. Patterns are everywhere – in nature, art, music, and daily routines – and recognising them helps children make sense of the world around them.
Through hands-on activities, students are learning to identify, describe, extend, and create patterns using colours, numbers and movements. Engaging in pattern-based activities strengthens their problem-solving abilities and lays the groundwork for understanding more complex mathematical concepts in later years.
We have been using a range of manipulatives, such as pony beads, shape blocks, maths cubes and threading materials. Not only does this help children visualise and build patterns but also strengthens their fine motor skills. Picking up small objects, arranging them in sequences, and threading beads require precise hand movements, improving coordination, and dexterity – important skills for writing and other everyday tasks.
At home, you can support this learning by pointing out patterns in daily life, such as the sequence of traffic lights, rhythmic claps in a song, or repeated designs in fabrics. Encouraging children to predict what comes next in a pattern helps develop their logical thinking and reasoning skills.
We look forward to seeing our young learners grow in confidence as they explore the wonderful world of patterns!
Theraputty
Theraputty is a brightly coloured, non-sticky putty that can be stretched and moulded to support fine motor skills. This colour coded putty has a different consistency for strengthening muscles of the hand and building fine motor skills.
Theraputty is recommended:
- To support the development of fine motor skills including strength, dexterity and isolation.
- As a fidget tool to support focus and attention
- To support imaginary play skills
The Prep children have thoroughly enjoyed using the Theraputty during a warm-up for our Handwriting sessions. We even have some fun songs to play whilst they are doing different exercises.
The children are also really enjoying completing a page in their Handwriting Victorian Modern Cursive books. This is a carefully sequenced program of handwriting instruction for Foundation to year 6. It is designed to support students in developing a fluent, legible and automatic handwriting style.
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Therapy Dogs
The Prep children were filled with enthusiasm during a visit from Bonnie and Ziggy, our two therapy dogs. The children watched a PowerPoint presentation that shared some fun facts about Bonnie and Ziggy. Following the presentation, the children were thrilled to witness some of Bonnie and Ziggy's impressive tricks, showcasing their talents.
They also had the opportunity to gently pat Bonnie and Ziggy, forging a special connection with the dogs. The Preps listened attentively as Mrs Badley and Miss Carter shared stories about their favourite activities, both at school and in their homes. The visit not only brought joy and excitement to the classroom but also highlighted the important role therapy dogs play in promoting emotional well-being and companionship.
Year 5 Buddy -Fairy Garden
