From the 3/4 Classrooms

We have only been back at school for 8 days, but it has been an exciting start to the year! Each class in Team 3/4 is settling into new routines and getting to know each other. It’s wonderful to see the students already engaging in classroom conversations, sharing ideas, and supporting one another in their learning. Through activities in our whole school Start Up program, reading, writing, and maths, students are building strong foundations for the rest of the year.

One of the most important activities we do at the beginning of each year is part of our whole school Start Up program, where students and teachers collaborate to establish agreed classroom rules. These rules focus on three essential rights that guide our learning environment:

• We all have the right to learn
• We all have the right to feel safe
• We all have the right to be treated with respect

Additionally, we have introduced the Zones of Regulation, a fantastic tool to help students understand and regulate their emotions, contributing to a positive classroom culture.

This term, our Integrated studies topic is called “Game of Life”. In this unit, students will explore the emotions they might feel and the choices they may face when they encounter challenging situations. They will learn about how social, emotional, and physical changes, core values, and stereotypes can shape their identity. Students will practise saying "no," making safe choices, and managing strong emotions through role-play and games. They will also have the opportunity to design their own game to help others better understand different emotions.

In maths, we’ve started the year focusing on the properties of numbers, including odd and even numbers, and examining shapes. The students have been working on sorting triangles and quadrilaterals in various ways, paying close attention to their properties and how they can be grouped.

In reading, we are diving into the picture storybook “Paperboy”. The students have been analyzing the front cover and speculating on what the story could be about. This has sparked lots of creative thinking and predictions!

In writing, students completed a cold write earlier this week, which will help us assess where they are starting from. Our main focus this term will be persuasive writing, and by the end of the term, students will have the chance to showcase their skills in a “hot write” where they apply what they’ve learned about writing a persuasive text.

It’s been a fantastic start to the year, and we are excited to continue supporting your children as they grow and develop throughout the term. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in their learning journey.