Grade 1 Community News

Dear Grade 1 Families,

We have really settled into our routines and expectations in Grade 1, and it has been wonderful to see how confidently the children are engaging with their learning. Below is a snapshot of what we have been working on over the past fortnight and some simple ways you can support your child at home.

InitiaLit

In InitiaLit, students have been building on their early reading and spelling skills by learning some important new letter patterns. We have been exploring double letters at the end of words (ff, ll, ss, zz) and the spelling rule that helps us know when to use them (e.g. hill, mess). We have also been learning several new digraphs, including ck, sh, wh, th (both voiced and unvoiced, such as feather and thumb), and oo (as in moon and book).

Our new Tricky Words are: put, have, were, there, they, then. These are words that don’t always follow the usual spelling rules, so lots of repetition really helps.

Students have been doing well using their InitiaLit workbooks to practise letters, sounds and words, as well as their handwriting books to develop neat letter formation.

How you can help at home:

• Read for a few minutes each night and ask your child to spot words with double letters or digraphs.
• Practise tricky words by writing them on paper, saying them aloud, or using them in a sentence.
• Encourage your child to ‘teach’ you a new sound they have learned - this builds confidence and understanding.

Maths

In Maths, students have been learning to say and write two-digit numbers, focusing on understanding what each digit represents. We have also been practising how to give and follow simple directions, both inside and outside the classroom. This included fun, hands-on activities using small toys, grid paper, and even large grids made on the floor.

To build on our earlier learning, students are also revising the months of the year and learning how many days are in each month. Encourage them to show you their ‘trick’ on their knuckles to help remember how many days in each month!

How you can help at home:

• Ask your child to read and write two-digit numbers you see around the house (e.g. on calendars or diaries).
• Play simple direction games such as ‘take two steps forward’ or ‘turn left/right’.
• Talk about the calendar at home, such as what activities they can expect next month and what the date is and how many days in the current or following month.

Humanities:

In Humanities, we are continuing our learning about local areas and environments. Students are exploring how places can change over time and how our choices and actions can impact the environment.

We shared the picture book ‘Window’ by Jeannie Baker, which helped students understand how small, everyday choices can have a big effect on the world around us. This led to thoughtful discussions about why it is important to look after our environment.

Storybook and Vocabulary:

As part of our vocabulary learning, students read the text Josephine Learns to Dance and were introduced to three new words: sway, sob, and leap. Students explored these words through activities such as say the word, use the word, act the word, and by using them in short writing tasks linked to everyday experiences.

You can help them practise at home by encouraging your child to use these new words in conversation or acting out the words together while talking about what they mean.

Writing:

In Writing, students are learning about sentence structure and how to make sentences that make sense. We have been focusing on including: 

Students are also learning how to expand their sentences by adding when and where. They are practising placing these details at the start of a sentence, the end of a sentence, or even both, to make their writing more interesting and detailed.

Calendar:

March 9th is Labour Day public holiday - the school will be shut on this day.

March 17th is our Author’s Visit Incursion. The due date for payments is on March 9th, payable on Compass.

As part of Krystal Wade’s author visit to Tarneit Rise Primary School, we’d love to offer you 20% off Krystal’s books! If you’d like to support a local author and purchase a signed copy for your home library, please follow the steps below.

Harmony Day will be celebrated on March 20th. Harmony Day recognises the many cultures, backgrounds, and traditions that make our school community so vibrant. Students are welcome to dress in their cultural attire as we celebrate that everyone belongs and deserves to feel safe, valued, and respected.

Reminders:

It is important that all students have and wear their school bucket hat for playtimes during Term 1. Our Australian sun can be quite harsh, so the rule is firm - no hat, no play!

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support and partnership in your child’s learning. We love sharing this journey with you!

Warm regards,

PLC 1