Prep
Dear Prep Community,
It’s hard to believe we only have two more weeks left of Term 2! The past fortnight has been filled with creativity, collaboration and lots of exciting learning experiences across all areas of the curriculum. We are so proud of the confidence and growth our Prep students continue to show each day.
Below is a snapshot of some of the learning and highlights from the past two weeks.
Reading
In Reading, students have been exploring a variety of nursery rhymes while continuing to build their early reading skills. Our focus has been on developing 1:1 correspondence, where students point to and track each word as they read, helping them understand that spoken words match the printed text on the page. We have also been exploring the long vowel sounds /a/ and /e/ and using our growing letter-sound knowledge to support reading.
In the classroom, students have been looking closely at sentences from familiar nursery rhymes by cutting them into separate words and matching them back together correctly. This has helped students practise carefully tracking each word rather than skipping words or rushing through the text. Students have been using their fingers or the back of their crayons as pointers to support this skill while reading.
How you can help at home
We encourage families to read daily with their child. The books sent home in reading satchels may seem easy, however they are carefully chosen at your child’s reading level so they can practise reading independently and confidently. While reading together, ask your child questions about the story, encourage them to make connections to their own experiences, and talk about the characters and events. This helps deepen comprehension and supports students in becoming confident, capable readers.
Writing
Our Prep students have been participating in daily free writing sessions where they have the freedom to write about topics of their choice. Students may choose to write a recount, a made-up story, or write about something important to them. The goal of these sessions is to build confidence, independence and enjoyment in writing.
Students have been encouraged to use their letter-sound knowledge to independently stretch out and record words, while also practising finger spaces, capital letters and simple punctuation. We have also been focusing on ensuring drawings match and support their writing ideas.
How you can help at home
Encourage your child to write about topics they are interested in, as students are often more motivated and engaged when writing about things they enjoy. Support them to slowly stretch and segment words so they can hear and record as many sounds as possible. Remember, writing at this stage is about building confidence and having a go rather than perfect spelling.
Mathematics
In Maths, students have continued exploring patterns through a range of fun hands-on activities. Some students even challenged themselves by creating more complex repeating patterns! Students created pattern snakes using pipe cleaners, pattern bracelets and even pattern lions.
This week, we have also begun learning about numbers to 20, with a focus on recognising, ordering, and identifying teen numbers correctly. Students have been practising counting carefully and developing a stronger understanding of number order.
How you can help at home
Look for patterns together in everyday environments such as at the shops, in the park, or around the home. Encourage your child to explain and continue simple repeating patterns. You can also support number learning through everyday counting activities and games, with a particular focus on correctly saying teen numbers rather than “-ty”.
Inquiry
In Inquiry, our Prep students have been putting their creative hats on by designing and creating their own toys using recycled materials. Throughout this process, students discussed the features and properties of different materials and thought carefully about which materials would best suit their toy designs and why.
Students demonstrated wonderful creativity, persistence, and problem-solving skills while making their toys. They also reflected on ways to make their creations stronger and more durable. At the end of the project, students completed a reflection about the design and making process and shared what they learned throughout the experience.
How you can help at home
Ask your child to tell you about the toy they created and encourage them to share something they are proud of, as well as something they might improve next time. These conversations help students understand that making mistakes and improving our work are important parts of learning.
Wellbeing
In Wellbeing, students have been learning to identify how others may feel when situations are unfair or unkind. We discussed different emotions and explored how our actions can affect others. Students also talked about ways they can include others during play and help create a positive classroom environment.
This week, we also focused on using iPads safely and responsibly at school. Students learned how to carefully take clear photos of their work, how to respectfully care for school devices and how to AirDrop photos to their teacher to share their learning. We also discussed the importance of privacy and reminded students that they are not permitted to take photos of other students at school.
How you can help at home
Families can support this learning by reinforcing similar expectations at home and encouraging children to care for their belongings and use technology respectfully and safely.
Thank You
Thank you for your continued support throughout the term. We are incredibly proud of the growth, creativity, and enthusiasm our Prep students are showing each day, and we look forward to finishing the term strongly together!
Reminders
Please ensure all school uniform items and belongings are clearly labelled with your child’s name.
Please ensure your child has a spare change of clothes in their bag in case of accidents or spills.
Reading satchels must be brought to school every day.