Grade 1 Fortnightly Snapshot - Term 2 Week 10
June 22nd 2021
Grade 1 News
"It is just so great to be back in our classroom!" This was a quote from one of our students upon returning to the classroom and we feel exactly the same way. All students have transitioned back into the classroom positively and although the structure of long days led to very tired and hungry students by the end of the week, we are so pleased with how students have managed themselves. We would like to once again thank all parents for their wonderful commitment and support during home learning. It was evident that you worked alongside us as teachers during home learning to ensure children were able to access and complete set teaching and learning experiences and we very much appreciate your efforts.
A friendly reminder to please ensure all Grade 1 students return their take home decodable book and picture book each day. We are noticing that an increasing amount of books are not being returned. The school spent a lot of money on upgrading these books this year and we would like to ensure they don't get lost. If you find any lying around the house please send them back to your child's classroom.
We wish you all a happy and safe holiday and we will see students back in the classroom on Monday 12th of July.
English
Reading
Over the fortnight students have been learning about the differences between imaginative, informative and persuasive texts including:
- Distinguishing texts that tell stories (imaginative) from those that provide information (informative) or give opinions with facts (persuasive).
- Identifying the audience of a persuasive text and
- Identifying the opinion presented in a persuasive text.
Students have also been conducting book talks in class. This is where they share their favourite book, explain why it is their favourite and rate it out of 5. This often encourages other students to read the texts shared.
Writing
In writing this fortnight students have been developing their ability to write persuasively. This includes:
- Writing persuasive command and exclamation sentences.
- Identifying and using strong words.
- Creating a persuasive slogan/exclamation sentence for their unit of inquiry poster.
- Adding digital images that make an impact to support their writing.
Students have also continued to focus on
re-reading their work and discussing improvements.
Word Work
Students are continuing to revise the codes they learnt in Prep as well as adding new codes to their classroom working pack each week. Below is a PDF of the first 60 codes if you would like to continue revising these at home. If you click on 'present' and then click the code it will play the sound/s each code makes. A link to a video of the codes being said is also included below for students to revise.
For this fortnight's bootcamp students have learning to double f, s, z and l if they come after a single vowel at the end of a one-syllable word.
Students have boot camped the following rules so far this year:
Rule #1 - q doesn't go anywhere without u.
Rule #6 - y replaces i at the end of an English word.
Rule #2 - c makes its second sound /s/ when followed by e, i or y.
Rule # 3 - g usually makes its second /j/ when followed by e, i or y.
Rule # 26 - Capital Letters
Rule #7 - Silent final e (SFE).
Rule #18 - oi or oy/ai or ay
Handwriting and letter formation is a focus during each boot camp session as this year we are trialing print instead of Victorian Modern Cursive.
Below you will find the handwriting script and the codes for your own use at home.
Mathematics
This fortnight students have been learning to identify outcomes of familiar events involving chance and describe them using everyday language. This includes identifying and describing events that will, might or won't happen as well as exploring the vocabulary of chance.
In order to consolidate, learn and extend the above skills, students participated in numerous hands-on Maths experiences.
Unit of Inquiry
In order to complete our Sharing the Planet unit of inquiry, students have been inquiring into:
- Endangered species of interest.
- The threats of endangered species.
- How they can take action and help.
- Effective ways to raise awareness and actions that have the most impact.
Students also completed their summative assessment where they created a poster about an endangered species to raise awareness. Their posters included a picture of the species and a command or exclamation sentence. Students then shared their posters with other classes in order to take action.
Next term we will be moving onto our How We Organise Ourselves unit of inquiry.
Well-Being
As part of our weekly well-being sessions students have been completing a series of learning experiences on Growth Mindset where they are looking at the magic of mistakes, the power of yet and the mysterious world of neurons.
Students also began exploring ethics ( right and wrong) and thinking about whether or not something is right or wrong and why.
Reminders
*Last Day of Term 2 (Fun Lunch & Early Finish at 2.30pm) - Friday 25th June
*Parent Conferences - 12th July-23rd July
*Student Free Day - Friday 16th July
Grade 1 Team
Tessa Woodgate 1A
Nicole King 1B
Zoe Picton/Jewel Jackson 1C
Michelle Flood 1D
Amy Chadwick HU