Curriculum News

English

Reading and Viewing

In Reading, we will be continuing to expand our knowledge of phonics, digraphs and comprehension using our Jolly Phonics Program and Beanie Bear Strategies. These concepts will come under the areas of thinking within the text, beyond the text and about the text.  Students will be making links with events in texts and their own experiences and relating facts from informative texts. Students will be exploring a range of multimodal texts learning about high frequency words and single syllable words. 

Writing

We will continue to use the  SMART Spelling program to introduce new sounds and revise learnt phonics.   These SMART spelling phonics will be used to generate spelling lists that the students will be taking home for their homework. These words will be given out on Mondays and tested on Fridays.  This will start Week 2 of this term.  A further note explaining this process will be sent home, via skoolbag, next Monday so please keep an eye out. 

We will also be making connections between the punctuation discussed in our reading and transferring this knowledge to our writing.  This will be done through focusing on two different aspects of the purpose of writing - to inform and to entertain.  We will also be conducting formal handwriting lessons during the term, focusing on the correct formation and size of each letter.  The students will be using dotted third lines to assist with this.  

Speaking and Listening

The students will complete activities that focus on listening and speaking during Literacy activities.  From Week 3, students will also share in Language Experience. Please see the end of this newsletter for a roster of Language Experience topics for the term

Maths

Number and Algebra 

In Term 2, Foundation students will continue to develop their skills in counting and identifying numbers. Students will also learn practical strategies to solve simple addition problems. 

Measurement and Geometry

In Measurement and Geometry, Foundation students will sort, describe and name 2D shapes. Students will also explore measuring length by making direct and indirect comparisons to decide which object is longer and explaining their reasoning.

Inquiry/RE

In Inquiry, students will investigate the way living things grow and change. They will also be investigating the life cycles of animals. Embedded throughout this unit students will learn about our Catholic Social Teachings and how they, themselves can be Stewards of Creation. The students will explore a variety of scripture passages learning about God’s Creation. 

Here are some of the essential questions that underpin our unit and would be great to discuss with your child:

• What are living/non living things?
• What do living things need?
• Why do you think God created a beautiful earth and how does he want us to look after it?

We will be going on an excursion to Myuna Farm on the 19th of May. More information regarding this will be sent out via Operoo.

Wellbeing

In our Social and Emotional Learning sessions this term, the students will be exploring and developing their personal qualities and strengths.