Foundation 

The Foundation students bounced through the doors on the first day of Term 2, excited to be back at school. Foundation is such a wonderful year level to teach, with the students soaking in everything they are being taught and applying it to their learning. It is incredible to see what they have already achieved!

Overview from Term 1 

In Term 1, a key focus in Foundation was introducing the students to the school environment, including its rules and routines. The Foundation students can now confidently navigate their way around the school, finding the various specialist classrooms, the toilets and the canteen– which seems to be one of their favourite places! 

Another priority was developing relationships. We commenced our days with developmental play to continue with a routine similar to the early years setting to foster these interactions. The Foundation students have continued to strengthen friendships formed in Kindergarten while also creating new connections within their classes. They have grown in confidence and feel comfortable to seek assistance from their teachers and Year 6 Buddies. 

In Reading we practised:

• Rhyming
• Breaking words into syllables
• Alphabet sounds

Before learning to write, students begin by expressing their ideas through drawing. In Term 1, the Foundation students worked on adding detail to their drawings to show the characters and the setting in recounts. Students sought peer feedback by asking their friends, ‘What else could I add?’ From there, they have moved on to labelling their pictures with initial sounds or attempting to spell full words. We have introduced a ‘magic squiggle’ for students to use when they are unsure of a sound while spelling –  showing that they know that they are missing a sound, but they are not sure what it is yet.

In Mathematics we covered several topics, including:

• Identifying and writing numerals from 0-10
• Counting collections up to 10
• Understanding location using everyday language (e.g. in front, behind, between, next to)
• Creating and continuing a pattern

Pictured: Foundation students making patterns

Term 2 Overview:

Literacy

Reading

The main reading focuses for the Foundation students in Term 2 include:

• Continuing to identify letter names and sounds
• Sounding out and blending words
• Re-reading sentences for fluency and comprehension

We are also beginning to dive deeper into mentor texts during Reader's Workshop by:

• Making predictions from front covers and blurbs
• Expanding our vocabulary by learning the meaning of new words
• Identifying character traits 
• Creating 'text to text' and 'text to self' connections
• Retelling familiar stories through performance and illustrations

Writing

Writing lessons are part of our morning Literacy Blocks. This term we will be working on:

• Letter formation
• Segmenting words and recording the sounds we hear
• Adding capital letters, finger spaces and full stops to sentences
• Identifying nouns and verbs 
• Writing a recount of our weekend and including who was there and the setting
• Retelling familiar stories and events through illustrations and labelling

Pictured: Foundation Writing Samples

Mathematics

This term, we will be exploring:

• Numbers to 20:  rote counting, identifying numbers, counting collections and recording numerals
• Length: using informal units of measurement such as blocks to compare and measure objects 
• Sorting and classification: part of our STEAM project will involve grouping objects by similar attributes (e.g. rough vs smooth items) 
• Data collection: asking our classmates yes/no questions such as ‘Do you like ice cream?’

STEAM

Our STEAM unit for Term 2 is 'Healthy Bodies'. We will be: 

• Classifying healthy and “sometimes” foods
• Naming body parts 
• Exploring the five senses 

Some of the highlights of this unit will be our Life Education incursion, a yoga session, and visits from a dentist and a paramedic (with an ambulance!), as well as our first mini STEAM project, where we will plan, design and create SunSmart Hats. 

Wellbeing and Respectful Relationships 

Social and emotional learning remains a priority in Term 2. We will be discussing: 

• How to make a friend and ask others to play
• The importance of sharing
• How to compromise
• That mistakes are part of learning and help us grow

Important Dates:

Friday 2nd May 

Life Education Incursion (My Body Matters - Healthy Harold)

Friday 9th May 

Dentist Visit 

Wednesday 14th May 

Ambulance and Paramedic Visit 

Wednesday 28th May 

Foundation Yoga Incursion 

Friday 6th June 

Curriculum Day (No School) 

Monday 9th June 

Public Holiday (King’s Birthday) 

Friday 4th July 

Last Day of Term 2