Prep Guy

Can you believe we are already half way through the year!

Over the past two weeks in Literacy, we have been learning about two letters making one sound such as ss, ff, ll, sh, th, wh and ch. These combinations help our students to read and spell words with these mix of letters. In Writing/ Spelling we have continued to work on writing recounts about our weekends, information reports, letters and information found in non fiction texts plus spelling of our heart words, editing our work and adding more detail. In Non fiction texts we have learnt how to use the title and contents page, glossary, headings and sub headings, illustrations and photos, maps and charts, plus labelled diagrams and cutaways( which the students thought was gross)!

We have revised our reading strategies such as Lips The Fish, which reminds your child to get their mouth ready for the sound that the first letter in a word makes. We have revised Owl Eye which reminds us to look at the pictures, Stretchy Snake reminding us to blend the sounds letters make within the one word. Chunky Monkey reminds students to blend three sounds together and also look for smaller words in larger words to help work out unknown words. Skippy Frog reminds students to skip a tricky word, read to the full stop and then Tryin Lion reminds students to go back and reread the same sentence. Flippy Dolphin reminds students to give long vowel names instead of sounds in words such as go and Careful Caterpillar reminds us to look to the end of an unknown word, ensuring we are reading the entire word such as tall, taller and tallest correctly.

At school we teach students how to read in small groups aimed at their skill development. In Reading Circles students read their take home reader to their reading group while others listen. They then swap their book/s every day. Teachers also listen to and explicitly teach reading strategies in small groups each week, dedicated to your child's individual needs. Students will then bring home easier texts to read with families for enjoyment and to practise what they have learnt at school. These texts are designed to be much easier to help reading fluently like we talk and using expression, reading the question marks, full stops, commas, exclamation marks and talking marks where students can pretend to be the character in fiction stories, reading like the characters woulds talk. We have also revised our comprehension strategies which help us understand what we are reading. After listening to your child read their take home reader, take time to discuss the text with them and ask questions to ensure they know what they are reading about. There are some question ideas below.

In Maths we have continued learning about mass, capacity, length, duration of time and weight. Students loved working out how many smaller containers of water were needed to fill larger containers and using scales to balance equal weights. We continued working on numbers to 20 and how these numbers can be shown using tally marks, ten frames, number lines, using tens and ones, adding to and taking away from plus number words and counting collections accurately.

Prep Guy Students Of The Week

Congratulations to Lucy and Beau who were voted in by their peers for showing our school values of respect, responsibility and resilience.

We are so lucky to have Brilliant Beau in our grade, role modelling how to show our school values all the time. We are also very lucky to have Lovely Lucy in our room who shares her dragon toys with her friends, showing our school value of respect. She also is a Respectful Wren, treating others with kindness. Prep Guy are so proud of you both.

A big thank you to all our parents who come into the classroom daily to help with Reading Circles. Have a restful holiday with your beautiful children. Enjoy each others company ready to come back refreshed and ready for more fun and learning in second semester.

If you would like to discuss your child's learning journey at any time, my door is always open.

Prep/ One Stoll

Our Learning 🍎

🔤 In English, we have been busy developing our phonics knowledge, focusing on double consonants (like ll, ss and zz) and common digraphs (such as sh, ch, th and wh). These skills are helping students become more confident and accurate with their reading and spelling. In Writing, students have been learning how to plan and write a variety of text types including recounts, imaginative narratives, and simple letters, using correct structure, punctuation, and descriptive language. In Reading, we’ve been exploring both fiction and non-fiction texts, identifying key features like titles, headings, diagrams, characters, and settings. Students are learning to understand the purpose of different texts and how to use their features to support comprehension.

🔢 In Mathematics, students have been exploring addition and subtraction through a variety of hands-on and visual strategies. Using tools such as tens frames, number lines, counters, and fingers, students are learning to build strong number sense and flexibility with numbers. We’ve been encouraging students to use strategies like counting on, making ten, and part-part-whole to solve simple problems. Through games, group activities and real-life contexts, students are gaining confidence in choosing strategies that work best for them, while also building their mathematical language and reasoning skills.

🍃 In Integrated Studies, students have been designing a new classroom layout, using drawings and labels to plan how everything will fit perfectly. We’ve been learning fascinating facts about Australian animals like koalas, emus, and sharks. We’ve also been learning about the National Anthem, understanding its importance and practicing it together with pride, both verbally and using sign language.

Reading Nights 📖

Congratulations to Jackson, William and Esme who are or current Reading Night leaders, each achieving their 125 Reading Night certificates and already reading well beyond.

We celebrate reading milestones in our classroom with a special board - each time a student reaches a new Reading Night goal, we colour a box to track their progress.

Keep up the reading, students and families! Regular reading makes a powerful impact on your child’s learning across all areas of the curriculum, as well as supporting their confidence and wellbeing.

Reading Groups 📖

Each day begins with our Morning Reading Groups, an important part of our routine that encourages independence, confidence, and a love of reading. When students arrive, they first swap their take-home reader, then join their group to take turns reading their new book aloud.

The books in our Reading Boxes include a mix of decodable texts, which support phonics and decoding skills, and authentic texts, which build comprehension and enjoyment. Students read at least twice per week with their teacher—during Reading Groups or in small focus groups throughout the week - allowing regular check-ins and support.

Please note that your child may bring home the same book more than once. This is a great opportunity to practise reading with fluency, expression, and confidence—skills we actively encourage at school. The take-home readers are intentionally easier than what your child reads during lessons, as they are designed to build fluency and reinforce success.

At school, we focus on learning to read. At home, the goal is to build confidence through regular, supportive reading experiences with parents, grandparents, or caregivers.

During English lessons, students work in teacher focus groups to explore sounds, Heart Words, and new decodable texts. I aim to check students’ Reading Journals weekly—though this may occasionally happen fortnightly.

Don’t forget to sign your child’s Reading Journal when you hear them read. Every night counts toward their Reading Nights Award—a fun way to celebrate consistency and effort in reading at home!

Leo's Journey 🐆

Over the last few weeks; Miles, Patrick and Tillie took Leo home! We love seeing the fun adventures Leo shares with his friends each week. As it's nearly School Holidays, Leo is taking a well-deserved break and will be spending the next two weeks with Miss Stoll.

A reminder to students and families: each Monday, we randomly draw a name from our ‘Leo Tub’ to decide who will take Leo home. As a class, we agreed this was the fairest way to ensure everyone gets a turn.

Student Achievers 🌟

Our Student Achievers over the last few weeks have been Amelia, Jackson, Levi and Miles. I am so proud of all of your efforts, both in and out of the classroom. You can all be depended upon to make good choices, help others in need, focus on your learning and follow our school values, being a Respectful Wren, Responsible Ringtail and Resilient Roo!

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If you would like to discuss anything relating to your child's learning, well-being, growth or development, please come and see me to chat or organise a time, Alternatively, you can email me at kate.stoll@education.vic.gov.au

Thank you,

Kate (Miss Stoll). Prep/ One Stoll.

One/ Two Murphy

Wow and that is a wrap on Term 2!! We have now completed two terms of School.

I wish all my students and families a wonderful break.

Our Learning

In Literacy, this week we have been revisiting our sounds.

-wh for whistle, white and whip
- th for thumb, mouth and thunder
-ng for wing, lung and ring
-ch for chest, chomp and torch
-sh for shop, fish and wish
-ck for rock, luck and stick

In Numeracy, we have been learning about Subtraction. Students have been learning lots of different strategies to assist them when they take their numbers away. We have looked at ten frames, number lines, using whiteboards and manipulatives to help us with taking our numbers away. Students enjoyed making penguins and seeing how many fish their penguin could eat.

Readers

How do we do our readers' in our Grade 1/2 classroom? Good question, students are responsible for changing their own readers every day. At 10am we do read and feed. This is the time that students get out their reader bag, go to their reader box and change over their book. But what if my child doesn't change their reader? It is the responsibility of the student to change their book; some students might not change their books daily, as they are reading chapter books, and can not finish overnight. Once they have changed their book, they go back to their table, eat their fruit and read to a partner. Can we please ask to have diaries every Monday, so we can work out nights reading and award that amazing reading with reading certificates. 🤩🤩

Student Achiever Awards

Well Done to Fletch and Jackson on being our Student Achievers.

Fletch you have been a great helper in our classroom. I am super impressed by how hard you are trying with all your work in class. Well Done, Fletch!!

Jackson has been Respectful and Responsible student in our class this week. He has been a super helper and trying super hard with his work. Well Done Jackson!!

If you would like to discuss anything relating to your child's learning, well-being, growth or development, please come and see me to organise a time, Alternatively, you can email me at michelle.murphy4@education.vic.gov.au

Thank you,

Michelle (Mrs Murphy). 1/2

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