Year 5/6 - Newsletter
Is it a sign of old age to always be thinking that time is flying by? If it is, we should be lining up for our pensions any day now! We are six weeks into term two and have already squeezed so much into that time: Year 5 Forest Edge Camp, Maths Day, ANZAC Day, Inter School Sports and District Cross Country.
The next two weeks won’t be any quieter for the children, either, with the LIfe Ed Van wrapping up, Athletic’s Day and Literacy Circles in classes.
Discussing the dangers and complexities of smoking, drugs and alcohol can be a difficult and sometimes, awkward topic with children. On one hand, we use drugs for medicine, but on the other we are telling our children that drugs are bad. It can be confusing for students. Over the past week, Life Education has done an amazing job educating our students about the dangers of alcohol and tobacco plus the difference between good and bad drugs. Hopefully, the children have come home and discussed this with the family.
It’s sometimes challenging learning about the adversity that the Aboriginal People have experienced over their journey. On Monday was ‘Sorry Day’ where we learned more about some of the sad policies and events that befell the aboriginal people in the past. This worked well with the subject of our class story, which is called, ‘Us Mob, Walawurru.’ Set in the 1960s, it talks about one young girl’s voyage discovering her people’s forlorn and troubling history. This term, our grammar, reading and writing lessons are all based upon this text. Additionally, we are using the 1967 indigenous Referendum as the subject to write a Factual Recount, breaking each section of the piece up into smaller sections over the term.
Literacy Circles is a huge component of our reading program in Year 5/6. This is the first week we have completed our comprehension roles, summarised our reading and organised our time and tasks over a week. Each group of students have chosen one book to read and complete the summaries and roles on. They meet with their class teacher on the same day, weekly to share and discuss their work and the story, with their group.
Literacy Circles will be challenging for some, particularly the Year 5’s, as it is their first time involved in it. Particularly at the start of the process, we recommend the students take their novels and complete their tasks as homework, just to keep on top of it all.
Additive Thinking has been our focus in Maths over the past fortnight. Students have been developing different counting and mental strategies to assist them when they are calculating equations. Adding and Subtracting Fractions and Decimals has been part of their learning. Additionally (no pun intended) they have been completing Essential Assessment ‘General All’ tests to help diagnose their progress and specific needs moving forward.
Our class has been particularly excited about owning their own ‘colony’ in a new land in Inquiry. They have been using their colonies' resources to trade with others, build a settlement and grow their population. But, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing as natural disasters and other problems have befallen their lands. Developing leadership and a working government based on our own system, has helped, but with other major tragedies just around the corner, joining with the other colonies to Federate might be the only thing that saves them.
This Friday, we will be having our third match of Interschool Sport, hosting St Francis Xavier PS.
Although it’s a home round, many teams will still be playing off-site:
- AFL9s – Research Park
- Soccer – Eltham Redbacks pitch
- Hot Shots Tennis – Karingal Tennis Courts
Thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring students are well prepared and on time for their sports commitments. Please also ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for sport on the day, including shorts and shoes.
Athletics Day has been moved to next Tuesday, so hopefully the weather holds off and we have a lovely sunny day to race around in.
Thanks
5/6 Teachers