From the Foundation and 1/2 Classrooms
Grade 1/2
In our Grade 1 and 2 classrooms, students have been busy becoming young authors through recount writing! A recount is a piece of writing that tells about something that has already happened. It could be a special event, a class activity, a weekend adventure or even a funny moment at home.
To help our students organise their ideas clearly, we focus on the 5 W’s:
When: When did it happen? Students include time words such as yesterday, last weekend, or on Monday.
Where: Where did it happen? Was it at the park? At school? At Grandma’s house? Adding this detail helps paint a picture for the reader.
Who: Who was involved? Students learn to name the people (and sometimes pets!) who were part of the event.
What: What happened? Children describe the main event or activity in simple, clear sentences.
Why: Why was it special or important? This helps students share their feelings and explain why the event mattered to them.
Students begin by orally sharing their ideas using the Talking Strip before writing.
During writing we focus on:
- Writing in complete sentences
- Using time connectives such as First, Then, and Finally
- Adding descriptive words
Including a closing sentence to reflect on the experience
Through recount writing, students strengthen their sequencing skills, sentence structure and ability to express personal experiences clearly. Most importantly, they gain confidence in sharing their stories with others.
We are so proud of the enthusiasm and creativity our young writers bring to their work. Keep encouraging your child to talk about their day using the 5 W’s - it’s a wonderful way to support their writing development at home!
Foundation
In Foundation we are also working hard to become fantastic writers! Every day we practise important skills that help us grow in confidence and improve our handwriting.
One of the exciting things we are learning is how to sound out and write our gold words. These are special words that we use all the time in our reading and writing. Some of our gold words include is, in and that. We practise spelling and writing these words neatly so we can recognise them quickly and use them in our sentences.
During our Phonics Plus lessons, we are learning how to write both lower case and upper case letters correctly. We focus on forming each letter carefully, starting and finishing in the right place. This helps our writing look neat and clear.
In our maths sessions, we are also learning how to write different numbers. We practise forming each number properly so we can show our working clearly and solve problems with confidence. To help us improve, we practise writing on our mini whiteboards. This allows us to try again, fix mistakes and keep practising. We also use tactile materials, which help us feel the shapes of letters and numbers. This makes learning to write fun and hands-on.
We are so proud of the progress we are making and can’t wait to keep improving our writing skills!
A few important reminders:
- Our term newsletters have now gone home. This covers what we are teaching in the classroom this term, how you can support your child through Home Learning and important dates. If you have not received a copy please see your child's teacher.
- Foundation and Grade 1/2- Our Home Learning program has commenced. Please ensure Home Learning books are sent to school each day.
- Change of date: Our Welcome back BBQ and Open classrooms is on Wednesday 25th February from 4-6pm.
We are looking forward a wonderful year together!
Team Foundation, 1 and 2 teachers