Foundation: Connect

Term 2

Literacy

In Literacy, students have been exploring digraphs, including sh and th. A digraph is when two letters work together to make one sound. Students have been learning to recognise, read, and write words containing these digraphs. We have also discovered that the digraph th can make two different sounds – the unvoiced th as in thumb and the voiced th as in that, this, and then. This week, students will begin learning the digraphs wh and ch, continuing to build their phonics knowledge and confidence when reading and spelling unfamiliar words

In Writing, students are continuing to respond to picture prompts by writing sentences about what they can see. As their confidence grows, we are beginning to extend this work by turning a single picture into a simple story. Students are learning to identify and include a character, setting, and problem in their writing to help create more detailed and engaging narratives. Nouns, verbs, and adjectives remain a strong focus, with students practising how to use these word types to add meaning and detail to their sentences. It has been wonderful to see students becoming more confident writers and expanding their ideas.

New Heart Word:

Review Heart Words:

Maths

Students have been introduced to subtraction and are learning that subtraction means taking away objects/a number from a collection, resulting in a smaller amount. Through hands-on and engaging learning experiences, students have been exploring how numbers change when items are removed. Using playdough, students enjoyed playing a subtraction game called "Smash," where they created playdough balls and then "smashed" some away to represent taking away objects from a collection. Through these activities, students are developing their understanding that subtraction means a collection becomes smaller when items are removed. They have been practising using concrete materials and are encouraged to explain their thinking as they build confidence with early subtraction concepts.

Well-being

Wellbeing continues to be an important focus in Foundation as students develop positive friendships and a strong sense of belonging within their year level. We are encouraging students to build and maintain friendships with their Foundation peers during playtimes, helping them establish strong social connections and support networks within their own cohort. Families can assist by encouraging conversations about Foundation friends and play experiences at school.

We have also been enjoying regular circle time sessions after breaks, which provide students with an opportunity to share how they are feeling and identify which "Zone of Regulation" they are in. These discussions allow students to develop emotional awareness, practise communication skills, and reflect on what they are enjoying at school, including who they are playing with during breaks. Circle time continues to be a valuable way to strengthen classroom connections and support students' social and emotional development.

Kind regards,

Alex Whittle (0A) and Kate Clark (0B)

Foundation Team