Year 2 Spotlight

Making Friends & More!

What a wonderful start to the year the students have had! Year 2 students have enjoyed meeting new friends and connecting with old ones, as well as getting to know their new teachers. We have been learning about the school values and establishing classroom routines.

Writing

This term, students have explored writing recounts and had the concept of seed writing introduced to them. 

With seed writing, the students are given a picture prompt and asked to respond to it using their senses. They then have the opportunity to extend their ideas more into a piece of writing. The following are some examples of the process.

Picture Prompt

I can see a recycle symbol with Earth in it but it is surrounded by rubbish and seedlings.

I can hear the rubbish truck and cans and bottles clinking.

It makes me feel sad because why can’t Earth be that clean?

It makes me think why don’t we recycle more? 

~ Miia L, 2B

Seed Writing ideas then turned into a persuasive text. Here are some examples of this.

Mathematics

This term in Maths, our focus in Number was counting and place value.

Counting is an essential skill that underpins the understanding of number and algebra. Students have explored counting forwards and backwards by 2s, 3s, 5s, and 10s from zero and non-zero starting points.

Place value is the ability to know the value of each digit in a number; e.g. 24 is 2 tens and 4 ones. This is an essential skill that supports addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Students have explored  reading, writing, ordering and comparing numbers up to or beyond 1,000, using concrete materials to support their understanding. Some students have enjoyed learning about larger numbers.

In the domain of Measurement, students used suitable informal units to estimate, measure, and compare the length of a range of items in their classroom.

• I’ve enjoyed learning about the different counting patterns with the numbers 2s, 3s, 5s and 10s. ~ Stella 2A
• I enjoyed learning how to put numbers into different positions as they get larger, like      1,510. And you can also write it 1000 + 500 + 10 + 0. ~ Evie C, 2A
• I loved learning about measuring things in different ways and measuring objects in our classroom with Unifix blocks. ~ Edie, 2A

Literacy

Within our Literacy Block, we explored ‘Tier 2’ vocabulary, which consists of words that are not commonly spoken in everyday language. Mastering Tier 2 vocabulary enhances students’ comprehension skills, improves their writing and their ability to express themselves clearly. We break the words down into parts exploring word families, synonyms, antonyms, double meanings, and their corresponding sounds parts. 

Why is it important to learn new words?

• You need to learn them so you can know more words, because when you are reading, you will know what the words are. If you are reading, and you don't know them, you’ll say “What is that word?!” ~ Freddie, 2D
• So then you can read better! My favourite word I have learned so far is ‘conserve!’ It means to save! ~ Beau, 2D
• So you can understand when that word comes up you will know what it means. ~ Hazel K, 2D

What do you like about learning new words?

• When I read my books, I will see those words again and then I will know what they mean! ~ Hazel K, 2D
• If you didn’t learn them, you might not be able to write a lot. ~ Millie G, 2D
• Because it helps connect with friends . ~ Eddie, 2D
• My favourite word that I learned so far is ‘conjunctions!’ ~ Jarrah, 2D
• My favourite word that I learnt was ‘environment’! ~ Thea, 2D 

We also provide opportunities for students to use vocabulary within writing experiences. Using the word ‘persuade’:

Inquiry

This term, students have been focusing on physical, social and emotional health. 

We started off the term looking at emotional literacy and the zones of regulation. Students also looked at the catastrophe scale to help them identify the size of a problem. 

We then moved on to physical health and how we can keep healthy and exercise within our Fairfield community. Students explored how to be safe in the sun as well as at a beach. Students revised on calling emergency services. 

We had a very fun and exciting yoga incursion on Monday. The students were guided through breathing techniques and relaxation activities that assisted them to regulate emotions, and improve their energy levels. The students learnt basic poses that increase their strength, coordination and flexibility.

~ Year 2 Teachers (Michele, Elise, Sarah & Kelly) and Students