Terrific 2
Term 3 Week 4 2025 - Friday 15th of August
What have we been up to?
Dear Parents, Carers, and Students,
What a fabulous start to the term we have had! We hope you are all settling back into the routines well. We have certainly seen great things from our students so far and we’re excited for what the rest of the term brings us.
Winter is nearly over! Looking forward to some warm weather and sunshine!
In Literacy
We have been continuing our deep dive into Scientific Reports this term! Students are taking part in hands-on experiments—including cornflour slime, wiggly worms and this week, we are focusing on ‘My Heart’. A fun and engaging activity where we learn more about our heart and how it reacts during different activities —and learn how to record their thinking like scientists. They are learning how to write in a structured way using the format:Question → Hypothesis → Materials → Procedures → Results → Conclusion.It’s been wonderful to see students engaging thoughtfully with these new writing styles.
**See below for some photo highlights from our Science/Literacy lessons!**
We're also continuing to develop our reading skills with a strong focus on chapter books to build fluency, stamina and comprehension in preparation for Grade 3.
- 2A is reading Charlotte’s Web, a classic tale of friendship, change, and resilience.
- 2B is reading Misery Guts, a funny and heartfelt story by Morris Gleitzman that sparks great class discussion.
Some children have also been sent home with the novel The BFG by Roald Dahl. This beloved story explores imagination, courage, and kindness, and is perfect for developing comprehension and vocabulary through shared reading at home. 👉 Please continue to log all home reading in your child’s reading diary.For students not reading The BFG, please continue with the usual home reader routine—reading and re-reading the two books sent home each Monday to build fluency and confidence.
This week, we also sent home a new set of spelling words for extra practice. This is optional but a great way to support your child’s learning at home if they’re keen! We have noticed a fantastic improvement for those students who are taking on the challenge and working through these words at home.
In Write to Learn, we have shifted our focus to topic sentences where we gradually build student knowledge and understanding of what a topic sentence is and how to use it appropriately.
In Phonics, we have been continuing to build our knowledge of the fszl (floss) rule. We have also been working hard on the rules around using -ck, -tch and -dge with additional learning that focuses on the ‘Silent Final E’ in words.
Week | Phonics Focus | Examples |
Week 1 | fszl rule | Tall, Chill, Chess, Whiff |
Week 2 | fszl rule | Shrill, Scroll, Frizz, Gruff |
Week 3 | Silent final E | Edge, Badge, Dodge, Fudge |
Week 4 | Silent final E | Nudge, Wedge, Quake, Bridge |
Week 5 | Silent final E | Pledge, Sludge, Smudge, While |
Week 6 | Silent final E | Guide, Male, Costume, Delete |
Week 7 | Silent final E | Describe, conclude, Crocodile, |
Week 8 | Silent final E | Activate, Splurge, Merge |
Week 9 | Review week (Silent final E & fszl) | Tall, Describe, Chess, While |
In Maths
We have still been exploring the concepts of doubling, halving, and arrays:
- Doubling and halving are foundational mental maths strategies that support later learning in multiplication and division.
- Using arrays (objects arranged in rows and columns) helps students visualise multiplication and understand number patterns.
However, we have now gone beyond that and moved into grouping and sharing which looks at Multiplication and Division.
- ‘Groups of’ has been a focus. Students have been exploring worded problems and learning how best to solve them using various strategies. And,
- Sharing or Shared between has been the other main area that we have been looking at. Again, using worded problems and our strategies to solve.
Students have been enjoying hands-on activities and games to deepen their understanding of these concepts in a fun and engaging way.
Science In Science, we are exploring Biological Sciences. We are learning about living things—what they need to grow and survive, and how they change over time. Students are engaging in observations and discussions, and we have a super fun hands-on project coming soon—stay tuned!
Leader in Me and Respectful Relationships:
We’ve launched our WIGs (Wildly Important Goals) for Term 3!
Each student has chosen a personal academic goal focused on handwriting. After reviewing their writing books, students selected an area to improve—such as letter formation, spacing, or neatness—and will track their progress across the term.
Our 2A classroom WIG is focused on behaviour in specialist classes:
“By the end of Term 3, we will be able to track the speaker and follow expectations in specialist classes. Our goal is to show positive behaviour in at least 7 out of the 9 weeks.”
Our 2B classroom WIG is focused on whiteboard routines:
“By the end of Term 3, during learning time we will follow the proper whiteboard routines, hover it, chin it, park it and clear it.”
We are so proud of the ownership and reflection students are showing in setting and working towards these goals!
Home Readers and Spelling Words
Just a reminder: 📚 Home readers are changed every Monday. Students receive two books to practise throughout the week. Re-reading these texts supports fluency, comprehension, and confidence.
📖 Please continue to log all reading in your child’s reading diary, whether it’s The BFG, chapter books, or their regular readers.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s progress.
What’s Coming Up in Year 2
We’re looking forward to a fun and engaging term ahead—filled with exciting science investigations, hands-on inquiry projects, personal writing goals, and more chapter book adventures. We also have some fantastic incursions coming up that we know the students will love, as well as our much-anticipated Athletics Day, where students will have the chance to get active, have fun, and show great sportsmanship!
Important reminders:
- Specialist Days
- Monday - AUSLAN, Art/Cultural Studies, PE & Music
- Wednesday - 2A Library
- Thursday - 2A & 2B Performing Arts, 2B Library
- Athletics Day has been postponed until September 1st due to bad weather.
- Incursion this Thursday 14th of August for the 1’s and 2’s.
- VicPol incursion and excursion is coming up next week which will be a fabulous experience for everyone.
Thank you for your support, Kayla Mugford Hannah Jackson Sam Downs
Here are some photo highlights:
