Literacy

Reading

This term is an exciting term as we are looking at picture books through an ‘Author Study’. Year One students are looking at Pamela Allen while Year Two students will be investigating the author Alison Lester. 

We will be noticing the craft these authors use to make their books interesting for the reader. Both authors are wonderful, and we know the students will enjoy being immersed in such engaging literature. We really want students to read for enjoyment and to continue to develop a love of reading. Although we are investigating these authors, we would encourage families to spend time reading a wide range of literature and to find books that engage their child.

At home, while reading with your child, you may like to talk about what the author did to make the book interesting. Ask your child what craft they noticed in the book. Some craft we will be investigating includes repetition, ellipses, surrealism, bold words, use of colour, rhyme, similes, page layout and time lapse. 

Students will focus on:   

Questioning 

I can stop and think about what I am reading.

I can reread a text to get a deeper understanding of what I am reading. 

I can retell the important parts of what I have read. 

I can ask questions about the text to help me understand what I have read. 

COMPREHENSION 

I use clues in the text to infer (feelings, traits, actions).

I describe how characters react to key words.

Writing

Building on our Author study in Reading, we will be experimenting with the craft we noticed the authors using and trying it in our own writing. Some of the craft we will be experimenting with is: repetition, onomatopoeia, ellipses, alliteration, bold words, surrealism, similes and rhyming. We will also be noticing the illustration techniques used such as the page layout, picture borders and the use of colour to make our writing as interesting as it can be for the reader.

Another part of the writing process is to give and receive feedback to lift the quality of the writing piece and to make it more engaging for the reader. Please ask your child about their writing or come into our corridors where your child’s writing is displayed so your child can share it with you. You could ask your child what craft they have used in their writing and why they used that craft.

Students will continue to have choice over their own topics, paper and materials. They will be expected to follow the 5 stages of writing (Rehearsing, Composing, Revising, Editing and Publishing) to complete a writing piece. The students are encouraged to spell the high frequency words accurately and automatically, so practising these words at home will also help them. 

Handwriting will continue to be a focus and students will have daily practise of correct pencil grip, starting points of letters as well as line positioning on whiteboards as well as in their handwriting books.