Prep

Reading

Over the past fortnight in Reading, the Prep students have continued building their understanding of letters and sounds. We have focused on hearing the sounds /t/ and /a/ in spoken words and linking these sounds to the letters ‘t’ and ‘a’. Students have practised identifying these sounds at the beginning of words and have been learning how each letter represents its sound when reading. Alongside this, they have been learning and practising the correct Victorian cursive formation of the letters t and a, helping to strengthen both their reading and writing connections. Students have just started their first lesson on the letter ‘p’, Poppy Princess and will continue to make the connections between the letter and the sound and learn to correctly form that letter over the next week.

To support their early reading skills, students have also continued learning how words are made up of individual sounds. They have been practising stretching out spoken words to hear the sounds inside them, identifying each sound and then counting how many sounds they can hear in a word. This important skill helps students understand how words work and prepares them for reading and spelling.

The Preps have also been practising blending sounds together to read simple words. By saying each sound and then smoothly putting them together, students are beginning to hear how sounds combine to form words. Using the practice of tapping each sound down their arm and then starting from the top again and blending them together by running their hand down their arm and saying the word is connecting the left and right sides of their brains and helping to concrete the practice of blending. It has been wonderful to see their confidence growing as they explore new sounds and continue taking the steps to get them on their reading journey.

Writing

In Writing this term, the Preps have been working hard on learning how to correctly form their letters. We have been practising writing our letters in the correct places using sky, grass and dirt lines, helping students understand where each letter should sit. The students have also been using the Initial Lit chants to guide their letter formation, saying the chants aloud as they write to help remember the correct movements.

The Preps have also been doing a fantastic job practising writing their names using lowercase letters. We have been making this fun by playing a variety of games, using different writing materials, and exploring lots of hands-on activities. These experiences also help strengthen the students’ fine motor skills, which are important for building confidence and control when writing.

It has been wonderful to see the students showing persistence and pride in their writing as they continue to practise their letters and names. We are very proud of their efforts! 

Maths

Over the past two weeks in Maths, our Prep students have been focusing on developing their understanding of numbers. They have been busy making and comparing different collections of objects and exploring what happens when we add one more to a group. These hands-on activities help students build strong number sense and recognise how numbers grow.

Students have also begun working on forming numbers correctly, practising how to write them neatly and carefully. Developing accurate number formation is an important step as students begin to record their mathematical thinking.

We have been using five and ten frames to represent numbers in a variety of ways. These visual tools help students see numbers more clearly and understand how numbers can be grouped and organised.

Another exciting concept we explored is subitising. This means being able to look at small groups of objects, such as the dots on a dice and instantly recognise the number without counting. Our students have been practising this skill with numbers from 0–5 and are becoming much quicker at recognising these quantities.

All students have done an excellent job engaging with these activities, and we are very proud of their effort and progress in Maths!

Prep Home Learning Suggestions

Reading

• Read together each night. Encourage your child to sound out letters and simple words.
• Practise letter sounds: m, s, t, and a.
• Complete the home reading diary regularly and enjoy the activities included in the reading folder.
• Read words that include the sounds m, s, t, and a. For example: am, at, sat, mat, Sam, tat.

Writing

• Practise name writing every day.
• Focus on forming the letters: m, s, t, and a.

Maths

• Practise counting from 0–10.
• Work on writing numbers 0–10.
• Recognise and name numbers.
• Count small collections of objects (e.g., toys, blocks, or household items).