Grade 2 Community News

EMP (Explicit Maths Program)

Grade 2 students have been focusing on comparing three-digit numbers, exploring the rotation of two-dimensional shapes, and identifying and counting equal groups. Students are also continuing to develop their automatic recall of addition facts, both within 10 and beyond. Each day, these facts are practiced orally as a class, followed by a timed two-minute activity in which students aim to correctly answer as many questions as possible. This consistent practice supports the development of confidence, fluency, and accuracy in basic number facts. We encourage students to further strengthen their recall by accessing NumBots and Times Tables Rock Stars at home for additional practice.

InitiaLit (Literacy) 

During our comprehension and fluency lessons, students have been developing their understanding of comprehension strategies. These strategies act as tools to support a deeper understanding of texts.

This fortnight, the focus has been on making personal connections. Students have explored how to link their own experiences to what they are reading to enhance comprehension.

Using the text ‘Paper Facts’, students practiced this strategy by reflecting on prompts such as “This text reminds me of…”, helping them to make meaningful connections and engage more deeply with the text.

Students have been learning about the suffix -ing, and how it changes a verb to describe an action that is happening in the present. They learned the spelling rule for when you add -ing to a bossy e word, you drop the ‘e’ and add ‘ing’. 

In addition, Grade 2 students have been revising the tricky words really, animal, and because. They have engaged in a variety of activities to practice these words, including writing sentences on whiteboards and participating in games such as Bubble Bingo and Tricky Word Pairs. We encourage students to continue practicing these tricky words at home to further strengthen their spelling and confidence.

Growing Grammar!

In our grammar lessons, students have been learning about noun groups and similes, and how these language features help make their writing more descriptive and engaging. A noun group is a group of words that includes a noun and adds extra information to describe it in more detail, such as the tall, leafy tree or a small, fluffy dog. Students have also been exploring similes, which are comparisons that use the words “like” or “as” to describe something by comparing it to something else, for example, as busy as a bee or runs like the wind. These tools are helping students to add creativity to their writing.

Storybook - ‘The Stone Lion’ 

Our most recent storybook has been The Stone Lion. The story centres around a stone lion statue, often found in a public space, that quietly observes the world and the people around it. Although it appears still and lifeless, the lion becomes a symbol of imagination and inner strength. Students added three new words to our word towers: generous, stumbled, and paced. 

Handwriting

Grade 2 students have been building on their handwriting skills through dedicated handwriting sessions. Over the past fortnight, they have concentrated on forming the speedhump letters p, z, r, and n. Students are also regularly reminded of the importance of correct seating posture and pencil grip, which helps them develop neat, fluent, and accurate handwriting. 

Humanities 

As students continue their new Geography topic, Important Places, they have been learning to locate where they live on a map of Australia and describe their position. They have also been exploring how places can be represented at different geographical scales, from local areas through to the national level.

Respectful Relationships

Grade 2 students will continue exploring the Respectful Relationships topic, Personal and Cultural Strengths. They have been learning how to recognise and use their personal strengths to support positive friendships and family relationships. Students have also been discussing and describing different ways people can show respect for themselves, for others, and for Country, developing their understanding of respect within a range of contexts.

Reminders 

• Please ensure you are reading with your child every night. Students can borrow take-home books from their classroom libraries on their designated library days.
• Students are no longer required to wear a hat outside in Terms 2 and 3 so please ask you child to bring their hat home so you can safely put it away until Term 4.
• As the weather begins to cool and winter jackets are being worn more regularly, please ensure that all items of your child’s uniform are clearly labeled with their name.

• Please check Compass for information on the Grade 2 Incursion. We would love all children to participate in this exciting incursion, which links our learning to storytelling through symbols.

   

Thank you to all our wonderful Grade 2 parents and families for your continued support and commitment to your child’s learning and wellbeing. Term 2 is off to a great start!

Warm regards, PLC 2,

Ms. Broskie, Mr. Watkins, Ms. Cope, Ms. Diaz, Ms. Kelly, Ms. Madigan, Ms. Anastasi,      Ms. Cadzow, Ms. Hanson, Ms. Elliot, and Ms. Claire