Home Studies
Home Studies this year is being rejuvenated and may look slightly different for the Year Two families than it did last year. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher for clarification.
For both year levels, the spelling component has been dropped. The focus on the spelling rules and strategies will be handled at school where we can hone in, and concentrate on the individual needs.
In Year One, reading is still our major focus. We encourage all families to find time to read an books or materials that they find appropriate. We will still be sending decodable readers home, once the teachers have had some time with the children to best align what material will be of most benefit.
In Year Two, our focus will be less on decodable readers but more on developing a love of reading through exploring a variety of texts. We are promoting the use of the local libraries as a place for the family to explore and widen reading material. We are also encouraging families to take advantage of any other reading material at home, not just 'books'. This may take the form of brochures, manuals, lifestyle and hobby magazines, and even electronic media. Added to this, we are hoping to build your child's comprehension and enjoyment by suggesting you engage in more discussion about the text and exploring how a reader connects to the text, and how those experiences help forge a deeper, more meaningful understanding. Relating what you are reading to experiences you have had is an incredibly powerful way to engage and explore the story.
The three main connections you may wish to focus on are: Text to Self, Text to World and Text to Text. To help guide you in leading these chats, please have a quick look at some of these examples, just click on the link:
Making Text Connections : Reading Strategies
Reading Strategies - Making Connections
In Year One, mathematics will be tasks that are more relevant to the learning focus, and will be sent home when deemed suitable and appropriate.
In Year Two, we will focus on the multiplication tables, using the KPPS Keys to Success. The link will take you to our site. Feel free to use the material on the site. We will also be sending home more detailed instructions with the children when we roll this out.