Dear Grade 1 families

It’s been another exciting and productive fortnight in Grade 1! Our students have been building on their reading, writing, and maths skills through a range of structured, engaging lessons. From exploring long vowel sounds and tricky words in literacy, to revising place value and 3D shapes in maths, students are continuing to develop strong foundational knowledge through explicit teaching and daily practice. Thank you for the ongoing support you provide at home—your involvement makes a big difference in helping your child feel confident, curious, and ready to learn each day.

Initialit and Vocabulary

Over the past week, our students have been revising the different spellings for long vowel sounds (ai, ay, ee, ea, -y, igh, ao, ow, ew, ue and oo) and practising reading and writing one- and two-syllable words with these sounds, as well as exploring homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings).

We've introduced plurals—learning how adding the suffix 's' changes a word—and students have begun writing sentences using plurals. We’ve also added new tricky words to our vocabulary: ‘two’, ‘three’, and ‘four’.

In the coming week, we’ll be exploring suffixes (a letter or letters added to the end of words to change the meaning) and learning the new digraph ‘ar’ as in star. Students will learn two ways to spell the /or/ sound—’or’ and ’ore’—and will practise using these in their writing. New tricky words coming up include ‘house’, ‘because’, and ‘why’.

This week, students have been using their new vocabulary words in their speaking and writing. They practised these through retelling stories and exploring the book ‘Sam & Dave Dig a Hole’, where they also learned and actively applied the new words ‘mission’, ‘spectacular’, ‘improve’, ‘dug’, and ‘chances’ through fun activities like charades and word associations.

Continue to encourage your child to read aloud to you regularly, practise recognising tricky words, and play word games together that focus on sounds and simple spelling rules. Talking about the meaning of new words and pointing out plurals and digraphs in books or signs can also make learning fun and meaningful.

Maths

This week in Maths, students participated in summative assessments to reflect on and consolidate all the learning they have done so far this year. These assessments help teachers identify each child’s strengths and areas for growth, ensuring future lessons are targeted and supportive.

Next week, students will continue to explore 3D objects, focusing on identifying and describing cubes and spheres. They will also revisit and consolidate their understanding of place value, including using MAB blocks to make and say 3-digit numbers. In Measurement, students will continue learning about length, with a focus on estimating and comparing lengths using informal units.

How you can help at home: Encourage your child to spot and name 3D shapes around the house (e.g. boxes as cubes, balls as spheres), practise saying and making 3-digit numbers together, and estimate the length of household items using hands or blocks for measurement fun. These small moments at home reinforce classroom learning in meaningful ways.

Knowledge Building

In our Knowledge Building sessions, students have been exploring the concept of community by comparing life in Ancient Mesopotamia with our modern-day community. They have learned about the different roles people played in Mesopotamian society—such as farmers, traders, and builders—and how these members helped each other by working together. Through discussions and activities, students have identified similarities and differences between ancient and present-day communities, and reflected on why cooperation and teamwork are just as important now as they were in the past.

You can talk to your child about the different roles people have in your local community (e.g. teachers, shopkeepers, doctors) and how everyone contributes. You might also enjoy looking at family roles or neighbourhood helpers together to deepen their understanding of community life.

Respectful Relationships

Next week in Respectful Relationships, students will explore the concept of diversity by discussing the many ways people and families can be different, such as in the foods they like, the games they enjoy, the languages they speak, or how their families are formed. Students will also talk about how to show respect for others regardless of these differences, learning that all people are unique, and that our differences are normal, special, and worth celebrating.

Families can support this learning by having conversations about the unique qualities within your own family and the community around you. You might also like to read a picture book together that celebrates diversity and talk about what it means to be respectful and inclusive.

Reminders

Please continue to support your child’s learning by reading at home each day. Regular reading helps build fluency and increases their reading mileage, which is essential for developing confident and capable readers. Every bit of practice makes a difference!

Upcoming Year One Events

Grade 1 Excursion to Scienceworks

A reminder that Grade 1 students will enjoy an excursion to Scienceworks.

Please ensure you’ve checked the dates in June for your child’s grade and submitted payment via Compass prior to your child’s excursion date.

Monday 9th June King’s Birthday is a public holiday, enjoy that long weekend!

PLC 1

The Fortnight Ahead