Year 1 News
From Yolanda Andrews, Year 1A teacher
Confidence is soaring!
The Year 1 students have demonstrated outstanding progress over the past few weeks. They have adapted well to the increased pace and expectations of Level 3, confidently navigating new routines—from climbing additional flights of stairs to working more independently and solving challenges on their own.
As the transition from the Prep phase concludes, these students are showing significant growth, along with a developing sense of calm confidence as they approach the end of their first term in Year 1.
Reading
Students have been developing an understanding that “reading is thinking” and have been introduced to a range of comprehension strategies to support deeper engagement with texts. They are learning to make predictions by drawing on textual and visual cues, as well as by activating their prior knowledge to enhance understanding.
Writing
Students have been exploring narrative texts, with a focus on the Five Facts of Fiction:
- the importance of character
- what the character wants
- how the character attempts to achieve (or does not achieve) their goal
- how the character changes
the world in which the story is set
Through the study of rich mentor texts, students have also had the opportunity to develop their own creative writing skills by designing original characters. Drawing on a strategy shared by published author Lachlann Carter, who visited our school this term, they have focused on three key elements of character development: the “brain” (the character’s skills or talents), the “heart” (what the character most desires), and the “gut” (what the character most fears).
We invite you to take a look at the imaginative and engaging characters our students have brought to life.
Maths
The Year 1 students have been investigating two-dimensional shapes. They have participated in shape hunts within their learning spaces and identified the properties of 2D shapes using appropriate mathematical vocabulary, including vertices, faces, polygons, regular and irregular shapes, and quadrilaterals.
Students have also created images incorporating triangles, exploring both regular and irregular forms.
To consolidate their learning, they designed their own flags featuring a variety of 2D shapes and practised using a ruler accurately.
The Year 1 learning environment has continued to evolve to ensure it provides a safe, engaging, and stimulating space that supports both student learning and wellbeing.
We are pleased to share a new display area dedicated to rich texts that promote positive decision-making, encourage the recognition and understanding of emotions, and convey important life lessons in an accessible and engaging way.
This space also features a range of social stories developed by NMPS, designed to support students in navigating a variety of situations, including understanding body boundaries and practising safe behaviours at school.
Thank you once again for your continued support and participation. We wish you a safe and happy holiday and look forward to seeing you again in Term 2.