Hello from Grade 1/2J

Hello families,

We’re off to a fantastic start to Term 2 here in Class 1/2J at Bendigo Primary School. The students have been working hard and enjoying lots of hands-on learning across all subject areas. Here’s an update on what we’ve been doing in the classroom and what’s coming up.

Mathematics – Addition and Time

In Maths this term, we’ve been focusing on addition. We’ve been practising how to add numbers together using different strategies such as counting on, using number lines, and making ten. The students have been learning to explain their thinking and are growing in confidence when solving problems.

We’ve also started exploring time. We’ve been learning how to read both analogue (with hands) and digital clocks. We’ve practised telling the time to the hour (o’clock) and half-hour (half past), and some students are already starting to learn about quarter past and quarter to times. We’ve used classroom clocks, games and real-life examples to support our learning.

Initial Lit – Reading, Writing and Spelling

In Initial Lit, we’ve been developing our skills in reading, writing and spelling. This term we’ve been learning about:

Nouns – We’ve learnt that nouns are naming words for people, places, and things. We’ve been identifying them in sentences and using them in our writing.
Homophones – These are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings (for example, “sun” and “son”). We’ve been learning how to use the correct spelling in our writing.
‘ai’ and ‘ay’ vowel teams – These letters work together to make the long ‘a’ sound. We’ve learnt that ‘ai’ is usually found in the middle of words (like “rain”) and ‘ay’ is often at the end (like “play”).
Two-syllable words – We’ve been learning how to break longer words into syllables to help us read and spell them more easily (for example, “picnic” becomes “pic-nic”).
Tricky words – These are common words that don’t follow the usual spelling rules, such as “said” and “was”. We practise reading and spelling these every day to build our confidence.

The students have been working really hard and are making great progress with their literacy skills.

Investigation Time – Maths in Real Life

During Investigation time, we’ve been using our Maths skills in real-life situations. The students have taken part in fun activities like pretend shops, where they’ve added up prices and counted change. We’ve also played a variety of maths games that help us practise addition while building teamwork and problem-solving skills. These activities make learning maths fun and meaningful.

SWPBS – Understanding and Regulating Emotions

In SWPBS (School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support), we’ve been learning about emotions – what they are, how they feel, and how we can manage them. We’ve explored feelings like happy, sad, angry and excited, and talked about how we can respond to these feelings in positive ways. We’ve also learnt strategies like deep breathing, taking a break, or talking to someone we trust. These lessons help us build a kind, respectful and caring classroom environment.

Physical Education – Jets Gym

This term we’ve been lucky enough to attend sessions at Jets Gymnastics! The students have loved practising a range of gymnastics skills, including balancing, jumping, rolling, climbing and swinging. These sessions help us build strength, coordination and confidence, all while having fun and being active. The students have shown great enthusiasm and bravery when trying new challenges at the gym.

It’s been a great start to the term, and we’re excited to keep learning and growing together in Class 1/2J. Thank you for your continued support at home – it really helps your child’s learning.

Warm regards,

Mr. Jack

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