Prep Community News
Dear Prep Families,
Welcome back!
We’re thrilled to be back in the classroom! We hope you had a restful break.
We’re already two weeks in, and it’s been wonderful to see our prep students settling back into routines with such enthusiasm and energy. The learning happening in our classrooms has been fantastic, and we’re excited for all that’s to come as the term progresses!
The term is already off to a fantastic start, and we look forward to all the wonderful learning experiences ahead!
English:
Our InitiaLit program has continued to introduce new sounds and letters. We have recently introduced the letter ‘w’ and the digraph ‘ck’ saying /k/. You can help to support your child at home by asking them to share the sound that w and ck make. You can ask them, what sound does ‘worm’ start with and ‘duck’ end with. Here are the visual prompts for our new letters:
At home, if you wish to practise the sounds letters make with your child, click here.
We have continued to incorporate daily reading and writing activities into our lessons. We provide opportunities to practise reading CVC/CVCC words and building CVC/CVCC words using the sounds they have learnt. Please see a list of examples below:
win wet duck beg sack net pig nit top lock
We have continued to learn more tricky words. These are words that cannot be sounded out using the sounds we have learnt. Below are the tricky words we have recently introduced and words we are learning this week. You can help support your child’s learning by asking them what each word is and if they can say a sentence using that word.
them there
At home, if you wish to practise our tricky words with your child, click here.
We have also introduced the vowels /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/
Story book:
In the storybook, we make predictions based on the front cover, title, and pictures. Then, we reflect by discussing what happened in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
In week 1 & 2, we read the story ‘Bogtrotter’. The three words we focused on from the story were ‘gloomy’, hopeful’, and stared’.
In weeks 3 and 4, we will read the story ‘A Nice Walk in the Jungle”. The three words that we will focus on from ‘A Nice Walk in the Jungle” are ‘lumpy’, ‘enormous’ and ‘tender’.
You can continue to support your child’s vocabulary development by using these words in sentences at home. Some other activities may include playing charades with these words and finding them in picture books.
Writing:
In writing, we are focusing on beginning each sentence with a capital letter and ending it with a full stop. You can support your child’s learning by asking them: “What do we use at the beginning of a sentence?” and “What do we use at the end of a sentence?” You can also help by practising writing simple sentences together at home.
Maths:
In Maths, we have continued to explore measurement through both length and capacity. Students have used informal units to compare the capacity of different containers, determining which holds more/less. They have also been learning to divide a length into two equal parts to find halfway, and to describe points as less than halfway, more than halfway, or about halfway. To apply this understanding, students used strips of paper and cars to give their partners directions on where to place the car, using language such as halfway, less than halfway, and more than halfway.
Students have been learning to add 1 by getting the first number ready and then moving to the next number. They have also been practising how to add by counting on 2.
You can support your child at home by practising simple addition problems together. Ask them to start with a number and then “count on” 1 or 2 more using fingers, objects, or number lines. For example, “You have 5 apples. What is 1 more?” or “You have 3 blocks. What is 2 more?”
We continue practicing counting by 10’s using bundling sticks, our students will be able to practise counting by 10s, to find the total collection.
You can continue to support your child at home by counting toys or items around the house. This can include counting forwards and backwards.
Geography:
In Geography, students have been exploring the question “Where do people live?” by beginning with their own physical location and gradually we will be expanding their understanding from their neighborhoods to their city, and eventually to the continent they live on.
Our focus for the past week was to identify where people live. Students are developing their ability to identify their own place in the world and compare it with where others live, helping them build a broader understanding of the world around them.
You can support this learning at home by looking at maps together—on paper, online, or even on a GPS. Talk about the name of your street, suburb, city, and country, and explore where friends or family members live. A globe or world map can also be a great tool to show your child the bigger picture of where they are in the world.
Flying Bookworm Incursion.
The students really enjoyed the Flying Book Worm incursion at the end of last term. Below are some photos.
Reminders/Upcoming events:
Take Home Reading:
At Tarneit Rise, we encourage reading each night. Each child has an assigned day to change their reading books. Please bring their reading satchel on this day so classroom teachers can check reading journals and assist your child in getting new books.
100 Days of Prep:
In Week 3 we are celebrating 100 Days of Prep on Wednesday, 6th August.
Dress Code: 100 year old person or party clothes.
Prep Werribee Zoo Excursion:
In Week 5, the Preps will go on their first excursion to Werribee Zoo. This will be a fantastic opportunity for students to extend their learning about animals. Please ensure that payment and consent have been completed via Compass by Thursday, 14th August.
Book Week:
Book Week will be held in Week 5, and more information will be sent out soon.
Warmest Wishes,
PLC Prep