Prep News
Our Learning & Celebrations
Literacy
Phonics Plus
Sounds we are learning
We are currently focusing on these letters and their sounds: k, e, r, u
Your child is learning to:
Say the sound each letter makes (rather than the letter name)
Blend sounds together to read simple words (e.g. red, kit, mug, ten)
Break words into sounds to help with spelling
Begin reading and writing simple three-letter words
High-frequency words: and, for, the, is, of, a, I, my, are, was
We are also working on:
Correct letter formation and early handwriting skills
Listening for sounds at the beginning, middle, and end of words
Building confidence and a love of reading and writing
Each morning the Prep children start the day with phonics learning in their classrooms. They are doing such a great job of writing letters, words and even simple sentences on their mini whiteboards. The children are learning to start sentences with a capital letter, end them with a full stop, and to leave spaces between words.
Maths
Counting the Days at School
Each morning in Prep, students are counting the days they have been at school by adding a dot to a class chart. They are loving taking turns to place a sticker on the chart, making this a very exciting part of the daily routine!
This simple activity provides valuable opportunities to build early maths skills, as students practise counting, recognising numbers, and tracking how numbers grow over time. Using tools such as tens frames, students are also beginning to see patterns, group numbers, and develop an understanding of place value.
Importantly, this also helps students connect maths to real life, as they relate numbers to their own experiences. Can you believe that the Preps have already been at school for 32 days!! The Prep teachers are so proud of the amazing progress and learning they have already displayed. When we reach 100 Days, we will have a special event to celebrate at school!
Unit of inquiry
Transdisciplinary Theme: Who We Are
Central Idea: Many people teach us how to be healthy and safe
Lines of Inquiry
The things we can do to keep ourselves healthy and safe
Personal, physical and social health
The many organisations and people that keep us healthy and safe
In Inquiry this term, Prep students are learning about how many different people help keep us healthy and safe.
Students are exploring the important roles of community helpers such as doctors, nurses, and dentists, who teach us how to look after our bodies and stay healthy. They are also learning about firefighters and police officers, who help keep people safe in the community.
At school, teachers support students to develop healthy and safe habits, such as washing hands, eating healthy foods, and playing safely with others.
Through discussions and activities, students are beginning to understand that many people work together to help keep everyone healthy and safe.
Some activities the students have completed so far include, unpacking our Central Idea, drawing a family portrait and using a Venn Diagram to consider people who keep us safe, people who keep us healthy and people who do both, such as our families.
What We Are Learning Next
Literacy
Phonics Plus
The next letters and sounds we will be focusing on are:
b, h, l