Prep

Reading 

This week in Prep, we are continuing to explore new sounds while strengthening our reading and writing skills. We are being introduced to the /v/ sound represented by the letter v, the /ks/ sound represented by the letter x, and the /y/ sound represented by the letter y. Students are practising how to link these sounds to their letters, identify them in words, and use them in their writing. They are also learning to blend sounds, recognise real words compared to made-up words, and write simple sentences using capital letters and full stops.

In reading, students are developing their ability to blend sounds together to read words, recognise and recall tricky words using visual prompts, and distinguish between real and made-up words. They are also practising reading CVC and CVCC words with confidence and working on reading and understanding short sentences. In writing, students are building their skills by identifying vowels, spelling sounds and digraphs, and using sound boxes to spell longer words. They are also practising how to sort and construct sentences and are beginning to write their own sentences, remembering to use capital letters and full stops.

Maths

In Mathematics, Prep students have been exploring measurement through hands-on activities with length, height, mass, and capacity. They have been learning to identify these attributes, directly compare two objects, and order or predict using real-life items. For length and height, students have been lining up objects to decide which is longer, shorter, taller, or smaller. For mass, they have been hefting items in their hands and using balance scales to find which is heavier or lighter. For capacity, students have been pouring between containers to compare and predict which will hold more. It has been great to see all students so engaged in this topic and enjoying using hands-on learning experiences to further their understanding of measurement. Well done Preps!

Writing 

This week, students have been learning how to form their letters correctly and use these skills to write complete sentences. They are practising drawing a picture to share their ideas, then turning these ideas into words and sentences. Along the way, students are working on using capital letters, finger spaces, and full stops, while also applying their sound knowledge to help with spelling. These activities are helping your child build confidence and independence as a writer. We are also focusing on forming letters with one continuous stroke, including letter patterns such as sh, qu, ee, z, and zz. With regular practice, students are becoming more accurate and fluent in their handwriting. Most importantly, they are learning to express their own thoughts clearly in writing, which is an exciting step in their literacy journey.

SEL and other 

In Respectful Relationships, we explored the topic of Help Seeking. The children have been learning about the safe people in their lives who they can go to when they need support. We talked about situations that feel safe and unsafe, and how sometimes problems can be too big to solve on our own. The children practised asking for help from trusted adults and peers, which is such an important skill as they grow.

We also enjoyed learning about Father’s Day and why we celebrate it. The children loved sharing stories about the special male role models in their lives and reflecting on why those people are so important to them.

As part of our learning about Indigenous perspectives, the children listened to Dreamtime stories. They enjoyed talking about the animals and characters in these stories, and we discussed the important lessons that Dreamtime stories can teach us.

It has been so lovely to see the children’s confidence grow as they share their ideas and make connections with their own lives. We are very proud of all their efforts over the last two weeks!