Mount Pleasant Road Primary School & Kindergarten

Inquiry Centre

Curriculum

Footsteps pattering into the classrooms, smiles on faces and excited chattering was in the air as we welcomed our 1/2’s back to school!

We were so incredibly impressed with how well students performed during their Remote Independent Assessments as they showed us how much they’ve improved with their Reading and Maths. During our morning Google Meet check-ins, we spent time practising some English and Maths strategies and shared social stories leading up to the long-awaited return to school. We paid mindful attention to how we were feeling as we spent time on our Zones of Regulation and strategies we could use at home and at school. On the special day, we celebrated our return as we swung across the playground, down the slides and had a record-breaking number of students in the sandpit! We warmly welcomed back our pairs, small group and whole class discussions that we missed so dearly. 

Through the week, we practised our division skills and strategies through division games, worded problems, arrays and a carousel. We focused on using our division keywords including sharing, division, how many and equal. Some of our favourite strategies to help us in solving division problems include number lines with repeated subtraction, arrays, equal groups, toaster division (vertical division) and using materials like MAB blocks, icy pole bundles and counters. 

In Writing, we excitedly began planning and drafting our persuasive speeches for the MPRPS Public Speaking competition on the topic “If I could be any animal, I would be…” We explored sizzling starts as we acted like the animals and shared specific and interesting describing words. Students went face to face in a game as they gave a range of different and persuasive reasons why their animal was the best to be. We have each brought home our descriptive drafts as we will continue to work through the Writing Process by writing, editing, up-levelling and performing our speeches. 

In Reading, we changed our reading books and practised our questioning skills to build our understanding of the text. We asked questions using stems including ‘what will…’, ‘I wonder why…’, and ‘What does ___ mean?’ Through our days onsite, we met with each of our Guided Reading groups to practise the questioning skill and to explore their group reading goals. We were so engaged as we shared our understanding and practised our speaking skills together! 

Our Choice Board included a range of activities including a Wellbeing focus on the Inner Coach and Inner Critic, a Science activity on Levers, a Design a Robot for Guided Inquiry, a Superhero workout, photography art and a First Nations My Place drawing/hunt. These lessons were planned using our Term Overview and will continue to be explored in the classroom while onsite. On Thursday and Friday, we used our Speaking and Listening skills, teamwork and ‘love of learning’ as we explored building and constructing using different materials and working collaboratively during developmental play.

We would like to extend our appreciation for all the support both at home through Remote Learning and in bringing students to school happy and ready to learn!

 

Miss Glen, Mrs Gill, Miss Honan, Mr Jenkins, Mrs Seadon, Miss Tillotson and Miss Wang

 

Reminders 

  • Individual assessments will continue online Monday - Wednesday this week. Please ensure that you have booked an appointment with your classroom teacher.
  • Please check Sentral regularly for updates around school news and events
  • Monday to Wednesday - Remote Learning Check In at 9:30am and Independent Assessment
  • Thursday and Friday - Onsite in the classroom
  • Hats to be worn at recess and lunch times in Term 4
  • If students decide to wear face masks, please ensure they are labelled
  • Monday 1st November Curriculum Day (pupil free day)
  • Tuesday 2nd November Melbourne Cup Public Holiday (no school)

Student Voice

  • "I was excited on Thursday and Friday and I loved playing on the new playground and wobbly monkey bars." - Arav C
  • "I liked the inventions I made during Guided Inquiry and Developmental Play." - Arya
  • "I enjoyed the maths challenges and skip counting." - Olivia C
  • "I enjoyed the new playground and the flying fox." - Jordan C
  • "I enjoyed Literacy because I got to get new good fit books." - Sahib P

Pupil of the Week

1/2G: Amelie B - 

For demonstrating curiosity and love of learning when building on your multiplication strategies. It was great to see your persistence in practising a new skill and celebrating your achievements. Keep up the great work!

 

1/2H: Mitchell W - 

For demonstrating creativity and perseverance when writing your persuasive speech about being an animal. It was wonderful to see you include interesting WOW words and onomatopoeia to hook the audience in your introduction. Keep it up Mitchell!

 

1/2J: Ashley T - 

For demonstrating self regulation and a love of learning when returning to school! You showed your best listening skills and did your best to complete all of your classwork, including drafting a persuasive speech about why you would choose to be an elephant. Amazing, Ashley!

 

1/2ST: Kai-Ern Y - 

For demonstrating a love of learning during our reading assessment. You read beautifully with expression and engaged with the text to show your comprehension skills. Fantastic work Kai-Ern! 

 

1/2W: Nathan E - 

For demonstrating creativity and a love of learning when writing your public speaking draft. You included descriptive information, onomatopoeias and planned three very strong reasons why you would be a bird. Great job responding to feedback. Keep it up, Nathan! 

 

1/2Y: Sean W.O - 

For demonstrating a love of learning and teamwork when returning to school! You worked hard to complete all of our classroom activities and used fairness when collaborating with peers for group activities. Keep up the great work Sean!