What's Happening In Prep

Prep / Foundation 

Our Preps have had a great start to school life

and have been very busy and productive learners.

Mathematics

So far for mathematics this year, the students have been learning lots about manipulating the numbers 1 to 10. We have been practising counting collections, exploring the number sequence and ordering of numbers to 10, stating the numbers before and after a given number. We have been learning to identify and represent numbers and to match numerals to representations of objects, making sure that we count each object only once.

We have used a range of concrete materials, such as dice, 10s frames, digit cards, dot cards and coloured teddies. We have been sorting objects, investigating things that are similar and different using colour and size.

We have also introduced vocabulary to describe our location. Students have been involved in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities that have allowed them to use language such as next to, between, in front, behind, in, under, up, down, forwards and backwards. Practising the Days of the Week and simple calendar work has and will be an ongoing focus.

English

During our English block, students have been introduced to some letters of the alphabet to build on their alphabet knowledge. We practise identifying the letter symbol, naming the letter with its corresponding sound as well as letter formation for handwriting. Students are still developing their pencil grip and have been encouraged to become confident writers. An essential learning point is for students to be able to identify and write their name. The preps have also explored descriptive writing by using colours, numbers, and sizes. Before writing students are repeatedly verbalising their sentences so that they can transfer their sentences onto paper. Students have also been making predictions before-reading and connections after-reading as they engage to become positive and independent ‘good readers.’

Future Focused Learning

As we settle into a new year of school and the Preps adjust to their new routine, as teachers and staff members at Mackellar we drive to provide a positive, safe, and supportive learning environment for all our students through the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support framework (SWPBS). As new members to our school the preps have been learning a lot about Mackellar’s school values: Learning, Respect, Resilience and Teamwork. Students have been modelled correct and incorrect behaviours in various settings of the school and have been encouraged to continuously demonstrate the school values with Buzz awards.