Foundation
Welcome to Term 4
We are looking forward to another term of learning together.
Please read on to find out what we are learning all about.
Reading
This term we will be focusing on comprehension, questioning and understanding what we are reading on a deeper level. Students will co create their own reading goals and work towards achieving success with these. Students will be encouraged to use reading strategies previously taught to decode unfamiliar words, predict, summarise, read fluently and question new and unfamiliar vocabulary. Teachers will be exposing our students to a range of non fiction texts about the farm and encouraging students to think about the connections they make when comparing different texts. We will also revise punctuation and learn to read while paying attention to punctuation. We will continue to focus on the Jolly Phonic digraphs that are spelt in different ways for example or, au and oor.
Weekly focus:
Week 1: Text to self and text to text - making connections when reading / diagraphs
Week 2: Text to text and text to world - making connections when reading / magic e words
Week 3: Creating images when reading - ay, ai / ow, ou words
Week 4: Creating images when reading - oo, ue and ew words
Week 5: Thinking about what we wonder when reading - o-e, ee and ea words
Week 6: Thinking about what we wonder when reading - ie, igh, i-e words
Week 7: Looking at conclusions when reading - trigraphs tch and dge in words
Week 8: Looking at conclusions when reading - trigraphs air and ear in words
Week 9: Vowel revision
Week 10: Vowel revision
Writing
We will begin to explore and write procedural texts. We will learn how to read, write and follow recipes and write steps on how to be a kind friend.
Towards the end of the term we will move to letter writing and write a special letter to Santa.
We will revise correct letter formation both upper and lower case letters and focus on writing letters neatly on the lines.
Weekly Focus:
Week 1 - 6: Recount writing
Week 7 - 9 : Letter writing
Week 10: Revision
Spelling and sight words will be tested in the coming weeks once we return to school and certificates given for the levels missed in remote learning. Please encourage students to read every night and practise their sight words.
Speaking and Listening
In Term 4 we we will encourage all students to focus on speaking to the class about an experience or object from home. We are learning about the difference between a statement and a question.
Our main focus areas in Term 4 include,
-eye contact when speaking to an audience
-clear speaking and projection of voice
-appropriate volume when speaking to an audience
- confidence
- answering questions and turn taking in conversations.
Students will have the opportunity to present a formal speech to the class all about their chosen farm animal. All students across the week will have an opportunity to speak to the class and listen to others and ask and answer questions during Show and Tell.
We will continue to encourage the 5L’s of speaking and listening.
Numeracy
This term we will be focusing on place value of numbers, division and equal sharing, addition and subtraction revision, location and simple maps and telling the time.
Students will be encouraged to explain their thinking to their peers and teachers. They will be asked to share how they reached a conclusion/answer and talk about the steps they took to help them with their understanding.
Students will work together to solve maths problems. They will be using lots of hands-on resources and some lessons will be outside and related to real-life experiences.
Weekly Focus:
Week 1: Place Value
Week 2 - 3: Division - equal sharing
Week 4 - 5: Money
Week 6: Location
Week 7: Addition revision
Week 8: Subtraction revision
Week 9: Time
Week 10: Revision and Christmas Maths
Inquiry
This term, our Inquiry focus is Science.
‘It’s Alive’ At the Farm.
Teachers will be asking students what they already know, what they want to know and at the end of unit assessing what they have learnt.
We encourage students to think about what they want to know by formulating their own questions and wonderings which may include...
How does it get from the paddock to the supermarket to the plate?
What do farms give us?
What animals live on the farm and what are their babies called?
What are the characteristics of farm animals?
How are farm animals different from other animals such as zoo animals?
What do farm animals give us?
The Inquiry unit finishes up at the end of the term with students researching their favourite farm animal and completing an information report, oral presentation, craft and model of their animal.
Learning about the farm and it’s role in our lives is a fun and engaging Inquiry unit.
Important Dates
Start of term: Monday 4th October
Tuesday 2nd November: Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
Wednesday 3rd November: Curriculum Day
Thursday 4th November: Multi Age Day: Colour your threads
Monday 6th December: Twilight Christmas Concert
7th - 10th December: Life Education Van (rescheduled for classes who missed out)
Wednesday 15th December: Class Parties
End of term:Friday 17th December 1:30 dismissal
HEPS Priorities and focuses in Term 4 after returning from remote learning include...
Priority 1 – Mental health and wellbeing
Our highest priority is the mental health, safety and wellbeing of every student and member of staff.
Priority 2 – Learning
Some students have been able to more quickly progress in their learning in the remote and flexible learning environment, others have maintained their rate of progress, and some have, despite their best efforts have found it difficult.
Priority 3 – Transitions
Term 4 is a critical period. Students in Foundation will also prepare for a change of teachers and new classmates.
A key focus of Term 4 will be to make every effort to ensure each of these end-of-year and beginning-of-year transitions occurs as successfully as possible.
We are looking forward to a fun and busy term ahead.
Please continue to email teachers using the heathmonteast.ps email address.