News from JLC

There is such excitement in the JLC classroom as we welcome everybody back onsite.

We missed doing ‘Il Calendario’ (the daily calendar) together in class where we practice using Italian to say the date and describe the day's weather conditions.  Apart from doing the calendar, the students also use their Italian right through our school prayer and some classroom language throughout the day.  It shows the commitment of both teachers and students as co learners of Italian. 

There are many benefits of learning a foreign language, in particular it develops an understanding of how language works which leads to improved literacy skills, including English literacy. 

Our literacy block in the morning includes 15-20 minutes of silent reading. The students love to make themselves comfortable and read quietly on their own, to another student or to the teacher or learning support officer.

Through the time dedicated to silent reading we are aiming to build reading stamina.  Building reading stamina supports students to read for an extended time and trains muscle memory and supports increased attention. 

Silent reading enhances reading enjoyment as the students are able to choose books that are of interest to them. This also helps increase comprehension, builds vocabulary and improves their writing skills. This time also allows us to listen to students read and monitor their reading for fluency, expression and attention to punctuation.

Our Class Sport sessions are timetabled on Thursday afternoons. The students have really missed these sessions while we had been  learning remotely.  During Class Sport the activities usually involve individual and team sports.  Playing team sports are very important especially at a young age. 

Teamwork is a skill that they will go on to use their whole life: it allows them to have social interaction with others; it builds self esteem and confidence; it teaches them good sportsmanship - that losing is part of life and that they need to accept defeat with grace and dignity.  Sport and health are heavily connected. Running around during sport sessions helps to relieve daily stresses while making the bones and muscles strong and healthy. It also helps to reduce the chance of obesity and other illnesses as the children get older.

Kind regards

Miss Carly Wills and Signora Gina Michieli

JLC Classroom Teachers