Discovery Centre

Curriculum 

Another busy week in Foundation! We have been very impressed to see lots of students beginning to master some of their Golden Words after practising each night. We hope everyone had a relaxing long weekend and look forward to getting back into routine this week!

 Last week in Writing, students began using describing words to add detail to their sentences. We described the colour, shape, size and emotions of characters and toys. Students are working on copying and creating sentences that use capital letters, full stops and ‘finger spaces’ between words. As we learn more of our codes, students are noticing the sounds they can hear in words when they are writing. You might like to chat about describing words at home too! 

During our Literacy Rotations, students continue to develop their independent working stamina across a range of activities. Guided Reading sessions will continue to target specific goals for students that they can practise with the teacher. This week, we will continue to develop our reading comprehension skills as we start to discuss the ‘beginning, middle and end’ of stories. 

Throughout Mathematics sessions, we have been looking at graphs! Students created a range of graphs across the week - including the highly popular Smarties Graph. We spoke about each category and looked at the ‘most’ and ‘least’ in each graph. Students also practised surveying their classmates and answering questions to create their own graphs. Some of our new key words are: tally marks, survey and graphs. We discussed how graphs are important because they help us to count things more easily. This week we will revisit place value as we make, name and record a range of different numbers. 

As we continue to move through our Respectful Relationships Wellbeing program, discussions of our Zones of Regulation will continue this week. Last week we also began to look at our Character Strengths, with a focus on perseverance. We will continue to discuss and use perseverance as we work hard to try new things and achieve our goals. We will continue our regular circle times discussing a range of topics, often in response to the social and emotional needs of our students.

Have a wonderful week,

Jessica Tossell, Brooke Henwood and Ella Gasowski

Student Voice

What do you like about learning codes?

• Sunny G - "When we make words with them."
• Iman H - "Doing the sounds with codes."
• Paige C - "I like doing the handwriting."
• Min-Yi Y - "When we get a new code to sound out because it's fun."
• Ethan L - "Making the poster!"

Reminders

• Orange folders go home each night and need to be returned each day with the students take-home reader and take-home reading journal. Check Daily. 
• Please pack a named library bag and remember to bring books back on Wednesdays!
• Our Foundation Seesaw Portfolios are well and truly underway and QR access codes will be shared at the end of Term 1 to view these tasks at home.

Pupil of the Week

FH: William L -

For demonstrating your love of learning in writing this week to form sentences. You challenged yourself to include 'and' our Golden Word of the week in your sentence. Fantastic work William!

FG: Sunny G -

For showing perseverance to listen for codes when writing new words. It is great to see you working hard and building confidence! Keep it up, Sunny!

FJ: Bella D -

For demonstrating responsibility in the classroom when tidying up. You helped your friends tidy materials from their activities. Great work Bella!