Year 2

Year 2 Remote Learning 2.0

Six weeks of Remote Learning already complete. A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to all the Year 2 students and their families for doing an amazing job. We cannot believe how the students continue to manage Teams and interact with their teachers and classmates on a screen. Whoever thought this would be the way we would be learning in 2020. There has been many exciting things going on in Year 2 so far this term. Here is an overview of what we have been up to.

Literacy

Reading

It has been pleasing to see many of the students choosing to read books from Wushka our online reading platform. We have also enjoyed hearing about other texts students are choosing to read throughout the week. It is important that children are always reading for understanding and that they can answer both literal and inferential comprehension questions. This week on Compass, there was a useful parent handout, on the types of questions you can ask your children during and after their reading. 

Writing

The Year 2 students have been busy learning how to write information reports using clear bold subheadings, interesting information and pictures or diagrams. We have also been learning about the importance of the organisation of your work and how to set out everything neatly and clearly.  The teachers enjoyed seeing the information reports the students wrote about themselves. It was fun to read all about our students and learn some interesting facts. The year 2 students have also been learning how to add greater detail to their sentences by stretching them using the 5Ws of Who? What? When, Where? and Why? The students enjoyed stretching their sentences about their teachers and the teachers enjoyed reading them. 

Spelling

During Remote Learning the Year Two Students have continued to learn a new spelling focus each week. They are becoming experts at identifying graphs, digraphs and trigraphs and have been completing many fun activities to help them to learn their words. The year two teachers have been blown away at the many different ways they have been making their words each week. Some examples include using playdough, chalk, blocks, and flour etc. Keep up the great Spelling work Year 2!!

Mathematics

We have been very busy over the past few weeks in Maths. We have looked at how to use the jump strategy for subtraction by using number lines and the hundreds board. We learnt how to complete vertical subtraction where there was no regrouping.We have also been learning different ways to recognise and represent multiplication such as repeated addition, groups of and arrays. The children have used items from around the house such as egg cartons or muffin trays and toys to show different multiplication problems. 

We have also discovered different ways to show a given amount of money and worked out how much money selected items cost and gave the correct change. We have looked at the language used for length and capacity and compared items from around the house. The children have watched videos, completed worksheets and played games to reinforce their understanding of all the concepts covered.

Resilience Project

Year 2 has recently been focused on how we can respond to different challenges we might face. Such as not having someone to play with or giving a wrong answer in class. We brainstormed different ways to respond and then completed a cartoon where the characters would act out how they would respond. One suggestion to a wrong answer was, ‘Can I have another go?’

We have also been loving GEM TV with Martin from the Resilience Project and as Martin says, ‘We’re all legends!’

Mathletics

Recently in Mathletics we have been focused on multiplication. This has included using arrays and skip counting. It has supported everything that we have been concentrating on with our maths lessons. Students have done a terrific job on persistence, using a notepad and the ‘i’ button. There is a new release of Meritopia on Mathletics which will also encourage students to practice their maths and then explore this magical world.

Inquiry

Last week and this week for inquiry, the students have been focusing on the concept of “change”. The students have been observing the way a mealworm begins its journey, before being transformed into a Pupa and will watch the third stage this Friday. The students have been making predictions and viewing videos with Mrs Graham and Mr Bray which have allowed them to see minibeasts up close and under the microscope! As part of further developing the Year 2 students understanding of “change” they have been looking at the lifecycle of butterflies and bees.