Year 1/2

Term 1 

Welcome to the 2020 school year! We are so excited to be back and are ready for a fantastic year of learning in 1/2. We have brand new furniture and new technology to help us learn. Come and take a look, if you haven’t already! This year our school theme is BELONG.  

Classroom support

Starting from next week we will begin Reading Groups. If you would like to come and help in the classroom, it would be very much appreciated. You will be required to complete the “Parent Helpers Course” (please speak with Ange Crowe) and have a current Working With Childrens Check. 

Can we please ask if your child has not brought their art smock to school, can they do so. 

Here is our specialist timetable:

Tuesdays – STEM (Science Technology, Engineering Mathematics) with Mrs Ryan, Digital Technologies with Miss Kearns and Physical Education with Carmel

Wednesday – Library

Thursday – Performing Arts, Italian, Art (CB)

Friday – Art (EP).

Home Learning

Reading Eggs - We recommend 15 minutes at least three times a week. 

Mathletics - We recommend Mathletics practice at home at least two times a week to help consolidate maths learning in the classroom. Tasks will be assigned on weeks where new topics have been introduced.   

Daily reading and recording in reading records

Literacy

Our reading focus this term will be on Fluency and using a range of comprehension strategies. Students will engage in reading groups which support these skills as well as oral language activities. 

In writing we will begin by revising the 6+1 Traits of writing, learning how to make our writing more interesting to the reader through our ideas, sentence fluency, word choice, conventions, organisation, voice and presentation. Following this, in support of our Health unit, we will be learning Procedural writing including how to write a recipe. We will be discussing the purpose of writing and intended audience. There will also be a continual focus on letter formation and the use of dotted thirds.

Religious Education

Our focus in RE this term will be on Prayer. Students will learn the four types of prayers (Petition, Sorrow, Praise and Thanksgiving). They will be learning the structure and purpose of each type of prayer and constructing some of their own into a Prayer Book. 

In the Lenten season and lead up to Easter, we will also be exploring the following:

Lent is a time for change when people grow to become more like Jesus.

During Lent and Holy Week symbols are used.

During Lent and Holy Week Jesus’ journey to the cross is remembered.

Social and Emotional Learning

In Social and Emotional Learning our focus in Term 1 is Self Awareness. Students will be exploring emotions in themselves and others, how these emotions may look in different people and how to bounce back from difficult situations. Circle Time will be held regularly and there will be opportunities where the students can express themselves verbally through discussions, role plays and games. 

Having a growth mindset is a continual focus as well as Respect for Self, Others and Property.

Inquiry – Health

In our Inquiry unit this term, students will be engaging in activities on healthy foods and good nutrition. Students will be learning about the different food groups and the importance of a balanced diet.

Mathematics

This term we will be exploring four core topics: Counting and Place Value, Pattern, Length & Area and 2D Shape. Through tuning in activities and small and whole class focus teaching groups the students will explore many key concepts in these topics. 

In Counting and Place Value, students will understand:

Numbers can be broken up in many ways eg. 154 is the same as 15 tens and 4 ones or 14 tens and 14 ones.

Our number system is based on grouping quantities in tens.

Numbers can be linked with symbols and visual representations.

The place of a digit determines its value. 

In Pattern, students will understand:

Patterns are an arrangement of elements eg. numbers, letters, shapes, objects and colours

There are two types of patterns 

Repeated patterns- have a core element that repeats without change.

Growing patterns- have elements that increase or decrease in a consistent manner.

students will understand:

The larger the unit, the smaller the measure

Objects can be measured using formal and informal units

In 2D Shape, students will understand:

Shapes have characteristics and are named because of their properties

Properties of two-dimensional shapes include the number of sides, corners and faces, as well as the length of sides.

Contact Details

Download the 'Skoolbag App'  to your phone from the App Store to receive communication updates.

 

Emma Pattison  epattison@sjmitcham.catholic.edu

Carmel Barro  cbarro@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au