Curriculum News Year 2

Term 2, 2023

Term 2

Welcome to Term 2! The children have settled back into their learning environments, and we are all looking forward to a fun, busy term. As a part of our Unit of Inquiry this term the students will be exploring their family’s history, how it has changed over time and special family celebrations that they have. We will also look at other celebrations and different cultures from around the world.

Literacy

We are looking forward to an exciting term in Literacy as we continue to develop the student’s skills in Reading and Writing. We will be focusing on ‘The Daily 5’ of Read to self, Read to someone, Listen to reading, Work on Writing and Word Work. 

 

We will also continue to focus on the Literacy CAFÉ System which focuses on the four key components of successful reading. Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency and Expand Vocabulary.

Grammar and Punctuation

We will continue to focus on capital letters, full stops and adding commas to items in a list. We will be looking at questions marks, exclamation marks and learning about nouns, adjectives and verbs. Finally, we will explore synonyms and antonyms. 

Writing

During our Writing sessions, we will be focusing on the 6 Traits of Writing including Organisation, Sentence Fluency, Conventions, Voice and Ideas. 

 

The students will be learning how to organise their writing with a Bold Beginning a Mighty Middle and an Excellent Ending. They will learn how to add detail to their sentences using the 5Ws (Who?, What?, Where?, When? and Why?), correct grammar and punctuation use, how to gather ideas for writing and how to use their own voice in their writing. 

 

The students will be given many opportunities to write and use their ‘Writer's notebook’ to store their ideas, pictures and experiment with their writing. 

Spelling

We are continuing with our SMART spelling approach. SMART Spelling is based around whole words with an emphasis on meaning and vocabulary development. Students must be able to read their spelling words, understand what they mean and how to use them. 

Reading

During our reading sessions and Literacy groups we will we be explicitly teaching the students comprehension strategies for successful reading, how to read more fluently using expression, how to gain ‘Literal and Inferential’ meaning from the text and how to choose the perfect book when reading. 

Speaking and Listening

Throughout Term 2 students will be encouraged to actively participate and contribute to class discussions, listen to their peer's presenting information, read orally to the teacher and each other, listen to the teacher read and learn how to be a good audience member. 

 

Numeracy

We are looking forward to an exciting term in Numeracy as we continue to develop the student’s skills in Number knowledge. We will be focusing with the ‘The Math Daily 3’ of Math by myself, Math with someone and Math writing. 

 

We will also continue to focus on using concrete materials to reinforce learning and clarify the students understanding of concepts through practical real-life experiences and activities. 

Focus Groups

This term we have started focus groups on a weekly basis. The children complete a pre-test on a topic/concept which we will be covering in class, on a platform called Essential assessment. We then are able to look at their misunderstandings/misconceptions and work with a small group of children to practice and reinforce the skills needed. The groupings are fluid and we are aiming at seeing all of the children at various times throughout the term.

Number Fluency

Prior to commencing our Maths lessons, the students have continued to practise their maths fluency and number facts by engaging in a variety of activities where they are required to share their reasoning and strategies.

Number and Algebra

Throughout the term the students will be working on their addition and subtraction skills and understanding the link between the two concepts. We will introduce strategies such as counting on, counting back, the jump and split strategy and using number lines and hundreds boards. 

 

We will also look at vertical addition and subtraction with and without regrouping. The children have counted and ordered small collections of Australian coins and notes according to their value and worked out change from given amounts.

 

During our numeracy sessions the students will be explicitly taught how to manipulate and utilise a range of concrete materials such as Unifix blocks, counters, MAB, hundreds charts and number lines to further support their problem-solving skills.

 

The students will be exposed to a range of mathematical concepts through picture story books to support them in rich learning experiences that promote the student's ability to identify, simplify, organise, express and extend their thinking.

Measurement and Geometry

The students have continued with learning about reading and writing the time to quarter to and quarter past on both an analogue and digital clock. We have investigated the effect of a flip, slide or turn on different shapes and how they may have changed or stayed the same.

Statistics and Probability

Throughout the term the students will be exposed to the notion of interpreting and analysing data. They will be explicitly taught how to describe the probability of events through the concept of chance by conducting their own research experiments, learn how to read and interpret data and create and display their findings through graphing.

Units of Inquiry

WHO WE ARE

A balanced lifestyle is influenced by the choices people make

 Lines of inquiry:

  • What it means to have a healthy and balanced lifestyle
  • Spiritual, social and physical health (mind body spirit)
  • Making healthy food choices

WHERE WE ARE IN PLACE AND TIME

The past influences our present and future

 Lines of inquiry:

  • Family Histories
  • The reasons people migrate
  • Celebrations they bring with them
  • The significance of these celebrations today

Cyber Safety

Being an eSmart school means that our students are provided with the skills and knowledge they require for the smart, safe and responsible use of technology. 

 

This term in Year 2 we will be thinking about the concept of RESPONSIBILITY which will allow students to:

  • Tune into emotions to help us stay safe and well online and S.T.A.R.T to take control.
  • Recognise the difference between our personal information and public information.
  • Explore the different spaces we go online and identify who might be able to see us.
  • Develop awareness for the need to set long and strong passwords for digital accounts.
  • Understand the similarities and differences between offline and online games.
  • Make appropriate behaviour choices when faced with various digital ethical dilemmas.
  • Recognise how the words we choose can affect how others perceive us and how it makes them feel.
  • Understand that what we share online may be made visible to anyone and can be permanent.

Whole-school Focus on PYP Learner Profile

May: Reflective

June: Communicator

Special Events

Week 4- National Families Week- no homework

Week 4 and 5 – Year 2 swimming

Week 5- Tuesday 23 May “Dance Around the World” incursion

Week 8- Parent Teacher Interviews

 

Whole-school Focus on PYP Learner Profile

February: Caring

March: Risk-taker