Level 2 Newsletter - Week 10

CONNECT WITH YEAR 1/2

18th June 2015

Learning and Teaching

In year 1/2 We Are Learning To....

READING: 

Knowing How Words Work - 
This will support and strengthen our ideas of the story by understanding the structures of words and sentences. For example adjectives, nouns, verbs, blends, vowels and consonants. 

SPELLING: 
Spelling is covered in the homework program which supports our classroom learning. 
Grade 1 and 2: Revision 

WRITING: 
Description -
Using the senses to create a piece of writing describing an object, event, place or thing. 

MATHS: 
Multiplication
We are learning to recognise and represent multiplication as repeated addition, groups and arrays. 

INQUIRY: Our focus this term is science and our classroom learning will complement and extend our Scienceworks excursion and Scientist in Schools program.

Week 11: Celebrating our Science unit with a Science morning. 

Important Notices

Science Celebration Day! 

Monday June 22nd

Just a reminder that next Monday we are having our Science morning to celebrate our Inquiry Unit and the Science in Schools Program. This is an opportunity for you to see what your child has been learning this term. The day will commence with Assembly at 9am in the hall and then you are welcome to come back to the classrooms to view science in action. The morning will run from 9am until 10.40. We hope to see you there!

Kids Café - This Friday is the last day for kids Kids' Café this term. Please support our Kids Café by lending a hand, even for just a short time.

June 19th: 1/2U

Clean up: All welcome to help with cleaning on Thursday 25th June.  Closed on the last day of term, 26th June. Any help is truly appreciated.

• Helpers wanted for PMP - If you are free on Tuesdays we would love for you to come in and help out at PMP. With more helpers we are able to do more complex activities. If you are able to help at any stage please let your class teacher know, the more the merrier! 

PMP times

Tuesdays:
1/2U: 9am-9:30am

2R: 9:30am - 10am

2O: 10am - 10:30am

1O: 11:10am - 11:45am

1B: 12:15pm - 12:45pm

Reports
Next Monday reports will be sent home with your child. Then on Wednesday from 1.30 - 7pm we will be have Student Led Conferences where your child will work with their teacher to celebrate and share their work. If your interview time is before 3.30 please collect your child from the hall 10 minutes prior to your interview to share their work outside the classroom. 

We look forward to sharing your child's achievements with you.

Merit Certificates

Congratulations to:
Tina S
Yianni T
Thada J

 Making News

Mathematics

We have been exploring arrays in maths for the past 2 weeks. Here are some photos of our fantastic efforts.

 

Science 
Physical Changes
In Inquiry we have been exploring PHYSICAL CHANGES through making popcorn, melting ice, making toffee, melting chocolate and creating volcanoes. In each activity we have discovered and discussed solids, liquids and gases and how or why these changes occur. 

Friday 26th June is the end of Term 2. Thank you for your support with our PMP, Kids' Café, excursions, classroom activities and for also guiding and supporting your children with their homework and reading at home. We hope you have an enjoyable and safe holiday with your children and your family and we will see you on Monday July 13th.

Level 2 Week 8

CONNECT WITH YEAR 1/2

4th June 2015

Learning and Teaching

In year 1/2 We Are Learning To....

READING: Predicting and Inferring - 

This will support and strengthen our understanding of the story by thinking deeply about what things are happening, why things are happening and what will happen next whether it is written on the page or reading between the lines.

Knowing How Words Work - 
This will support and strengthen our ideas of the story by understanding the structures of words and sentences. For example adjectives, nouns, verbs, blends, vowels and consonants. 

SPELLING: 
Spelling is covered in the homework program which supports our classroom learning. 
Week 9 - 1's: cl and 2's: long u silent e
Week 10: 1's: sm 2's: ew, oo, long u sound 

WRITING: 
Publishing Information Reports - 
We will focus on what an Information Report is, why we use them, correct structure and finding relevant information. The children will write an information report on a chosen topic using what they have learnt.
Description - 
Using the senses to create a piece of writing describing an object, event, place or thing. 

MATHS: 
Multiplication
We are learning to recognise and represent multiplication as repeated addition, groups and arrays. 

INQUIRY: Our focus this term is science and our classroom learning will complement and extend our Scienceworks excursion and Science in Schools program.

Week 9 - Physical changes

Week 10 - Combining materials

Important Notices

Reading Comprehension and Decoding

We often have concerns from parents that their child is not reading Take Home Books that reflect their ability. Please be aware that reading levels are not solely determined by their ability to decode words and teacher judgement but also calculated by a precise formula that takes all areas of reading into consideration. This ensures that your child develops all the essential skills they need to be a successful reader.

Many students are able to read competently and while this is a beneficial skill it is only one part of the reading process. When reading or listening to texts it is essential students develop the skills to question and analyse the author’s viewpoint, position, or purpose.

In this age of readily accessible information it is imperative that students do not simply accept what is presented to them, and have the skills to analyse information, both literal and inferential. Students need to be aware that all texts are written from a perspective and that it is important to examine the texts (including words, diagrams, photos, graphs, and charts) for issues of bias, stereotyping, and social justice.

When sharing your child’s Take Home Book it would be valuable for you to discuss the text in depth to further develop their comprehension skills. Please understand that your child’s reading level is calculated not only by their fluency and decoding skills but also their ability to comprehend the meaning within the text. Students must be confident and competent with all reading strategies before they progress.

It is our aim to equip students with the skill to succeed in this ever changing world and reading and comprehension is a vital component to their future success.  

Kids Café - Below are the days for each class to volunteer in the Café. Please support our kids Café by lending a hand, even for just a short time. Any help is truly appreciated.

June 5th 2O

June 12th 2R

June 19th 1/2U

• Helpers wanted for PMP - If you are free on Tuesdays we would love for you to come in and help out at PMP. With more helpers we are able to do more complex activities. If you are able to help at any stage please let your class teacher know, the more the merrier! 

PMP times

Tuesdays:
1/2U: 9am-9:30am

2R: 9:30am - 10am

2O: 10am - 10:30am

1O: 11:10am - 11:45am

1B: 12:15pm - 12:45pm

• Homework - Just a friendly reminder that children are expected to complete their homework by Thursday. If there are any problems please come and see your child's teacher. 

Merit Certificates

Congratulations to:
Chloe D
Isabella E
Sonny S
Sebastian S
Sam G

 Making News

Jump Rope For Heart

We recently had our Jump Off Day to support Jump Rope for Heart. Across the whole school we got into groups and rotated through 6 activities of jumping, skipping and active games. There was lots of laughs and fun had by all. If you still have donations to make please bring back your form and money to your class teacher or the office.

Shadow Puppet Shows

Last week students had the opportunity to create shadow puppet plays to reinforce and support their learning on light and sound. We used the sun as our light source and used musical instruments to add sound to create the scene. 

Passionate Pursuits

The students are still loving their Friday afternoons spending time with friends and different teachers doing activities they are passionate about. Here are some pictures from the Card Sharks and Board Game group.

Mathematics
For the past few weeks the grade 1's and 2's have been exploring measurement. Here are a few comments and some photos from our exploration of length, capacity, measurement and perimeter.

We are measuring the area of the inside and we estimated how many it would be and then we checked with icy pole sticks. Cy and Nikola 

I learnt that the things have to be touching and there can't be any gaps when measuring. Keira

I like estimating and putting sticks end to end to measure. Tina 

Bully Prevention 
This term we will be running our Bully Prevention Program. During the next 2 weeks we will be focusing on a safe school environment and cyber bullying. We would appreciate it if you could discuss these with your children.