Mentone Park Junior School: Junior School Newsletter: Term 2, Weeks 7 and 8

Junior School Newsletter: Term 2, Weeks 7 and 8

CONNECT WITH THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Learning and Teaching

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Over the past fortnight in the Junior school we have been writing information reports with an emphasis on the difference between fiction and non-fiction texts. Students have enjoyed investigating and recording their facts about animals and sharing their findings with their peers.

Potatoes have been the topic of interest in Maths. We have been measuring, comparing and ordering this odd shaped vegetable and students have problem solved many questions which have arisen from their investigations. We look forward to exploring weight and mass with the potatoes next week.

In Wellbeing this week we have been focusing on 'using kind words when interacting with others'. Positive interactions with our peers goes a long way when working as a collaborative group across the Junior School. Students have embraced the important lesson of supporting and encouraging others with the things we do and say.

The Junior School Team wish you all a happy and safe long weekend with your families

IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL WE ARE LEARNING TO: (WALT)...

Writing:

Week 7 & 8:

Foundation:

Foundation students continue to consolidate their knowledge of:

all upper and lower case letters and the most common sound that each letter represents
punctuation including appropriate use of capital letters for names and the start of a sentence and full stops
writing short texts to explore, record and report ideas and events using familiar words and beginning writing knowledge
students have continued to be exposed to a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts

Grade 1 and Grade 2:

create Information Reports about animals using correct structure, grammar, word choice, spelling, punctuation and appropriate information
understand the difference between fiction and non-fiction texts

Spelling:

Week : 7

Foundation: 'm' as in mat, 'ay' as in play

Grade 1: 'ee' as in tree,

Grade 2: 'oo' as in book

Week 8:

Foundation: 's' as in sun / 'sh' as in shirt

Grade 1: ''or as in fork

Grade 2: 'ai' as in swan

Reading:

Week 7 & 8:

Foundation:
Foundation students continue to consolidate their knowledge of:

using comprehension strategies to decode, understand and discuss books
all upper and lower case letters and the most common sound that each letter represents
blending sounds associated with letters when reading consonant-vowel-consonant words and recognising digraphs and trigraphs
how to synthesize and use this strategy to help us understand and discuss texts

Grade 1:

read texts with familiar features and structures using strategies such as prediction, monitoring meaning and rereading
use Synthesizing strategies to build literal and inferred meaning
describe some differences between imaginative, informative and persuasive texts

Grade 2:

discuss different texts on a similar topic, identifying similarities and differences between the texts
read increasingly complex texts with familiar features and structures using strategies such as prediction, monitoring meaning and rereading
use Synthesizing strategies to build literal and inferred meaning

Maths:

Week 7 & 8:

Foundation:

Whilst Foundation students continue to practise doubles and 'Friends of 10' and develop their subitising skills, they are also consolidating their knowledge of:

Week 7:

understand what addition is
develop strategies to successfully solve addition problems

Week 8:

use direct and indirect comparisons to decide which is longer, shorter and equal and explain reasoning in everyday language

Grade 1:

Week 7:

represent and solve simple addition problems using a range of strategies

Week 8:

measure and compare the lengths of objects using uniform informal units

Grade 2:

Week 7:

solve addition problems using a range of efficient mental and written strategies.

Week 8:

compare and order several shapes and objects based on length,using appropriate uniform informal units

INQUIRY - CHEMICAL SCIENCE:

Week 7:

understand how a push or pull affects how an object moves or changes shape

Week 8:

make observations about objects that sink or float in water and record their findings

UNIT OF STUDY - WELLBEING:

Week 7:

have reasons for the things you say and do.

Week 8:

use kind words when interacting with others

ICT:

Foundation: start and log onto iPads with increasing independence

Grade 1: use the browser to access Mathletics and Reading Eggs

Grade 2: experiment with font, size and colour and further develop skills required to publish work

GOLDEN RULE:

The students have been learning about the 'Golden Rule'. This is 'Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated'.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Working With Children Check

All parents/guardians, visitors & volunteers to the school MUST sign in & out of the school and display their WWCC in a lanyard, which is available at the school office. The Department of Education requires any person involved in an activity where children may be present to have a current WWCC or have supplied proof that they have applied for a WWCC with the Department of Justice. All schools are required to comply with the Working with Children Act 2005. Volunteers are expected to carry the WWCC card with them at all times when working or volunteering at the school or during school related activities. There is no fee for this check. Apply now by visiting: www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au

The Junior School encourage and appreciate parent helpers. Please see your child's teacher if you are able to assist.

URGENT: ART SMOCKS

MRS UNWIN REQUESTS THAT IF YOUR CHILD DOES NOT ALREADY HAVE AN ART SMOCK PLEASE SEND ONE TO SCHOOL SO THEY ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE SAFELY IN ALL ART ACTIVITIES.
MANY THANKS.

IMPORTANT DATES

12th June - Queen's Birthday Holiday

23rd June - Excursion to Science Works

30th June - Last Day of Term

PHOTOGRAPHS
We have been learning, discovering & experimenting with our friends in Maths, Inquiry, Literacy & Discovery Time.