ENGLISH
Phonics :
In phonics so far this year we have covered a few spelling rules.Blend: two consonant letters coming together to make one sound.
Digraph: two letters coming together to make a new sound.
R-Controlled Vowels (Bossy r): bossy r controls the vowel to make a new sound.
Split Digraph (Bossy e): Bossy e makes the vowel say its name.
We are now covering vowel digraphs. A vowel digraph is formed when two vowels are next to each other in a word. We are learning the saying "when two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking and says it's name" to help us identify the sound that the digraph makes.
Students are now discovering that there may be more than one way to make a sound. They are beginning to sort out which sound is used with each word.
Reading
Students reading abilities are continuing to improve. You may have noticed that their books are getting harder and are including more words. Our main focus now is on students being able to comprehend what they are reading. There is no point in reading a text if they are unable to understand or retell it.
We are encouraging sequential retelling of stories, including their introduction (setting and character), events, problem, solution and ending. We are also expecting them to apply their understanding of the book to more complex question types that require inferring skills. To infer means to have an educated guess using the known information.
Writing
This term we have a focus on narratives. So far we have only introduced the beginning of a narrative. We have been working on something called 'sizzling starts'. Attached is a link to a power point about creating sizzling starts. Please ensure all talk homework is being completed on the Wednesday night and is signed. Completion of this task ensures your child can make the most of their allocated writing time getting their ideas on the page, rather than thinking about what to do.
MATHEMATICS
Number
This term in Number we have a strong focus on place value. Each number to 100 has a specific value. This is represented by tens and ones. We are able to break numbers into parts using their tens and ones. For example, The number 24 has 2 tens and 4 extra ones. The 2 in 24 represents the 2 groups of 10 and the 4 represents the 4 remaining ones.Students have been looking at numbers individually and how they can be broken into their tens and ones. We are now looking at how place value can help us as a strategy to add and subtract larger numbers together.
Here are examples of the way we are teaching students to break and add or subtract larger numbers.Some students still require consolidation of the basic concept of breaking an individual number into their place value using blocks, straws, and MAB's. Others are able to complete these sums already.
Measurement
We will also be looking at capacity and area in Measurement this semester. Capacity is something that can be easily reinforced at home through cooking and water play when the weather improves.SCIENCE
Our topic for Science this Term is light and sound. We are investigating what each of these things are and how they work. So far we have learnt these words:
Light: Something that we see. It travels in waves.
Sound: Something that we hear. It travels in waves.
Luminous: An object that creates its own light.
Illuminated: An object that reflects light from another source.
Reflection: When light bounces back off an object.
Refraction: When light passes through an object it bends.
Last semester, many students recieved a 'C' grade in Science. A class goal for us this semester is to increase the number of 'B and A' grades in this learning area. To achieve this, students must not only beable to recite definitions and learnt knowlegde, but also apply this understanding to answer and respond to more complex questions, justifying their responses.
HISTORY
This semester we will be working through our History curriculum. For Year 1 students, History includes learning about their own families and comparing them to the past.
Special Events
Science Week
This week was Science week at Wattle Grove. Students have had the opportunity to participate in a range of activities including completing quizzes and designing aliens. They have all designed and made a paper aeroplane which will be used in a paper plane flying competittion on Monday. Mr Sanderson has also had some Science demonstrations in the undercover area during lunchtime for students to watch.
Book Week
Book Week will be celebrated in Week 6.Wattle Grove will be having a book parade for students on Friday 30th August. Students are asked to dress up representing a character from a poem or nursery rhyme. There will be a parade. Information about this will be distributed closer to the date.
Sport Carnival
The Sport Carnival will be held on Friday 6th September, weather permitting. More information will be provided closer to the time.
