Monday, 4 February 2013

Reader's and Writer's Notebooks


In order to assist children to further develop their competency and enjoyment of reading we are encouraging a home routine of reading every night. Children will select from a wide range of text genres such as picture story books, fiction chapter books, non-fiction, articles etc. The routine may include; independent reading (your child reads on their own), shared reading (you and your child share the reading) and read aloud (you read to your child).

Each week your child will bring home, in their home reading folder, books borrowed from the junior library.  This is located in the central area of the red brick building. They will also bring home a library book borrowed from the school library, in a separate library bag, which we are asking you to please provide. This bag should be brought to school as soon as possible clearly marked with your child’s name.

The amount of books will vary depending on the complexity and length of the text. The home reading folder will also include a Reading Log and a Reader’s Note Book.

On the Reading Log please record ALL the books your child reads. This may include books borrowed from both the junior and school libraries, as well as books from home or your local library.

The Reader’s Note Book is a place for the children to reflect, respond creatively and record in some way their interaction with the text. The Reader’s Note Books will be looked at by teachers on a regular basis. They will also be used at school and are required to be returned each morning with your child.

More information and helpful hints about reading will be included on your child’s neighbourhood blog, which is currently being set up.

Any further queries please do not hesitate to approach your child’s neighbourhood teachers.

Sunday, 3 February 2013

Week two Maths: Place Value, Number Patters and a Birthday Graph

Hi everyone,

This week in Maths we are working through some workshops. Simone has been working with the children on place value and playing some collaborative games to understand the value of each numeral in a number. Janette is working on creating a large birthday graph of all the children's birthdays as a wall display. Rita worked on number patterns with the children in her workshop. The following are some websites with good Place Value games to consolidate their learning. Some of these may be explored in another workshop in class, but you may wish to play some at home too. Make sure you challenge yourself and move up to a harder level once you understand!

Woodlands Junior

Online Version of the Trash Can Game (we played this in class)

Slightly harder Place Value games

Place Value Pirates (includes tenths and hundredths)

Place Value to Thousands (using words and numbers)- Slightly Harder
http://www.toonuniversity.com/flash.asp?err=496&engine=5

Place Value Puzzler

Matching Explanded Notation with a numeral

BBC Place the Penguins


Regards, Simone

LEARNING ABOUT ABORIGINAL CULTURE

LEARNING ABOUT ABORIGINAL CULTURE:

  Last Friday we explored Aboriginal Culture during three workshops with Janette (provoking the children to think about culture and music), Simone (investigating Aboriginal Art) and Rita (discovering Dreamtime stories).

Throughout Simone's workshop she took photos of some students working collaboratively to explore some Aboriginal Paintings based on their own interpretations and from symbols we read about in a big book. Students also tried to figure out whether their painting was depicting Ancestors, the land and its connection to life, or humans and nature.

Hearing the children discuss these paintings and explain their interpretations was fascinating and they found some very subtle symbols in the paintings. Have a look at how we collaborated, explored, applied our new knowledge, shared, and reflected:
Until Next Time, Enjoy the rest of your week!
Simone

WE CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR YEAR TWO NEIGHBOURHOOD LEARNING CULTURE BY MAKING OUR LEARNING SPACE BEAUTIFUL

WE CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR YEAR TWO NEIGHBOURHOOD LEARNING CULTURE BY MAKING OUR LEARNING SPACE BEAUTIFUL!

Hi everyone, Last Friday (1st February) we spoke with the children about creating succulent tins together so that we can beautify our learning space to improve our learning culture.

I recently got married and I created beautiful succulent tins for my table settings (see below for a picture). You may have heard your child pottering about the garden at home seeking out succulents... we did tell them to ask you first :)

Succulents are wonderful sustainable plants because they are very hardy, they retain water, and they multiply easily. I grew all of mine from a few mother plants and then broke off some nodes to replant them. If you do have some succulent plants at home, we would love if you could spare a node or two so we can make our succulent tins without having to purchase any plants (= very Sustainable.)

Other things we are collecting include:
- washed tins (chickpea tins, tomato tins, tuna can tins to vary the shape/size),
- twine,
- Succulents

Thank you to those children who have already brought in tins and potted succulents! They look amazing and they are featured below.
 
Regards,
Simone

Welcome, 2013

Happy 2013 to all children and Families of the Year Two Neighbourhood!

Rita, Kevin, Janette and I (Simone) welcome you all to the neighbourhood and look forward to an exciting year full of learning, challenges, fun, laughter and friendship.

Last week we started to get to know the children by playing 'Around the World' where we passed around an inflated globe and the children told a story of a connection they have somewhere (anywhere) in the world. It was wonderful to hear of all the connections we have and how diverse the backgrounds are of all of our students.

Our INQUIRY this term is 'CULTURE'. We are sending home a little book with students one at a time and ask that you as a family come up with your definition of culture and how we can positively impact our year two neighbourhood culture. If you could please return these books the following morning with your child so that they may share their family's insights with others.

Please don't hesitate to become involved in our neighbourhood as we always value the interesting experiences that parents and family members can share with all of us. If I haven't yet met all of you, I look forward to doing so.

Warm Regards,
Simone.

Monday, 10 December 2012

Happy Wedding

The children and community of the year 2 neighbourhood wish Kailey and Ethan a very Happy Wedding Day on Saturday. Could all parents please remember to collect their children from their new neighbourhoods on Wednesday. Wednesday 9am is our final book talk session. All parents are welcome.

Monday, 3 December 2012

Sports Expo and RE Concert

The year 2 children will partake in the sports expo organised be Geoff on Tuesday 4/12/12. The children will enjoy Tuesday day with the specialists. The RE concert will take place this Friday for the children who are part of the RE program.

Thursday December 6 Celebration

The children are eager to share their achievements on Thursday at 2.30 in the gym. Could all parents and families please be seated by 2.30. Please leave your plate of food to share outside the kitchen in the gym. Following the presentation which includes congratulating Ethan, we will go to the neighbourhood to see the children's cards and decoupage. The coffee cart will be outside the year 2 neighbourhood. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday.

Whole school transition program for 2013

On Monday 10thDecember the whole school transition program will begin to enable the children to become familiar with change. On Monday and Tuesday the children will visit their 2013 neighbourhoods from 10 to 11am and they will have lunch in their new neighbourhoods. On Wednesday 13th December all children will go to their new neighbourhoods at 2.30 and will be dismissed or are to be picked up from the new neighbourhood at 3.30 by their parents or carers. The more children can participate in managing change, the more they can anticipate it with excitement.

Saturday, 3 November 2012