PRIMARY CLASSROOM NEWS

FOUNDATION

It has been a busy start to school for the Foundation students. There have been many tired faces at the end of the day. Staring school is just like starting a new job … everything is new. Please make sure that your child is getting plenty of rest at home to ensure they are ready for all the learning they are doing at school.

In History, the children have begun thinking about themselves. They have been reflecting on their own experiences and wondering how these might change in the future. It has been interesting hearing all about past birthdays and the exciting things the children have done. Many have wonderful memories, often of special cakes and playing with friends.

In Mathematics, children have been learning how to count, write and recognise the numbers to ten. This has involved using various materials such as playdough, cards, counters, songs and the abacus. While mastering these skills, it is encouraged that parents support their child’s learning at home.

Some suggested tasks may include:

• Counting forwards and backwards (1 – 10) using different objects around your home
• Writing numerals (1 – 10)
• Experimenting with different ways of representing numerals to 10, e.g. playdough.
• In Literacy, our focus has been on learning the names and sounds of the letters;
• Mm – Maisie, mountain, mountain.
• Aa – Around the apple, down the leaf.
• Ss – Slither down the snake.
• Dd – Around the dinosaur’s back, up his neck and down to his feet.
• Tt – Down the tower, across the tower.
• Ii – Down the insect’s body, dot for the head.
• Nn - Down Nobby, over his net.

The children have used these letters to build three syllable words such as ‘Sam’, ‘sad’, ‘sat’, ‘dad’, ‘mad’, ‘mat’ and ‘sit’. Practise making words with your children at home and highlight the beginning, middle and end sounds, rather than the names of the letters.

Week 6 is approaching meaning we will begin following our formal timetable. Your child’s timetable will be given to you by their classroom teacher. Please be aware of the days that your child will have PE and library to ensure they are equipped with the required uniform/materials for the day.

Homework will also begin in week 6. This will consist of a booklet about your family which will have a different activity for the children to complete each week. In addition to the booklet, your child will have access to activities on Reading Eggs and Mathletics. They have been set weekly tasks and their login details can be found in their yellow reading journals.

Foundation is a big year for learning and it will be exciting to see the children grow and change as the year progresses.

All the best for the rest of the term,