FOUNDATION

Dear Parents,

Foundation students are beginning to settle into the new school routines. Students all need to have a school wide-brimmed hat as “No Hat, No Play” is enforced. Around 10 a.m. each morning, we have a fruit break and I ask that all students have at least one item of fruit for this time and that no chocolate or chips are in their lunches, in line with school policy. We have the school breaks and home times displayed in our classroom to help Foundation students learn the routine of the school day. Each day we look at our date chart and update it for the correct date and weather. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have P.E. classes and the students need to come in P.E. uniform with sneakers. From week two, we have been taking home readers and homework. Readers in the red pocket need to come to school and go home every day and be read as many nights as possible with reading logs filled in. Readers will be changed every Thursday. Homework is collected every Tuesday for the prior so week 4 homework is due Tuesday week 5 etc. Also included in the homework pocket is a whiteboard marker, alphabet and a traceable name practice page, for students to practise with at home.

What we are learning:

English: Each week we are learning a new letter, capital and small, in the correct font we practise reading and writing the letter, focusing also on using the correct pen grip and the sounds for that letter and to begin to think of words that can begin with that letter. As well as, introducing golden words, the first 12 words of the magic 100 most used English words. We do lots of reading both as a whole class and small groups. Three days a week, the year 6 students come in and read with us.

Maths: We are focusing on writing the numerals 1 to 9 and doing lots of practice counting and manipulating up to 10 objects. Putting counting cards in order and beginning to match counting cards or groups of objects to written numerals. We are also using dice to practise knowing numbers by sight and using abacuses to practise counting as high as we can.

Integrated Studies: For History, Foundation is looking at our personal and family history, important events such as birthdays and discussing differences and similarities of families is covered in this terms’ homework. In Health, we have been talking about body parts and playing games such as ‘Simon Says’ and looking at the ways we are similar or different to others. In Art, we are exploring the primary colours red, yellow and blue and all the colours we can make from them and trying out different mediums using those colours.

As a class, we are working on getting used to school routines, making good choices about our behaviour and using manners as well as being respectful of teachers, classmates and others’ belongings. Each week, we will be doing activities to improve our fine motor skills such as cutting, threading and colouring as this will also improve our writing.

Regards,