Prep Teaching Team

Prep A – Yolanda Andrews (M-W) and Mollie McMahon (Th-F)

Prep B– Julia Mercadante

Prep C– Paige Frazer 

Prep D– Emily Marlow (PLT Facilitator)

Prep E- Caroline Bett

Term 2 Curriculum

WORD STUDY

This term students will continue to develop their letter-sound knowledge by consolidating what they have already learned and introducing new sounds and words, including digraphs, blends, word to compound-word blending, and high frequency words.

READING

In Reading this term, Preps will continue to participate in the guided reading process and utilise the foundational skills required for independent reading e.g. segmenting and blending words.

This term, all students will be introduced to ‘Magic Words’. Magic words are the 100 most frequently used words in texts. It is important that students are able to recognise and read these words on sight and out of order. You may like to make flashcards to support your child in learning these at home. Once you feel your child can recognise them all on sight, out of order and quickly, please record them reading each word to post on Seesaw. Your child’s teacher will look at the video and then send you the next set of words when they feel the current set has been achieved. 

Students will also experience modelled reading, where the teacher reads aloud and demonstrates skilled reading behaviours, enjoyment and interest in a range of different styles of writing and texts. Children will also participate in the shared reading of a book, following along as the teacher reads and pointing at words to develop their understanding of letters, words and sentences. 

The comprehension strategies that students will focus on this term include visualising (creating pictures from a text) and making inferences using key information from a text.

Take-home readers will be sent home daily and we encourage you to enjoy this time with your child. These texts should be at your child’s independent reading level to ensure they grow in confidence and develop a love of reading. In reading sessions, students will be supported by their classroom teacher to read instructional texts. These texts will be more challenging and will allow your child to practise applying their decoding and comprehension skills. You are also welcome to read beyond the take-home readers. Please record any books read in the yellow home reading log for your child’s teacher to see.

WRITING

As Prep students are now well established in the routines of the Writer’s Workshop, this term focuses on unpacking a writing prompt or ‘seed’ and using this to inspire writing. When unpacking a seed, the teacher will guide discussion through questioning, providing opportunity for students to share their thinking.

Each Prep classroom has a writing seed box where items are gathered to inspire writing. Some of these will be placed in there by the teacher but students are encouraged to collect their own writing seeds to reflect on their own experiences.

Students will continue to develop their ability to become independent writers, when having a conference with the teacher once a week. Whole-class introductions will be short and tightly focused. Students will learn, through modelled tasks, how to draw with detail and begin to make writing attempts about their experiences.

Throughout the term, students will also participate in fine motor activities where they will gain confidence as they learn the mechanics of writing such as correct pencil grip, good writing posture and letter formation. 

SPEAKING AND LISTENING

To support our Speaking and Listening outcomes, this term we will be focusing on developing students’ skills in responding to texts, including identifying their favourite stories, authors and illustrators. They will share their feelings and thoughts about the events and characters in a variety of texts. Students will deliver short oral presentations to peers, using appropriate voice levels, articulation, body language, gestures and eye contact.

MATHS

This term there will be a focus on consolidating foundational number knowledge. To begin with, students will develop their sense of directionality by learning different positional terms and using these to give and follow directions.

Students will be counting forwards and backwards up to 10 initially and then eventually beyond 10. They will also use their understanding of numbers to be able to compare collections using the terms ‘more’, ‘less’ and ‘same as’. Students will be exposed to a variety of engaging learning activities that will require them to work with a partner and use their reasoning skills to justify their responses.

As they move through the term, students will explore 2D and 3D shapes in their environment, being able to recognise, name and describe the properties of the most common shapes.

All learning will be modelled by the teacher and then students will be given time to independently explore the topic. During independent learning times, concrete materials such as counters and blocks will be available to support learning. The activities planned will have multiple entry points and will be differentiated to ensure all students are supported and challenged with their learning.

OTHER LEARNING AREAS (History, Respectful Relationships)

This term, we will be continuing our focus on Respectful Relationships and beginning to focus on History. 

In Respectful Relationships, we will continue to work on social and emotional understanding and regulation to help promote positive and respectful behaviours both in and outside of the classroom. 

In History, our Prep students will begin to understand the difference between the past and the present and how changes over time have affected our daily lives. They will sequence significant events in their lives in order to explore their personal history.
Towards the end of the term we will have our Toys Over Time incursion. Please look on Compass for all the information about and how to pay for this incursion.

How to support a smooth transition into Prep:

• Encourage independence by asking your child to complete the school routines e.g. carry their own school bag.
• Promote a sense of responsibility by asking your child to do small jobs at home e.g. set the table for dinner or make their bed. 
• Involve your child in conversation e.g. asking questions about their day at school and looking at Seesaw together to promote discussion. 
• Encourage your child to share their feelings and wonderings about school.
• Encourage a love of reading. Read every day and talk to your child about the books you are reading.
• Visit your child’s classroom to see their learning environment.
• Pack lunch boxes together.
• Share positive stories about your school memories.
• Introduce yourself to other Prep families and organise catch-ups for the children to get to know each other.