Year 2 Teaching Team
Teaching Team
This year, there are five Year Two classes, working across two main learning spaces in the Comm. and the Old Building. The teaching team consists of Georgie (M-W), Tom (Th-F), Kim, Gladys, Kaajal, and Jen. We look forward to meeting you all in the coming days and weeks so please say hello and introduce yourselves if you see us.
If you would like to make a time to chat to a teacher at any time, the best way to contact them is through Compass where you can arrange a mutually convenient time.
Term 1 Curriculum Overview
Literacy
In the initial weeks of the term, students will be learning positive Reading routines such as identifying a good reading spot and selecting a variety of ‘Just Right’ books. Students will become familiar with how Reading workshops are structured. The aim is for students to enjoy reading their Just Right Books, think about what they are reading and share their thoughts with others. This will include making connections to self, other texts and the world. Concurrently students will work on using text clues and prior knowledge to make predictions. They will also be supported to develop their decoding strategies for unfamiliar words and apply these across a range of text types.
In Writing, students will focus on setting a positive environment, developing routines and expectations for Writing Workshops. Students will be exposed to a range of genres including narratives, letters and information reports. Students will work on creating descriptive pieces that engage the reader while applying organisation and structure to their pieces. Students will be guided through the writing process of taking an idea and learning how to transform this into a piece of writing ready for publishing. Through these lessons students will become confident and capable writers in many different genres.
In Word Study, the focus this term will be on letter sound relationships progressing to spelling patterns. Students will be expected to practise these skills at home beginning midterm. Beginning this year, students will be using the ‘Nessy Reading and Spelling’ app at school.
Beginning this year, students will be using the ‘Nessy Reading and Spelling’ app in school. This will be paid for and used on school iPads so there will be no need for you to pay for personal devices at home.
Maths
As with literacy, the initial aim in Mathematics lessons is to remind students of the expectations and routines of Maths sessions. From week three, the students will be revisiting the core mathematical principles of place value and counting. They will then apply this understanding to addition and subtraction, with a particular emphasis on efficient mental strategies. We will then complete the term with a unit on shape where students will be investigating 2D and 3D objects.
Throughout these units students will be finding and using maths materials/tools to help solve problems. Students are encouraged to show their thinking through a range of concrete (e.g. counters, unifix) and visual (e.g. number charts) representations. By using a variety of open ended problems students will build on their stamina to produce multiple possible answers.
Wellbeing
The focus of the initial weeks in Wellbeing time is to set the behaviour expectations for the year. Students will explore a range of strategies through the wellbeing lessons to support them to make positive choices inside and outside the classroom and monitor their own emotions. As part of our ongoing positive behaviour focus across the school, students will also be looking at the school values and what these mean for them. We will build on their learning from Prep/Year One to continue the Respectful Relationships program with the focus this term on coping strategies and problem solving.
Other Learning Areas
In other OLA sessions, students will look at the Digital Technologies curriculum as a reminder of the responsible use of technology. They will learn to safely operate and care for technology (storing, charging and using the school iPads) and learn to troubleshoot basic iPad problems. They will also become familiar with a handful of programs and apps that they will utilise regularly throughout the school year.
Learning at home
If you would like to support your child’s learning at home, here are some things you can do:
–Encourage reading every night – including short periods of read aloud. We cannot stress how important reading is. A student who reads less than a minute per day outside of school reads only 8,000 to 21,000 words per year. However, a student who reads 20 minutes per day outside of school reads almost 2 million words per year! Please encourage your child to fill in their Reading Log.
-High Frequency Word Practise. Your child will be sent home with a list of HFW they need to learn (from week four onwards). We encourage students to practise spelling these words at home using the Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check strategy.
-Use real life opportunities such as shopping and cooking to discuss money, addition and other mathematical concepts.
-Write at home – it can be about anything. The more short pieces your child can write, the better writer they will become.
-Encourage random acts of kindness. This could be anything from using manners, to writing a card to a grandparent.
-Ensuring that your child is getting an appropriate amount of sleep each night. It is recommended that children between ages 6-11 get at least 10 hours of sleep each night. To ensure that they are alert, engaged and ready to learn each morning.