What a fantastic Term 2 it’s been in 1/2M! The classroom has been buzzing with excitement, creativity, and curious minds ready to explore and learn. From discovering how families have changed over time to becoming experts at building number sentences, students have been working hard and having lots of fun along the way!

This term in literacy, students have been diving into the mentor texts Gary and Feathers for Phoebe. These characters helped students ask clever questions like "who, what, where, when and how?" and compare different parts of the stories. They have also been learning new words such as avoid, parading, crest, and determined, and using adjectives to describe different nouns.

Students writing skills and stamina have grown stronger. They have been practising writing for longer periods, responding to picture prompts, and stretching their ideas using powerful vocabulary and synonyms. Students have also been making text connections, for example, when Gary travelled in the story, they related it to their own experiences and wrote about their own adventures. They have also been focusing on recount writing, and using time connective language like first, next and finally in their writing to sequence a series of events in chronological order. Students produced amazing recounts about a teddy bear called Ted that was lost in the library!

In Maths, students have explored different ways to partition numbers to 10 and 20 using ten-frames, counters, and mental strategies. They have learnt to double numbers, use ‘near doubles’, and apply clever techniques to solve tricky addition problems. Students have also practised using the + and = symbols and worked on creating equivalent number sentences.

In Inquiry, this term’s big question focused on the past and present. Students explored what life was like for families long ago. They learnt about traditional chores, changing family sizes, and even made butter by hand - which was hard work but lots of fun! They also developed and asked their own historical questions to deepen their understanding and took part in rich discussions about how family roles have changed over time. During National Reconciliation Week, students explored the meaning of reconciliation and why it’s important to listen to, understand, and respect one another’s stories.

Kindness and friendship were key themes throughout Term 2 in Respectful Relationships. Students practised including others, listening carefully, and using their personal strengths to support one another. They focused on building strong listening skills and understanding how these are essential for learning and teamwork. It has been wonderful to see students recognise and celebrate their own strengths within the classroom.

- Miss McLaren