Year 2 Newsletter #1 Who we are August 23rd2011 Dear Parents& Carers, At the start of every unit of inquiry a newsletter

r will be posted on the class blog. In this update you will find an overview of the curriculum areas that we are focusing on during the weeks ahead. This information, in addition to correspondence and homereading set by homeroom teachers, will prove useful for having conversations with your child about their learning at school. UNIT OF INQUIRY We have commenced our first unit of inquiry from the transdisciplinary theme, Who We Are. This is a relevant unit for the beginning of the school year when we are getting to know each other and establishing relationships. The units central idea is Choices and circumstances can affect how people live. Theteacher questions guiding this unit are:
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What are the similarities and differences between Year 1 and Year 2? What choices did you make today? What would happen if? (Reflection of possible choices)

MATHEMATICS Throughout the Elementary school, classes participate in a daily numeracy hour to ensure a minimum of 5 hours of math instruction each week. This may include integration with our Units of Inquiry. There are five strands in the Mathematics program at NIST. Currently our focus in Number ison numeral identification and number sequence and order, becoming familiar with the 100s board format, counting on and counting backwards and reading number names. As well, we are working on deepening our students understanding of the concepts of addition, subtraction and equals. Our teaching emphasis at this stage is not just on memorising the basic facts. Rather we want the students to become increasingly confident in using number relationships to solve addition and subtraction problems, and be able to communicate their understanding of the addition and subtraction concepts using pictures, real objects, words and number sentences. During the Who We Are unit students will also explore data handling. They will develop the understanding that information can be expressed as organized and structured data. The students will graph data relating to the choices they and others make for them. For example ways we come to school, lunch choices, TV programs, bed times, where they live.

LANGUAGE ARTS Our language instruction to begin the year has been focusing on the development of listening skills and the reinforcement of the pleasure of reading through reading books, shared and guided reading, paired reading and independent reading time. Your child reading to you and you reading to your child are daily expectations to enhance students reading development. The reading booklet distributed at the Back to School evening has many worthwhile tips for parents supporting their childs reading growth.

Spelling instruction is being done in a meaningful context. As words occur in reading and writing we look for spelling patterns and develop word banks (e.g. list words beginning with /th/) or words that end with a particular letter string (e.g. /ack/ back, black, sack, lack). We are increasing students understanding of rhyme, with students both recognising and generating their own rhyming words. Word banks are being developed to assist in immersing the students in a print rich environment. Year 2 students are also practicing correct letter and number formations and appropriate use of upper and lower case in handwriting. During the Who We Are unit the following will be the focus in : Speaking and Listening: - Giving their own opinions and perspectives and listening to others. - Responding to provocations. Reading: - Exploring literature and poetry about peoples circumstances and choices. Writing: - Learning to write for a variety of purposes such as to explain their thinking, retell stories, record personal experiences and respond to literature.

YEAR 2 Blogs We use class blogs to communicate information to parents and carers. On the blogs you will find parent information relating to our Units of Inquiry, timetables and information about activities that are happening in classrooms. You can also find links to recommended online activities. On a final note Our instructional model is inquiry based. We encourage children at all times to construct their own knowledge and understanding across all areas of the curriculum. We are aspiring to encourage independent thinkers who take responsibility for their own learning. So far we have been very impressed with our students willingness to take increased responsibility for the various parts of their school day and their general enthusiasm for learning. We look forward to getting to know all our students and you better in the weeks ahead. Kind regards, Year 2 team