Learning Expo: Why Do I Write?

 

This morning the Year 1 Neighbourhood shared the learning that has been occuring in our Why Do I Write Inquiry. Parents and teachers alike enjoyed a morning coffee before the expo began. The children were extremely excited and a little nervous before the presentation. The children explained their projects beautifully and I think it is safe to say all the parents were very impressed and proud of all the learning that has taken place.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

 

Today children who are interested in Instrumental music enrolment for 2013 took home a pink information note. This is be returned by Friday 7th December with a $10 deposit if your child would like to take part in the program. 

Tabloid Sports Fun!

Fun in the Sun...

The Tabloid Sports program has one more week to run (sob sob!) What a fantastic time it has been for all the students in prep-year 2.  The "Tabloid Sports" team, Simon and Anthony, have brought along an astonishing array of sports equipment and games.  Each week has had a different focus; eye-hand co-ordination, team work and games.  This week, team work, provided lots of challenges and hilarity as the children attempted to walk together in threes, trap a ball and deliver it to a bucket, put a puzzle together, and bounce a plastic chook up in the air on a tablecloth, amongst other things!  Special thanks to all the parents who have turned out to help, and the wonderful year 5 students who have been the 'marshals' in charge of each activity.

Fractions 

 

Learning Intention: To understand that fractions must be divided into equal-sized parts

 

This term the children have been learning about fractions as part of the Monday and Wednesday morning maths workshops. The children have really enjoyed making a fraction wall with parent helpers and some great discussions have taken place about why some shapes and pictures are or are not considered fractions. Today a small group were given the challenge of looking at a pattern Jessica had made and making a whole.

 

Taylor, Katherine and Ava show one half next to one whole

 

Lila and Millie made one whole

Jessica gave the girls one half



Marnie and Daisy made one whole after looking at a quarter.

Learning Expo of Why do I Write Inquiry?  

On Friday 30th November (Week 8) the Year 1 Neighbourhood will be presenting their learning from 9:30am (for approx. 30 min.). 
We invite all families and friends to come and see what the children have been up to as part of our Why do I Write Inquiry. 
The coffee cart will be there so parents can have a coffee and a chat while the Inquiry Groups get ready for their presentations, from 9.00am. 
We hope to see you all there.

Susan Berran visits Princes Hill Primary School

Today the Narrative Inquiry Group were visited by Susan Berran. The children were very excited to meet Susan and she was very excited to meet our up and coming authors. In the morning session Susan read from two of her books, LICK'D & BONEZ. She discussed where she gets her ideas from and explained how she turned everyday events into hilarious stories that children love to read "you take one small idea and make it explode, let it get bigger and bigger". The children then had the opportunity to ask Susan some questions they had written last week. Susan told the children to "write about what you love". Susan's main advice was to describe things in an interesting way, if something is small, it can be .... Olivia suggested '... as small as an ant's tooth'.
After lunch each group had one on one time to show Susan their story and seek advice about to make the story more interesting and exciting. Susan was amazed at what the children had written and the detail of their illustrations, She could not believe the children were only 6 & 7 years old. 

Susan has donated the first 4 books of Freaky series to the school. The children in the narrative group each have an order form to purchase signed copy of her books if they would like to do so.

Susan showing the children her illustrations

The children were captivated when Susan read her books

Susan showed us her drawing skills first hand

The children had so many ideas for our co-constructed character

How would you describe our character

Working with one of publishing groups

Readers' and Writers' Notebooks

Every Friday home groups meet with their teachers to discuss their R&W Notebook. Please look for teachers' comments. Ask your child if their teacher has given them a challenge, eg., 

to read a non-fiction book rather than a fiction title, or 

to respond to a book by making a comment, or 

to make written descriptions to elaborate on their drawings.

Teachers are seeking to extend students engagement in reading and writing through the use of the R&W Notebook. You can help reinforce this by encouraging your child to follow up on their challenges and to read regularly or to be read to regularly.

The Bazaar is this Sunday (18th November)

The Bazaar kicks off at 10am on Sunday and the prep-2 Talent show begins at midday. Thank you to all those families who have already volunteered their time and/or donated goods. We look forward to seeing you all on the day. The weather is forcasted to be 19 with possible showers, fingers crossed the showers stay away.

Movie: Narrative Inquiry

 

View the movie that was made by the Narrative group for the assembly in week 3 by clicking on the Movie: Narrative Inquiry tab above.

History Inquiry Group are off to the Immigration Museum

We are visiting the Immigration Museum on Thursday 22 November as a concluding activity. Formal notices will be sent soon. If you can accompany us from 12.15 approx. on Thursday 22/11 please let Mark know. 

Premier's Reading Challenge

 

The Premier's Reading Challenge Honour Roll will be published in The Age this Sunday (11th November).

Narrative Inquiry Group

Questions for Susan Berran

 

On Tuesday 20th November, the Narrative Inquiry group will be taking part in series of workshops with Susan Berran, an author and illustrator of children's books. The children have been asked to think and write down any questions they would like to ask Susan. If your child is in the narrative inquiry group could you please talk to them about the questions they would like to ask Susan.

 

Here is a link to Susan's website

http://www.susanberran.com/

Photos or Images from the Yr 1 N'hood Assembly

If you have any images from the assembly (a couple of weeks ago) could you please drop them in on a USB or disk (otherwise we'd need to take a few minutes to download from your device).

Please see Mark, Jessica, Maddy or Janette. Thanks In Anticipation.