Kia ora and welcome back! I hope that you have all had a wonderful time with your family and friends over the school break and stayed safe. This term we will be busy consolidating our learning from Term 1 and developing some knew knowledge around our key learning areas.
- Ask these questions frequently, ‘Do I know what I am supposed to be doing?’ ‘Am I doing it?’ An independent learner would answer ‘Yes’ to both questions.
- Plan time on a task carefully so that it can be finished on time.
- Look after all personal learning resources. If I misplace something, it is my own learning that suffers.
- Is ready to start at the beginning of the day, with a clear and organised desk as well as a clear and organised frame of mind.
- Knows the best way to learn is to ask questions of others when unsure.
- Works quickly and quietly on set tasks to maximise learning but is also conscious of the learning needs of others.
- Set realistic goals and work hard to achieve them as it is clear that education plays a very important part in my future.
Learning Experiences in Term 2
Written Language – Basic skills to improve writing, Scientific writing will be our focus - specifically Explanations & Reports.
Reading – Guided Silent Reading and Shared Reading with a focus on some key reading strategies such as Inference, Understanding Sequence and Interpreting Figurative Language.
Maths – Maths knowledge (basic facts, place value, fractions), PRIME Mathematics Programme.
Inquiry/Big Idea – Science - What cycles and systems help keep our planet working?
Maori – Pepeha, Feelings, Rakau, Greetings.
Arts – Music, Dance & Drama, Visual art (Inquiry based).
Health & PE – Fitness. Winter sport skills (Football, Hockey, Basketball).
H.E.A.R.T.– Learning Logs – Reflection on learning.
Assessment – Running Records, Writing Samples, Basic Facts, IKAN.
Friday 13th May - Teacher Only Day
16-20th May - Anti-Bully Week
Monday 16th June - Queen's Birthday
Friday 24th June - Matariki holiday
Wednesday 29th June - Tough Guy/Gal (Mudrun)
Friday 1st July - NorthWest Winter Sports Day
This year, in the Year 5/6 Syndicate, we will have ‘Home Learning Activities’ which will be done over a fortnight and will begin in Week 1 each term. This will consist of activities which are the priority activities to be completed. The other activities on the list will be optional.
Within these activities will be Reading at home. Your child is encouraged to read regularly at home, record this on the Home Learning Activities Sheet and have it signed by a parent or caregiver after each time.
Reading regularly is about encouraging reading mileage and helping your child to develop vocabulary and comprehension knowledge. Reading a variety of materials such as newspapers, comics, magazines, novels and recipes helps to develop a broader understanding of texts. Part of the activities will be having your child read aloud to someone to practise this skill. It is important that this is encouraged to support their learning at school.
Reading aloud can be included as a part of reading activities.
Learning Basic Facts will also be an important part of the activities. The number of times per fortnight your child practises these will depend on their ability to recall basic facts in all four operations with speed and accuracy.
Some suggestions of ways to learn these are:
- Using dice or counters
- Apps that can be downloaded onto your child’s device
- Flashcards (can be purchased from $2 shops or printed off the internet)
- Time tables poster
- Rock/Paper/Scissors activity
- Practising with an adult, saying the answer or question out loud
Along with these two focus areas there will be other optional activities on the Home Learning Sheet. In some fortnights there will be a little competition within the activities for an optional task. Those children who complete the required tasks, with signatures and evidence if required at the end of each fortnight will be rewarded.
Year 5 & 6 Team - Teachers
Room 14 – Mr Shaun Wright - swright@terapa.school.nz
Room 12 – Miss Georgia Gilmore - ggilmore@terapa.school.nz
Room 13 – Ms Penny Jackson - pjackson@terapa.school.nz (Team Leader)
Room 15 – Mrs Casey Sanders - csanders@terapa.school.nz
Room 16 – Mr Mike McCurry mmccurry@terapa.school.nz