Numbers and Shapes

Today during our small group activities the children played a shape lotto game. They had to use their noticing skills to find the correct shape and match it to their mat. They  played a number ordering game where they had to put the numbers in the correct order to help complete the caterpillar. We also played a rocket game, reinforcing our visual discrimination and number recognition skills.

There were some new sorting games out on the tables. Our new story basket book is  an old favourite, 'The Rainbow Fish' by Martin Pfister. Some of the children decided to paint pictures of this very special fish.

Cottage Reflections Term 1 Week 5

Fun in the Art Room

Today the children enjoyed playing in the Art Room. They used the mirrors to draw more self portraits, but this time using water colours as well as markers. They cooked up a storm in the kitchen and delivered food to the baby centre. There was some very detailed construction in the block area with a huge tunnel built for all the cars.



 

Our Self Portraits

Our wall of portraits are up on display in the classroom. We have had lots of fun looking in the mirror and drawing what we could see.

Cottage Dancers

Little Learners @STLUKE'S

What Do We See In Sight Words?

Early in a child’s schooling parents will encounter a large group of words called Hotwords or sight words.  What are these words?  Why are there so many?  And why are they so important?

Keep reading and you’ll find an answer to these questions.

All languages have a group of common words which are constantly used. These words make up the framework of the language, which in turn, helps you to read the contextual words like jargon or topic-based words.

It’s amazing, but 50% of our written material is made of 100 of these most frequently used words.  They are considered ‘service’ words which hold ideas together.  These words have no picture attachment.  Learning these words by sight, automatically, helps readers to maintain speed and fluency.   Mastery of these 100 words contributes considerably to a student’s progress in Literacy. 

The next 100 words, together with the first 100, combine to make up approximately 2/3 of all words encountered in general reading.

Yes, that’s right, 200 words make up 2/3 of your reading!

Studies worldwide consistently highlight the link between a continuously increasing bank of automatic sight words and improved comprehension. So practise those words nightly with your children and help them on the road to being literate.