Nina Marni little learners and their beautiful families, welcome to another week of amazing learning.
| Learning Intention: 1 To support new children and families to develop a sense of belonging in the (LDC 3years) environment and the Holy Family Catholic School Learning community. Why: We believe children begin to learn about themselves and construct their own identity within the context of their families and communities. We view Holy family Catholic school as an important part of this community and believe we have a responsibility to create positive experiences that will support children’s deep understanding of themselves as significant and respected members and citizens of the world.In early childhood settings children develop a sense of belonging when they feel accepted, develop attachments and trust those that care for them. As children are developing their sense of identity, they explore. different aspects of it (physical, social, emotional, spiritual, cognitive), through their play and their relationships |
As we begin our second week of term 1 , our little learners have begun to gradually settle into their learning environment making beautiful connections with their peers and their teachers. Children have also begun to develop and secure their sense of belonging and feel accepted in their space with Teachers scaffolding their learning through social games , rhyming songs , reading story books, and lots of verbal communication through the exploration of social, cognitive and physical skills with the ability to take calculated risks..
Throughout this week children have had lots of opportunities to be able to be respected, valued , appreciated and build relationships with one another through their play based learning. Such positive learning experiences have helped children to have smooth transitions throughout the day, learning more about themselves , their peers , and exercise their agency.
A sense of secure safe belonging………We belong
Learning Intention 2: To continue working towards our goal of embedding consistent daily routines and rituals across our team and learning environment. Why Consistency in our learning environment supports children through the provision of a more predictable and secure daily rhythm, communication strategies and predictable educator responses. Some of the practices we seek to embed across (LDC 3 years) also relate specifically to the National Quality Standards. |
This week as children have gradually begun to settle into their learning environment, children have also begun to get accustomed to having consistent routines embedded into their learning. Such embedded routines are crucial for our young learners to help support and guide them through their learning and development throughout the day.
Thus having consistent routines within our learning spaces provides the children with a secure sense of predictability offering endless opportunities interactive connections and building and developing new skills. Having Visual charts displayed throughout the learning space helps children to be guided by the visuals and provides agency towards their learning.
Children are also learning to take responsibility of their own health and wellbeing as a part of our predictable routine , applying their sunscreen and wearing their hats to stay safe from the hot sun.
| Learning Intention 3: Sacred symbols are special and important. Why? Doctrinal Insights from the Catholic Tradition that support this Enduring Understanding include:Sacred symbols remind us that God is close to us, and with us. In my Catholic learning environment, I can see many sacred symbols.Candle flames remind us that God is with us.The Bible reminds us of God’s love for us through special stories.The Cross reminds us of Jesus.Water is used for special blessingsSacred symbols are used in my school/ELC and in church celebrations, prayer and liturgy. (CCC1145)Other faith traditions also have sacred symbols The Sign of the Cross is a prayer to God. Doctrinal and Content Elaborations: Doctrinal Insights from the Catholic Tradition that support this Enduring Understanding include: The Sign of the Cross is a prayer with actions and words. The words remind us that God is called Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The actions represent the symbol of the Cross, and that prayer involves our head, heart and body. |
Morning prayer within our learning space has added a valuable spec of gold to the hearts of our little learners and their Teachers. Children as they gradually accustom themselves to predictable routines, prayer time as a group has been one of many learning skills that the children have been so grateful to be a part of. Sharing their thoughts through verbal communication and using the sacred symbolic cross to express their thanks to Jesus has been some memorable moments which have been blessings to share.
Literacy Intentions (Our hopes for their learning)
- General sound discrimination and rhyme awareness.
- Matching Rhyming words orally.
- Reading picture books regularly. Children will enjoy a joyful connection to picture books.
- Continue using mark-making tools, such as crayons, texts, pencils, paint, chalk, sand (as they create texts during this process).
- Children will build symbolic functioning, sharing something about the marks they have created.
This week children engaged in lots of story book reading in very secure and relaxing spaces, The reading nook and the safety of being with their Teachers in a familiar space has helped the children experience wondrous moments to picture book reading. Looking at the pictures and relating to the stories using their own imagination has been some amazing moments that the children have begun to share. Verbalising their thoughts and ideas and creating new stories has been some wonderful moments that we get to experience throughout the day.
The children have begun introduce and perfect their mark making skills relating to the picture book reading. Our literacy and craft tables indoors and outdoors have been busy this week with lots of marking and crafting.
We did not forget to visit our Holy Family School community spaces by exercising our physical and exploration skills.
The specs of gold for this week is in abundance…….
Hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing weekend.