Nina Marni little learners and their wonderful families. Welcome to our weekly blog.
“Little hands at work nurturing creativity“
Playdough gives children the freedom to explore and create without fear of making mistakes. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to play, which opens the door for authentic expression and joy in learning. As teachers providing opportunities like these encourages a lifelong love of exploration. With just a few simple ingredients, children can inspire big ideas—and even bigger imaginations.
| Learning Intention: 1 Learning Intention: To support each child to deepen their emergent alphabetic phonic skills, aligning with their individual developmental stage, interest and dispositions. Why? Children require support to deepen their emergent alphabetic phonic skills because these foundational abilities are critical for the development of effective communication, reading, and writing. Early phonics skills help children understand the relationship between sounds and letters, enabling them to break down words (Decode) and make meaning from text. As children develop at different rates and bring unique interests and dispositions to their learning, intentional and responsive support ensures that each child can engage with phonics in ways that are developmentally appropriate and personally meaningful. By fostering these skills through tailored experiences, educators not only build literacy readiness but also nurture children’s confidence, curiosity, and love of language, setting a strong foundation for future learning success. |
The development of early alphabetic and phonic skills is nurtured through warm relationships, rich language exposure, and hands-on, play-based experiences. in the LDC 3 learning space children are naturally curious about the sounds, patterns, and rhythms of language, and they begin to form early connections between spoken and written words.
By aligning our literacy practices with children’s developmental stages, interests, and ways of learning, we foster not just foundational skills, but a lifelong love of language. Our goal is not simply to teach children how to read, but to help them see themselves as confident and capable communicators .
Our approach towards the alphabetic phonics is embedded in play and everyday interactions. Whether it’s forming letters with play dough, working on alphabetic puzzles ,identifying initial sounds during shared story time,or exploring letter shapes with sensory materials, children engage in literacy in ways that are active, contextual, and meaningful.
| Learning Intention 2: 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. |
“Cultivating Stillness, Wonder, and Faith“
Our Morning prayer begins with a sense of calm, connection, and reverence as the children gather around with their teacher for prayer. This daily rhythm offers more than a spiritual routine—it becomes a gentle, grounding experience that fosters belonging, reflection, and faith in a way that is meaningful and developmentally appropriate for our young learners.
The morning prayer began with a simple yet significant ritual: the lighting of the candle. This quiet moment immediately invites stillness and presence, helping the children transition into a space of calm and reverence. As the candle flickered, each child marked themselves with the sign of the cross, a gesture introduced through modelling and gentle repetition, nurturing early understanding of sacred traditions.
Together, the group lifted their voices in the Five Finger Prayer Song—a joyful and interactive way for children to learn about talking to Jesus through gratitude, petition, and care for others. The song’s structure and hand movements provide a developmentally appropriate way for little learners to connect with prayer and understand its purpose in their lives.
Following the prayer, the teacher shared a story about Jesus, creating a quiet, attentive space for listening and wondering. The story was told with warmth and openness, inviting the children to share their thoughts, feelings, and questions.
The prayer time concluded with the gentle blowing out of the candle, a symbolic closing that reinforces the sense of ritual and respect. Even in this simple act, children begin to understand the significance of sacred moments.
A Special Tribute to Chef Angela: Birthday Wishes & Healing Prayers
This morning, the children gathered with full hearts to celebrate a very special member of our family — Chef Angela. On her birthday, we not only honored the incredible culinary talent and creativity she brings to our kitchen, but we also came together in heartfelt support for her ongoing recovery.
A thoughtful birthday gift was presented to Chef Angela, symbolising our gratitude for the warmth and excellence she brings
“Building Independence and Belonging Through Daily Routines“
As children grow and thrive within a supportive learning environment, they begin to take increasing ownership of their daily routines. Observations have been noted of a wonderful development in our morning rhythm: the children are now confidently identifying their name cards, placing them into the basket, and gathering together around the Now, Next, and Then chart—a visual tool that helps make their day predictable, meaningful, and calm.
Gathering around the Now, Next, and Then chart, the children engage with the visual schedule that outlines the flow of the morning. Visual cues are essential in supporting children’s understanding of time and transitions. The chart allows them to see what’s happening “now” (placing name cards), what’s coming “next” (lining up), and what they can expect “then” (morning prayer). This clarity supports emotional regulation, and gives children a sense of control over their day
“A Cornerstone of Connection, Language, and Imagination“
Story time is more than just a quiet moment in the day—it is a cherished ritual where language, imagination, and relationships come together in meaningful ways. Each day, as the children gather closely in our reading space, we create a shared experience that supports not only literacy development but also emotional connection, curiosity, and a sense of belonging.
Story time begins with an invitation—an opportunity for children to come together, settle their bodies, and enter the world of a story. Whether it’s a familiar favourite or a new tale waiting to be discovered, books spark rich language, expressive responses, and thoughtful questions. For our little learners, this time builds vital early literacy skills: listening , vocabulary expansion, all within a context that is joyful and engaging.
“Strengthening Community and Physical Confidence“
This week, our children had the opportunity to engage in community visits around the shared spaces of the school, extending their learning beyond their learning spaces and into the wider school environment. These explorations included time spent in the MUDLA and the playground, where the children not only observed and interacted with their environment but also displayed increasing physical confidence and coordination.
By offering regular opportunities for exploration beyond the learning space, we are empowering children to see themselves as active, capable participants within their wider school environment. These community visits enrich their learning journey and help lay the foundation for confident transitions and meaningful relationships,
“Moments of Rest, Play, and Reflection: Finding Specks of Gold in Our Day“
We value the balance between active engagement and moments of quiet, reflective rest. Recently, our afternoons have been enriched with a calm, purposeful rhythm that includes rest time, quiet board games, and the beautiful practice of sharing our “specks of gold”—the special moments that made our day meaningful.
After a busy morning of learning, movement, and exploration, rest time offers children the chance to unwind and regulate. For some, this means a quiet nap; for others, a peaceful activity such as engaging in quiet play. This time supports emotional wellbeing and helps children reset their bodies and minds, preparing them for the rest of the day with renewed focus and calm.
As children transition into rest, we introduce a range of simple board games that are developmentally appropriate and designed to foster important social and cognitive skills. Through turn-taking games, memory challenges, matching activities, and cooperative play, children practise patience, problem-solving, and teamwork—all in a relaxed and playful setting. These moments of guided interaction build not only thinking skills but also friendships and social confidence.
Together, rest, play, and reflection form a powerful trio. They support children’s overall wellbeing, nurture their sense of self and community, and remind us all that even in the quieter moments, there is so much growth and gold to be found.
As Term 2 comes to a close, we take this moment to reflect with gratitude on the achievements, growth, and shared experiences of our little learners throughout the past weeks. It has been a term filled with learning, creativity, and collaboration — and none of it would have been possible without the dedication of our teachers, the enthusiasm of our little learners, and the ongoing support of our wonderful families.
As we head into the school holiday break, we encourage everyone to take this time to rest, recharge, and enjoy well-deserved time with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming you back refreshed and ready for an exciting Term 3.
Ngaityalya