Week 3

This week we are celebrating Catholic Education Week.  It was kicked off with a Grandparents' Liturgy.  Our guests were then invited to visit the classrooms and then share a morning tea.  We had some  visitors that watched our Literacy group activities.  Thank you to those Grandparents and a few stand ins who were able to join us. Unfortunately I didn't catch all of them in photos but here are a few.

We are collecting winter warmers for the disadvantaged in our community.  Please send in tins of soup or stew for this good cause.  Other classes are collecting different items, please see the newsletter for details.  Perhaps you would prefer to send something else.  

Do you have an old mobile phone at home that is broken or no longer needed?  We need some for our work and they do not need to work. Please send them in without the cords.  Only send something if you do not need it returned.

Thank you to those families who sent in an old mobile phone.  If you do not want me to keep it please send a note and I will return it.

MONEY

Last week we started learning about money.  The children have a huge difference in their understanding and if they rarely handle money in real life it is very difficult to help them get to the expected level of understanding.  Below is a general guide for the levels we have.  It would be great if you tip out a piggy bank or your wallet (there isn't much in many people's due to eftpos and credit cards) and have a little practise at home. 

• little understanding except some are notes and some are coins
• can recognize and name coins and notes
• can order coins and notes according to value or worth
• can count coins of the same denomination (e.g. $1, $2, $3, $4...) and tell total value
• can count coins of the same denomination past the next dollar (e.g. 20c, 40c, 60c, 80, $1, $1.20...$1.80, $2, $2.20)
• can count coins of multiple denominations before and after a dollar (e.g. 20c, 40c, 60c, 80, 85c, 90c, 95c, $1, $1.50...)
• can look at a price e.g. $4.99 and decide if they have enough money and which note is best to hand over
• can understand that prices are rounded e.g. nothing is really $9.99 and they won't get 1c change
• can accurately determine change e.g. price is $2.20, change from $5 is $2.80

My aim is most children will be able to meet the purple goals. Your help at home would be appreciated.