NSW K-2 English and Mathematics Syllabuses

As mentioned in previous newsletters, all schools in NSW are implementing the reformed NSW English and Mathematics K-2 syllabuses. These syllabuses highlight foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Please find below suggestions about what you can do as a parent or carer to support your child in Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 in the area of Measurement and Space in Mathematics.

Helping your Early Stage 1 child at home with Mathematics

Measurement and space

Non-spatial measures

Non-spatial measures focuses on:

• describing and comparing the masses of objects.
• sequencing events and reading the hour time on clocks.

You can help your Kindergarten child at home by:

• comparing masses of objects around the house by hefting one in each hand (hefting means to hold or lift something to estimate its weight).
• naming the days of the week and months of the year. Contextualise times of the year using special celebrations such as birthdays or cultural events
• looking at the phases of the moon and the position of the sun.
• involving them with weekly routines for school and home life. For example, Library day at school is Thursday, it’s PE uniform day on Monday and our family goes to Nanna’s house for lunch every Sunday.
• referring to an analog wall clock in your house for hour time events. For example: The long hand is on the 12 and the short hand is on the 5. It must be five o’clock: time to watch our favourite show on TV.

Helping your Stage 1 child at home with Mathematics

Measurement and space

Non-spatial measures

Non-spatial measures focuses on:

• measuring recording, comparing and estimating the masses of objects.
• describing, comparing and ordering durations of events, and reading half- and quarter-hour time.

You can help your Year 1 and Year 2 child at home by:

• using hefting (holding 2 items in each hand and lifting to test the weight) to order a variety of household items from lightest to heaviest. For example, a mug, a book, a metal spoon and an apple. Check this order by using kitchen arm balance scales.
• discussing important family dates by using a standard calendar to illustrate when these events will occur. Calculate how long until these events happen, for example, It’s 5 days until your sister’s birthday, It’s 2 weeks and 3 days until school holidays or It’s 4 months and 2 days to Christmas.
• using both analog and digital clocks around the house to understand how to read half past the hour, quarter past the hour and quarter to the hour time using the time measures of hour, minute and second in everyday life. For example, It’s 1 hour before bedtime, The food will go into the microwave for 30 seconds or Brush your teeth for 2 minutes – that means counting to 60 twice.  

Mrs Lillian Del Giudice

Assistant Principal