It has been a very tiring last week of term. The children all deserve, and are ready for, a week long break. This week, we have been learning about the ELLI spider. Spiders are on the lookout for connections between what they are learning and what they already know – from life experiences or earlier learning. They like to see how things fit together. The children were introduced to spiders using the story ‘Spinderella’ by Julia Donaldson. We have all been on a cobweb hunt around the school to see if we could find any spiders! The children have been threading spider webs and painting a spider to go on top. You will see some of these displayed in the corridor when you are dropping your children off, they might even make you jump!
We have been encouraging the children to become more independent and take responsibility for their belongings. We have been asking them to make sure they put their own coats on and zip them up before going outside, putting all their drawings inside their book bags before home time and putting their own socks on after PE!
In phonics, the children have learnt the phonemes e, u and r. They have also been learning some common exception words. Common exception words are words in which the English spelling code works in an unusual or uncommon way. They are not words for which phonics ‘doesn’t work’, but they may be exceptions to spelling rules, or words which use a particular combination of letters to represent sound patterns in a rare or unique way. They have been introduced to ‘the’ and ‘to’ and have been learning to blend ‘and’ as it frequently appears in books they are reading. We are going to be reading with the children individually every other week in Term 2. They will continue to take part in group reads on the week they are not read with individually. We are trying to remind the children they need to read their home reading book every night. They will have one book for a week and then change it when they read in school with an adult. It is important that the children’s phonic knowledge is continually revised, so please support us at home by encouraging your child to read daily.
In maths this week, children have been learning about time sequencing and their day. The children have enjoyed sequencing pictures for simple daily routines, for example, how to brush your teeth. It is important to put the toothpaste on the toothbrush before you put it in your mouth! The children have also started to think about the months of the year and where special events such as birthdays and Christmas fall in the annual calendar. We even counted how many weeks until Christmas (sorry!).
Thank you for all of your support and kind words this term. The children have learnt new routines, rules and made lots of new friends. The children are very tired and need a well-earned rest! Have a lovely half term holiday and we will see you again on Tuesday 5th November 2019 as Monday 4th November is an inset day. We have listed some important diary dates below for Term 2.
Friday 8th November, 9:10 – 10:00am – open morning. You can come into your child’s classroom and see the wonderful work they have already done. You will also be sent your child’s learning diary via email before this date, so please keep an eye out!
Tuesday 12th and Thursday 14th November 2019 – Parents evening (After the school day)
Wednesday 11th December 2019, 9:15 – 10:00am – Reception nativity play. Our favourite time of the year! You are invited to see all of the Reception children take part in our school nativity.
Wednesday 18th December 2019 – Pupil Christmas dinner during normal school day. Church service at St Peter’s Church (2:00 – 3:00pm).