This week, we’ll be holding our second of three phonics sessions.
The children are now beginning to learn long vowel phonemes and digraphs (two letters making one sound, like ‘sh’ and ‘th’) and to read and write sentences and longer words.
We expect all parents / carers to come along and see how much the children have learnt and find out ways you can support your child at home.
In our maths learning this week, we’ll learn about shape and pattern.
We’ll look at shape and pattern around us and in particular shape and pattern found in nature. We’ll look at snowflakes and ice and the patterns and shapes found in tree trunks, sticks and branches.
Number and calculating is built upon patterns; for example, recognising sequences of numbers or the shape of five on a dice with spots, without counting each dot.
As well as noticing shapes and patterns, children need to talk about them in order to develop the language needed to describe the shapes and patterns they see.
The following is a list of vocabulary the children will experience in Reception:
shape, flat, curved, straight, round, solid, corner, sort, cube, cuboid, cylinder, pyramid, sphere, cone, circle, triangle, square, rectangle, size, bigger, larger, smaller, pattern, repeating pattern, match.
This term we will begin phase 3 of the ‘Letters and Sounds’ phonic programme.
The purpose of this phase is to:
Here are some examples of words your children will be reading: tail, week, right, soap, food, park, burn, cord, town, soil
Tricky words
During phase 3, the children will learn more ‘tricky words’. These are the words we will learn in phase 3: he, she, we, me, be, was, my, you, her, they, all, said
In addition, during this phase children will be expected to begin to write sentences independently.
There will be phonics open mornings on 20, 21, 22 January. Please make sure you attend one of these to see how your child has progressed and how you can support them further.
If you have any questions about the teaching of phonics, please ask.
This week we have been enjoying the book ‘Stick Man’ by Julia Donaldson. (Watch and listen to Julia Donaldson reading the story.)
The children have been on a stick hunt around school and some have found sticks on their way to school.
We’ve been amazed by the wealth of opportunities for learning and the creativity that has been inspired by giving the children a few sticks.
Look out for further stick learning this term, and of course, our ‘Stick Man’ assembly on Thursday 28 January at 2.40pm.
Keep those sticks coming!
We have come to the end of our first term!
Can you believe how quickly time has flown?
I am sure you will agree that the children have settled well and become happy, confident learners. We are proud of them all!
Well done, Eessa, for becoming more confident and Hashim for trying different foods. We have enjoyed seeing Jai and Lewis learn to blend and watching Amrit M gain confidence with her numbers. Thank you, Harman and Vedant, for your lovely manners. Well done, Jack and Amrit S, for gaining confidence with their writing. Edris, Evie and Aadil have impressed us with their extra learning at home – we enjoy the things you bring in to show us. Tanvi and Betty have been good friends – helping a new child settle. Sahar joined us this month and has become a great addition to our class. Thank you, Avraj and Leah, for being cheerful and positive members of the class. Sam, Da’wud and Madison have impressed us with their independent writing. We have loved the models James and Sohrab have been busy designing. Thank you, Sukhmani, for your ideas and input into our spider topic. Billy, Klara and Harpreet have been designing board games in the maths area and teaching other children how to play them. Well done, Christina and Simran, for your enthusiasm and Sasha and Matilda for entertaining us with their singing!
Have a great holiday and a happy new year.
See you next term!
In our maths learning this week, we’re concentrating on counting and using numbers.
In order to count effectively, children need to:
Children need to be motivated to count for a purpose. In Reception, we try to provide lots of interesting objects and activities for children to use and improve their counting skills.
Children should also have the opportunity to order numbers. At the moment, the children are enjoying matching the correct number of flies to the spiders’ webs.
Look here for more information and some ideas for you to try at home.
Thank you to everybody for attending the phonics sessions last week. The children really enjoyed having you there to share in their learning.
Although phonics is important in teaching the mechanics of reading, reading is about much more. We also want children to read for pleasure. Reading to your child regularly will help them to develop a lifelong love of books and reading.
At the moment the children are enjoying ‘Room on the broom‘ by Julia Donaldson and ‘In the witch’s kitchen‘ by Nick Sharratt.
Don’t forget our phonics mornings this week.
Don’t worry if you haven’t returned the slip – just turn up on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday morning at 9am.
We will demonstrate how we teach phonics and provide you with ideas for supporting your child’s learning at home.
See you all then!
Don’t forget our Learning in Reception and Year 1 workshop on Tuesday 10 November at 2.30.
See you there!