Learning in Reception
On Tuesday morning, we went on our local walk around Moortown to look at landmarks. Before going on our walk, we looked at Google Maps to check the route. The children were so sensible and showed fantastic manners to members on the public. One person even commented on their amazing manners. Well done, Reception!
After our walk, we had a go at drawing our own maps of where we went. The were fantastic at using symbols on their maps!
Maths
This week, we’ve explored the composition of 3 and 4. We’ve investigated part–whole relations, e.g. seeing that 3 can be composed of 1 and 2. Through practical experiences we know that a ‘whole’ is made up of smaller parts and is, therefore, bigger than its parts.
Throughout the week, we’ve been collecting groups of 2, 3 and 4 objects. Here’s some children collecting 2 objects (one and another one)
We also explored making repeating patterns.
This week, the construction area has been very busy! Many children have been making models with the Mobilo. Check out their amazing models!
This week, one of the chilli challenges was to do an observational drawing of an autumn leaf. We talked about the colours we could see. Next week, we’ll be talking about autumn and doing lots of autumn challenges.
Mornings
From Monday 17 October, your child will line up in the playground and come into classroom independently. This will allow us to start our learning straight away. Please wait with your child in the playground until the bell goes.
Reminders
- Phonics Stay & Learn – 11 & 12 October
Thank you to everyone who has signed up! - Please email any ‘WOW’ moments or new interests at home. We love receiving and sharing photos in school.
moortowneyfs@spherefederation.org - You child will have been assigned their new e-book. Please make sure your child reads this daily alongside love of reading books.
- Reception coffee morning – Monday 10 October at 9am
Come and enjoy a coffee and chat.
Home-Link Challenge
Maps, maps and more maps!
Literacy
This week, our focus story has been The Everywhere Bear by Julia Donaldson. After reading the book, we drew story maps of the Bear’s adventure. They were fantastic at remembering all the places the Bear visited.
On Wednesday, Barney (our class bear) and Mrs Wood went on a journey around Moortown. We looked at the photos together to see if we could recognise any of the landmarks. Talk to your child about where Barney went.
After this, we watched a video about maps. We talked about the symbols used on maps and took our own soft toys on a journey around school. On our return, we drew maps of our journey.
Maths
This week, we focussed on the purpose of counting – to find out ‘how many’ objects there are. We developed our counting skills to enable us to identify how many there are in a set that cannot be subitised. We explored how all sorts of things can be counted, including sounds. We practised our 1:1 correspondence, by moving, tagging and using counting sticks when counting larger objects .
Counting how many skittles we knocked over.
Counting our votes next to each piece of fruit after carrying out a survey.
Counting sets of objects.
Using our counting wands to count larger objects.
Poetry Picnic
Every week, when we’re having our milk and snack, we’ll learn a poem. Throughout the week, we’ll rehearse it, practise the actions and talk about the poem. On Fridays, we’ll perform our poem for you to watch at home. Click here to watch this week’s poem: Chop Chop.
Every Friday, your child will bring a paper copy of the poem we’ve been learning in school.
Barney
We’ve an extra member of our class! Barney likes going home with children on Friday evenings. He sits in his basket and watches all week before choosing who he’d like to go home with. Barney loves playing in the garden, going on adventures and listening to lots of stories. He has a special diary for you to write a brief description of what he’s been up to so we can share his adventures with the class. You could even add some photos and drawings!
Reading meeting
Thank you to those of you who attended the reading Zoom meeting on Tuesday. We hope you found the information useful and are looking forward to supporting your child on their exciting reading journey.
Reading daily at home plays an important role in your child’s reading development. Support at home will help foster your child’s love of reading and your child’s reading development.
If you didn’t attend, the recording will be sent by email.
E-books
Today, your child has come home with their e-book login and reading record. Please expect e-books to be read daily. If you have any problems logging in, please speak to a member of the Reception team.
Home-Link Challenge
As always, please ask if you have any questions!
Themed menu 07 October 2022
Catering Agency, our school meal provider, will be running a special themed menu on Friday 07 October. Please contact the office if your child would like a school dinner on this day (no action needed if your child normally has a school meal on this day).
Check out the Cricket World Cup themed menu.
What have we been up to this week?
From pirates in the small world area to fire officers putting out fires in our outdoor area, we’ve had another fantastic week. The children are really starting to show us their interests when exploring in the areas.
We also had a go at drawing our faces. We used mirrors to look closely at the details on our faces. When you come into the classroom, see if you can spot your child’s self-portrait.
Chilli challenges
This week, we’ve introduced the chilli challenges. Each week, there will be six green chilli challenges in different areas. The children will be encouraged to complete the challenges and tick them off on their chilli challenge card (see below). There will also be some red chilli challenges. These challenges are to extend their learning further. When your child completes a challenge, they will explain or show what they’ve done to an adult and the adult will tick the challenge off on their card.
Here’s some of the chilli challenges in action…
Literacy
This week, our focus story has been The Great Big Book of Families by Hoffman Mary. After reading the book, we talked about our families and why they are important. We even had a go at drawing our families!
Maths
This week, we’ve focussed on perceptual subitising (recognising the number of objects without counting) up to 3. We’ve been learning how to use our fast eyes when looking at small sets of objects.
Phonics
This week, we’ve learnt more phase 2 phonemes: i, n, m and d. We’ve been trying really hard to pronounce the phonemes correctly.
Has your child come home saying some ‘fancy’ phonics words?
If so, please don’t be alarmed! We use these words every day in phonics and we want the children to use them too.
Here are the words we’ve been using so far…
Phoneme: the smallest unit of sound you can hear in a word. For example, ‘sat’ has three phonemes: ‘s’, ‘a’ and ‘t’.
Grapheme: a ‘symbol’ of a phoneme –it’s a letter or group of letters representing a sound and we use the letter names for this.
Blending: merging the separate sounds (phonemes) in a word – this is a vital skill for reading. For example, the three phonemes m-a-t are blended to make mat.
Learn at home phonics sheet
Today, your child has come home with a ‘learn at home’ phonics sheets. The sheets link to our current phonics learning and will be sent home each Friday. 
Home-Link Challenge
Reminders
- The cold weather is creeping in! Please make sure your child comes to school wearing a suitable coat.
- Join us on Tuesday 27 September at 6 pm for our Early reading Zoom. This session will provide you with some information regarding the teaching of reading in Reception and how you can support their reading journey at home. You should have received the Zoom link in an email. If you’ve not received this, please contact the school office.
Transition: Week 2
We’ve had a wonderful week welcoming groups 2 and 3 into Reception. It’s been great to see a full classroom full of busy learners! We’ve been so impressed with how well all the children have settled.
Every morning, your child will come into the classroom and do their morning jobs. Our cloakroom is only small and can get very crowded on a morning! To reduce the amount of people in the cloakroom, please encourage your child to do these jobs independently.
Snacks and water…
Please make sure your child’s water bottle only contains plain water.
Every day, school will provide a healthy fruit or vegetable. If your child would prefer to bring their own snack, please ensure this contains only fruit and/or vegetables. Snacks from home will stay in the children’s bookbags.
If your child is having grapes for their snack, please ensure that the grapes are cut lengthways.
Parent Partners
Alongside our themes, we try to plan other areas of learning according to the children’s interests. To help us do this, we need YOU! Throughout the year, it would be great if you could send photos of any ‘WOW’ moments or new interests your child has at home. You can bring these moments into school or send them to moortowneyfs@spherefederation.org.
PE
PE starts next Friday. Please make sure your child comes to school in their PE kit.
Me and my family
Next week, we’ll be thinking about families. This is our first theme for this half-term. During this theme, we’ll be getting to know each other, share photographs of our families and make historical links by looking at photographs of families from the past.
Home-Link Challenge
Reminders
Monday 19 September – School is closed.
Tuesday 27 September – Early reading Zoom at 6pm.
I hope you all have a happy and healthy weekend.
Transition
This week, we welcomed our first group of Reception children. We’ve had a busy few days getting to know each other and the routines. They’ve settled really well and we’ve already started to see some amazing learning!
Every morning, we’ll encourage your child to be independent when doing their daily jobs. The jobs include: hanging up their coat, finding their name, choosing their lunch, and voting for a story.
Things to remember…
- PE will be every Monday and Friday. Your child should come to school in their PE kit. Our first PE session will be on Monday 19 September. Click here if you’re unsure about any items of clothing or footwear.
- Your child will need a labelled water bottle each day. Please ensure the bottle only contains water – no juice, please!
- The school day is 8.50 am – 3.15 pm.
- Please make sure all items of clothing are NAMED.
If you have any questions, please ask at the end of the day.
Zoom workshops
If you’re interested in attending any of these Zoom workshops, please either send us a message on the School Gateway app or email the school office. We’ll then email the Zoom joining details out to all those who have expressed an interest.
Reminder!
Phonics and early reading Zoom session on Monday 12 September.
We look forward to welcoming group 2 and 3 children next week!
Welcome
We’re looking to you seeing you all soon.
We’ve been super busy getting the classroom ready for when you arrive.
Here’s a sneak peak of the areas…
See you soon!
Goodbye Reception 2022!
We have reached the end of our year in Reception.
The children have all been amazing and we have been impressed with how much they have progressed. I will miss seeing them grow up!
Thank you for all your kind messages and presents.
Have a happy and healthy summer.
Summer of sport
It’s just 7 days to go until the Commonwealth Games begin in Birmingham. Watch this introductory video to find out more.
To keep active over the summer holidays, why not try these commonwealth personal best challenges at home. My Commonwealth PB incorporates skills that are used in 7 of the sports which will be taking place at the B2022
Commonwealth Games.
Use the QR codes below to see each challenge.
We’d love to hear how you get on!
