It’s the summer
Yes, believe it or not, the summer holidays begin on Friday, despite somewhat autumnal (ok: downright dismal) weather.
During the holidays, research shows that many children’s key skills can regress – this makes rapid progress in the autumn back at school hard. It’s important to make sure your child spends time reading, and try to include daily opportunities to do some writing and number work – things like sending a postcard to someone (look out for our postcard competition – more details soon) and working out some ticket prices and journey times.
As many teachers at Moortown Primary noted in children’s annual reports, your child may need a bit more than this if they need to keep up-to-speed with times tables and spellings – spend just five minutes on each every day to really help your child.
Of course, holidays should be as happy and as healthy as possible, whatever the weather. A useful starting point to planning a few days out or activities in Leeds is Breeze.
Another interesting and familiar idea crossed my mind recently as I read a Sunday paper: the writer and child psychologist Sue Palmer comments: “Every child will make a den given a chance; their evolutionary roots are still very strong. Sitting down watching someone else do it on television is no substitute.” You can buy some exciting kit to support this (I like the Ultimate Dangerous Den Kit, but less so the price), but there’s something even more exciting (and cheaper) by getting creative with cardboard boxes and blankets!
Whatever you and your child get up to, enjoy the break, and see you on Tuesday 04 September (or sometime in the week beginning 17 September if your child is starting in Reception).
Health questionnaire
There will be no further homework this term. However, please support your child to complete the health questionnaire sent home today in order to find out their views on some of our key health issues at school.
Emotional health and obesity are the two targets we are working on in school to further our healthy schools status and the questions, devised last year by the school council, are linked to these areas. These include:
- Are you happy at school?
- What do you enjoy most about playtimes and lunchtimes?
Completed questionnaires to be returned by Monday 16 July.
30 March 2012
It’s the Easter holidays and, in line with our Homework Policy, teachers do not set spellings or homework tasks. Instead, enjoy the sunny weather by getting active: a trip to the park, a game of football, a cycle ride or a long walk!
During the holidays, two of our teachers will visit Italy, one will be in Russia and one will be in…Barry Island!
It’s the holiday…
…so there are no homework or spellings.
However, there are lots of ways you can support you child’s learning, first and foremost by visiting our Help Your Child section.
There are lots of things to do in or near Leeds, from geo-caching on Monday to a spooky Halloween walk on Sunday. Here are a few other ideas to fill the October half-term holiday with activities…
- take your child for an autumnal walk in Roundhay Park to collect chestnuts for a game of conkers or autumn leaves for an autumn collage;
- on a cold, autumn day, stay indoors and spend time baking (What unit of measurement will we use to weigh? If we want to make twice as much, how much will we need? When will the food be ready?);
- take a trip to Leeds Art Gallery – the Damien Hirst exhibition should prove a great opportunity for lots of discussion, description and possibly disagreement!
- and, as always, enjoy some relaxing reading (why not read some Tintin stories from a local library in preparation for the forthcoming film?)
School re-opens on Tuesday 01 November 2011 (following a training day on Monday 31 October 2011).
17 June 2011
This week’s homework is Talk Time (with some recording) and is due in by Wednesday 22 June.
I can discuss health issues at my school.
I have worked with members of our Health Group (made up of our School Councillors) to create the homework for this week – a health questionnaire.
As part of the next level of our Healthy Schools status we are working on a number of targets relating to obesity and emotional health.
Your views and responses to the health questionnaire will help us to be an even happier and healthier school.
Please discuss the issues raised in the questionnaire at home and record your views on the questionnaire provided. Return your completed forms to your class teacher.
We look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts.
It’s the Easter holidays…
…so there is no homework, in line with our Homework Policy.
Don’t forget about all the learning your child can do at home:
- Easter-themed Maths with mini-eggs (think about estimating, counting, sorting, adding, subtracting, sharing…)
- nature walks – look out for lambs and other signs of Spring
- swimming practice – the holidays are a perfect time to spend an afternoon at the local swimming baths!
- reading – take your child and a friend to the library or to a charity shop to find a gripping read
- lots of Talk Time discussions – by now, you’ll be familiar with Talk Time homework, so why not make up a few topics of your own?
- don’t forget to practise times tables, number bonds and handwriting
We’ve got information and top tips to help you support your child in our Learn More section.
Holidays approaching…
…so there are no spelling lists, tables or other homework this week.
Enjoy reading, writing (and possibly making?) Christmas cards, reflecting on this term’s topics and other activities.