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SEAL statement 10 October

This week, our SEAL statement is ‘I can make my classroom a good place to learn’.

At this stage in the first half term, children will be familiar with our established school rules but also their class contract.  Teachers, this week, will be looking for those children who consistently follow these and who therefore make their classroom a good place to learn.

As a reminder, our three school rules are:

1. Follow instructions
2. Use positive language
3. Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself

Ask your child what’s in their own class’s contract.

Subtracting using a number line

Using a number line to find the difference between two numbers (to subtract) is a mental maths strategy that many of us do without realising.  To help children get used to the mental strategy, we teach them to draw the line to visualise the difference, and then make jumps (the fewer, the better).

If you’re not convinced, think about how you might calculate 2003 – 1995 or 180 – 95… Very few people would be able to use a traditional column method to get the answer quickly and accurately.  We do teach the column method as a written maths strategy, too – but that’s better for bigger and more complicated numbers!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHEng-jRWlQ’ >Subtracting using a number line

We are happy learning in Reception!

Learning to rhyme

In Reception this week, we’re listening to rhymes and poems and identifying rhyming words. Hearing and saying rhymes is great for learning to read. Sharing rhymes with young children helps them listen to the patterns of language. Children first begin to notice that certain words have the same sounds at the end (rhyme). Later, they notice that many words share a pattern in the way they are spelt. Understanding these links makes learning to read much easier. You can help by making sure that children hear a lot of rhymes. The rhythm found in poetry is also helpful as there is a rhythm to reading.

You can help your child to “tune in” to rhyme by:

• Sharing nursery rhymes, making them fun by adding actions and body movements
• Reading rhyming stories
• Play games such as ‘I spy with my little eye something that rhymes with …’

Class Assembly

A quick reminder to let you know that your child will be performing in their class assembly on Thursday 13 October at 2.40pm.

Hope to see you there!

07 October 2011

Your homework this week is Practice Makes Perfect.

The children are working hard on their letter formation. In their homework book is an activity sheet for them to complete.

In the Help Your Child section, you’ll find information about how we do handwriting at Moortown, along with top tips for reading, mental maths and how you can support your child with their learning.

This homework is due on Wednesday 12 October.

07 October 2011

The spellings this week are all words where you have to drop the ‘e’ for ‘i n g’ at the end of the word.

Children will be tested on eight out of the ten spellings on Friday 14 October.

10 October 2011

Practice Makes Perfect homework

I can describe a character.

Find a character in a story book and think of adjectives (describing words) to describe them. Are they a hero or a villain? You could try to put these adjectives into sentences too. Remember to think of words to describe their appearance (what they look like) and personality (what they act like).

10 October 2011

This week’s spellings are words with  ‘oi‘ and ‘oy‘. Your child will be tested on Friday 14 October 2011.

Top tip:

oi – usually if the sound is at the beginning or in the middle

oy – usually if the sound is at the end

• coin
• foil
• join
• oil
• point
• joy
• toy
• enjoy
• destroy
• employ

07 October 2011

Spelling Rule:

This week’s spellings all require your child to double up for short vowel sounds when adding ‘ing’.

The main focus of the learning is to ensure your child understands the rule. It’s up to your child which list they decide to do. However, it’s important they give themselves an appropriate challenge and don’t attempt a list which is neither too easy nor too difficult.

Can you come up with any more spellings that follow the rule?