Happy New Year!
During the first half of the Spring term the children will be learning all about the seasons focusing on a book called, 'A walk in the woods' by Flora Martyn and Hannah Tolson. The book takes the children through all of the seasons talking about the changes that we see in nature, clothing we need to wear, animals we might see etc. At the end of the term the children will make a seasons book drawing and writing one thing about each of the seasons. Take a look at the curriculum map to see what kind of activities the children may be taking part in this term.
The children will be learning all of the level 3 digraphs and trigraphs in Phonics sessions. I will add their latest phonics screening so you know exactly were they are up to with their sounds and what needs practicing at home. I will also add the phonics YouTube clips and parent cards along with the 4 sounds we learn each week to add to the phonics pack you have at home. Please take a few minutes a day to use the pack for letter recognition and blending activities.
Home reading books
Two reading books will be given out each Monday for your child to practice their reading skills at home. Please ensure that these books are sent back into school each week so that your child has regular access and practice in this area. Reading books at home will embed what they are learning in school and in time make your child a more confident reader. At first the reading books will not have any words in them to encourage discussion and to help develop comprehension skills. Once the children are accessing formal phonics sessions starting in week 3 the children will then be assessed so that books can be sent home that match the children’s phonic ability.
PE days
This term the children need to come to school in their PE kits on Tuesday. Children need to come to school wearing the correct PE uniform. I will let you know when the PE days change.
Reading challenge
Please check the date when a reading challenge wallet comes home so that the book can be shared with your child at home and returned with a completed book review ready for the next reading challenge. The children love receiving a high quality text to share with you at home and they might even be able to read a page of two or pick out some key words or phonic sounds that they have been learning in school.
Homework
Homework will generally be to keep on top of reading books, key words, phonics sounds and sometimes there might be some homework set that is linked to our theme we are learning in class. Information will be posted on seesaw.
Phonics bag
I will make a set of all the sounds once we have covered them in phonics this term. It is really important to get into a regular routine of using the sounds as flashcards for recognition and then building 2 and 3 letter words to help develop your child's blending skills. The more practice the better.
Here is a list of some great websites to find fun games, lessons, clips and resources to help you at home...
Cbeebies - Numberblocks and Alphablocks
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/numberblocks
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/alphablocks
TopMarks Interactive games
Phonics Play
https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/freeIndex.htm
Phonics Bloom
Oxford Owl Reading Books
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/reading/
BBC Bitesize