During this half term the children will focus on a book called 'Romeosaurus and Juliet Rex' by Mo O'Hara which is about two dinosaurs whose species are sworn enemies but they want to become friends. The children will learn about friendships and how to get along even if you don't like the same things. They will also learn about herbivores and carnivores. The children will also learn a few facts about William Shakespeare on which this story is based.
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.
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.
Key words
The children will bring home a key word sheet to keep at home to learn with you. We will check key word recognition with the children in school letting you know which words may need practicing. Regular practice in the form of a flashcard will massively help your child retain the words as some of the key words can't be sounded out and your child needs to rely on identifying the word by sight.
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