Welcome
This term the children will be part time for two weeks and then full time for the remaining 5 weeks of term. During this time the children will be building relationships with each other and both myself and Mrs Glover-Smith as well as learning all of the rules and routines of the classroom.
The book that we will be learning about is called 'We're going to find the Monster' by Malorie Blackman and Dapo Adeola. It is about a brother and sister who are playing in a garden when Dad shouts that it is breakfast time in 10 minutes. The children go off to find the monster. They have an adventure throughout the house and garden.
I have uploaded an overview of some ideas of the kinds of activities and experiences that your child will be experiencing as we work through the book. It is not a list that we work through, just some ideas of what kind of things your child might be doing in class this term.
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