With only three weeks to go until half term, it is amazing to see how well these children have settled into school life which is so very different to nursery. They are all making new friends and the party invites have started! They are becoming part of the whole school community and of course starting their more formal learning, whilst still having opportunities for child initiated play.
Celebrating harvest was great fun this week and thank you to everyone who contributed. On Monday it was Sukkot, the Jewish celebration of harvest. The children learnt all about it on Friday and made Sukkahs, which are shelters in which outside harvest meals are eaten by Jewish families and friends.
We have now learnt twelve of the twenty-six individual sounds and practise blending the phonemes to read every day. Children are trying to learn the ‘sight vocabulary’ words that are in their word boxes and we are practising them through our reading and writing activities in class. Most children can now write their names and we are working hard to get correct formation of letters and numbers. Hopefully you are all starting to settle to working with your child at home to support them in their learning and helping to build the firm foundation upon which they will rapidly develop.
In our art lesson the children learnt about the ‘Secondary’ colours and have experimented with colour mixing using paint and making a pattern in the style of Paul Klee.
In literacy lessons throughout the week we read several versions of ‘The little Red Hen’ comparing the characters, illustrations and language used. The children have all brought home some stick puppets and a story map to help them retell the story to you. Please join in with them and let them tell you the story. Pie Corbett retelling the story to a class of children is fun to watch, even if it is a little fast! It can be found on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdvJZD-cplg.
Bread making which was at the centre of the story was a great practical experience for everyone and all the kneading was excellent for strengthening hands and fingers. The bread rolls looked great; I hope they tasted good too!
In PE the children practised their under arm throwing by taking part in four aiming activities. On Friday it was the first apparatus lesson with ‘big’ equipment. The children worked together to get out the stools, tables, benches, planks and mats. They travelled in different ways along the equipment, dismounting by jumping, or some more cautiously by climbing down.
We’re off to Wimpole next Wednesday; please read the letter that I send home so that your child has everything that they will need. Fingers crossed for good weather! Due to our trip on Wednesday, Show and Tell will be on Thursday morning.
Information evening for reception parents is coming up on Monday 12th October at 7.30. A chance for the parents of children staying with me until July, to meet and see in more detail what has been happening in class and what the expectation for future learning will look like. It is an opportunity to share as a group, to ask general questions that have arisen and clarify anything that is unclear. The following week on the 21st and 22nd October, parents are invited in for consultations to discuss children’s individual progress. Look out for information about online booking and get in quickly to book a slot.
Looking ahead to the week beginning12th October, the children will need a shoe box and two kitchen roll centres each. We have some but not enough for everyone!
Thank you for your continued support and I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend.
PS Keep an eye open for conkers and acorns. Bring them in if you find any!