Welcome back Year 1!
This half term is a really exciting time for the children as they enter the next phase of their learning. While they will still have lots of opportunity to explore and move around the classroom, they will be spending more time sitting in their table groups to complete their learning. We will continue to support your child through this transitional phase with engaging and explorational activities to ensure they continue to enjoy their learning and reach their full potential.
For our Topic work this half term, we have a geography-based topic called Around the UK with Paddington Bear! In this topic, children will learn and discover all about the four countries of the United Kingdom. Children will explore each country's cultures and values, as well as learning about the seas that surround us. They will share their findings and be encouraged to develop their oracy skills as they listen to each other and share their understanding.
We will continue learning key concepts in English and Maths. In English, we will share lots of books with the children, developing their oracy skills and learning how to answer what, why, when, where and how questions. Our key text is Paddington Bear and we will explore lots of non-fiction (information books) to support writing our own non-fiction 'Guide to London'.
In maths, the work in Year 1 is crucial for your children to develop number sense and support number fluency in later years. We will continue to strengthening their understanding of numbers 1 -20. They will develop a strong understanding of number bonds and fact families to support adding and subtracting within 10. They will use lots of concrete resources and have lots of opportunity to explore using maths cubes, counters, beads, counting sticks, tens frames, number lines and part whole models. They will also begin practicing our days of the week, months of the year and counting to 100 songs.
In terms of supporting your child at home, reading is a crucial part of your child's learning so please make sure that you read daily with them and ensure they learn their spellings and complete their maths homework.
Year 1 have a P.E lesson on Monday afternoon, so please make sure your child has the correct PE kit and ensure all items are labelled with your child’s name.
Please also make sure your child has a water bottle in school each day so they can stay hydrated! We have a water fountain in school where children have access fresh water.
If you need to speak to us regarding any issues, our door is always open.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Sargent, Mrs Burke & Mrs Owen
Homework
Spelling Homework - Your child's weekly spellings will be given out every Friday. Please support them to practice at home as much as possible. Spelling books to be returned to school by Thursday. Children will be tested (with the support they need) every Friday.
Maths Homework - children have one piece of maths homework per week. The homework will cover the learning from the previous week. It is not intended to challenge them at this stage but to help them develop the habit of completing weekly homework and consolidate the learning they have completed in class. This is given out on Friday and to be returned to school by Wednesday.
Reading & Phonics- Please read with your child daily. Phonics reading books need to be read 3 times before we will change them to help children increase their fluency. Children may also choose a book from our class library to enjoy at home.
PE
Our PE day is Monday- Please have full PE kit - white top, black shorts and black pumps.