Author: Mrs Latham

Let’s talk about feelings

There was lots of feelings flying around at school today! The overwhelming feeling communicated and seen today was ‘happy’. The children we happy to be back with their class, happy to play, happy to have some face-to-face learning, happy to talk and just feeling happy.

Other feelings mentioned…

glad…excited…confused…fine…weird…shocked

It’s ok to feel all these things! Encourage your child to talk about how they are feeling and reassure them it is ok.

Welcome back!

We would like to say a huge WELCOME BACK to all the children. We have missed being with our classes and are all glad to get back a little bit of normality in our lives!

Remember you can email your child’s class teacher if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

1KN  Miss Lowry and Mrs Lake : kaylowry@spherefederation.org and natalielake@spherefederation.org

1,2V Mrs Latham : vickylatham@spherefederation.org

2C Mr Gathercole : carlgathercole@spherefederation.org

Week beginning 08 March 2021

We’re really missing you in school and we can’t wait to have you back. We hope you’re managing to stay happy, healthy and safe while you’re not with us here in school. You are still very much a part of our school community so please get in touch with us if you need to.

Maths

This series of lessons on place value and counting is closely related to what we’re doing in school.

You don’t have to print the worksheets. Your child can write or draw their answers on paper. Your child’s learning will be most effective if you sit with them to pause the clip and check / praise / support your child as the clip moves on.

Don’t forget to practise number bonds on Numbots or times tables on Times Table Rock Stars. Email your child’s class teacher if you need your login and password details.

(Suggested time: 30 minutes of Maths and 15 minutes of Numbots/Rock Stars daily)

 

Reading fluency

This is the reading fluency that we’ll read in class this week. In school, we generally follow this sequence:

  • Day 1: Read the text aloud with your child listening. Read it clearly and slowly, pointing to each word as you read. Have a chat about any unfamiliar words.
  • Day 2: Read aloud each sentence (a full short sentence or part of a longer sentence), and have your child read it back to you. Do this ‘echo reading’ for the whole text.
  • Day 3: Read the text and talk about the effect of the punctuation on how you read it – pauses for full stops and expression for exclamations (!) or questions (?). Your child reads the text aloud.
  • Day 4: Read together with expression (just like you practised on Day 3).
  • Day 5: Your child reads independently and fluently.

(Suggested time: 15 minutes daily)

 

Phonics

We teach a phonics lesson daily at school. Your child should have a ‘Practise Phonics’ book that they bring home from school. The sticker on the front will indicate which phase they’re working at. On Phonics Play, the activities and games match the phases. If you’re unsure which phase your child is working on, email your class teacher.

If your child has completed the phonics reading books, they can use some Phase 5b, 5c, 5d or Phase 6 resources.

Use a different Phonics Play activity for :

Login details are Sphere (user name) and Spher3 (password).

(Suggested time: 20 minutes daily)

 

Reading

We’ll be using this ‘RIC’ text in class to practise comprehension skills.

RIC stands for:

  • Retrieve: finding information in a text
  • Interpret: using clues in the text or pictures to unlock information
  • Choice: thinking about the author’s choice of words, techniques or organisation that make the text interesting and enjoyable to read

Read for 10-15 minutes daily. You could read the books you have brought home from school or any other books you have at home. Remember that the ‘Practise Phonics’ book is designed to be read more than once, to help with segmenting (sounding out), blending (putting the sounds back together) and fluency.

(Suggested time: 10-15 minutes daily)

 

Writing

Follow these 10 lessons on  Jack and the Beanstalk from Oak National Academy. There’s a whole series of lessons, but start at Lesson 1 and work through, doing one (or maybe even two) each day. (If you’re self-isolating in your second week, stick with the series of lessons you’ve already started and aim to complete the full series.)

(Suggested time: 30-40 minutes for each)

 

Spelling

This week’s spellings are on our spelling page. Complete one task each day:

  • Day 1: Copy the words out in your best handwriting (like in our handwriting guide) – using a lead-in line or joined handwriting. (You could look out for the words in the book you’re reading at home, or any other text.)
  • Day 2: Practise the spellings using two of the ideas in our super spelling strategies guide. (Set yourself and others at home a challenge of using some of the words when you’re speaking, too!)
  • Day 3: Write separate sentences, each containing one of the spellings. (Don’t forget to show off really neat handwriting and make sure you sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, exclamation mark (!) or question mark (?).
  • Day 4: Repeat Task 2 or 3.
  • Day 5: Get an adult at home to test you on your spellings. Practise any you spell incorrectly – you could write them out carefully until you’re sure.

(Suggested time: 15-20 minutes daily)

 

Topic

Our topic this half-term is about history – Heroes.

Follow these these lessons about Nelson Mandela from Oak National Academy. We are also learning about the Leeds suffragette, Leonora Cohen, and you can read more about her here.

There are also these Oak Academy lessons which will help you learn about how life has changed in the recent past.

(Suggested time: 30-40 minutes)

 

Science

Our focus this half-term is plants.

These six lessons from Oak National Academy link to what we’re doing in class. Start at Lesson 1 and work through, doing two or three in the week.

If Science really motivates your child, you could also review learning from earlier in the year all about habitats.

(Suggested time: 30-45 minutes)

 

PE

Don’t forget to do some daily exercise!

Do two of these Five Minute Moves from Joe Wicks each day – spread them across the day as if they were playtimes, maybe!

Have a go at one of the Change for Life indoor activities or a Cosmic Kids yoga session each day.

(Suggested time: 30 minutes daily)

 

Extra stuff…

As an extra (or as an alternative, if this helps to motivate your child)…

Geography isn’t a topic-driver this half-term, but you could brush up on your locational knowledge and learn all about villages, town and cities.

Living and Learning is important to help us learn how to cope with difficult feelings. These lessons focus on how it is ok not to be ok sometimes.

Week beginning 08 March 2021

We’re really missing you in school and we can’t wait to have you back. We hope you’re managing to stay happy, healthy and safe while you’re not with us here in school. You are still very much a part of our school community so please get in touch with us if you need to.

Maths

This series of lessons on place value and counting is closely related to what we’re doing in school.

You don’t have to print the worksheets. Your child can write or draw their answers on paper. Your child’s learning will be most effective if you sit with them to pause the clip and check / praise / support your child as the clip moves on.

Don’t forget to practise number bonds on Numbots or times tables on Times Table Rock Stars. Email your child’s class teacher if you need your login and password details.

(Suggested time: 30 minutes of Maths and 15 minutes of Numbots/Rock Stars daily)

 

Reading fluency

This is the reading fluency that we’ll read in class this week. In school, we generally follow this sequence:

  • Day 1: Read the text aloud with your child listening. Read it clearly and slowly, pointing to each word as you read. Have a chat about any unfamiliar words.
  • Day 2: Read aloud each sentence (a full short sentence or part of a longer sentence), and have your child read it back to you. Do this ‘echo reading’ for the whole text.
  • Day 3: Read the text and talk about the effect of the punctuation on how you read it – pauses for full stops and expression for exclamations (!) or questions (?). Your child reads the text aloud.
  • Day 4: Read together with expression (just like you practised on Day 3).
  • Day 5: Your child reads independently and fluently.

(Suggested time: 15 minutes daily)

 

Phonics

We teach a phonics lesson daily at school. Your child should have a ‘Practise Phonics’ book that they bring home from school. The sticker on the front will indicate which phase they’re working at. On Phonics Play, the activities and games match the phases. If you’re unsure which phase your child is working on, email your class teacher.

If your child has completed the phonics reading books, they can use some Phase 5b, 5c, 5d or Phase 6 resources.

Use a different Phonics Play activity for :

Login details are Sphere (user name) and Spher3 (password).

(Suggested time: 20 minutes daily)

 

Reading

We’ll be using this ‘RIC’ text in class to practise comprehension skills.

RIC stands for:

  • Retrieve: finding information in a text
  • Interpret: using clues in the text or pictures to unlock information
  • Choice: thinking about the author’s choice of words, techniques or organisation that make the text interesting and enjoyable to read

Read for 10-15 minutes daily. You could read the books you have brought home from school or any other books you have at home. Remember that the ‘Practise Phonics’ book is designed to be read more than once, to help with segmenting (sounding out), blending (putting the sounds back together) and fluency.

(Suggested time: 10-15 minutes daily)

 

Writing

Follow these 10 lessons on  Jack and the Beanstalk from Oak National Academy. There’s a whole series of lessons, but start at Lesson 1 and work through, doing one (or maybe even two) each day. (If you’re self-isolating in your second week, stick with the series of lessons you’ve already started and aim to complete the full series.)

(Suggested time: 30-40 minutes for each)

 

Spelling

This week’s spellings are on our spelling page. Complete one task each day:

  • Day 1: Copy the words out in your best handwriting (like in our handwriting guide) – using a lead-in line or joined handwriting. (You could look out for the words in the book you’re reading at home, or any other text.)
  • Day 2: Practise the spellings using two of the ideas in our super spelling strategies guide. (Set yourself and others at home a challenge of using some of the words when you’re speaking, too!)
  • Day 3: Write separate sentences, each containing one of the spellings. (Don’t forget to show off really neat handwriting and make sure you sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, exclamation mark (!) or question mark (?).
  • Day 4: Repeat Task 2 or 3.
  • Day 5: Get an adult at home to test you on your spellings. Practise any you spell incorrectly – you could write them out carefully until you’re sure.

(Suggested time: 15-20 minutes daily)

 

Topic

Our topic this half-term is about history – Heroes.

Follow these these lessons about Nelson Mandela from Oak National Academy. We are also learning about the Leeds suffragette, Leonora Cohen, and you can read more about her here.

There are also these Oak Academy lessons which will help you learn about how life has changed in the recent past.

(Suggested time: 30-40 minutes)

 

Science

Our focus this half-term is plants.

These six lessons from Oak National Academy link to what we’re doing in class. Start at Lesson 1 and work through, doing two or three in the week.

If Science really motivates your child, you could also review learning from earlier in the year all about habitats.

(Suggested time: 30-45 minutes)

 

PE

Don’t forget to do some daily exercise!

Do two of these Five Minute Moves from Joe Wicks each day – spread them across the day as if they were playtimes, maybe!

Have a go at one of the Change for Life indoor activities or a Cosmic Kids yoga session each day.

(Suggested time: 30 minutes daily)

 

Extra stuff…

As an extra (or as an alternative, if this helps to motivate your child)…

Geography isn’t a topic-driver this half-term, but you could brush up on your locational knowledge and learn all about villages, town and cities.

Living and Learning is important to help us learn how to cope with difficult feelings. These lessons focus on how it is ok not to be ok sometimes.

 

 

 

Week beginning 01 March 2021

This is our final week where most children are learning from home! Well done for all the hard work you have done and the super learning you have shared with your teachers. We are all looking forward to see you on 08 March, raring to go!

Monday 01 March

Today’s lessons:

Other mini sessions that you could complete at any point during the day:

 

Tuesday 02 March 

Today’s lessons:

Other mini sessions that you could complete at any point during the day:

  • Numbots : link
  • Handwriting : cursive letter formation video (This is a YouTube link. Top tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog along the play bar and turn off autoplay – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.)
  • Dance : Learn about the Chinese Lion Dance

 

Wednesday 03 March

Today’s lessons:

  • Maths Y1 : video
  • Reading (skills) : video 
  • Reading (fluency and vocabulary) : video 
  • Writing (texts) : video
  • Writing (skills) : video
  • Phonics/ spelling Y1 : video 
  • Science (wildflowers and plants) : video 

Other mini sessions that you could complete at any point during the day:

  • Numbots : link
  • Phonics Play : link – Login details are Sphere (user name) and Spher3 (password).
  • Storytime : Listen to ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’. (This is a YouTube link. Top tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog along the play bar and turn off autoplay – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.)

 

Thursday 04 March

Today’s lessons:

Other mini sessions that you could complete at any point during the day:

 

Friday 05 March

Today’s lessons:

  • Maths Y1 : Sing and then write counting in 2s, 5s and 10s. (These are YouTube links. Top tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog along the play bar and turn off autoplay – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.)
  • Reading (skills) : video and worksheet
  • Reading (fluency and vocabulary) : video
  • Writing (texts) : video
  • Writing (skills) : video
  • Phonics/ spelling Y1 : video 
  • L&L : video

Other mini sessions that you could complete at any point during the day:

Week beginning 01 March 2021

This is our final week where most children are learning from home! Well done for all the hard work you have done and the super learning you have shared with your teachers. We are all looking forward to see you on 08 March, raring to go!

Monday 01 March

Today’s lessons:

Other mini sessions that you could complete at any point during the day:

 

Tuesday 02 March 

Today’s lessons:

Other mini sessions that you could complete at any point during the day:

  • Numbots : link
  • Handwriting : cursive letter formation video (This is a YouTube link. Top tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog along the play bar and turn off autoplay – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.)
  • Dance : Learn about the Chinese Lion Dance

 

Wednesday 03 March

Today’s lessons:

Other mini sessions that you could complete at any point during the day:

  • Numbots : link
  • Phonics Play : link – Login details are Sphere (user name) and Spher3 (password).
  • Storytime : Listen to ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’. (This is a YouTube link. Top tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog along the play bar and turn off autoplay – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.)

 

Thursday 04 March

Today’s lessons:

Other mini sessions that you could complete at any point during the day:

 

Friday 05 March

Today’s lessons:

Other mini sessions that you could complete at any point during the day:

PE days reminder

On the days your child has PE, they should come to school in their PE kit as detailed in our uniform policy . (Track-suit bottoms instead of shorts would be good on colder days. Footwear : black/brown/grey/white flat shoes which are safe to run around in.)

Footwear on PE days could be children’s ‘school shoes’ which are often a ‘trainer’ style anyway, if you want to avoid having to buy 2 pairs of shoes.

Please find below the days each class has allocated PE times, which will be taught outdoors, except in extreme weather.

  • F2 Sunshine and F2 Rainbow (Miss Parling & Mrs Allen-Kelly/Mrs Wilkins) – Wednesday & Friday
  • 1KN (Miss Lowry/Mrs Lake) – Monday & Friday
  • 1,2V (Mrs Latham) – Thursday & Friday
  • 2C (Mr Gathercole) – Monday & Thursday
  • 3,4N (Mrs Wadsworth) – Tuesday & Wednesday
  • 3,4E (Mrs McCormick) – Tuesday & Thursday
  • 3,4O (Mr Catherall) – Monday & Tuesday
  • 5,6S (Mrs Hogarth) – Tuesday & Wednesday
  • 5,6M (Mr Lindsay) – Wednesday & Friday
  • 5,6B (Mr Freeman) – Monday & Friday