Reception Coffee Morning – 31.01.23
Reception Coffee Morning – Tuesday 31st January, 2023
After dropping your child off, stay at school for an informal chat with Mrs Beesley, the Reception staff and get to know the other parents, too. We will be in the new area of school called ” The Hub” from 9- 10am. Come and join us.
The Magic Paintbrush
The Magic Paintbrush
This week, we have focused on the story The Magic Paintbrush. We began by listening to the story for enjoyment. After becoming familiar with the story, we were then able to discuss the main events and characters.
The children then explored what they would do if they had a magic paintbrush.
Top tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog (it’s along the play bar) and turn off auto play – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.
Maths
This week, we have consolidated our understanding of the composition of 5. We used the nursery rhyme 5 little speckled frogs to investigate different ways of making 5. By using part whole models and 10 frames, the children were able to represent their understanding in a range of ways.
Use the sentence 5 is made of __ and ___ to describe these images.
Phonics
This week, the children have learnt some new digraphs and trigraphs – a digraph/trigraph consists of ‘two/three letters that make one sound’. Ask your child to tell you the sounds the digraphs/trigraphs below make.
ur ow oi ear
Before reading a word we always look for any digraphs/trigraphs (two/three letters that make one sound). Then, we say the sound the digraph makes. Finally, we sound out the word and blend it together – using our phoneme (the sound a letter makes) fingers! This helps your child identify the digraphs/trigraphs (two/three letters that make one sound) before reading a word.
Find the diagraphs/trigraphs before reading these words.
hurt how coin fear
Poetry Picnic
Each week, we will be learning a new poem. We will recite this poem each day. By saying the poem out loud we can focus on the sounds and rhythm of each word or line. This week’s poem is ‘Jack and Jill’.
PE
This week, reception has continued to develop their balancing skills in a Foot Tech session and on the equipment.
Stay and Play – Funky Phonics
Thank you to all the adults that were able to join our stay and play sessions this week.
Learning in our areas
This week, we have explored Lunar New year. The children were able to compare the celebration to their own experiences.
I’ve seen fireworks before. We had them on New Years Eve.
I saw them (fireworks) on bonfire night.
I had new clothes on Christmas day.
Reminders
Swimming/Football
Spring 1 – swimming
Rainbow Class- 4 Jan, 18 Jan, 1 Feb
Sunshine Class- 11 Jan, 25 Jan, 8 Feb
When your child is not swimming, they will be taking part in Foot Tech Football sessions. Please ensure your child comes in PE kit every Wednesday, including suitable trainers.
Reading
Reading Records – return to school each Friday
Library books – return on Thursdays
Winter
Winter
This week, we’ve been talking about typical signs of winter. We’ve been reading a range of winter themed fiction and non-fiction books. We have also been discussing animals that live in a cold climate. Climate is our word of the week!
Rainbow class have been writing about typical signs of winter.
Sunshine class have been writing about Arctic animals.
In Literacy, we’ve also been discussing the features of fiction and non-fiction books, sorting them into groups. Here are some thoughts that children shared during the activity.
Fiction books
“They’re fun to read and they can make you laugh”- Sonny
“Some books can be scary”- Mollie G
“They’re good for your brain because they make you feel good”- Maddison
Non-fiction books
“If you don’t know about something, you can read about it and find out”- Georgie
“I got a non-fiction book from the library because I wanted to find out about pyramids”- Keira
Maths: The staircase pattern
We’ve been counting to find ‘how many’.
With the help of our Numberblocks friends, we’ve revisited the ‘stable order’ principle of counting (Understanding that number names are said in order)
We’ve been learning about the ‘one more’ relationship between consecutive numbers. We discovered that when you represent numbers in order using cubes, it makes a ‘staircase’ pattern!
Phonics
This week, the children have learnt some new digraphs – a digraph consists of ‘two letters that make one sound’. Ask your child to tell you the sounds the digraphs below make.
oo oo ar or
You may have noticed that one of our digraphs is repeated. That’s because the ‘oo’ digraph makes two different sounds! It might take a bit of investigating in our reading to see which one fits the word. Please support your child with this when practising their ‘learn at home’ phonics sheet.
Before reading a word, we always look for any digraphs (two letters that make one sound). Then, we say the sound the digraph makes. Finally, we sound out the word and blend it together – using our phoneme (the sound a letter makes) fingers! This helps your child identify the digraphs (two letters that make one sound) before reading a word.
Penguin observations
Over the past two weeks, the children have loved observing the ‘penguin cam’ at Edinburgh Zoo. They’ve been watching closely, making notes about what they look like, how they move and what they have in their enclosures to keep them happy. We discussed how this is not their natural habitat and what their environment would be like in the Antarctic.
Living and Learning
This week’s Living and Learning statement is: I know that some drugs are harmful.
In Reception, we’ve focused on our PSED (Personal, Social, Emotional Development) statement “I know that I must only take medicines when an adult is with me”
The children shared some fantastic knowledge of why they must be with a trusted adult when using medicines.
“To make sure it’s not out of date”- Jack
“To look at the label to see how much you need”- Olivia
“If you get the wrong one, it could make you more poorly”- Skyla
“You might take too much”- Alfie
PE
On Wednesday, Rainbow class enjoyed their first fun-filled PE session led by Foot-Tech Academy
This half term, our PE skill focus is dynamic (moving) balance and static balance.
In Friday sessions, we’ll be using a variety of apparatus in the hall to develop these skills.
Inspiration on a rainy day
It’s been a very dreary, soggy week outside but, as ever, the children’s curiosity led to some fantastic exploration. After a conversation about rain, flooding and potentially needing a boat to get around (ha!) the talk soon turned to types of boat and learning about canal boats. The children watched some short clips of ‘Rosie and Jim’ and a group were inspired to build their own canal boat in the outside area. They showed great team work and story-telling. This spontaneous, child-led interest and construction carried on throughout the week.
Poetry Picnic
Each week, we will be learning a new poem. We will recite this poem each day. By saying the poem out loud we can focus on the sounds and rhythm of each word or line. This week’s poem is ‘I can build a snowman ’.
We talk about how a poem sometimes has rhyming words and sometimes doesn’t. Can your child tell you the rhyming words in this week’s poem? We also talk about how a poem can have a fast rhythm or a slow rhythm. Can your child tell you if this week’s poem is fast or slow? We know that learning to recite poems, helps our reading in lots of ways.
Click here to watch Reception recite this week’s poem!
Celebration assembly
Reception have started attending Friday celebration assemblies with KS1. Each week, we’ll be awarding sports, living and learning and great learning certificates. If your child receives a certificate or award outside of school, they can also bring this in to share with everyone in the assembly.
Reminders
- Reading- Please remember to bring in library books on Thursdays and reading records on Fridays.
- Funky phonics Phase 3 stay and play- Monday 16 January/ Wednesday 18 January 9.00-9.30am Please only attend the session you have signed up for and please remember that we have space for only one parent/carer at this session. We’ve taken on board your feedback from previous stay and play events and have split the session over 2 days, to lower numbers and ensure a calmer learning environment for all.
We are looking forward to welcoming you all back into the classroom and showing you how much our phonics has developed!
Welcome back!
Welcome back
The children have returned to school ready to spring into action this spring half term! It has been fantastic to hear about everybody’s Christmas holidays – the children have really enjoyed confidently and articulately sharing their news.
Lost and Found
This week, in literacy we have been reading the book ‘Lost and Found’ by Oliver Jeffers. We have been retelling the story using actions and story maps.
Top tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog (it’s along the play bar) and turn off auto play – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.
Maths – super subitising!
This week we have been practising our subitising skills. This means, we have been looking and saying how many objects we can see – without counting one by one! Ask your child how many spots they can see by subitising.
“…there’s 4 because there’s 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom – that makes 4!” Edie
“3 because there’s 2 there and 1 there – that makes 3!” Jack.
You can also practice subitising by playing board games with a dice at home with your child.
Phonics
This week, the children have learnt some new digraphs – a digraph consists of ‘two letters that make one sound’. Ask your child to tell you the sounds the digraphs below make.
ai ee igh oa
Before reading a word we always look for any digraphs (two letters that make one sound). Then, we say the sound the digraph makes. Finally, we sound out the word and blend it together – using our phoneme (the sound a letter makes) fingers! This helps your child identify the digraphs (two letters that make one sound) before reading a word.
Here is a video modelling how we do this in school. This is something you can do with your child when reading their book at home.
Poetry Picnic
Each week, we will be learning a new poem. We will recite this poem each day. By saying the poem out loud we can focus on the sounds and rhythm of each word or line. This week’s poem is ‘Let’s put on our mittens’.
We talk about how a poem sometimes has rhyming words and sometimes doesn’t. Can your child tell you the rhyming words in this week’s poem? We also talk about how a poem can have a fast rhythm or a slow rhythm. Can your child tell you if this week’s poem is fast or slow?
PE
This week, Sunshine class had their first Foot-Tech session. They were excellent listeners and played lots of fun games to keep fit and healthy.
Library
This week, we have visited the school library. Your child will have bought a library book home. Please enjoy reading and sharing this at home.
Please return your child’s library book to school on Thursday’s so that your child can choose a different book – if they are ready to change it.
Reminders
Swimming/Football
Spring 1 – swimming
Rainbow Class- 4 Jan, 18 Jan, 1 Feb
Sunshine Class- 11 Jan, 25 Jan, 8 Feb
When your child is not swimming, they will be taking part in Foot Tech Football sessions. Please ensure your child comes in PE kit every Wednesday, including suitable trainers.
The Christmas Countdown!
We’ve had a week full of festive fun!
The Christmas story
We’ve been learning the story of the first Christmas- The Nativity. We learnt that this is why Christians celebrate Christmas. The children independently wrote what they could see, in a scene from the story.
Christmas Dinner
Reception had a yummy Christmas dinner. They had fun exploring the Christmas inflatables, organised by Mrs Pennock.
Maths- Professor Myers and the candy cane experiment!
Professor Myers introduced our maths focus this week, with the candy cane experiment! We investigated the strength of a candy cane by hanging different objects from it.
We’ve also been exploring the language we use to describe weight; heavy, light, heavier, lighter, heaviest, lightest. We compared objects using balance scales.
Some children decided to compare their weight using the balance boards outside!
Christmas around the world
We’ve been exploring the different ways that people celebrate Christmas across the world. We looked at the difference between Santa in the UK and Santa in Australia.
We made Chinese paper lanterns for decorations.
We heard about the good witch, La Befana, who brings presents to children in Italy.
We made observational drawings of Poinsettia- a popular Christmas plant here, in Mexico and in India.
We went hunting for the lucky almond (in picture form). In Denmark, it’s a Christmas tradition to hide an almond in pudding. The finder has good luck for the year!
We added drawings of presents and sweets to a picture of shoes. In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas leaves gifts in children’s shoes. Our shoes were magic and turned into real treats at play time!
We discussed similarities and differences with our own Christmas traditions:
“I decorate with lights on my tree and tinsel in Mummy’s car”- Orlah (Christmas in China)
“We have a witch at Halloween but scary”- Daniel (Christmas in Italy)
“It is hot there. It’s cold and snowy here”- Mollie B (Christmas in Austrailia)
Poetry Picnic
Each week, we will be learning a new poem. We will recite this poem each day. By saying the poem out loud we can focus on the sounds and rhythm of each word or line. This week’s poem is Cup of tea.
We talk about how a poem sometimes has rhyming words and sometimes doesn’t. Can your child tell you the rhyming words in this week’s poem? We also talk about how a poem can have a fast rhythm or a slow rhythm. Can your child tell you if this week’s poem is fast or slow?
Here are some children from Sunshine and Rainbow classes, reciting this week’s poem:
Someone special visited our classrooms…
On Wednesday, the children received a special video. Santa had been to visit our classrooms and he’d left us all a present! He even took the time to read us a story on the video. We were so impressed that he came to see our school.
Christmas party day
We’ve had lots of fun today; dancing, playing games and being with our friends.
Thank you to FOSP (The Friends of Scholes (Elmet) Primary) who gifted us an online pantomime to enjoy- Cinderella!
Learning Journey drop-ins
Thank you to parents and carers who joined us for our Learning Journey drop-ins on Monday/Tuesday morning and Thursday after school.
If you were unable to join us this time, we’ll be offering more of these drop- in sessions later in the school year.
Phonics
It was another review week in phonics this week. We’ve been revisiting and consolidating all we have learnt across phase 2. The children have been brilliant in their reading groups and independent writing this week. It is fantastic to see them confidently using all of the skills they have developed this term.
This week we have sent home tricky words. Please practise these as your phonics challenge over the holidays.
A message from the Reception Team
The Reception team would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy spending time with family and friends this festive season. We look forward to welcoming you back on Tuesday 3 January 2023!
Reminders
Swimming/Football
Spring 1 – swimming
Rainbow Class- 4 Jan, 18 Jan, 1 Feb
Sunshine Class- 11 Jan, 25 Jan, 8 Feb
When your child is not swimming, they will be taking part in Foot Tech Football sessions. Please ensure your child comes in PE kit every Wednesday, including suitable trainers.
Thank you!
We have been absolutely overwhelmed by your generosity. At the recent Christmas productions, we collected for our school charity, Cancer Research UK. You didn’t let us down and you managed to raise an amazing £266.91.
Thank you so much.
The Jolly Christmas Postman
This week in literacy we have been reading the book ‘The Jolly Christmas Postman by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg. We were excited to see all the letters, games and puzzles in the book.
The children were keen to write their own letters.
Top tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog (it’s along the play bar) and turn off auto play – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.
Every week, we look at a new adventurous word. We call this our ‘word of the week’. This week our word of the week was ‘jolly’. We looked at the definition – ‘happy and cheerful’, drew pictures and used the word jolly in our everyday speech.
I feel jolly when I go the park.
Christmas is a jolly day.
I felt jolly at my party.
Maths – 3d shapes
This week, we have been naming and recognising 3d shapes.
The children enjoyed exploring different shaped Christmas presents and finding 3d shapes in our classroom. We even had a go at making 3d shapes, using playdough.
Ask your child to find 3d shapes in and around the house. Can they name each one?
Phonics
This week, the children haven’t learnt any new phonemes. It has been our ‘review week’ where we review all the phonemes we have learnt so far.
Can your child read the following words?
quick
thank
wing
them
chick
shells
Can your child read these captions?
a red sock
jam on a hen
Poetry Picnic
Each week, we will be learning a new poem. We will recite this poem each day. By saying the poem out loud we can focus on the sounds and rhythm of each word or line. This week’s poem is ‘Who Has Seen the Wind’.
We talk about how a poem sometimes has rhyming words and sometimes doesn’t. Can your child tell you the rhyming words in this weeks poem? We also talk about how a poem can have a fast rhythm or a slow rhythm. Can your child tell you if this week’s poem is fast or slow?
Click here to watch our Poetry Picnic.
In provision…
Reminders
Swimming/Football
There will be no swimming 14 Dec
Spring 1 – swimming
Rainbow Class- 4 Jan, 18 Jan, 1 Feb
Sunshine Class- 11 Jan, 25 Jan, 8 Feb
When your child is not swimming, they will be taking part in Foot Tech Football sessions. Please ensure your child comes in PE kit every Wednesday, including suitable trainers.
Learning Journey Drop in
- Monday 12.12.22, 9.00-9.30am
- Tuesday 13.12.22, 9.00-9.30am
- Thursday 15.12.22, 3.30-4.00pm
An invitation for parents/carers to come into the classroom and take a look at your child’s learning journey.
Reception Christmas Party day. 16.12.22
Your child can come to school in party clothes on this day with their own party snack.
Owl babies
Our Christmas performance
We are so proud of the children’s Christmas performance so far. The children have been joining in with their singing and acting parts really well. We are looking forward to inviting you to watch the performance on Thursday 8 December (10.00-10.45) or Friday 9 December (1.30-2.15).
A reminder if you haven’t already – please ensure your child’s costume is in school. We will be doing a dress rehearsal next week.
Owl babies
This week in literacy we have been reading the book ‘Owl babies’ by Martin Waddell. We drew a story map and retold the story using words and actions. Some children were so inspired that they decided to write their own book about ‘Owl babies’. We shared the books during story time.
A book re-telling the Owl babies story by Mollie –
A book about a ‘fluttering snowflake and owls’ by Grace –
Every week, we look at a new adventurous word. We call this our ‘word of the week’. This week our word of the week was ‘nocturnal’. We looked at the definition – ‘active at night’, drew pictures to represent nocturnal animals and used the word nocturnal in our everyday speech.
“The owl is nocturnal” William said.
“Percy (owl) is nocturnal…he’s active at night!” Grace said.
“I was nocturnal when I was a baby! I was always up at night.” Esme said.
Top tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog (it’s along the play bar) and turn off auto play – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.
Maths – accurate counting
This week, we have been focussing on accurately counting out objects and remembering to stop. The teachers had lost their counting skills and kept counting out too many objects – it was very silly and made the children laugh! Mrs Flynn tried to collect and count out 4 teddy bears but she forgot to stop and kept on counting. The children had to re-teach the teachers and remind them to STOP at the stopping number (the number of objects asked to collect).
Often, when counting out a number of objects, children will forget to stop at the correct number. The skill to stop at the correct number is something we focus on and call cardinality.
Ask your child to collect a number of objects at home. Can they STOP at the correct number?
Phonics
This week, the children haven’t learnt any new phonemes. It has been our ‘review week’ where we review all the phonemes we have learnt so far. They’ve also been practicing reading words with ‘s’ at the end. Can your child read the following words?
zips
ships
ducks
chips
We have learnt a lot of tricky words so far and it is a real challenge for your child to remember them all. To support your child’s reading, play the game below.
A tricky word is a word you cannot sound out – you just have to know it by sight!
Phonics home-link activity
Play tricky word BOO!
What you will need:
- the following tricky words written on individual pieces of paper; and, as, I, is, the, and, has, we, me, be, he, she and his.
- the word BOO written on a few pieces of paper
- cup (to put the words in)
How to play:
- Take it in turns to pick a word out of the cup.
- Read the word.
- If you pick BOO you have to put all of your words back!
- The person who has collected the most tricky words at the end wins!
Poetry Picnic
Each week, we will be learning a new poem. We will recite this poem each day. By saying the poem out loud we can focus on the sounds and rhythm of each word or line. This week’s poem is ‘wise old owl’.
We talk about how a poem sometimes has rhyming words and sometimes doesn’t. Can your child tell you the rhyming words in this weeks poem? We also talk about how a poem can have a fast rhythm or a slow rhythm. Can your child tell you if this week’s poem is fast or slow?
Stamps!
Next week, your child will be learning all about what happens to our post when reading the story ‘The Jolly Christmas Postman’. To enhance your child’s learning experience, we will be writing and then posting a postcard home.
If you would like your child’s postcard to be posted through the Royal Mail please provide a stamp in a named envelope by Friday 9th December. Alternatively, your child’s postcard will be brought home by your child.
How to catch a star
This week, we’ve been reading the book How to catch a star by Oliver Jeffers.
We’ve been retelling the story in sequence and adding actions to our retelling.
Maths
In maths, we’ve been extending our understanding of the parts that make a whole, through number composition games. The children were introduced to the part-whole model, as a way of investigating the smaller numbers (parts) that make a whole number.
Three is a part, one is a part. Four is the whole number.
We watched the ‘Stampolines’ episode of Numberblocks, linked to this week’s learning. The children have represented different patterns of four, using multilink cubes and stamping paint squares.
Phonics
This week, we learnt the digraphs (two letters that make one sound) sh, th, ng, nk. These phonemes are some of the most challenging to learn and it’s really important that we pronounce them correctly (‘th’ even has two different pronunciations; voiced and unvoiced!) The children have been superstars working on this daily, both in our phonics sessions and at other times too.
To help your child with the correct pronunciation at home, the Little Wandle website has some fantastic resources for parents. This includes videos on how to say each phoneme. Click here to find out more.
We’ve also learnt three new tricky words this week: she, he, of.
A new ‘learn at home’ phonics sheet was sent home today. Please use this and previously issued sheets, for continued learning at home.
Poetry Picnic
Each week, we will be learning a new poem. We’ll recite this poem each day. By saying the poem out loud, we can focus on the sounds and rhythm of each word or line.
This week’s poem is Mice
Ask your child to say the poem to you at home! The words were sent home with your child on Friday. Can they remember it?
Music/ Christmas Production Preparations!
The children are enjoying our Christmas production rehearsals; learning songs and getting to know their parts. We’re looking forward to rehearsing on the big stage next week. We’re sure many of you will have been treated to a few songs at home too! Everyone is doing brilliantly. Please continue to say lines at home if your child has a speaking part. This will give them that little extra confidence, when it’s their time to shine!
Take a look at more learning from this week!
Reminders
-Swimming Dates
Please send swimming kits on the following dates:
Autumn 2
Rainbow Class- 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 30 Nov
Sunshine Class- 9 Nov, 23 Nov, 7 Dec
There will be no swimming 14 Dec
Spring 1
Rainbow Class- 4 Jan, 18 Jan, 1 Feb
Sunshine Class- 11 Jan, 25 Jan, 8 Feb
-Reception Christmas performances. 08.12.22 10am, 09.12.22 1.30pm
Please return slips for tickets to our Christmas performance, if you haven’t done so already.
– Learning Journey Drop in.
- Monday 12.12.22, 9.00-9.30am
- Tuesday 13.12.22, 9.00-9.30am
- Thursday 15.12.22, 3.30-4.00pm
An invitation for parents/carers to come into the classroom and take a look at your child’s learning journey.
-Reception Christmas Party day. 16.12.22
Your child can come to school in party clothes on this day.
Nursery Rhyme Week
This week in literacy we have been reading the book Each Peach Pear Plum with a focus on rhyming words. We enjoyed spotting the characters on each page.
I spy the witch in the sky. Ellie
I spy Jill behind the tree. Hattie
I spy the man in the tree. Eddy
I spy Bo Peep on the hill. Lenny
Listen to the story. Can your child hear any rhyming words?
Tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog (it’s along the play bar) and turn off auto play – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.
Maths
This week, we have been exploring the concept of ‘wholes’ and ‘parts’. We investigated this using our own bodies and toys to understand that whole things are often made up of smaller parts and that a whole is, therefore, bigger than it’s parts.
My legs are a part. My body is the whole.
My head is a part. My body is the whole.
Using the stem sentence, can your child say what parts make the whole?
The ____ is/are a part. The cat is the whole.
___ is a part. Three is the whole.
This week’s maths challenge was to explore one less using familiar nursery rhymes – 10 green bottles and 10 in a bed.
Phonics
This week, the children have learnt the phonemes z, qu, ch. (the sound a letter makes) . They’ve also been practicing writing the graphemes (the written letters). We have been challenging the children by asking them to spell words using the letters that they know. This week your child has been spelling the words; can, back, run, had and sun. Can your child tell you what phonemes (the sound a letter makes) they can hear in these words?
quick chip zip chop quit zap
This week, your child has learnt the tricky words; go no to and into. A tricky word is a word you cannot sound out – you just have to know it by sight!
Poetry Picnic
This week, Poetry Picnic was a little bit different as it was Nursery Rhyme week. Each day we have sung a new or familiar nursery rhyme.
Music
We were joined my Mr Nash and his guitar for some singing! Using our knowledge of rhyming words we sang lots of wonderful and funny songs.
Our favourite was Down By the Bay as it had lots of funny rhyming parts, such as a ghost eating toast.
Maths Stay and Play
Thank you for all the grown-up that were able to attended our stay and play on Thursday. It was wonderful to see the children proudly showing off their learning.
If you haven’t done so already, please remember to bring back your feedback form as this helps us to develop our sessions in the future.
Home link
As the weather has taken a turn, it is a great opportunity for your child to become more independent in their own self care by learning to zip their coat up and put on hats, gloves and scarves.
Please support your child to zip their own coat up independently if they are not able to do so yet.