This week in Reception, we enjoyed reading Owl Babies by Martin Waddell. 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.
Using a story map, we created our own actions to help us retell the story from the beginning to the end. We practised remembering key events from the story and included the repeated phrases.
I want my Mummy!
All owls think a lot.
What’s all the fuss?
Phonics
In phonics this week, we’ve focused on:
- words with s /s/ added at the end (hats, sits)
- words with s /z/ added at the end (bags)
- words ending s /z/ (his)
We’ve learnt the tricky words: we, me, be
Tricky words are words that children learn to recognise by sight. Children have been introduced to many new Phase 2 tricky words this half term. Regular practice, both at home and at school, will help them to remember and recognise these words.
Help at home: Here are a few games you can play to help your child learn their tricky words:
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Tricky word doorbell/password: Stick a tricky word on a doorframe. Children say the word correctly each time they go through the door.
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Tricky word hunt / hide-and-seek: Write tricky words on pieces of paper and hide them around the house. Children find them and read each word aloud.
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Pairs: Write each tricky word twice on separate pieces of paper. Mix them up and play a simple pairs game where children have to read the word and find the matching card.
In provision, we’ve been reading and highlighting our focus tricky words.
Poetry Basket
Each week we learn a new poem and say it together every day. Reciting the poem out loud helps children to hear the sounds and rhythm in the words, which supports their early reading skills. This week’s poem is called ‘Wise Old Owl‘. Please follow the link to enjoy watching the children recite it.
Maths: counting, ordinality and cardinality
This week in Maths, we’ve been busy:
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practising one-to-one correspondence by carefully matching objects to their representations
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developing our understanding of cardinality — knowing that the last number counted tells us the total
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counting abstract things such as claps and jumps
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counting beyond 20 to spot number patterns
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linking quantities to numbers within 5
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exploring how an amount stays the same even when it is moved or rearranged
Learning journey drop-ins
Thank you to all the parents and carers who were able to join us for the first look at your child’s learning journey book. We’ll be inviting you back to view these again on specific dates in the spring and summer terms, but they are also available at any time in the classroom if you would like to take a peek.
A few parents and carers asked about the written observations and the numbers that were written next to them. Our Early Years Curriculum Guide describes our curriculum and explains the age-related expectations for children in Reception. Please ask if you have any questions.
Diary Dates
- Friday 12 December 3.15-4.15 FOSP Christmas Disco (bring named party clothes in a bag to change into at the end of the school day)
- Tuesday 16 December 1.30pm / Wednesday 17 December 9.45am Early Years Christmas Performance
- Thursday 18 December Christmas Dinner
- Friday 19 December Non-uniform day and Reception Christmas Party day. More details to follow.