Information evening

Don't forget that Rowde Academy are hosting an information evening straight after school on Monday. This will be a general talk about Internet use followed by a choice of four different sessions which will be repeated three times. Cygnus and Great Bear teachers are combining to talk about the importance of phonics as well as supporting your child read at home.

Please can you keep an eye on missing resources from school. Thank you to parents who are returning these items. Often at this age there is temptation to "borrow" objects but we are seeing dwindling resources in some areas. If you find small space rockets and figures please can you return them. As part of our personal and social we constantly talk about matters such as these. This week in literacy, the Jolly Postman visited the Giants house delivering a card from Jack. Jack was saying that he was going back to the Giants house to take all of the precious things. This led into a healthy debate about rights and wrongs and how we would feel if objects were taken that didn't belong to us.

In maths we have been using 1p coins to buy stamps and finding totals. When using coins we always talk about what the p means as it is important for children to understand that it is a unit of measure.

In phonics we are continuing with phase 3 sounds and trying to write simple three letter words that can be sounded out. We are continuing to learn the names of the letters  and making links with corresponding sounds. We are really trying with letter formation and it is important that adults support this as the direction of the letters is so important.

Don't forget that home learning is collected on a Thursday. Please encourage it to be dome in pencil from now on unless colouring. Everything needs a name on written by the child. Just a reminder, the speech bubbles are for special wow moments in your child's life at home. Please can you write them. We always love looking at photos especially if they can be added to the learning journals.

 Well done to Laythan our star of the week. He is enthusiastic and resilient in his learning, willing to try everything. He never worries about getting it wrong as this is part of the learning process.

 We were testing materials to find out what was waterproof and not waterproof. we thought the Jolly Postman needed a new jacket now that the weather was getting wetter. We had lots of fun.

 Making words with four sounds.

Lots of us are getting so much better at forming letters.

 Playing our weekly ordering numbers to 20 game then removing a number to see if the learning partner can spot it.

 In RE, we reflected on the meaning of Christmas and were able to move on from it being about Father Christmas and getting presents to a special baby being born called Jesus. we made links with receiving and giving presents and talked about the Wise men visiting. We talked lots about the angels being Gods messengers and how special angels were.

 We sorted Christmas cards into fun ones with Christmas characters on and those that had a special Christian message about the birth of Jesus.

 We were colouring by number as well as getting children to develop finer control. Coloring pays a huge part in developing writing skills as it is control as well as being able to assert the right amount of pressure.

 Working out how many coins are needed to pay for certain stamps.

Children in need

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Children in Need today. It is always a worthy cause and we spent time reflecting on what the day and fundraising meant.

Please can I remind you that on non uniform days, it is important to send children in clothes that they can manage independently especially shoes. Children find laces difficult at this age and as shoes are removed frequently throughout the day we don't have time to do  laces. We are trying to remind children to look after their clothes especially after playtimes but they are forgetful and clothing does go missing. If it is unnamed, it is usually sent to the lost property outside the office. Named clothing usually finds its way back to us. I would suggest naming everything even gloves and hats.

We will start hearing readers and tricky words again on Monday. I was impressed with lots of the phase 2 phonic assessments. For many the next step continues to be blending sounds together e.g. c.a.t = cat.  We will only change books if we know that you have read with your child at least two times. Please record in purple book everytime you hear reading. I am collecting home learning folders in on a Thursday as we are often very busy on a Friday.New home learning will be sent home on a Friday.

With handwriting, I would now like all letter formation to be done with a pencil please as we are starting to be more accurate with what we are doing. You need to sit and help with letter formation as children find it tricky by themselves.

I have put some speech bubbles in the reading folders. These are for wow moments at home such as special learning or doing something for the first time. Examples from the past have included riding bikes without stabilisers, swimming, trying different food, losing a tooth, tidying up or recognising letters and numbers. These will be added to the learning journal.

 Oh dear, I'm not sure about the crab apple jelly tasting from last week.

 Another round of making birds.

 Making and hanging bird feeders.

We are still wrapping presents up.

Child initiated writing in the post office

I think we could offer a present wrapping service. 

In phonics we are continuing to find the sounds in words.

On Monday, a very excited Daisy was 5.

Filming our special video.

Finding different ways to sort 5 stamps into two groups whilst remembering the total is still 5. I love the concentration.

Whoops, my slippers.

Independent Jolly Postman painting.

Back to Thursday and the lovely Mrs Dix.