Independent learning

The children have been developing a wide range of skills through independent learning opportunities in class. Here is a selection of photographs of what they have been doing this week ( and some from last week).

This week we have introduced the letter sounds d and o as well as the ‘tricky’ words to and he.

Tricky words are words which we cannot sound out phonetically so we need to learn them by heart. We would like the children to learn to write these words from memory as well as being able to recognise and read them by sight. Use the” Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check” strategy ( this should be self explanatory, but if you have any questions about this approach, please ask)

Our writing/storytelling prompt this week was all about our walk in the woods.

Numeracy and Maths

Along with the SEAL core numeracy skills, we have been investigating, identifying and categorising single digit numbers, teen numbers and tens numbers. We have looked at the patterns they make on a 100 square. Vocabulary used includes –

• digits
• teens
• tens
• columns
• rows

Our Core numeracy skills this week were

• writing the numerals 0 – 5 correctly
• counting backwards from 10 (or 20 for some pupils).
• naming the next number in an isolated short backwards number sequence. ie. I say, 10, 9, 8 (they say 7)
• establishing a collection (give me 9 counters/raisins/etc)
• counting a collecting with accurate 1-1 correspondence
• recognising numerals
• sequencing a short selection of numerals ( e.g. 5,6,7,8)
• making instant finger patterns (show me 6 fingers without counting them)
• recognising dice patterns and clapping the amount of dots on the dice

Our challenge numeracy skills were.

• adding two collections with the second one screened ( e.g. here are 8 counters, there are 5 more hiding under this pot, how many altogether?)
• sequencing numerals within the range 0-100
• naming the number after a given number (0-30)
• counting backwards from 30, starting and stopping at different points
• investigating which equal groups can be made from a given number ( e.g. can I make 2 equal groups/3 equal groups/4 equal groups/5 equal groups from 12 counters? What about if I have 16 counters, or 18 etc)

Looking ahead to next week.

As part of our RHSP programme in school, we would like to celebrate the breadth of languages and cultures represented within our class community.

As part of this, we would like to give every child an opportunity to share with the class something about the languages they speak or the country or countries that members of the family come from ( including Scotland) . For example – they may wish to draw or print a flag from a country that is represented in their home; teach the class how to say a phrase in a language that is spoken at home; bring/wear an item of traditional dress or souvenir; or simply talk to the class with no ‘props’

If your child would like to bring or share something, please send it in to school any day over the next fortnight and we will use these to enhance our discussions.

There is no obligation to share anything, only if your child would like to do so.

Other areas of the curriculum

• As part of Black History month we learned about Rosa Parks and how she helped to make things fairer
• We found out facts about dragonflies.
• We had a great walk to the woods, and were lucky to be back in school before the really stormy afternoon.
• Lots of technology and scientific discoveries at loose parts.
• We have been learning to use the camera on the ipad to make a record our own learning.
• In music we sang songs and played games designed to develop skills of keeping a steady beat. We also explored using our voices in different ways.
• A block building prompted discussion about towers. We found out about the Scott Monument, Nelson’s column and the Eiffel Tower. We compared the heights of the towers. Which one is tallest ?
• In Outdoor and Indoor PE we have been focusing on jumping in a hopscotch pattern , and also developing our skills using an underarm throw, throwing to a target, and throwing and catching a quoit.

This week’s homework and other information

• learn to read and write this week’s tricky words.
• write the numerals 1 – 5 using correct number formation ( refer to this video if you wish
• use the blue letter cards to practice building and blending words

A reminder to please name all items of clothing and shoes, and to check names on items brought home in case your child accidentally acquires a jumper belonging to someone else.

Thank you for all your support this term. I can’t believe that we have reached the holidays already. This class are superstars and it has been my privilege to get to know them over the last few weeks. I hope you all have a great holiday week whatever you are doing and I look forward to seeing the children again on the 26th.

Independent learning

The children have been developing a wide range of skills through independent learning opportunities in class. Here is a selection of photographs of what they have been doing.

This week we have introduced the letter sounds e and h as well as the ‘tricky’ words I and the. Tricky words are words which we cannot sound out phonetically so we need to learn them by heart. We would like the children to learn to write these words from memory as well as being able to recognise and read them by sight. We have already started using the word I in our writing .

Our writing/storytelling prompt this week was all about our hair

Numeracy and Maths

This week we have explored our knowledge of 2D shape and 3D objects. We have used the following vocabulary in our discussions –

square, circle, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, cube, cuboid, sphere, cylinder, cone, pyramid, triangular prism, faces, edges, sides, vertices.
Please help to reinforce this learning at home by discussing the properties of shapes and 3d objects you see around you.

Our Core numeracy skills this week were

• counting backwards from 10 (or 20 for some pupils).
• naming the next number in an isolated short backwards number sequence. ie. I say, 10, 9, 8 (they say 7)
• establishing a collection (give me 9 counters/raisins/etc)
• counting a collecting with accurate 1-1 correspondence
• recognising numerals
• sequencing a short selection of numerals ( e.g. 5,6,7,8)
• making instant finger patterns (show me 6 fingers without counting them)
• recognising dice patterns and clapping the amount of dots on the dice

Our challenge numeracy skills were.

• adding two collections with the second one screened ( e.g. here are 8 counters, there are 5 more hiding under this pot, how many altogether?)
• sequencing numerals within the range 0-30
• naming the number after a given number ( 0-30)
• counting backwards from 30, starting and stopping at different points
• investigating which equal groups can be made from a given number ( e.g. can I make 2 equal groups/3 equal groups/4 equal groups/5 equal groups from 12 counters? What about if I have 16 counters, or 18 etc)

Looking ahead to next week.

Holiday week – have a lovely time!

Other areas of the curriculum

• We enjoyed finding out facts about elephants and hedgehogs. Our vocabulary included, nocturnal, hibernation, endangered.
• We followed instructions to help us draw an elephant.
• In music we sang songs and played games designed to develop skills of keeping a steady beat. We also explored using our voices in different ways.
• Miss Croal played her harp for us. It is a small harp, called a clarsach.
• The NHS team came to give us our flu spray.
• In Outdoor and Indoor PE we have been focusing on jumping, landing safely with both feet together and jumping over I am learning how to move my body well, exploring how to manage and control it and finding out how to use and share space (HWB 0-21a)

This week’s homework and other information

• Enjoy the holiday – see you on the 26th.

A reminder to please name all items of clothing and shoes, and to check names on items brought home in case your child accidentally acquires a jumper belonging to someone else.

Independent learning

The children have been developing a wide range of skills through independent learning opportunities in class. Here is a selection of photographs of what they have been doing.

Literacy

This week we have introduced the letter sounds m and r.

Our handwriting focus was diagonal lines.

Our writing/storytelling prompt this week was ‘I was changing my shoes…’

Numeracy

This week we have continued our numeracy fluency work with our Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning ( SEAL) inputs, reinforcing the following strategies and concepts –

Our Core numeracy skills this week were

• counting backwards from 10 (or 20 for some pupils).
• naming the next number in an isolated short backwards number sequence. ie. I say, 10, 9, 8 (they say 7)
• establishing a collection (give me 9 counters/raisins/etc)
• counting a collecting with accurate 1-1 correspondence
• recognising numerals
• sequencing a short selection of numerals ( e.g. 5,6,7,8)
• making instant finger patterns (show me 6 fingers without counting them)
• recognising dice patterns and clapping the amount of dots on the dice

Our challenge numeracy skills were.

• adding two collections with the second one screened ( e.g. here are 8 counters, there are 5 more hiding under this pot, how many altogether?)
• sequencing numerals within the range 0-30
• naming the number after a given number ( 0-30)
• counting backwards from 30, starting and stopping at different points
• investigating which equal groups can be made from a given number ( e.g. can I make 2 equal groups/3 equal groups/4 equal groups/5 equal groups from 12 counters? What about if I have 16 counters, or 18 etc)

Looking ahead to next week.

Loose parts play on Friday morning after break

Other areas of the curriculum

• In health and Wellbeing, our whole school topic is ‘Look on the Bright Side’. We drew pictures of things we are grateful for.
• We continued to explore gender bias (in child friendly language) discussing which jobs and activities are for males/females. Happily, the children are steadfast in their understanding that anyone can do anything they choose to do.
• In music we sang songs and played games designed to develop skills of keeping a steady beat. We also explored using our voices in different ways.
• In Outdoor and Indoor PE we have been focusing on jumping, landing safely with both feet together. I am learning how to move my body well, exploring how to manage and control it and finding out how to use and share space (HWB 0-21a)

This week’s homework and other information

• Practise forming the letters m and r
• Talk together about things to be grateful for
• Count backwards from 10 (or 20 or 30)
• Use all the blue letter cards to blend and build words ( see homework sheet in purple folder)
• Encourage your child to write their name using correct letter formation. You may wish to refer to the sheet given home at parent’s night for letter formation routes.

Can you help?

We have been given a new doll for our role play corner – but it is very cold!! If anyone has any leftover double knitting wool which we could use to make some clothes for it that would be much appreciated. (It would be even more amazing if anyone has the time and skill to make us some clothes to fit a 16″ baby doll)

A reminder to please name all items of clothing and shoes, and to check names on items brought home in case your child accidentally acquires a jumper belonging to someone else.

Outdoor loose parts

No two loose parts sessions are ever the same – their creativity is endless !

Independent learning

The children have been developing a wide range of skills through independent learning opportunities in class. Here is a selection of photographs of what they have been doing.

Literacy

This week we have revised the letter sounds s, a t p n and i.

Our handwriting focus was horizontal lines.

The children will bring home a revision ‘sounds sheet’ today.

Our writing/storytelling prompt this week was ‘I was surprised when…’

Numeracy

This week we have continued our numeracy fluency work with our Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning ( SEAL) inputs, reinforcing the following strategies and concepts –

Our Core numeracy skills this week were

• counting backwards from 10 (or 20 for some pupils).
• naming the next number in an isolated short backwards number sequence. ie. I say, 10, 9, 8 (they say 7)
• establishing a collection ( give me 9 counters/raisins/etc)
• counting a collecting with accurate 1-1 correspondence
• recognising numerals
• sequencing numerals
• making instant finger patterns (show me 6 fingers without counting them)
• recognising dice patterns and clapping the amount of dots on the dice

Our challenge numeracy skills were.

• sequencing numerals within the range 0-30
• naming the number after a given number ( 0-30)
• counting backwards from 30, starting and stopping at different points
• making equal groups from a larger collection – ie 8 counters can be 2 groups of 4, 4 groups of 2 or 8 groups of 1

Looking ahead to next week.

Parent Consultation meetings

Loose parts play on Wednesday afternoon.

Other areas of the curriculum

• We have been discussing gender bias (in child friendly language) and very much enjoyed the story ‘Sparkleboy’. There an online version of the book here if you would like to read it again with your child.
• We have been learning about the people who work in our school. Mrs George and Mrs Cameron came to tell us about their work in the school office, and we went on a tour of the school. We saw places we had never seen before.
• In music we sang songs and played games designed to develop skills of keeping a steady beat. We also explored using our voices in different ways.
• In Outdoor and Indoor PE we have been focus on agility when running, zig zagging through obstacles and playing the tail catcher game. (I am learning how to move my body well, exploring how to manage and control it and finding out how to use and share space (HWB 0-21a)

This week’s homework and other information

• Practise forming the letters s,a,t,p,i,n.
• Count backwards from 10 (or 20 or 30)
• Use all the blue letter cards to blend and build words ( see homework sheet in purple folder)
• Encourage your child to write their name using correct letter formation. You may wish to refer to this sheet for letter formation routes.

Can you help?

We have been given a new doll for our role play corner – but it is very cold!! If anyone has any leftover double knitting wool which we could use to make some clothes for it that would be much appreciated. (It would be even more amazing if anyone has the time and skill to make us some clothes to fit a 16″ baby doll)

A reminder to please name all items of clothing and shoes, and to check names on items brought home in case your child accidentally acquires a jumper belonging to someone else.

Today your child will bring home a keepsake book which has been supplied by the government.

Outdoor loose parts

The children had a great time developing their stem skills using the outdoor loose parts resources. They demonstrated excellent team work as we selected items from the shed and then tidied them away at the end. We still would welcome donations of any further resources to support our loose parts provision – if you have a source of larger items such as guttering, logs etc we would love to hear from you. Also, any old baking trays or pots and pans are most welcomed and will be well used.

Independent learning

The children have been developing a wide range of skills through independent learning opportunities in class. Here is a selection of photographs of what they have been doing.

Literacy

This week we have explored the letter sounds s and i.

The children will bring home the next ‘sounds sheet’ today. please cut out and keep the letter cards and use them as flashcards to practice letter recognition. Each week we will send home the new sounds learned to add to your collection. In order to blend the sounds seamlessly together to build words the children should learn and use the ‘pure sound’ of the letter ( eg sssss rather than Suh or the letter name Ess )The sheet will also have a list of suggested words to build using the sounds.

Please practice forming the letters following the correct route, using these links as a guide.

Our writing/storytelling prompt this week was ‘I am reaching up…’

Numeracy

This week we have continued our numeracy fluency work with our Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning ( SEAL) inputs, reinforcing the following strategies and concepts –

• counting backwards from 10 (or 20 for some pupils).
• naming the next number in an isolated short backwards number sequence. ie. I say, 10, 9, 8 (they say 7)
• establishing a collection ( give me 9 counters/raisins/etc)
• counting a collecting with accurate 1-1 correspondence
• recognising numerals
• sequencing numerals
• making instant finger patterns (show me 6 fingers)
• recognising dice patterns

Looking ahead to next week.

Booking for parent consultation meetings will be open. Please see information from school office.

Other areas of the curriculum

• In music we sang songs and played games designed to develop skills of keeping a steady beat. We also explored using our voices in different ways.
• In Outdoor and Indoor PE we have been continuing to focus on movement skills, competencies and concepts. (I am learning how to move my body well, exploring how to manage and control it and finding out how to use and share space (HWB 0-21a)

This week’s homework and other information

• Practise writing s and i using the letter routes in the videos above.
• Count backwards from 10 (or 20 or 30)
• Use the blue letter cards to blend words
• Encourage your child to write their name using correct letter formation. You may wish to refer to this sheet for letter formation routes.

Can you help?

We have been given a new doll for our role play corner – but it is very cold!! If anyone has any leftover double knitting wool which we could use to make some clothes for it that would be much appreciated. (It would be even more amazing if anyone has the time and skill to make us some clothes to fit a 16″ baby doll)

A reminder to please name all items of clothing and shoes, and to check names on items brought home in case your child accidentally acquires a jumper belonging to someone else.

Today your child will bring home their learning story folder containing an overview plan for the term along with targets and star steps for each pupil. Please return the folder to school next week. Thank you.

Independent learning

The children have been developing a wide range of skills through independent learning opportunities in class. Here is a selection of photographs of what they have been doing.

Literacy

This week we have explored the letter sounds p and n.

The children will bring home a ‘sounds sheet’ today. please cut out and keep the letter cards and use them as flashcards to practice letter recognition. Each week we will send home the new sounds learned to add to your collection. In order to blend the sounds seamlessly together to build words the children should learn and use the ‘pure sound’ of the letter ( eg sssss rather than Suh or the letter name Ess )The sheet will also have a list of suggested words to build using the sounds.

Please practice forming the letters following the correct route, using these links as a guide.

Our writing/storytelling prompt this week was ‘I am pointing to…’

Numeracy

This week we have continued our numeracy fluency work with our Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning ( SEAL) inputs, reinforcing the following strategies and concepts –

• counting backwards from 10 ( or 20 for some pupils).
• naming the next number in an isolated short backwards number sequence. ie. I say, 10, 9, 8 (they say 7)
• establishing a collection ( give me 9 counters/raisins/etc)
• counting a collecting with accurate 1-1 correspondence
• recognising numerals
• sequencing numerals
• making instant finger patterns (show me 6 fingers)
• recognising dice patterns

Looking ahead to next week.

Next Thursday afternoon we will have outdoor loose parts play (aka Messy play). The children way get wet and dirty, so please dress accordingly – old play clothes, or a waterproof onesie, wellies etc. We want the children to enjoy the experience without worrying about their clothes.

Loose parts play develops skills across the whole curriculum. It is child-led, and helps children strengthen their independence and sense of self. It helps children observe, enquire, investigate, construct, deconstruct and engage with both others and the world around them.

Other areas of the curriculum

• In music we sang songs and played games designed to develop skills of keeping a steady beat. We also explored using our voices in different ways.
• In Outdoor and Indoor PE we have been continuing to focus on movement skills, competencies and concepts. (I am learning how to move my body well, exploring how to manage and control it and finding out how to use and share space (HWB 0-21a)

Things to do at home and other information

• Promote independence in dressing – changing/tying shoes, opening snack packets, zipping up coats, sorting inside out sleeves etc
• Look around the environment for examples of written numerals – car number plates on the walk to school provide lots of opportunity for number hunts!
• Encourage your child to write their name using correct letter formation. You may wish to refer to this sheet for letter formation routes.

A reminder to name all items of clothing and shoes, and to check names on items brought home in case your child accidentally acquires a jumper belonging to someone else.

Thank you for your continued support in sending clean recycling to resource our STEM modelling area.

We are still seeking donations of pots/pans etc to supplement our outdoor loose parts provision. please see last week’s homelink for further information.

Independent learning

The children have been developing their skills through independent learning opportunities in class. Here are just a few photographs of what they have been doing.

Literacy

This week we have explored the letter sound a and t.

The children will bring home a ‘sounds sheet’ today. please cut out and keep the letter cards and use them as flashcards to practice letter recognition. Each week we will send home the new sounds learned to add to your collection. In order to blend the sounds seamlessly together to build words the children should learn and use the ‘pure sound’ of the letter ( eg sssss rather than Suh or the letter name Ess )The sheet will also have a list of suggested words to build using the sounds.

Please practice forming the letters following the correct route, using these links as a guide.

This week we have begun to introduce the children to the characters in The Oxford Reading Tree scheme which we use in school. You may wish to watch and discuss this short video at home with your child.

Our writing/storytelling prompt this week was ‘My Family’

Numeracy

This week we have started our Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning ( SEAL) inputs, reinforcing the following strategies and concepts –

• counting backwards from 10 ( or 20 for some pupils).
• naming the next number in an isolated short backwards number sequence. ie. I say, 10, 9, 8 (they say 7)
• establishing a collection ( give me 9 counters/raisins/etc)
• counting a collecting with accurate 1-1 correspondence
• recognising numerals
• sequencing numerals
• making instant finger patterns (show me 6 fingers)
• recognising dice patterns

Other areas of the curriculum

In Outdoor PE we have been continuing to focus on our skills in different ways of travelling e.g. jumping with both feet together, skipping, hopping and side stepping. In indoor PE we played games beginning with ‘t’ like tunnel tig and toe tig and we had fun with tennis rackets too.

Things to do at home and other information

• Promote independence in dressing – changing/tying shoes, opening snack packets, zipping up coats, sorting inside out sleeves etc
• Look around the environment for examples of written numerals – car number plates on the walk to school provide lots of opportunity for number hunts!
• Encourage your child to write their name using correct letter formation. You may wish to refer to this sheet for letter formation routes.

Purple folder. Thank you for your support in emptying the purple folders each day. Some children like to attach a keyring or similar to their folder to help them easily identify their own one. This is a great idea, but please only one small – medium sized keyring, as lots of bulky ones make the folder tricky to store in the class basket. Thanks.

A reminder to name all items of clothing and shoes, and to check names on items brought home in case your child accidentally acquires a jumper belonging to someone else.

We would greatly appreciate donations of any unwanted empty or partially used notebooks or diaries ( used pages can be removed). Also any enticing writing implements ( ie glittery pencils/gel pens/ pencils with feathers etc – basically anything other than standard school issue type pencils/pens) These will be used in our ‘message trolley’. The children enjoy choosing resources from the trolley to use in their independent learning, promoting markmaking and early writing skills.

Please also see a request in the home link for some donations of resources for our outdoor loose parts learning (messy play) sessions

How can it be September already? We are fortunate that the weather has been so good lately, but please bear in mind that in Scotland a sunny morning doesn’t necessarily mean a dry lunch break. Please send the children to school with a jacket every day to allow us to spend time outdoors each day regardless of the weather.

STEM

(Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)

STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)

We really appreciate your ongoing donations of clean recycling – yes, we really do need more boxes!

Our STEM area is a core part of our play curriculum in school. The end product may not look like much, but it is the process that matters. ‘Junk’ modelling helps to develop their imagination and creative abilities while challenging them to explore, investigate and problem solve as they bring their ideas to life.

Children can work on their own or co-operate with others, learning to negociate and share ideas. When they create something new it can give their confidence and self-esteem a big boost. They can also consider how their plans have worked out as they think about what they might have done differently or how they might improve their model.

With these materials they practice complex skills from fine and gross locomotor skills to higher order executive functioning; higher order thinking skills such as sequencing, hypothesis testing, divergent problem solvng, analysis and evaluation.

If they don’t take their model home at the end of the day it doesn’t matter – the learning has already happened. If it does come home, please value the process your child has gone through more than the product itself. Thank you.

Independent learning

The children have been developing their skills through independent learning opportunities in class. Here are just a few photographs of what they have been doing.

Literacy

Our literacy focus this week has been on hearing and creating rhyme. We have listened to lots of books by Lynley Dodd, the author of the Hairy McLary series of stories.

We have also continued to share the rest of the memory boxes together.

Numeracy

This week our focus has been on counting to 10, starting and stopping at different places. e.g. start at 3 and stop at 8

We have also been learning to recognise the numerals 6-10

Other areas of the curriculum

In both indoor and Outdoor PE we have been continuing to focus on our skills in different ways of travelling e.g. jumping with both feet together, skipping, hopping and side stepping.

Things to do at home and other information

• Promote independence in dressing – changing/tying shoes, opening snack packets, zipping up coats, sorting inside out sleeves etc
• Count forward within 10, starting and stopping at different points
• Look around the environment for examples of written numerals 0-10
• Encourage your child to write their name using correct letter formation. You may wish to refer to this sheet for letter formation routes.

Purple folder. Thank you for your support in emptying the purple folders each day. Some children like to attach a keyring or similar to their folder to help them easily identify their own one. This is a great idea, but please only one small – medium sized keyring, as lots of bulky ones make the folder tricky to store in the class basket. Thanks.

A reminder to name all items of clothing and shoes, and to check names on items brought home in case your child accidentally acquires a jumper belonging to someone else.

We would greatly appreciate donations of any unwanted empty or partially used notebooks or diaries ( used pages can be removed). Also any enticing writing implements ( ie glittery pencils/gel pens/ pencils with feathers etc – basically anything other than standard school issue type pencils/pens) These will be used in our ‘message trolley’. The children enjoy choosing resources from the trolley to use in their independent learning, promoting markmaking and early writing skills.

Please also see a request in the home link for some donations of resources for our outdoor loose parts learning (messy play) sessions