As we work towards achieving the Early Level talking and listening outcomes, we would like the children to deliver a ‘talk’ to the class next week.
The title of the talk is My Favourite place. The children should come prepared to speak to the whole class about a favourite place that they have chosen. It doesn’t have to be anywhere amazing -for example it could be a holiday destination, the dentist, granny’s garden or their bedroom.
As it is a talk, they should not bring a script to read out, but can, if they wish, bring one photo or drawing to share.
As a rough guideline the talk should include the opening line ‘My favourite place is ……., followed by a couple of sentences describing the place and an explanation of why they like it”
Success Criteria for the task :-
Organise your talk so that it makes sense
Speak clearly so that everyone can hear
Make eye contact as you speak
We will pick people at random to present their talks starting next Wednesday so they have a week to get ready.
We were blending and building words with the initial consonant blends: cr and br.
Our tricky words this week were: do and you.
This week we were writing sentences using the word you. We were describing somebody, and our friends had to guess who that person was.
We started sharing a new reading book in our groups. These books have come home with your child today, please return them to school on Monday.
THINGS TO DO AT HOME
The consonant blends are quite challenging and any further practice at home is really helpful.
Some words to use
Bran broth brick brush broom
Crab crack crop crash crush creep
Write out some words which have the consonant blends we have been learning this week. The child can try to sound out the word using the pure sound of each letter to blend together to read the word.
The adult can say some of the words we have been learning and the child writes them down.
Write down the tricky words on a piece of paper or card, hold the cards behind your back then show them to your child and ask them to read the word you have shown them. Your child could practise writing these words, forming the letters the way they have been shown in class.
(If you are unsure about correct letter formation, please speak to one of us at the end of the day).
Please share your child’s reading book with them.
Next week we will be starting the Scottish National Standardised Assessments in literacy (SNASAs), so there will be no new sounds or tricky words for the next few weeks.
NUMERACY AND MATHS
We were learning to display data in graphs and charts. We compiled a whole class pictogram showing the different eye colours within the class. We asked each other questions to gather data to find out what pupils enjoyed playing with in the classroom and what pupils would like to have in the classroom. We will use the data to create bar charts.
Our focus this term is on athletics – run/jump/throw.
FLUFFY!
Thank you so much for all the entries in Fluffy’s journal. It has been lovely to see the children’s enthusiasm and eagerness to take him home. The children have really enjoyed listening to Fluffy’s different adventures. Everyone in the class has now had a turn with Fluffy, we will continue to draw names from a hat so that all the children can have a second turn with him/her but we will put the jotter in our reading corner so that the children can enjoy reading about his/her adventures.
RSHP
We have started learning about pregnancy and looking after a baby and were very lucky to have Lottie’s mum visit the primary one classes. She showed us her scan photos and we listened to the baby’s heartbeat. The children got the chance to ask some questions. We really appreciate Lisa sharing her pregnancy experience with us and the children were very engaged with what she had to say and listened really well.
LOOSE PARTS
Lots of exploration and cooperative play going on in loose parts yesterday.
Next date for loose parts is Friday 17 May.
Some examples of other learning taking place this week:
CLASS PHOTOGRAPHS
Unfortunately, there was a problem with the photographer’s lens when the photographs were taken on Wednesday, this resulted in a slight haze on the photographs. The photographs will be retaken on Tuesday 30 April. Please dress your child in school uniform and we will adjust PE accordingly. Thank you.
School photographer re-take next Tuesday – please see email for details.
Ask me –
to tell you some signs of spring.
to spell the words you and her.
to tell you about short strides and long strides.
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Our learning this week
Here are some photographs of us developing our skills through our independent learning opportunities and experiences this week. Please take time to share these photographs with your child so they can share their learning with you.
Literacy focus
This week we have been learning to identify the cr and br consonant blends
Tricky words
Our new words this week were you and her
Please find below a list for reference with block one and block two words introduced so far
Block one – I the to was saw put he he me is his want
Block 2 so far- you her she we be all are they come some said onewere there into here
Maths and numeracy focus
We have been learning about two, three and four digit numbers
Other areas of the curriculum
In PE we started our block of athletics ( run. jump, throw) and we were investigating efficient running technique.
As part of our RSHP curriculum we have learning about pregnancy. Lottie’s mummy came to talk to us about the baby in her tummy.
We used ink and tissue to create some spring blossom pictures. Blowing the ink was very hard work !
Looking ahead to next week
Class photos on Tuesday ( please wear school uniform clothing and we will modify our PE lesson accordingly). Loose Parts on Thursday.
We will begin our Scottish National Standardised Assessments ( SNSA ) in Literacy.
‘Homework’ ( things to practice at home)
Look for any photographs of you as a tiny baby. Talk to a grown up about what you were like as a newborn baby. Do you still have any of your old baby clothes ?
Play this game. Choose addition or subtraction and then set your level of challenge – there are lots of options to try !
Use our class spelling city page to play games which will help you to learn to spell our block one and two tricky words. Follow this link and then choose the list you would like to practise.
We hope that everyone had an enjoyable break, it was lovely to see the children so enthusiastic to be back at school.
This is what we have been learning this week:
LITERACY
We shared something we had done during the holidays with a partner or in a small group.
We were writing about our holidays in our writing jotters.
We revised some of the digraphs we had learned and focused on th.
In handwriting, we practised writing some capital letters.
We continued reading the books we started before the holidays. Books will now come home with your child on a Friday. Please can you make sure that books are returned on Mondays so that they can be used for other children.
THINGS TO DO AT HOME
We will be assessing the children on their knowledge of the block one and two tricky words. Please can you practise these words at home with your child. Remember these words can not be sounded out and just have to be learned.
Block One words: I the to he me is his put was want saw no
Block Two words: go be she are they all some come said one you her were there into here
NUMERACY AND MATHS
We have continued to work on core numeracy skills: recognising numerals, saying forward and backward number word sequences, sequencing numerals, counting items, saying the number before and after and adding numbers together in our heads.
We were working on number bonds to 10. These are all the numbers which add together to make 10. We practised using the addition and equals symbols and played a game on the smartboard.
The children had the opportunity to use the box and crash mat and we assessed their ability to balance.
RSHP
A parent has very kindly agreed to visit the class to talk about her pregnancy. We talked about what we would like to find out about pregnancy and thought of questions we could ask her.
LOOSE PARTS
We enjoyed loose parts in the sunshine this morning.
Next date for loose parts is Thursday 25 April.
Some examples of learning taking place this week (and the final week of last term).
When we need to use capital letters in our writing.
What ibex are really good at.
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Our learning this week
Here are some photographs of us developing our skills through our independent learning opportunities and experiences this week. Please take time to share these photographs with your child so they can share their learning with you.
Literacy focus
We have been learning how to correctly form the capital letters for a,b,c,d,e,f, and g
Story Writing
Our story writing prompt this week was Our Holiday
This week we have been revising our reading recognition of block one and two tricky words.
Tricky words
Please find below a list for reference with block one and block two words introduced so far
Block one – I the to was saw put he he me is his want
Block 2 so far- she we be all are they come some said onewere there into here
Maths and numeracy focus
We have spent some time this week revising our instant recall of number bonds/number pairs which make ten.
Other areas of the curriculum
In PE we had one last lesson in our gymnastics block. We also learned some new games which help us to practise skills such as timing and hand-eye co-ordination.
Looking ahead to next week
Class photos on Wednesday ( no PE for us as the hall is being used). Loose Parts on Thursday.
‘Homework’ ( things to practice at home)
Use this game to revise number bonds of ten. ( choose number bonds of 20 if you already are an expert at number bonds of 10)
Play this Subtraction game – choose the ‘less than’ option and then select from the number range options
Use our class spelling city page to play games which will help you to learn to spell our block one and two tricky words. Follow this link and then choose the list you would like to practise.
To read o’clock times on a digital and analogue clock
To spell the words pink, rink, sank, tank,
To tell you about skunks.
Please continue to send in your clean recycling.
Our learning this week
Here are some photographs of us developing our skills through our independent learning opportunities and experiences this week. Please take time to share these photographs with your child so they can share their learning with you.
Literacy focus
Story Writing
Our story writing prompt this week was “The pink pig.”
This week we have been learning about consonant blends and the end and beginning of words. This week’s sound was nk
Tricky words
This week we introduced two new words from block 2 – into and here. Please support your child at home with learning to both read and spell these words.
As requested at parent’s night please find below a list for reference with block one and block two words introduced so far
Block one – I the to was saw put he he me is his want
Block 2 so far- she we be all are they come some said onewere there into here
Maths and numeracy focus
We have started to learn about time. This includes days of the week, months of the year, seasons, routines, and reading digital and analogue clocks. This week’s focus was reading anaologe and digital clocks to the whole hour ( and half past for some pupils)
Other areas of the curriculum
We have been exploring the RSHP unit ‘Asking questions, making choices’ We have talked about questions with clear yes/ no answers such as ‘ Is this Thursday?’ and preference questions such as ‘ Do you like brocolli ? / ‘Would you like to read a book or draw a picture?’ We also learned about question marks.
In PE we have been playing games and working at stations designed to revise all the skills we have been developing recently – core strength, balance, fitness, dexterity, hand/eye coordination and shoulder pivot.
Looking ahead to next week
Last day of term is Thursday – finishing at the usual time of 2.55. There will be no Friday blog post next week. Have a peaceful Easter break.
‘Homework’ ( things to practice at home)
Look around the house for different clocks/ways to tell the time. Do you have a calendar? What information do you put on your calendar?
Use this game to practise telling the time. Choose your own level of difficulty.
Play this Subtraction game – choose the ‘less than’ option and then select from the number range options
Use our class spelling city page to play games which will help you to learn to spell our block one and two tricky words. Follow this link and then choose the list you would like to practise.
Here are some highlights of our learning this week:
Literacy
Our new sound this week was ‘nk‘ as in ‘bank’ and ‘sink’. We spoke about how we find this sound at the end of words (just like last week’s sound, ‘ng’ ).
Our new tricky words this week were ‘into‘ and ‘here‘.
We have been reading non-fiction books this week and will bring these home to share on Tuesday. It would be appreciated if these could be returned on Thursday, instead of Friday, next week, before the holidays begin.
In writing, we wrote sentences about a pink pig to help us practise using the new sound we learnt.
Things to try at home:
Try and spot ‘into’, ‘here’ and words with the ‘nk’ sound when you are out and about, looking at books or signs etc.
Take turns to spell the sounds in ‘nk’ words (say alternate sounds with ‘nk’ said as one sound rather than as n and k.
Practise forming the letters correctly in the ‘nk’ sound by writing down some of the words above.
Take turns to read the pages of your reading book with someone at home. Pick some words from your book and se if you can think of some rhyming words.
Numeracy and Maths
We continued our learning about o’clock times on both analogue and digital clocks and looked at half past times too. We often begin the day by looking at the calendar and talking about what day it is, and this week we also used the ‘Days of the Week’ song (see last week’s blog / below) to help us learn the order of the days.
We worked on a variety of skills, across the class, in numeracy including counting forwards and backwards, ordering numbers and describing what we could see when looking at equal groups.
Things to try at home:
Practise counting backwards in short sequences, from different starting points. If you are confident doing this in the 1-30 range, try doing this in the 1-100 range.
You might want to sing along with this song as a starting point.
Keep talking about time at home. What time do you wake up? What time do you eat breakfast? Do you go somewhere the same day each week? How long does it take you to brush your teeth? How many jumps can you do in 10 seconds?
Here are the links to the songs again.
PE
We were practising our jumping, landing and balancing skills and enjoyed jumping onto and then off the springboard.
In our other PE session this week, we were developing our skills in working cooperatively to collect as many bean bags as we could for our team.
Equalities
We listened to the story ‘Trailblazer: Lily Parr, the Unstoppable Star of Women’s Soccer’ by Elizabeth Dale. We heard about how Lily Parr was determined to find a way to continue playing the game she loved despite facing lots of barriers along the way. Some of us drew pictures of Lily after hearing the story.
Music
We enjoyed another session with our external visitor from YMI. We continued working on the songs from last time as well as having fun making our own suggestions and actions when learning a new song. We also worked on listening to and repeating different rhythms.
Loose Parts
We took the decision not to go ahead with loose parts this week due the very windy weather on Thursday afternoon. We will let you know the next date for loose parts after the holidays.
Fluffy
We are continuing to enjoy hearing about all the adventures that Fluffy is having with all the different families from our class. To allow everyone to have their turn, we are asking that Fluffy only visits your home for two days at a time. However, please don’t worry if you forget to bring Fluffy back on time.
As we have previously mentioned, there is absolutely no expectation that families add to the journal. It is completely optional and, if pupils decide to complete it, could involve drawing a picture or writing a sentence or two. We appreciate how busy family life can be!
Here are some examples of what we have been learning through our play this week:
A ticket booth at a football stadiumThe football stadium car parkA castle
To spell the words ring, sing, wing, bang, hang, long, strong
To tell you about things with wings.
Please continue to send in your clean recycling.
Our learning this week
Here are some photographs of us developing our skills through our independent learning opportunities and experiences this week. Please take time to share these photographs with your child so they can share their learning with you.
Literacy focus
Story Writing
Our story writing prompt this week was “My castle….”
This week we have been learning about consonant blends and the end and beginning of words. This week’s sound was ng
Tricky words
This week we introduced two new words from block 2 – were and there. Please support your child at home with learning to both read and spell these words.
As requested at parent’s night please find below a list for reference with block one and block two words introduced so far
Block one – I the to was saw put he he me is his want
Block 2 so far- she we be all are they come some said onewere there
Maths and numeracy focus
We have started to learn about time. This includes days of the week, months of the year, seasons, routines, and reading digital and analogue clocks. This week’s focus was days of the week and daily routines.
We continue to explore subtraction strategies, including using concrete materials, numberlines, and mental counting back.
Other areas of the curriculum
We have been learning about things with wings. we learned that a bat is a mammal which can fly, penguins have wings but can’t fly, and ostriches are the worlds largest birds and they can’t fly because they are too heavy,
In PE we continue to learn about balance , rolls ( teaching safe technique for forward rolls) and revising our throwing skills to develop shoulder pivot and strength.
Looking ahead to next week
Loose parts ( messy play) on Thursday.
‘Homework’ ( things to practice at home)
Practise naming the day before /after a given day. This is a trickier skill than simply chanting the days of the week in order by rote.
Play this Subtraction game – choose the ‘less than’ option and then select from the number range options
Use our class spelling city page to play games which will help you to learn to spell our block one and two tricky words. Follow this link and then choose the list you would like to practise.
We were blending and building words with the final consonant blend: ng.
Our tricky words this week were: there and were.
In writing this week we were drawing and describing the main character from the story ‘My Big Shouting Day’.
The children took their reading books home on Tuesday, and we started sharing a new book in our groups on Wednesday.
THINGS TO DO AT HOME
The final consonant blends are quite challenging and any further practice at home is really helpful.
Some words to use – song long king gang ring sing wing hang hung bang sang rang lung fang.
Write out some words which have the final consonant blend we have been learning this week. The child can try to sound out the word using the pure sound of each letter to blend together to read the word. You could try writing the start of the word and the final blend in different colours then cut them up. If you did this with a few different words and laid them out, the child could then play a matching game, matching the start of the word to the final blend.
The adult can say some of the words we have been learning this week and the child writes them down.
Write down the tricky words on a piece of paper or card, hold the cards behind your back then show them to your child and ask them to read the word you have shown them. Your child could practise writing these words, forming the letters the way they have been shown in class.
(If you are unsure about correct letter formation, please speak to one of us at the end of the day).
NUMERACY AND MATHS
We continued our topic on time. We were using the clocks to make o’clock times and talking about what we might be doing at that time of day. We were practising months of the year and linking them to the four seasons.
THINGS TO DO AT HOME
Look at clocks around your home and talk about the different times of day, what time do you get up, have breakfast, go to school, go to bed etc.
Practise saying/singing the months of the year in the correct order.
PE
We were practising different jumps and landings.
FLUFFY!
Thank you so much for all the entries in Fluffy’s journal. It has been lovely to see the children’s enthusiasm and eagerness to take him home. At the moment, we are just allowing the children to keep him for two nights so that everyone can have a turn as soon as possible but if you forget to bring him back to school, please don’t worry.
We really don’t want to give families anything extra to have to think about so PLEASE don’t feel you have to add to the journal. Your child will be given the chance to speak to the class about what they have done with Fluffy.
HWB
We have been thinking about what makes us special and unique and drew pictures of ourselves.
MUSIC
We began our programme of musical activities with the Youth Music Initiative.
We were blending and building words with the final consonant blends: lt and ft.
Our tricky words this week were: said and one.
Our writing topic this week was- she/he/they/I left……..
The children took their reading books home on Tuesday, and we started sharing a new book in our groups on Wednesday.
THINGS TO DO AT HOME
The final consonant blends are quite challenging and any further practice at home is really helpful.
Some words to use loft, lift, soft, daft, raft, left. Gift.
Belt, melt, kilt, felt, tilt, wilt, lilt.
Write out some words which have the final consonant blends we have been learning this week. The child can try to sound out the word using the pure sound of each letter to blend together to read the word.
The adult can say some of the words we have been learning this week and the child writes them down.
Write down the tricky words on a piece of paper or card, hold the cards behind your back then show them to your child and ask them to read the word you have shown them. Your child could practise writing these words, forming the letters the way they have been shown in class.
(If you are unsure about correct letter formation, please speak to one of us at the end of the day).
NUMERACY AND MATHS
We began a topic on time and started by talking about mornings and afternoons and the different activities we did at those times. We spoke about the days of the week and tried to put them in the correct order.
THINGS TO DO AT HOME
Look at clocks around your home and talk about the different times of day, what time do you get up, have breakfast, go to school, go to bed etc.
Practise saying/singing the days of the week in the correct order.
PE
We had a PE session outside this week, keeping fit using hoola hoops.
At our inside PE session, we were working on cooperation, listening and following rules.
FLUFFY!
Thank you so much for all the entries in Fluffy’s journal. It has been lovely to see the children’s enthusiasm and eagerness to take him home. At the moment, we are just allowing the children to keep him for two nights so that everyone can have a turn as soon as possible but if you forget to bring him back to school, please don’t worry.
We really don’t want to give families anything extra to have to think about so PLEASE don’t feel you have to add to the journal. Your child will be given the chance to speak to the class about what they have done with Fluffy.
HWB
We have been thinking about what makes us special and unique and jumped outside on stepping stones shouting out what we are good at. If we couldn’t think of anything our friends helped us out.
ART ACTIVITY
We each drew a penguin for a corridor display so that others could learn about the ice melting in Antarctica.
WORLD BOOK DAY
We shared some of the books that children had brought in and enjoyed wearing comfy clothes so that we were ready to read. We spoke about the different characters in stories and some of us designed our own characters to share with the class.
Buckstone Primary School 