Loose parts learning
My apologies, I forgot to add our loose parts session tomorrow ( Wednesday 16th) to the blog last Friday. Please ensure children are dressed warmly. The forecast is dry, but waterproofs and wellies are still advisable.
On Thursday, pupils should come dressed for school photographs ( no PE lesson this day)
P1B Reflective Friday 11.11.22
Good afternoon!
Literacy
This week, we learned the f and g sounds. We practised our cutting skills and made foxes, folded our own fans, worked on our letter formation and found items beginning with ‘g’ around the classroom. We also played the Yes or No game and had to guess which ffffarm animal we were! We had to really think at first about how we worded our yes or no questions! We learned two new tricky words: me and is. Lots of repetition is great for learning our tricky words, as we need to know them by sight! For writing, our prompt was “I am happy when…”. We all had a go at writing I am hap thinking of our tricky word I and then listening to the sounds. This week, we also read a book at the teaching table that will help us gain familiarity with reading the names of the characters that will be in our reading books: Biff, Chip, Kipper, Dad, Mum and Floppy. We also practised using our finger to follow along.
Numeracy
This week, we used number lines and unifix cubes for learning the number bonds to 10, as well as gaining an understanding of how to add and what a sum looks like. We worked hard on how to use a number line – eg if you start on the number 7, how many jumps until you get to 10? so 7+3=10.
This is something we will continue with next week to really know those number bonds! 10+0=10, 9+1=10, 8+2=10, 7+3=10 etc.
Health and Wellbeing
In PE this week, we worked on throwing and catching, jumping, skipping and hop scotch as part of our basic movements. We used our literacy skills to help us warm up – if the word has an ‘a’ sound in the middle march around the room, or if the word has an ‘o’ sound in the middle then sidestep around the room.
Other Areas
We have been learning Away in a Manger with the signalong signs as part of our Nativity preparations. Thank you also to those who have brought in something from their family’s country. We have had some lovely interesting things such as an Irish doll, a French cookbook and a book about a house by the sea in Scotland. If they haven’t already, it would be lovely if your child brought in something for this! This week, we had the magnets out for the first time and made some really inventive things including a spiky dragon with a giant tail, 3D shapes and a turtle. This week, we also made our Christmas card designs!
Information
We have Loose Parts (messy play) on Wednesday next week.
Please return your Christmas Card forms to school by Tuesday. Instructions were sent out on how to do the form.
A reminder that school photos are on Thursday.
Have a great weekend,
Miss Croal
Nursery Newsletter 11/11/22
P2D Reflective Friday 11.11.22
Dear Parents,
We hope you had a nice week.
This is our learning this week:
Literacy
In literacy this week we have been learning the digraph sounds aw (crawl, paw) and au (Autumn, dinosaur). We have used the following image to help us to remember the sound.
We have continued to work on the tricky words block 4 and we have revised previous blocks. Please continue to work on these at home. We have noticed that most children are finding tricky the word said.
In writing we are developing our skills to be able to write a story. Our focus is (as last week) beginning, middle and end. We have told the story of Owl babies.
Our handwriting focus was c and a in cursive.
At home:
- Please continue to work on the tricky words. Your child should be able to read and write them. Please see the attachments below with all the blocks we have worked on so far. You could ask your child to write the words and sort them by number of letters on them.
Continue to work on the word walls from the ORT reading books that we sent home before.
Bedtime stories are a great way of spending time with your child and at the same time model reading and increase your child vocabulary. If your home language is a different language this is a good moment for your child to increase their home language rather than reading in English.
Find words with aw/au spelling in food labels at home.
Ask your child to read the reading book to you. Choose random pages or read the book from back to front. Ask questions about the book to ensure your child is developing comprehension skills.
Numeracy and Maths
In Maths we have continued to work on line of symmetry.
At Numeracy we have worked on counting backwards from 30 and addition skills to 20 using different strategies (number line, ten frames and counting on).
At home
- Work on counting backwards from 30 starting and stopping at different points.
https://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/dinoSorts/index.html
- Symmetry games:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/symmetry/symmetry-matching
- Please continue to work on number formation as we can see that some children continue to write number backwards or writing 12 instead of 21 ( 61/16,41/14, etc)
Other areas
PE
At PE we have focused on under and over arm throws, jumping and coordination skills.
We also have worked on games to work on following instructions and sprints.
IDL
We have learned about a new habitat, the Rainforest. We have discussed how the panther chameleon adapts to the Rainforest.
Art
We have been very busy creating our Christmas cards. These will be in your child’s purple folder today.
Independent Learning
These are our proud moments (photos taken by the children)
Other
- As mentioned before your child will be taking home the Christmas card for you to order if you wish.
- Next Tuesday we will have loose parts in the afternoon (weather permitting)
- On Thursday afternoon we do a Mix up Thursday. This means that all the P2s learn together in both classes and in the communal area. All children are really enjoying this experience and it gives us teachers the opportunity to be involved in their play and plan next steps on their learning.
- Please ensure your child brings a jacket every day to school.
- Thank you for your support in emptying the purple folders each day.
- 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 appreciate donations of any unwanted empty or partially used notebooks or diaries (used pages can be removed). Also, any enticing writing implements (i.e., glittery pencils/gel pens/ pencils with feathers etc – anything other than standard school issue type pencils/pens). The children enjoy choosing resources from the table to use in their independent learning.
- We are looking for small pieces of ‘junk’ for modelling e.g., toothpaste boxes, tea bag boxes, snack bar boxes. The more interesting shapes the better!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs de Bonrostro
P2M Blog 11.11.22
Here is a summary of our learning this week:
Literacy
In literacy this week we have been learning the digraph sounds aw (crawl, paw) and au (Autumn, dinosaur). We have used the following image to help us to remember the sound.
We have continued to work on the tricky words block 4 and we have revised previous blocks. Please continue to work on these at home. We have noticed that most children are finding the word said a bit tricky.
In writing we are developing our skills to be able to write a story. Our focus is (as last week) beginning, middle and end. We have told the story of Owl babies.
Our handwriting focus was c and a in cursive.
At home:
- Please continue to work on the tricky words. Your child should be able to read and write them. You could ask your child to write the words and sort them by number of letters on them.
- Continue to work on the word walls from the ORT reading books that we sent home a few weeks ago.
- Bedtime stories are a great way of spending time with your child and at the same time modelling reading and increasing your child’s vocabulary. If your home language is a different language, this is a good moment for your child to increase their home language rather than reading in English.
- Find words with aw/au spelling in food labels at home.
- Ask your child to read the reading book to you. Choose random pages or read the book from back to front. Ask questions about the book to ensure your child is developing comprehension skills.
Numeracy and Maths
In Maths we have continued to work on line of symmetry.
At Numeracy we have worked on counting backwards from 30 and addition skills to 20 using different strategies (number line, ten frames and counting on).
At home
- Work on counting backwards from 30 starting and stopping at different points.
https://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/dinoSorts/index.html
- Symmetry games:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/symmetry/symmetry-matching
- Please continue to work on number formation as we can see that some children continue to write number backwards or writing 12 instead of 21 ( 61/16,41/14, etc)
Other areas
PE
In PE we have focused on under and over arm throws, jumping and coordination skills.
We also have worked on games to work on following instructions and sprints.
IDL
We have learned about a new habitat, the Rainforest. We have discussed how the panther chameleon adapts to the Rainforest.
Art
We have been very busy creating our Christmas cards. These will be in your child’s purple folder today.
Here are some photos of firework art we created in the tuff tray and some symmetrical pictures made outside.
Other
- As mentioned above, your child will be taking home the Christmas card for you to order if you wish.
- Next Tuesday we will have loose parts in the afternoon (weather permitting).
- On Thursday afternoon we do a Mix up Thursday. This means that all the P2s learn together in both classes and in the communal area. All children are really enjoying this experience and it gives us teachers the opportunity to be involved in their play and plan next steps in their learning.
- Please ensure your child brings a jacket every day to school.
- Thank you for your support in emptying the purple folders each day.
- 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 appreciate donations of any unwanted empty or partially used notebooks or diaries (used pages can be removed). Also, any enticing writing implements (i.e., glittery pencils/gel pens/ pencils with feathers etc – anything other than standard school issue type pencils/pens). The children enjoy choosing resources from the table to use in their independent learning.
- We are looking for small pieces of ‘junk’ for modelling e.g., toothpaste boxes, tea bag boxes, snack bar boxes. The more interesting shapes the better!
Have a lovely weekend.
Mrs McFarlane
P1W reflective Friday 11.11.22
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
.
This week we have introduced the letter sounds f and g as well as the ‘tricky’ words me and is.
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 the windy weather.
Numeracy and Maths
Along with the SEAL core numeracy skills, we have been learning about ‘number bonds of 10’ These are the pairs of numbers which total 10. There are 11 facts to learn and memorise. The aim is that the children will have instant recall of these facts. We have also discussed the term ‘switcher’ A switcher is the same number fact in the opposite order. e.g. the switcher for 3 + 7 is 7 + 3.
Please help your child to learn these number facts with instant recall. You can use questions such as
- What goes with 2 to make 10 ?
- What is the partner number for 6 to make 10 ?
- Tell me a pair of numbers which add up to 10
You make wish to let your child play this game to reinforce their learning. ( adult choose the number bonds button, then select the ‘make 10’ option.
Our Core numeracy skills this week were
- writing the numerals 6 – 10 ( and beyond) 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. We have loved hearing from a few children and would love to hear more. Remember, we are equally happy to hear them talk about Scotland, not just other countires. 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 week 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
- Some children have shared about their family’s heritage
- We have started work on our Nativity
- We found out facts about gorillas
- 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 PE we have been focusing on agility , and also developing our skills using an overarm throw.
This week’s homework and other information
- learn to read and write this week’s tricky words.
- write the numerals 6-10using 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.
Primary 1M, Reflective Friday 11.11.22
Hello everyone, this is what we have been learning this week:
NUMERACY
In our groups we have been learning the number bonds to 10 – looking at the numbers which make 10. We used different coloured cubes to make towers, painted dots using two different colours and drew spots on ladybirds to show our understanding.
We practised forming the numbers 3 and 4.
Here are some examples of our learning:
LITERACY
This week we introduced the sounds g and f. We thought of words beginning with those sounds and learned songs and actions to help us remember them. In small groups we used magnetic letters to try to blend sounds together to read and build words.
Our two new tricky words were me and is .
FOUNDATIONS OF WRITING
One of the children suggested visiting Fairyland as we were talking about the sound f. We discussed what Fairyland would be like and what we might do there. We drew pictures to show our adventures. We told our teacher what was happening in our story, and we tried to write some of the words ourselves.
THINGS TO DO AT HOME
Please use the blue letter cards you have collected so far to practise blending and building words. Please help your child to read and write the tricky words.
PE
We are learning to throw and catch a ball. We practised throwing the ball in the air and bouncing the ball on the floor. We are trying to keep our eyes on the ball and have our hands ready. We tried throwing the ball to a partner which was quite tricky, but we spoke about practising to help us get better at this skill.
NATIVITY
We have started to learn some of the songs for our Nativity.
RSHP
We have started learning about people who help us. Thanks to all parents who have offered to come in to Primary One to tell us about their jobs.
ART
We designed Christmas cards which parents will have a chance to buy later in the term.
TEAMWORK
We have been discussing the learning taking place in the different areas of the classroom and one of the children suggested that they are learning to work as part of a team when they are playing. Here are some fantastic examples of teamwork.
OUTDOOR LEARNING/ LOOSE PARTS
Primary One will have loose parts play on the afternoon of Wednesday 16 November. Please can you make sure your child has suitable clothing for this.
Enjoy the weekend everyone.
P1B Reflective Friday 4.11.22
Good afternoon! It was lovely to see some of you in the classroom this morning. We hope you enjoyed seeing our learning through play!
Literacy
This week, we learned the d and o sounds. We did step by step drawings of dinosaurs, practised cutting skills with octopuses, worked on blending and building with our new sounds, and made octopuses using our taping skills. For blending and building, we sometimes struggle to hear the middle sound in a word. Lots of emphasis on that sound will help! We each completed a Halloween Animal sheet too, where we had to put the letter in the right box to spell the word.
We learned two new tricky words this week: he and to. Lots of repetition is great for learning these, as we need to know them by sight!
For writing, our prompt was “I was splashing in my wellies and…”. We all had a go at writing and by listening to the first, middle and last sound in the word.
We also have a reading table in our classroom with the characters from our reading books, which we will start after learning all of our initial sounds. We have enjoyed looking through them, reading some of the words and making our own stories with Biff, Chip, Kipper, Mum, Dad and Floppy!
Numeracy
This week, we looked at doubles using our fingers. For example, show me double 4. How many is double 4? 8! We also used counters to start some work on number bonds to 10. These are the sets of numbers that add together to make 10. At the teaching table, we found that 9 blue counters and 1 red counter made 10, 8 blue counters and 2 red counters made 10, etc. We will continue work on number bonds to 10 next week. We also introduced number lines, which is a really helpful resource when we start doing sums!
Health and Wellbeing
In PE this week, we worked on throwing and catching, using bean bags and hoops. We worked on our underarm throw, and moved the hoop further away from our throwing cone to make it harder and harder.
With Mrs Conlin, we continued our work with Look On the Bright Side and thought about small deals and big deals. We also talked about how to keep safe around fireworks on Bonfire Night.
Other Areas
We had a lovely trip to the woods! We explored the area with all the P1 classes together. We are looking forward to using the space for future outdoor learning!
Looking Ahead to Next Week
As part of our RSHP 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.
Have a great weekend,
Miss Croal
Buckstone Primary School 