P1 Pandas

P1W reflective Friday 9.9.22

Staff...685

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.
t-l-9026-letter-formation-tracing-alphabet-strips-_ver_2Download

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

P2MD Mrs McFarlane and Miss Davidson

P2MN Blog 02.09.22

Staff..226

We have had a busy week in P2MN and it was great to see so many of you at Meet the Teacher.

Looking For

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! A couple of things to note:

  • We don’t have space to store larger pieces so please only send in smaller ones.
  • No packaging which has contained nuts.
  • We are particularly looking for tin cans (with labels removed) and egg boxes.

We are also looking for milk bottle tops (any colour) please!

Thank you very much in advance.

Number

In number work we have been:

  • Counting forwards and backwards to 30 (and in some cases beyond!)
  • Saying the next 3 numbers before or after in a sequence
  • Recognising 2 digit numbers

Here is a game to play which will reinforce learning in class.

Play Your Cards Right – mobile friendly (ictgames.com)

Literacy

In literacy we have been revising and consolidating the sounds we have learned so far:

Initial sounds of the alphabet, sh, ch, th, wh, ee and oo.

Here is a game to play at home to reinforce learning in class.

Phonics Pop || Listen to the sound, then pop as many bubbles as you can – mobile friendly (ictgames.com)

Our writing focus was ‘Things I love about myself’. We are working hard to remember capital letters at the beginning of our sentences and finger spaces between words.

Please continue to work on tricky words. Please find attached Block 1 – Block 3.

block-1-1Download
block-3-1Download
block-2-1Download

HWB and Other areas of the curriculum:

  • This week we have agreed on our new class charter to be ready, respectful and safe. We have discussed what this will look and feel like in our class.
  • In PE we have focussed on balance and co-ordination while playing games in groups.
  • We have continued to use a range of picture books to explore our own diversity and uniqeuenss.
  • We have been introduced to the wellbeing indicators SHANARRI (Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible and Included) and we talked about how it applies to us.

Here are some photos of classroom activities we have been engaging with.

Have a lovely weekend!

Mrs McFarlane

P2D- Mrs DeBonrostro

P2D Different Dashes 02.09.22

Staff..114

We hope you have a great week. It was lovely to finally meet you all at school. The children were delighted to see you in their classroom.

Our learning this week:

Independent Learning

Children have taken photos of their proud moments while learning independently.

Maths

Our focus has been counting forwards and backwards, working out the number before and the number after a given number, sharing equally an amount of items and adding using a number line.

Literacy

We have continued to work on the tricky words from block 1, 2 and 3 and initial blends.

We have started to work on cursive handwriting: letters i, l and t.

At writing our theme was ‘ When I go home’.

Other areas

PE

We have worked on balancing skills: static and dynamic balance.

HWB

We are working on the wellbeing indicators. So far we have worked on being safe and active.

Outdoor learning

We made our oo words using different items.

Things to remember:

  • We are looking for a missing blue raincoat. It has been labelled. Please could you check if your child has brought home the right one? Thank you.
  • We are practicing reading skills at school. Reading books will be sent home after the week after September weekend. We will be sending books home on Thursdays and, as last year, it will be to show case the children’s learning.
  • Thank you for the table to our generous donor!
  • Please we will be grateful if you could continue with your junk donations for our STEM area (cardboard boxes, tubes, plastic pots, etc).

Ideas for learning at home

  • Count backwards and forwards from a given number.
  • Say the number before and the number after a given number: it could be a bus number, a house number, etc.
  • Practice writing number formation. There are quite a few children who a reversing numbers after the summer holidays.
  • Practice our tricky words.
  • Talk about feelings after a nice time, tricky situation, etc. You can ask them the colours for different feelings .from the Colour Monster book

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs de Bonrostro

Buckstone Primary School

P1B Reflective Friday 2.9.22

fionacroal

Happy weekend, Bright Sparks! We have had another great week at school.

This week we have been learning:

Literacy

We have been continuing to focus on developing our fine motor skills to provide us with a foundation for handwriting. This week, we received our own pot of playdoh! We have been using the playdoh to make numbers, shapes and animals.

cookie

We have finished listening to everybody’s memory boxes. Our listening skills have improved a lot as we focus on the 5 Signs of Good Listening. Well done to everybody for standing up in front of the class and presenting! Next week, we are starting to learn our phonics.

Numeracy

This week, we have explored the numbers 6-10. Bright Sparks are doing a great job of writing the numbers, counting out objects and singing Bill and Bernie’s 1-10 song!  We have also enjoyed building Numicon cities. Next week, we will start our Stages of Early Arithmetic Learning (SEAL) lessons at the teaching table.

independently choosing to practise our numbers

STEM

We are continuing to build relationships, make new friends and learn and play together around the classroom. 

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 solving, 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.

children from different classes worked together to make a giant paddleboard!

Reflective Friday

This week, the Bright Sparks said they enjoyed learning the numbers, building marble runs together, drawing at the craft table and building with the big bricks.

General information:

If you are dropping off your child late or picking them up early, please do so at the office rather than the classroom door.

On Thursdays, Mrs Conlin will be teaching the Bright Sparks.

To receive notifications for this blog, please download the Feedly app.

P1 Pandas

P1W reflective Friday 2.9.22

Staff...685

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.
t-l-9026-letter-formation-tracing-alphabet-strips-_ver_2Download

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

P1 Koalas

PRIMARY 1 MASTER MINDS- REFLECTIVE FRIDAY 2.9.22

Staff..469

Hello everyone and welcome to our  blog. Please try to read the blog every week as we will pass on all the information you will need.

We have had a busy week in primary one, this is what we have been learning:

NUMERACY

We have been looking at the numbers 6 to 10,using our fingers to show these numbers, using the loose parts in the classroom to count objects, and trying to write the numbers at our writing table. We have been  counting forwards and backwards up to 10 and beyond, starting from different numbers. We enjoyed singing and moving to number songs.

THINGS TO DO AT HOME

Look for numbers around your home and when you are out and about. Try to spot the numbers 0-10.

LITERACY

This week we have been focussing on rhyme. We have been reading stories which rhyme and have been completing a one to one rhyme assessment with the teacher.

We have really enjoyed listening to our friends sharing their memory boxes.

THINGS TO DO AT HOME

Share some rhymes or rhyming stories at home, see if your child can guess what the word will be when you say its rhyming partner.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

We enjoyed PE outside and in our gym hall. We have been practising different ways of travelling: skipping, running, hopping, jumping and side stepping. We played lots of games and practised listening to instructions and sharing space. We used cones to practise jumping forwards and backwards, jumping with 2 feet and landing on 1, jumping on 1 foot and landing on2, and hopping over the cone.

DRAMA

We enjoyed using our imaginations in drama based on the story of Bonting by Shirley Hughes. We were introduced to the word mime and used our facial expressions and bodies to show how we were feeling.

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 negotiate 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 practise complex skills from fine and gross locomotor skills to higher order executive functioning; higher order thinking skills such as sequencing, hypothesis testing, divergent problem solving, 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.

We hope that your child is now feeling happy and settled in school, if you have any concerns or would like clarification about something, please speak to one of us after school.

Have a lovely weekend.

P2D- Mrs DeBonrostro

P2D Reflective Friday 26.08.22

Staff..114

Welcome to our weekly blog.

We hope you all had a good week. We certainly had a busy one.

It is lovely to see how the new class is gelling together. The atmosphere in the class is lovely. We are looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday at Meet the teacher.

This week our focus has been working as a team. We all knew each other from last year however we are a new team. We have agreed our class charter: ready, respectful and safe and discussed what this looks like for us.

Every morning we are greeting each other in a different languages language, it is amazing to see how many different are spoken by the children in our class. So far we have said hello in: English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Dutch, Serbian and Gaelic. If you would like to come and teach us about your language and culture we would love to hear from you.

We have been talking about our feelings, how to express them and what to do if we need help. We read ‘The colour monster’ book. Our writing focus was Things that makes us happy.

We have talked about racism. We watched this video:

We have talked about being kind:

We have been working on our tricky words. We did a word hunt outdoors!

We have been checking our maths and reading skills before we start reading and maths groups.

We had our first session of indoor PE too.

This week we have been taking photos of our independent learning. Now we have an iPad that we can use if we feel proud of something we have made or learned. Look at our photos!

Learning tips

We will continue to work on our tricky words please find attached Block 1 to Block 3 (revision from last year).

block-1-1Download
block-2-1Download
block-3-1Download

Things to Know

  • Please remember to label all items. We have a few indoor shoes from the same brand without a name and this is causing confusion between the children.
  • Please don’t bring toys from home.
  • We will be out in all weathers therefore it would be useful to check the weather forecast just in case wellies and raincoats are needed at playtime.
  • On Friday 9th September you will receive our term Newsletter with all the information about the learning that will take place in term one as well as your child’s learning targets
  • The children are working hard on our STEM area and we need junk ( empty cardboard boxes, egg boxes, etc.). Please ensure that all items are empty and don’t contain nuts.
  • A reminder that we have children in the class with severe nut allergy . No nuts are allowed for snack or lunch.
  • Only one snack is needed at school.
  • Lost indoor shoe ( no name). Please let me know if it belongs to your child, no left shoe found. Maybe you have the other shoe at home… like Cinderella’s story!

I am looking for a small wooden table, see photo below (Ikea Lack small coffee table model). If you have one that you not longer need it will be great for providing another learning area in our room (if you have small stools, preferably not bright colours, even better!). Thank you!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs de Bonrostro