Dear parents/carers

Maths

Children should have now brought home a letter to tell you about their new number bond Rainbow Maths Targets. We shall be working on these in class over the next couple of weeks. This work will help the children understand how to find pairs of numbers that make 10 using different resources.  This is an important step before developing instant recall of the number facts.

Any work you can do at home using practical objects e.g. Lego bricks, pasta shapes, counters etc will be of help. Here are some suggested activities:

• Ask your child to count out 10 objects then divide the objects between 2 plates/baskets/boxes. How many objects in each? “There are 2 biscuits on the red plate and 8 biscuits on the blue plate. 2 and 8 make 10″

• Build a picture of all the pairs of numbers that make 10. Use 2 different coloured objects e.g. red and blue counters. Make a line of objects, beginning with 1 red and 9 blue, then 2 red and 8 blue and so on. Help your child to be able to see the pattern as in the picture below. What do they notice about ‘3 and 7’ and ‘7 and 3?’

• Ask your child to count out 10 objects and place them in a line. They close their eyes and you take some of the objects away. They then open their eyes and work out how many are left and how many you have hidden. Encourage them to use mathematical language e.g. “I have 3 teddies and you have 7 because 3 and 7 make 10”

Once your child is confident in these types of activities, they are then ready to work on developing their recall so that, for example, when you say ‘4’ they say ‘6!’

 The Hit the Button app or website is really useful for developing recall as it times the number of correct answers in 1 minute.

 

Literacy

Next week we shall be continuing our work on Bears using the story ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.’ The children were introduced to this story in Reception to aid the transition to Year 1. We shall be drawing story maps and using actions to help them to be able to retell the story. Hopefully they will be keen to demonstrate their story telling skills at home!

 

Parent Visit

We would like to invite you into school for the opportunity to see your child learning in the Discovery Zone and Year 1 Garden.  We know that the children will be keen to show you the resources in each area and share with your our new Challenge Passports. If you are able to please come along from 2pm onwards on the following date:

• Miss Horsepool’s Class – Monday 10th October
• Mrs Boscher’s Class – Tuesday 11th October
• Mrs Bramley’s Class – Thursday 13th October

 

Resources for the Discovery Zone

If you have any spare (could be outdated) pasta, rice, lentils, dried beans etc at home then we would love to receive them to use in the Discovery Zone.

Also, we are always looking for clean junk modelling resources (cardboard boxes, tubes, plastic tubs and containers.) However, please can we ask that no milk or drink cartons or containers that have contained meat or fish are brought into school.

 

Reading Books

Just a reminder that children are given the opportunity to change their own reading books in school every day.  Could we please encourage you to write any comments about how your child is getting on with their reading at home in their purple reading record. Please note that these are checked as often as we can, although this may not be on a daily basis.

 

Welly Boots

As we begin October the weather is beginning to feel more autumnal. We will continue to be using our outdoor learning environment, and so if your children does not yet have welly boots in school it would be great if they could bring a pair in.

Can we also ask that coats are brought into school every day because the weather can be very variable from morning to afternoon and the outdoor area is still accessible to children in wet weather.

 

Parents Appointments

Please check your email for an email from the office which explains how to book parents appointments for us for the week beginning 17th October. The booking system will be live from 3pm today.

 

Many thanks

Year 1 team

 

Dear parents/carers

We are really pleased with how well the children are settling into the routines and expectations of Year 1. Thankyou to those of you who have sent in ‘extreme reading’ photographs. The children have really enjoyed sharing them with their class.

Maths

We have been working on using correct number formation with the children in order to help them record their maths work. This is something that you could reinforce at home to help your child become more confident at writing their numbers correctly. However, this need not necessarily be with a paper and pencil. Here are some fun ideas to try:

• Chalk on the patio – chalk the number and then ‘rub out’ using a paintbrush and water
• Rainbow numbers – use a variety of coloured pencils or paints. Write a number and then go over it in different colours to create a rainbow effect
• Write in the sand or mud using a stick
• Write in a shallow tray of sand, salt, glitter or shaving foam
• Write using a glue stick and then sprinkle with glitter or cover with collage materials
• Write a number on your child’s back. Can they tell you what it is? Swap over and let them write on your back.

There are also some apps which support number formation.

Here are the number formation rhymes that we use in school:

When children can confidently write the numbers 0-9 then they can work on writing teens numbers (and then beyond) correctly, getting the digits in the correct order.

Well done to all of those children who have been achieving Mathletics certificates. As a reminder, these are awarded when 1,000 points are gained in a week. Mathletics resets the scores on a Sunday evening.

Next week we shall be working on 1 more and 1 less and number bonds to 10. Rainbow Maths Targets will be sent home next week.

 

Literacy

Next week we shall start a literacy unit on bears. We shall be reading stories about bears and finding out information about bears using non-fiction books.

 

Class Photo Board

In Key stage 1 every class has a ‘Class Family’ display board. This is an opportunity for the children to share and talk about their hobbies and achievements out of school. For this display we would like the children to bring in a photograph showing something that is special to them, for example;

• Something they enjoy doing outside school
• Their favourite place to visit
• A hobby or activity
• A special achievement
• A special family occasion e.g. birthday party or wedding
• Their pets

If you do not have easy access to a printer and wish to e-mail a photograph to us we will be happy to print it out for your child.

 

Lost Property

We are already beginning to collect a lot of lost property. Could we please ask that you check that your child’s belongings are clearly named. This includes their uniform, PE kit, water bottles and fruit snack pots (these are taken outside at playtime and often get left in the playground!)

 

Many thanks

Year 1 staff

 

In our Literacy lessons this week we will be using the writing car to learn how to form the letters correctly. If you would like to use the writing car videos at home with your child, please click here. We will also be reading the book Dogger which is about a boy who loses his favourite toy. We would like to give children an opportunity to talk and write about their favourite toy. Please could children bring in a favourite toy on Wednesday which they can leave in school until Friday. (please nothing electronic, too precious or anything needed for bedtime!)

In maths this week we will be continuing to work on counting and ordering numbers. You might like to try these games with your child at home (please note, you will have to set the numbers that the children work within. We have mainly been working with numbers to 20 but some children are able to use higher numbers).

Counting Caterpillar

Flying Saucers

 

Judging by the number of certificates which we have already given out, the children are enjoying using Mathletics. Well done to those children who achieved their first bronze certificate this week. We look forward to giving out many more! If you would like to see your child’s progress and achievement, you can sign up to receive weekly reports. Please click here to find out how to sign up.

 

You will soon be receiving a letter telling you how to access an educational website, if you wish, called Skoolbo with your child’s log in and password. This website gives children access to literacy and numeracy activities. Please ensure that your child does the first couple of activities as independently as possible because the website gauges the child’s level from these activities. If they have help then they may find the activities aren’t at the correct level. The activities are based on fun racing games and children are rewarded within the game by collecting points to ‘buy’ objects for their avatar.

Please could we request that children bring a coat in to school every day, even if it is sunny first thing in the morning, this can change during the day and we will be using the outdoor learning areas in all weathers. Please could we also ask that children bring a pair of boots into school to use in the garden if they haven’t already done so. It can get muddy on wetter days.

Thank you for your support

The Year 1 team