Puffin Class

Autumn Term 2

I hope you've all enjoyed the half term break. This term is a long one but also full of fun! Please help your child by keeping bedtime early and helping them with basic hygiene; washing hands well after the toilet, using a tissue to blow their nose and trying to cough into their sleeve. This will hopefully reduce the amount of coughs and colds, and hopefully ensure they get to enjoy their days. If your child is sick or has diarrhoea please keep them off for 48 bours after their last bout. We appreciate this isn't always easy for you and work commitments but it is only fair to help reduce the chance of spreading it to both the children but also adults in the classroom.

Forest School

Forest School will be on a Tuesday. Please send your child in old clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. They will also need either an all in one waterproof suit or waterproof trousers and coat please. Gloves and hands are also advised as it does get old down there and I suggest leaving a pair of wellingtons at school if possible. We have the rack just outside the classroom where they will be stored safely. Children without the correct clothing will not be able to join in with the session.

PE

Our PE day is Thursday. Please send your child dressed in their PE kit. Mrs Bryan is our PE teacher.                 

Reading

Your child will bring one picture/reading book home each week. The expectation is that they will share/read the book at least 3 times during the week. Repetition is key to help your child enrich their vocabulary, develop story language, sequence events and to explore characters and settings (picture books). Please write in their Partnership Diary when you've heard them. If they read 3 times they will be given a raffle ticket which goes into a draw at the end of term. The more weeks they read at least 3 times, the more chances they'll have to win! When your child is ready for a word book, the book will match carefully with the sounds they have mastered in school. They will also be offered a story book to take home to enjoy at bedtime. Your child will have one day each week when they will read with an adult in class and change their book, this will be in their Partnership Diary. Please do still send their books each day as sometimes we have extra adults to hear readers.

Phonics

Our phonic scheme links directly to our reading scheme. We will be starting phase 3 this term and your child will be given homework every Friday which will be based on the group of sounds (phonemes) they've learnt that week. Please complete and return by Wednesday the following week. They will also be given a Precision Teach piece of paper; please set a 1 minute timer on your phone and encourage your child to say each sound (phoneme) working across the line. If they don't know it, you can tell them and continue. The idea is that the more they do this the more phonemes they'll retain and it is so easy to do as literally only takes one minute. We normally see fantastic results! This sheet will then be updated as and when your child is confident with each group of phonemes.

Maths 

Throughout the year we will be learning all about the numerals to 10 (and beyond), about common 2d and 3d shapes, different types of measurement, money and positional language. This term we will be learning all about the numbers 4, 5 and 6 which will include the shapes square, rectangle, pentagon and hexagon. You can help at home by counting everything and anything (steps as you go upstairs, toys when playing or packing away, plates on the table etc) You can also ask them if they can see any shapes or numbers so they are familiar with what they look like.

Topics

This term our topic is 'To Infinity and Beyond!'

We will be superheroes this term and finding our special powers!  We will explore space and the solar system and learn about the natural world through discovery and experimentation. We will also be celebrating autumn, Bonfire Night, Diwali and Christmas and we will learn about Remembrance Day. 

Our Value Focus this term is Love.

If you have any questions you can jot them in the Partnership Diary as this is checked daily. Alternatively you can always ask at the end of the day. If it is something which you'd rather keep private or may take a little longer to discuss please arrange a time with the office. Thank you in advance for the support you'll be giving your child at home, it really is invaluable. 

Mrs Keast