What a fantastic first week back we have had in Year 1! Take a look at what we have been up to…

Maths

This week in maths, we have been developing our understanding of finding the difference through practical representations and mathematical reasoning. We explored one-to-one correspondence, matching objects such as leaves and ladybirds and knives and forks to identify how many were left over. We then introduced the mathematical language of more, fewer and difference, comparing quantities using objects, playing cards and counters. We developed our understanding of difference as the distance between two numbers, using multilink cubes to build and compare towers, identify the unmatched cubes and determine how many more or fewer there were. We also began applying our learning to problems in context, comparing groups of objects and measuring lengths using practical resources. Throughout the week, we practised counting, matching and comparing quantities to develop our understanding of difference.

For an additional challenge the children were encouraged to explain their reasoning, justify how they knew which group had more or fewer, and explore whether two different pairs of numbers could have the same difference.

Read, Write Inc.

This week, we met our Read, Write Inc. teachers and got off to a fantastic start by building on our wonderful Reception knowledge. The children were enthusiastic and engaged as they began exploring the routines and strategies we will be using in our phonics lessons this term.

We have been using our special friends, Fred Talk and saying the word to help us read, and we have also been practising our Fred Fingers to support spelling. The children have shown great enthusiasm when breaking words down into sounds and blending them together again. We have also been looking at some common exception words and high-frequency words, which can be tricky to read and spell.

This term, we are focusing on the following words:

• • says

  • said

  • was

  • are

  • has

  • his

  • he

  • yu

These words will be taught and revisited regularly, so that the children can become more confident recognising and using them in their reading and writing. Regular practice at home, even for just a few minutes, can make a big difference and will help reinforce what we are learning in school.

Please continue to encourage your child to use Fred Talk when reading and Fred Fingers when spelling. Your support at home is greatly appreciated and helps to build confidence and independence in their early reading and writing.

Reading

Every week the children will bring home two books in their reading folders, one being a RWI home book. Children are expected to try and read this three times during the week to ensure they are building on their reading fluency. The RWI home books will be changed, by an adult, every Monday.

The other book (with the coloured sticker) should be changed independently by the child themselves, first thing in the morning is a great time to do this! These books can be changed as regularly as needed. We will support your children at the beginning doing this 😊

Please encourage children to place their reading folders in the trays, so we can read with your children and ensure books get changed. Thank you for your support with this.

Please listen to your child read as much as possible at home and record this in their reading records. Every week, one child from each class will receive a reading certificate in an assembly. Children will also get a certificate or pize for every 20 times they read so it is important that the reading record gets signed every time they read at home.

If you have any questions, please speak to your child’s class teacher.

Thematic

This week we explored our new thematic learning Thunderbolts and Lightning. To start off we discussed our big questions, what is the best weather type and why? We had a wonderful discussion and listened to the range of descriptive answers. We then went on a local walk and were given an important mission; to find signs of this season! We spoke about the clothes we were wearing and the weather outside. We discussed if we would have been able to even go on this local walk if it was pouring with rain, or if deep snow was laying on the ground, and how the weather can affect our lives. On our walk we spotted many autumn signs such as pinecones, conkers and brown, yellow and orange leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later in the week, we began our lesson by starting off a discussion on what our local area looks like in each season. We discussed what Ramsgate is like in the different seasons and what we prefer and why.  Next, we looked at the four seasons and the weather we typically have across these four seasons. We matched images of weather to the seasons as well as other things we may need or observe in each one. Then, we talked about how we can observe the change in weather across the seasons. We then introduced a class weather diary, to track the weather through all the seasons we will experience. We learned how to record the weather by making observational drawings and use a thermometer to measure the temperature.

Home Learning

For this week’s Love 2 Learn, we would like the children to show you their maths learning from this week. They have been learning to find the difference between two groups, with no more than 10 objects in each group.

Please find an example below. You can use any resources you have at home. Please talk with your child about which group has the bigger number, which group has fewer and what the difference is between the two amounts. Encourage your child to explain their thinking using the correct mathematical vocabulary, including more, fewer, less and difference.

Reading competition

Spare clothes for year 1

We kindly ask that all Year 1 children have a spare set of clothes in school, including underwear and socks, in case of accidents or spills during the day. Having these items available helps us ensure your child stays comfortable and can quickly return to their learning.

If you have any spare underwear or clothing at home that your child has outgrown and you would be happy to donate, we would greatly appreciate it. These donations are very helpful for supporting all children when needed.

Thank you for your continued support.

Show and Tell

A gentle reminder that children should not bring toys, jewellery, Pokémon cards or other personal items into school, as these can easily become lost, damaged or cause distractions during the school day.

If your child would like to share a special item during Show and Tell, please email a photograph of the item to the class teacher(s). We will be happy to display the photograph while your child talks about it with the class.

We would be grateful if all parents and carers could support us by ensuring that toys, jewellery and other personal belongings are left at home. Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

Additional Information

PE is on a Monday afternoon next term please can children wear a plain white t-shirt, or a Chilton PE t-shirts, black or navy bottoms and a plain black or blue sweatshirt.

Read at 3! This is where we would love to invite you into our classrooms and read with your child for the full 15 minutes. This will happen every Friday.

Please ensure children have wellies and waterproof clothing to enjoy our outside learning whatever the weather and a plastic bag to keep them in their locker 😊

Key dates 

11th November – Children can wear service uniform to school

13th November – World Kindness Day and Children in Need day. Wear something yellow and/or spotty to school

16th November – Individual and sibling school photos

20th November – Year 1 and 6 Come Dine with me

30th November – Book fair in school this week

9th December – Christmas Fair from 3.15pm-4.15pm

14th December – Year 1 Nativity at 9am in school hall

15th December – Year R, 1 and 2 Party Day. Non-school uniform for these children

17th December – School Christmas Dinner and all children to wear Christmas jumpers to school (please note children to wear usual school uniform, but a Christmas jumper, rather than a school jumper/cardigan)

18th December – Last day of school. School to finish at 2pm. No after school club on this day.

We hope you have a lovely half term!

Team Periwinkle - Eloise.hall@chiltonprimary.co.uk

Team Teal  - Poppy.winchcombe@chiltonprimary.co.uk and Elaine.howard@chiltonprimary.co.uk ( On a Tuesday)

Miss Hall, Mrs Winchcombe and Mrs Howard