Welcome back! We hope that you all enjoyed the break. Wow, what a wonderful start to Term 2 we have had! It has been delightful to see the children return with such eagerness and enthusiasm for learning. Their positive energy has truly set the tone for an exciting term ahead.

This week, we have jumped straight into our new topics, and I am thrilled to share some of the activities that have been keeping our learners engaged. 

English

Wow, the children have already begun making great progress in their new Read Write Inc. and English groups. We have begun the term with great enthusiasm, diving into our new groups where your children have been working diligently on their Set 2 and 3 sounds. It has been wonderful to see them engaging with their learning and beginning to incorporate these sounds into their writing. Their hard work and effort truly shine through in their exercises.

In our English groups, we have been immersing ourselves in the delightful story of 'The Gruffalo's Child.' The students have been actively predicting what might happen next, clarifying their understanding, and responding to questions about the narrative. It's a joy to witness their imaginative thinking and development in comprehension skills.

I encourage you to continue supporting your child's reading and writing journey at home. Reading together not only enhances their skills but also fosters a love for literature. You might consider discussing the stories you read, asking questions about the characters, or even predicting what might happen next. Simple, engaging conversations can significantly boost their confidence and enjoyment of learning.

Reading

Reading at 3 - Every Friday at 3 our doors will be open for you to come in and read with your child, please note, this will be for the full 15 minutes and children should not leave any earlier. Their books will be set up and ready for you to come in and enjoy listening to their wonderful reading.

Reading folders – Some children will continue to bring home two books, 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.

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!

Some children have been moved onto the accelerated reader programme. We will continue to assess and move more children onto this when they are ready. Children can change these books after they have completed the quiz online. The AR login can be found here… https://global-zone61.renaissance-go.com/welcomeportal/1892319

For a guide on how to use Accelerated Reader please click here… https://www.chiltonprimary.co.uk/accelerated-reader

Please ensure that the reading folders are placed in the reading trays/baskets, 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 our Chilton Heroes assembly.

Maths

We have been focusing on the fascinating world of shapes, and the children have really engaged with our discussions on both 2D and 3D shapes. They have been exploring the properties of these shapes, discovering attributes such as sides, angles, and faces. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm as they identify shapes in their everyday environment.

Additionally, we have delved into the concepts of vertical and horizontal lines of symmetry. The children have enjoyed creating their own symmetrical patterns, which has allowed them to understand symmetry in a more practical context. Encouraging them to find examples of symmetry at home—perhaps in nature or within your household items—would further reinforce their learning and inspire their curiosity.

Next week we will be moving on to multiplication! 

Thematic

This week we began our new thematic topic, titled 'Fire Fire'. Throughout this fascinating topic, our focus will be on the significant events surrounding The Great Fire of London, and we will explore how we can uncover information about our past.

As part of our learning journey, the children will have numerous opportunities to delve into what life in London was like during the 17th century. We’ll be comparing daily life in that era to our experiences today, examining issues such as the absence of an organised fire brigade and the types of buildings prevalent at the time, which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Our discussions will also include how to evaluate historical sources, understanding that not every source provides reliable information.

This week, we took a step back to recap and enhance our understanding of timelines by creating personal timelines based on our own lives, ensuring they were arranged in chronological order. We then advanced our discussions by comparing various aspects of life, such as homes, occupations, travel, and clothing, from both the past and the present. To conclude our week, the children put their knowledge to the test by creating an informative fact file that highlights their understanding of the past and how it contrasts with the present day.

I encourage you to continue these discussions at home. Perhaps you could explore your family’s history or share your own childhood experiences, which can deepen their understanding of the past. Engaging with historical stories can provide a richer context for what they are learning in class.

Love to Learn

This week we would love for you to search for 2D shapes around your house or local environment. We would love for you to label these with the shapes name and share how many vertices and sides they have. This can be recorded in any way you wish 😊

Dates to remember!

11th November – Service uniform day; children can wear their service uniforms to school

15th November – Children in Need; children to wear something spotty to school

22nd November -Year 1 and 6 Come Dine with Me

27th November – Year 4 trip to Maidstone Museum

29th November – Reception Come Dine with Me

4th December – Team Ocean Naughty Bus Trip

5th December - Team Sky Naughty Bus Trip

6th December – Year 3 and 5 Come Dine with Me

11th December – Chilton Christmas Fair from 3.15 – 4.30

13th December – Year 2 and 4 Come Dine with Me

13th December – Reception Nativity at 9am

16th December – Year 1 Nativity at 9am

17th December – Year 5 and 6 Church performance at 10am

17th December – Year 3 and 4 Church performance at 2pm

17th December – Reception, year 1 and year 2 Christmas party day (party clothes to be worn)

Wednesday 18th December – Year 2 Nativity at 9am

19th December – Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 Christmas party day (party clothes to be worn)

20th December – Christmas jumper day (children can wear usual school uniform with a Christmas jumper)

20th December – School Christmas dinner

20th December – Last day of school; School finishes at 2pm; No after school club on this day

 

We hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Mrs Winchcombe, Miss Kennedy, and all the Year 2 team.

Mrs Poppy Winchcombe – Team Azure – poppy.winchcombe@chiltonprimary.co.uk

Miss Maddy Kennedy – Team Peacock – maddy.kennedy@chiltonprimary.co.uk