Hello!

This week in phonics we have learnt the sounds c, k, u, b, and f.  We have also continued to blend sounds to make words using the sounds m, a, s, d, t, i, n, p, g and o such as mat, tin, nit, sat, mad, sad, pat, got, pig. You can make these words at home and use Fred Talk to say and blend the sounds together to read the words.

In maths we have been comparing amounts using the language ‘more’ and ‘fewer’. We have had different groups of objects and set them out to count which group has more or fewer. At home you might like compare amounts by grabbing a 2 separate handfuls of buttons or Lego bricks and comparing the amounts. Who has the most in their hand? Can you grab an amount that is more or fewer than your original amount? We have compared objects using words like smaller, bigger, larger, shorter, taller and longer. You could encourage your child to continue this at home by comparing the size of sticks they find in the park, toys in their toy box or members of the family. Remember we love to see photos, videos or even quotes of what your children said which can be added to their Tapestry profile.

This week we have launched our first ever ‘Talk 4 Writing’ topic linked to the book We’re going on a Bear Hunt. The idea of Talk 4 writing is to orally retell the story until they are really familiar with the story. This will eventually, over the course of the year, help the children structure and write stories of their own using the vocabulary from the stories they have experienced. At this point of the year our focus is on oral retelling of stories. The children have read the book each day this week and they have come up with actions to go with each part of the story. They have been rehearsing the story orally as a group all week. At home you could encourage your child to retell the story with actions (This would make a great video to send in to share with their friends). It might help to show them the pages of the story to prompt them about the different parts of the story.

Next week we will be learning new sounds and continuing learning to blend sounds to make words. Please continue to practise the sounds in your pack at home. You might like to practise ‘speedy sounds’ where you show the cards in quick succession whilst your child says each sound. You might like to play ‘hide the sounds’ where you hide them around the room and your child has to find them and tell you what they are as they find them. You could make some matching pair cards with the sounds and see if you can get a pair!

Next week in maths, we will be learning about different patterns. We will be looking at patterns with objects, in pictures, patterns with sound and also patterns in nature. You might like to talk to your child about patterns and have a go at making patterns using art materials like potato prints or sticking different pieces of coloured paper.  You could also explore patterns in movement such as clapping rhymes like ‘pat a cake’ or make patterns using natural resources like conkers, sticks and leaves. We would love to see your patterns.

Next week we will be finishing our ‘Talk 4 Writing’ topic and the children will represent the stages of the story using pictures and symbols. We call this a story map. The children will then be able to retell the story using the story map as a prompt. By the end of the week we will work as a class to adapt and innovate our story map to change elements of the story to make it our own for example instead of crossing a river we might balance on a log bridge or wade through a swamp. This really gets the children’s imagination going and we often have lots of creative ideas. The children then use the structure they are familiar with for the main story and add in the new bits they have chosen.

Have a lovely weekend,

The Reception team