Hello!

We have had another busy week in Reception! In phonics we have been learning g, o, c , k and u. We have used the sounds that we already know to blend them into words using Fred talk. It is really important to practise blending skills so that we are able to identify the sounds letters make and blend them together to help us read words.

Here are the sound videos to help you to practise reading and writing the sounds at home:

g –http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/f7xQOclR/DNSjBGE8

o- http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/RP9eQ0Qg/6jRHvxL8

c-http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/LSXGxiEE/MbABtDjB

k-http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/qO4EyRYN/NZos6DQv

u- http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/6y2riXtO/fzsSOxym

Here are some Fred Talk games to practise blending at home:

Body parts – http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/G1LA1E2g/kSgfoHyi

Farm - http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/8gyxQGPP/YfAC3bMO

In maths we have learned about capacity and we came up with ideas of things that could fit in different sized containers and how much it would take to fill them up. We have also learned about the composition of number and how 2 is made of 1 ‘and another 1’, and how 3 and 4 are made up, for instance 4 can be made from 3 and another 1. We watched the following Numberblocks episodes to support this learning. You might like to watch them again at home:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08bzgt8/numberblocks-series-1-two

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08bzgxx/numberblocks-series-1-three

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08d61cv/numberblocks-series-1-four

In understanding the world, we have been learning about the artist Kandinsky. Your child may be able to tell you about the type of art Kandinsky produced (abstract) and how it was based on bold colours, shapes and lines as opposed to painting people or objects. Kandinsky’s paintings are very interesting to look at and the children have come up with some amazing ideas of what the picture reminds them of or what they can see amidst the shapes and lines. They have also critiqued some artwork, explaining what they like or dislike about particular pieces of artwork. The children have created their own Kandinsky artwork, reproducing his style in different ways.

Next week, we will be learning new sounds and we will begin to blend sounds to make words. Please continue to practise the sounds at home. It really does make a huge difference. 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 to subitise amounts to 4 to help us embed our understanding of 3 and 4. The children will be identifying when a quantity is changed. We will also be using positional language to describe patterns of 4. We will also be making patterns of 4. You might like to make 4 in different arrangements at home. You could do this with 4 objects on a tray or the table. Can you arrange your objects? How have you arranged them? There are 3 at the top and 1 at the bottom…there are 2 at one side and 2 at the other side…there is 1 in each corner. We will also be looking at patterns and making AB patterns with different resources.

Next week, we will be doing our first Talk 4 Writing unit based on the story ‘We’re going on a bear hunt’. If you have this story at home, you might like to read it this weekend. We will be reading and discussing the story. The children will then learn to retell the story using actions. We will also be drawing our own story maps using simple symbols and pictures to help us retell the story.

We put photos of the children learning on the Reception class page every Friday. Here is the link:

https://www.farsleyspringbank.co.uk/reception-11/

The handwriting sheets which go home on a Friday are for you to keep at home. They are an optional activity for you to do with your child to help them to practice their letter formation. They can use colourful pens and pencils for this if they like. You may also like to try other ideas for formation practice: in the steam on the mirror in the bathroom, painting with water on the fence or paving outside your house, in sand or rice in a tray with a finger or brush.

Please ensure that your child’s reading record is in your child’s book bag each day and that their library book is in their bag on a Friday so they can swap it for a new one.

Thank you for all your generous donations to support the work of Macmillan cancer support. The children have had a great time wearing their pyjamas, playing with their teddies and eating cake!

Have a lovely weekend,

The Reception team