Hello!

This week in phonics we have learnt the sounds e, l, h. This week we have begun to blend sounds to read words, we have used the sounds m, a, s, d and t to read the words: mat, sat, mad, sad and dad. You can make these words at home and use Fred Talk to say and blend the sounds together to read the words.

Here are the videos for the sounds we have been learning:

e - https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/9uXq6DCu/gKwgx1CC 

l – https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/YMK2RO4E/gehF7GPg 

h - https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/Ld2QNrjV/5i8ZusWx 

Here are some Fred games you might like to play at home:

Actions - https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/g3ZwYV1l/86i2paPS 

Colours - https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/kPoZNHVT/8MetRvdn 

In maths we have been thinking and discussing size, capacity and mass. We have compared objects using words like smaller, bigger, larger, lighter, heavier, full, empty and half full. We have been finding objects that are heavier and lighter and making sure we don’t judge weight on how big an object is. For example; A small weight may be heavier than a large balloon You could encourage your child to compare size, capacity and mass at home by comparing the size of sticks they find in the park, toys in their toy box or members of the family, filling cups with different amounts of water and finding objects in the house that are heavy and light.

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. 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