Let's sing and dance!

Weekly update 20th November 2006

Hi!

Firstly, I'd like to pass on our appreciation to the children for their exemplary behaviour during our Ofsted inspection. They really did do us proud and it was commented on how engaged and enthusiastic the children are when they are learning.

Here's what we are doping this week.

Here I Am
Last week we completed our topic on Initiation with Mrs No-Idea coming to school and asking for information about things we do to make new children feel welcome. This resulted in the children taking photographs with the digital camera, printing them out and writing captions. There were some great drawings of myself, Mrs Higgins, Mrs Latham and Mrs Walker.

This week we start a new topic about GIFTS. The children will learn to appreciate what a gift is, that Jesus was a gift from God and the meaning behind we celebrate Christmas. This is all supported by practising for the Chistmas Production, where the main character looks for a gift for the baby Jesus.

Communication, Language and Literacy
This week we will be concentrating on the children's phonological awareness, the ability to use the sounds they hear to support their reading and writing. Therefore, I have listed websites which will support this. I hope to give you an update this week on the letters of the alphabet your child needs to work on. These do need reviewing as the children have really made lots of progress since the parents' evenings.
www.ictgames.com/letterlifter.html
www.ictgames.com/plankgameR.html
www.ictgames.com/phonic_fighter4.html

Mathematical Development
This week is great!!! The children will be exploring symmetry. You can find examples of symmetry all around us, in faces, nature etc. The website: www.adrianbruce.com/Symmetry/ gives examples of symmetry for the children to look at.
A lovely activity is to fold a piece of paper in half. Pain on one side and then fold and open. Simple but it gets the point across. We will also be looking at symmetry in multicultural art.
You can make your own symmetrical design on: http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/symmetry/index.html
You can also get a pair of scissors and make snowflakes.

Other activities will take place throughout the week but I'm afraid it's OPERATION CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION this week.

See you soon
Best wishes

Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team x