Let's ROAR into the last half term!!!

Hi there!

I hope you have all had a lovely and relaxing holiday as this half term is absolutely filled with fantastic things to do! Can you believe that we are now in the final half term of your child being in their first year of schooling? Yes, this is the half term that we really step up a gear and prepare your child for Year 1.

So what will we be doing this week?

DINOSAURS, DINOSAURS and DINOSAURS!

The boys have driven us mad over their love of dinosaurs and so we are going to use this half term to encourage them to write with more independence. We hate to say this but they probably know so much more about dinosaurs than we do and so we have decided to use the content they have to develop their writing skills.

In order to achieve all the Early Learning Goals by the end of the Foundation Stage Year, the children need to be able to write a sentence INDEPENDENTLY. Updating my assessments over the holidays has shown that there is lots of evidence of the girls CHOOSING to write of their own initiation, with the boys preferring to build and construct. Therefore, the use of this topic on dinosaurs is aimed at giving the boys something to write about which will enable them to achieve the goal by the end of June when the results have to be submitted.

So what about the girls?
They will be given a choice as to whether they would like to do the work on dinosaurs or if they would like to develop their story writing on the theme of traditional tales.

Communication, Language and Literacy
The focus on writing will last for three weeks, and by the end of those three week, the children:
MUST be able to write a sentence independently with a full stop.
SHOULD be able to write a sentence independently with a capital letter and a full stop.
COULD write a series of sentences with developing consistency in the use of punctuation.

Here are some websites that you could use but nothing beats pencil and paper.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/starship/english/penguinsonice.shtml - this is a lovely website. The children must type in their sentence and then watch the penguin write it in the ice.
CHALLENGE! You can also use the same website to develop their understanding of other punctuation such as exclamation and question marks. Yes, we do those in Foundation Stage so why not have a go!

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/cap_letters_stops/eng/Introduction/default.htm - another good site to focus on development of the capital letters and full stops. It should now be clear why we have focused on the letter names as well as the letter sounds. This way the children know what the upper case letter represents.
CHALLENGE! Have a go at the main teaching session one where you need to identify the faults in the punctuation and correct them.
http://demo.iboard.co.uk/screens/thread_home.htm?thread_id=16 - Click and drag the prepared tabs to create a sentence.
CHALLENGE! Why not get some pictures from a magazine and write your own sentences to match what you can see happening.

Phonics
This week will be used to ensure that the children have retained their ability to read and spell words containing the spelling patterns taught last half term. For your information here is a list of the ones we have covered.
Ai, ee, oo, or, ar, oa, igh, ur, ow, oi and ear.

Please refer back to previous blog entries for websites to support these. Alternatively you may wish to be word detectives and locate words in books and magazines which contain the spelling patterns.

Problem-solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
This week we return to developing the children’s understanding of SHAPE. By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to name, describe and identify a 2D shape from its description;
SHOULD be able to name all the 2D and 3D shapes;
COULD be able to name, describe and identify any 2D or 3D shape from its description.

Here are some great websites fro you to have a go at.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/Phase2delivery/Wales/Artanddesign/Keystage1/Making/Shapepictures/Introduction/ - the children review their recognition of 2d shapes and then look for them in pictures. The children also get the opportunity to create their own shape picture on the computer.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/build_it/eng/Introduction/default.htm - a good website for seeing how models are make up of 3D shapes.
http://www.learningplanet.com/act/rats/rats1.htm?rats_shapes - a great website. The children must catch the given shape but no others.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/simpleshapesort.swf - shape sorting activity according to properties.
http://www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk/kidsonly/findout/shape/shapes.htm - a good website to help the children match, find, build and discover the properties of the 2D shapes.
http://demo.iboard.co.uk/screens/thread_home.htm?thread_id=2 - the children can copy shape pictures by clicking and dragging them. They can then go on to create their own.
http://www.ictgames.com/Y1shape.html - parts of a shape are shown and the children have to guess the shape.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/memory.html - this is a fantastic game to help the children develop their visual memory techniques.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/shapereveal.swf the children have to guess the shape as it is revealed. They can chose to use 2d or 3d shapes.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/MatchingPairs3Dshape.swf - 3D shape matching game.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/longshape3d.html - a good website. The children have to identify the shape that is partially hidden in sand and then click on the correct labelled picture.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/castle_shapes/eng/Introduction/default.htm - identifying 2D and 3D shapes.
http://www.ictgames.com/Y2shape.html - guess the 3D shape.
http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ -by clicking on the shapes label you will be able to make patterns with 2D shapes. If you also click on the space row under 3D and 2D shapes you will have to sort different shapes according to the given criteria.

Alternatively, you could go on a shape walk around the house or local area and see what shapes you can find.

CHALLENGE! Why not write some clues about a shape and see if the class can guess what shape it is?

Knowledge and Understanding of the World
This week we focus on model making. Please can you collect any junk materials that we could use. Thanks. Each child is to make their own junk model of whatever they want to use. They will be asked to make a design first and decide what materials they are going to use. You may wish to talk to your child about what they would like to make as this will give them more time to make their model.

Physical Development
This week we will be practicing for sports day which has been planned for July 8th with July 10th as the reserve if the weather is bad. In addition to this, the children will be developing their use of positional language and movement skills through the use of an obstacle course in our outdoor play area.

Creative Development
This half term we will be really developing the children’s musical skills. They will be working on using the instruments to add to accompaniment to stories and poems. They will learn about maintaining a steady beat.

Other bits and bobs…
Please could we ask that you do not let the children play on the outdoor equipment prior to the start of the school day? This does include the sand pit and the house. Thanks in anticipation of your support.

I think that is all for this week.

Take care
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx

Hi there

What an amazing time we had at the Blue Planet last Friday. The children astounded the workshop leader with their knowledge of what lives underwater, and even automatically counted in Spanish when she asked the children to count the number of legs a star fish had. The children were a real credit to the school and yourselves. Many thanks to the parents who came with us. You’re real gems.

As it is the last week of the half term it will be ASSESSMENT and REVIEW week of the children’s learning over this half term, and preparation for the final half term of their time in Reception.

In Problem-solving, Reasoning and Numeracy we will be reviewing:
Subtraction
Addition
Measuring heights using the language taller and shorter
Shape
Money

Please refer back to previous blogs for suitable websites to support these areas.

In Communication, Language and Literacy, we will be:
Updating high frequency words
Assessing writing skills through writing a recount of their visit to the Blue Planet Aquarium
Phonics taught so far

Again, please refer back to the previous blog spots for websites to support this. You may wish to work with your child on their writing of sentences more this week.

Creative Development
Last week we also started a large drape on The Rainbow Fish, using batik. Mrs Higgins will be completing this with the children this week.

In addition to this, Mrs Latham and Mrs Kirkham will be using chicken wire with the children to make large sea creature sculptures. We have never attempted this before so fingers crossed it will work.

Physical Development
The children will be continuing to develop the skills needed for sports day this week. We will confirm the date of sports day and let you know.

A short and sweet blog this week!

Have a great week!

Best wishes
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!!!

Hi there!

What a lovely weekend we have had and, with the promise of yet more lovely weather your child’s protection is paramount. Some of you have already sent in sun cream and sun hats. We will ensure that your child wears both if they are provided. It is vital that they have these as our curriculum is outdoors throughout the day as well as indoors. Please could you apply the sun cream before you bring your child to school and then we will just ‘top it up’ at lunchtime. Many thanks.

Well, on Friday we have our visit to the Blue Planet to look forward to, and last week we made a cracking start on developing the children’s knowledge of the sea creatures they will encounter through our electronic big book. The children are firmly aware of the features of a page in a non-fiction book, and even went on to independently create their own information books in the writing area. Absolutely amazing! On Friday last week, all the children completed some writing about their favourite sea creature and I was so spoilt for choice which to show Mr Barker, that I took the whole lot to him. He was amazed at the level of writing of our children.

http://nyaquarium.com/nyaanimals/465146?o=2&preview=&psid=&ph=class%25252525252 - Have a closer look at some other sea creatures.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/blueplanet/ - get some information about sea life animals as well as playing a few games too.

All our activities in Creative Development and Knowledge and Understanding of the World will be linked to the theme of sea creatures.

Problem-solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to recognise all the coins to £2
SHOULD be able to pay for items in a shop with 1p or 2p coins
COULD be able to give change from 10p when purchasing items in the class shop.

Here are some good websites but nothing beats playing shop at home and using really coins.
http://www.teachingmoney.co.uk/games/recognisematch2.html - an evaluation copy but okay to use
http://www.teachingmoney.co.uk/games/recogniseCHALLENGE.html - as above but with a one minute timer
http://www.teachingmoney.co.uk/games/10pMatch.html
http://www.teachingmoney.co.uk/games/10pCHALLENGE.html - as above but with a one minute timer
http://www.teachingmoney.co.uk/games/20pencematch.html
http://www.teachingmoney.co.uk/games/20pencematchCHALLENGE.html - as above but with a one minute timer
http://www.ictgames.com/moneysplat.html - a great game for developing those addition skills. Remember to count on from the largest number.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/working_with_coins/eng/Introduction/default.htm - this can be a bit of a challenge but some children will be able to do it with a bit of help.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/dynamo/den/snap/index.htm

Phonics
By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to identify and differentiate between the sounds ‘or’ and ‘ar’, being able to read and spell words containing them
SHOULD know the spelling patterns ‘ur’, ‘ow’, ‘oi’ and ‘ear’.
COULD be able to read and spell words containing the above spelling patterns.

http://www.focusonphonics.co.uk/index2.php?action=underestand
http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/wordTree.html - you will need to type in some words for the children to blend to read. This is a friendly way of helping your child to read the words containing the spelling patterns we have used so far as well as ones we will be focusing on this week.
http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/helpAhedgehog_v4.html - a great game to help speed up reading simple three letter words. Have a go also on some of the others.
www.starfall.com - the old chestnut!


Physical Development
The children will continue to focus on their throwing and catching skills and we will begin to practise some skills for sport’s day.

Here I Am
We begin our next topic on BUILDING BRIDGES. The children will learn to:
RECOGNISE what a friend is.
REFLECT on people they have met in school.
RESPECT and appreciate that they have friends.
The children will record their understanding of this by creating an information book for our new intake.


I think that is all for this week.

Have a good week!

Best wishes

Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx

Welcome back after a lovely long weekend. We only have four days this week so we’ll have to really get our skates on to get through everything.

One of our main goals is to make sure that every child comes into school on their own from now on. Your support in this would be much appreciated as we need to prepare the children for Year 1.

The main theme of the children’s learning until the end of this half term is ANIMALS. This is a great topic, which is enhanced by a visit to the Blue Planet Aquarium. You should receive a letter this week with the details. Please complete the permission slip and return it as soon as possible so we can confirm numbers. Thanks. If anyone can accompany us on the trip please call in and see a member of the team.

Communication, Language and Literacy
We being this week with a review of the children’s understanding of non-fiction books and their features: a contents page, an index, photographs, caption and labels. This is the perfect opportunity for the children to become members of the local library. Why not loan some information books on animals that live under the sea?

By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to identify and name the features of a non-fiction text;
SHOULD be able to understand how a contents page is used;
COULD be able to use a contents page to answer questions.

The children will be working on a non-fiction book I created after a visit on to the Blue Planet. The children will have the opportunity to learn lots about the creatures they will see prior to their visit. In addition to this, the children will create a new page for the book after their visit.

Phonics
As always we will be continuing to work on the children’s high frequency words and phonics. The children’s high frequency words will play a major role now as they begin to form sentences and develop their reading even more. Please endeavour to practice them every night for about 5 minutes at a time.

By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to read and spell words containing ‘or’ and ‘ar’;
SHOULD be able to identify the spelling patterns for ‘oi’ and ‘ow’;
COULD be able to read and spell words containing all four patterns.

Here are some great websites to focus on phonics. Alternatively, you can get a newspaper and highlight words containing the spelling patterns.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/snap/snap.shtml - a snap game to help the children quickly identify the letter patterns in words.http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/whirl/game.shtml - I would recommend this website to support the blending of sounds together when reading.http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/literacy/phonics/index.shtml - a great website with different levels. Start at the medium level and then work on from there at your own pace.http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/16022007/wordmaker_vowels1/lesson.html - I really like this one. You could easily have a go at sections 1 and 2.http://www.starfall.com/n/skills/the-lonely-vowel/load.htm?f - a great little video!http://www.starfall.com/n/level-a/learn-to-read/load.htm?f - select the games to play with our spelling patterns in them.


Mathematical Development
We have been amazed at the children’s understanding of the concept of addition and will continue to develop this through its application to real-life problems. Therefore, we start this week with a look at subtraction. By the end of this week, the children:
MUST be able to work out one less than a given number to 10;
SHOULD be able to understand that subtraction involves ‘taking away’ and carry out simple subtraction sums with support;
COULD be able to independently subtract one number from another in real-life situations.

The following websites should be a good start for you and your child. However, never under estimate the power of food to help children understand subtraction.

http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/take1.html the children must put in a number and then find one less before the machine works the answer out.

http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/take2.html - for those children who can subtract one mentally than this a real challenge for them.

http://www.sums.co.uk/playground/c1a/playground.htm - this is a great website for the children to learn how to apply their understanding of subtraction to word problems.

http://www.abc.net.au/countusin/games/game8.htm - this is a great website too with the actual subtraction sum written out for the children. They must type in the answer and then press enter to bowl the bowling ball towards the skittles. Fabulous fun but try it with real skittles!!! If you haven’t got any real skittles at home try filling plastic pop bottles with a bit of sand. As long as the ball is heavy enough to knock them over then it will work.

http://www.deltamicro.co.uk/primary_online/planetstaken.html - WOW! Once I actually worked out how to use this game I was mesmerised for ages. You have to count how many aliens and then click on the number. Then you work out how many were taken away.

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/subtractiontest.html - great for generating subtraction sums but remember to select level 1.

http://www.ictgames.com/soccer_subtraction.html - for all those budding footballers out there. This is a great site for helping the children that when zero is taken away from a number then the same number remains. For those footie fans out there it may be the only chance England have of beating Brazil!!!

http://www.ictgames.com/mucky.html - always a good start to review the language of ‘less’ which is a precursor to subtraction.

http://www.ictgames.com/postletter.html - good for those children developing their number recognition to 20.

http://www.ictgames.com/piratenumbers2.html - great for developing the recognition and writing of numbers to 20.

http://www.ictgames.com/newduckshoot10s.html - naughty that we are…or should we say that we are pure genius!?! The children are working on counting in tens to 100. This is a great game for those children learning numbers beyond 20 but with an adult, all the children can access this if they count in tens.

www.rainforestmaths.com - as always this websites provides really good activities for the children to do. Start with the Reception/Foundation Stage link and then as your child progresses move onto the Year 1 activities. We do have many children who will be able to access it.

In addition to all the work on subtraction we are doing, we will also be preparing the children for the work we will be doing next week on money. With Uncle Visa and Auntie Switch being very much the currency of today, children find it difficult to manipulate, use and understand the value of the different coins. I remember having 10p to go and get a 10p mix, but what can they get for that now? Anyway…we will begin to teach the children how to recognise the different coins this week. Any help with this at home would be very worthwhile.

Physical Development
This week we will be having a little assessment of the skills the children were taught before the Easter break. These areas will include:
Using small and large equipment, showing a range of basic skills e.g rolling, throwing, catching and kicking a ball;, balancing a beanbag on a bat and target activities;
Cutting skills

Creative Development
The children will create underwater pictures using a range of different collage materials. They will also create their own fish and give it a name. The children will also investigate how colours are mixed to create new ones. PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND IN A CLEAR PLASTIC BOTTLE FOR TUESDAY.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World
The children will learn to sort and classify different animals according to their habitat. Do they live in water or on land? Can they fly? Etc. The children will record their understanding in pictures and in written form. You may wish to talk with your child about different animals in preparation for this.

In ICT, the children will create a friend for the main character in the story ‘The Fish Who Could Wish’. The children will learn how to use the shape icons on the art program we have in school. Once again they will develop their pattern making skills when they can decorate their character.

Espanol
This week, the children will learn some of the names of the different sea-life creatures. Here are some of them for you. Hopefully the phonetic pronunciation is okay.

Esto es – This is…
A fish – un pescado ( oon pescado);
A sea horse – un caballo de mar (oon cabayo dey mar)
A shark – un Tiburon
An octopus – un pulpo
A dolphin – un delfin
A whale – una bellena (oona beyena)
A jellyfish – una medusa
A starfish – una estrella de mar (oona estraya dey mar)
A crab – un cangrejo (oon cangrecho – the ch is pronounced as in loch)
A frog – una rana

Good luck!!!

And the surprise…
This week a message in a bottle will be left from a deep sea diver who has found a magical city under the sea. The children will be encouraged to use the writing table to write back to him. The children will place their message in a bottle and ‘throw’ it into the ocean to see if they get a reply. (Of course this is all make believe and the ocean is actually a piece of blue material, but hey who cares? The imagination of a child has no limits!)

That’s all for now.

Have a fabulous week!
Best wishes
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx

Where did those shoes come from?

Hola

At the weekend I went to Warrington Museum to have a look at the canvas we have produced on the theme of Echoes. If you want to have a look it is in Gallery 4 and remember the museum is free. The work from the other school is very good and worth taking a look at too.

Last week we completed our final pieces of art work for the exhibition at the Pyramid centre ready for next week. This week, we will be composing poems on the theme of echoes to support our work.

The children also had a wonderful time demonstrating their collaborative and cooperative skills by working as a team to create a model dragon. The week finished with seven fantastic models and some lovely writing to accompany them.

Communication, Language and Literacy
In addition to the poems, we will be centring most of our work on the fantastic traditional tale ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’. There will be a range of activities available to the children through all the areas of learning. These will include:
Writing about things they can do with their feet;
Measuring the size of their feet and completing a class graph;
Writing about where they wish they could walk to;
Walking through different textures e.g ice cream, baked beans etc – messy but great fun!!
Well throwing competitions;
Adding percussion instruments to the different parts of the story;
Shoe polish leaves artwork;
Sewing our very own shoes;
Making patterned elf hats with feathers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/stories/colour/elvesshoemaker.shtml - print out and colour to make your very own version of the story.
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/teacher/english/elves/documents/5.doc - write a diary entry if you fancy doing a little writing.

Phonics
We are nearly there with the patterns we have been concentrating on the last two weeks. Some children are transferring them into their writing which is really great! ‘Igh’ and ‘oa’ are okay but we are still a little unsure of ‘ar’ and ‘or’. Therefore, we will only concentrate on these two this week. You may wish to support your child by practising the spelling of words containing the spelling patterns or by looking for them in books.
By the end of the week, the children;
MUST be able to identify the patterns ‘or’, ‘oa’, ‘ar’ and ‘igh’ on sight;
SHOULD be able to use them to make new words;
COULD be able to read and write words containing the patterns.
Here are the websites to support this area of learning:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem4.shtml - this looks at the spelling pattern ‘oa’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem9.shtml - this looks at ‘igh’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/snap/snap.shtml - a snap game to help the children quickly identify the letter patterns in words.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/whirl/game.shtml - I would recommend this website to support the blending of sounds together when reading.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/literacy/phonics/index.shtml - a great website with different levels. Start at the medium level and then work on from there at your own pace.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/16022007/wordmaker_vowels1/lesson.html - I really like this one. You could easily have a go at sections 1 and 2.
http://www.starfall.com/n/skills/the-lonely-vowel/load.htm?f - a great little video!
http://www.starfall.com/n/level-a/learn-to-read/load.htm?f - select the games to play with our spelling patterns in them.


Problem-solving, reasoning and numeracy
As I stated last week we are on a two week unit of addition linked to problem-solving. We were amazed at how much the children remembered about addition and we are ready to move on pretty quickly. The focus for this week is to count on from the largest number when adding two numbers together.
By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to find one more than a given number to 10;
SHOULD be able to understand that addition is the combining of two sets of objects and use 1p coins to pay for the total of two items.
COULD be able to find the total of two numbers by counting on from the largest number, and find ways of making given totals.

Suitable websites to support these learning objectives are:
Addition
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch1.shtml
www.ictgames.com/save_the_whale_v4.html - this game asks the children to select the number to add to the given number to make magic number 10. The strategy the children need to use is the counting on from the number given to 10;
www.ictgames.com/safecracker.html - the children have to choose two numbers to make the target number given.
www.ictgames.com/beaver.html - the children must select two numbers that make the magic number 10.
http://demo.iboard.co.uk/screens/thread_home.htm?thread_id=8
http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/add1.html - good website for rapid recall of adding one more.
http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ - you could have a go at year 1 also.
Money
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/maths/counting_with_money/index.htm
http://www.ictgames.com/moneysplat.html - a good website for encouraging addition

I will also send home the rhyme linked to the pairs to 10 for the children to go over too.

Any other details…
As far as I am aware this week is actually quite normal! (mmm…am I tempting fate here?) The only important date is Thursday when we welcome Mr Derek Barnes (a senior Advisor) who is assessing the school for its third quality mark in the basic skills.

Have a great week!

Best wishes
Jayne Narraway and the foundation stage team xxx

Who ate the porridge?

Hola

Welcome to this week’s blog!

On Friday the children voted to do the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Therefore, the role play area will have a selection of props which will enable them to re-enact the story with their friends. This is a vital part of your child’s development so any encouragement of pretend play is good. As part of our endeavour to create independent learners the children will receive a letter from Goldilocks. She has decided to apologise for sleeping in Baby bear’s bed and breaking his chair. She says in the letter that she would like to commission our children to help her design a new chair and bedroom just for baby bear. Let’s see where it takes us!

Phonics
Mrs Malone took the children whilst I was on a course last Thursday. When I asked the children in front of her what they are really good at the response was ‘listening and phonics’. I say no more! This week we will be consolidating their understanding of the sound patterns taught over the past few weeks which include ‘or’, ‘oa’, ‘ar’ and ‘igh’. The children are okay with ‘oa’ and ‘igh’ but still a little unsure of ‘or’ and ‘ar’. Any chance to identify them in books would be greatly appreciated.

By the end of the week, the children;
MUST be able to identify the patterns ‘or’, ‘oa’, ‘ar’ and ‘igh’ on sight;
SHOULD be able to use them to make new words;
COULD be able to read and write words containing the patterns.

Here are the websites to support this area of learning:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem4.shtml - this looks at the spelling pattern ‘oa’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem9.shtml - this looks at ‘igh’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/snap/snap.shtml - a snap game to help the children quickly identify the letter patterns in words.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/whirl/game.shtml - I would recommend this website to support the blending of sounds together when reading.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/literacy/phonics/index.shtml - a great website with different levels. Start at the medium level and then work on from there at your own pace.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/16022007/wordmaker_vowels1/lesson.html - I really like this one. You could easily have a go at sections 1 and 2.
http://www.starfall.com/n/skills/the-lonely-vowel/load.htm?f - a great little video!
http://www.starfall.com/n/level-a/learn-to-read/load.htm?f - select the games to play with our spelling patterns in them.


Problem-solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
I feel that it is time to return to looking at addition for the next two weeks. The children will review some previous learning on ordering numbers before reviewing addition. Therefore, the children:
MUST be able to count up to 10 objects reliably and order numbers to 10;
SHOULD be able to identify missing numbers on a number line, order random numbers to 10 and write most numerals from 1 to 10 correctly;
COULD be able to count backwards from 20 to 0, recognise all the numbers to 20 and some beyond, order a random set of numbers to 20, count at least 20 objects reliably and write the numbers 0 to 20 correctly.

Here are some websites for your child to play on at home to support their learning:
http://www.wmnet.org.uk/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/846/Teddynumbersv2.swf - the children are presented with a teddy bear and a jar of sweets. The computer generates a number between 1 and 15 and the children need to drag the given number of sweets into the bear’s tummy.
http://www.ictgames.com/postletter.html - the children must listen to the number given and then post the letter through the corresponding door.
http://www.ictgames.com/100hunt2.html - this is a real challenge for those children who can already recognise the numbers to 20. Encourage your child to say the target number out loud before finding it.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/ngfl-flash/numbers_eng/numbers_e.html - this is a good website for supporting number formation.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/numorder.swf - the children need to order the random numbers by placing the numbered hats on the children’s heads.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=washindex - remember to select the numbers to 20.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=ntrack - missing numbers on a number track. The children click and drag them into place. The children should be able to access all three levels.
http://www.ictgames.com/caterpillar_slider.html - one that we have had before but remember to alter the minimum and maximum range of numbers to accommodate your child’s range of recognition.
http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ - click on the numbers, python and possum

Any opportunity to review number formation is good as would be the words on Mr Adder.

We will be extending the children’s learning to counting on from the largest number and applying addition to money situations. You may wish to support this at home by playing shop and asking your child to find the total of two items in the shop.
By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to find one more than a given number to 10;
SHOULD be able to understand that addition is the combining of two sets of objects and use 1p coins to pay for the total of two items.
COULD be able to find the total of two numbers by counting on from the largest number, and find ways of making given totals.

Suitable websites to support these learning objectives are:
Addition
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch1.shtml
www.ictgames.com/save_the_whale_v4.html - this game asks the children to select the number to add to the given number to make magic number 10. The strategy the children need to use is the counting on from the number given to 10;
www.ictgames.com/safecracker.html - the children have to choose two numbers to make the target number given.
www.ictgames.com/beaver.html - the children must select two numbers that make the magic number 10.
http://demo.iboard.co.uk/screens/thread_home.htm?thread_id=8
http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/add1.html - good website for rapid recall of adding one more.
Money
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/maths/counting_with_money/index.htm
http://www.ictgames.com/moneysplat.html - a good website for encouraging addition

Here I Am
We will be continuing our work on Holidays. The children created some lovely collages of the holiday the Gingerbread man would go on for his holidays last week. The children will further develop their understanding of the Holy Spirit this week.

St George’s Day
The children will learn lots about St George’s Day on Thursday. They will be set the task of making dragons in teams. This will be a whole day events with a certificate at the end of the day for the team who have worked the most collaboratively.

Physical development
The children will focus on their ball skills this week. They will be playing target games and learning how to keep score. We will also begin developing the skills for our Sports Day. It would be a good idea to check your child’s pumps now to see that they fit. I will send pump bags home on Friday.

Friends of St Vincent’s meeting
There will be a friends meeting at 8pm in St Joseph’s Parish Club. Everyone is welcome. See you there!

I think that is all for now!

Have a great week.

Best wishes
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx

Don't eat me!!!

Hi there!

Lots of fun things to learn this week. We begin with…

Phonics
The children are doing tremendously well with their phonics. This week we will be consolidating their understanding of the sound patterns taught last week which include ‘or’, ‘oa’, ‘ar’ and ‘igh’. By the end of the week, the children;
MUST be able to identify the patterns ‘or’, ‘oa’, ‘ar’ and ‘igh’ on sight;
SHOULD be able to use them to make new words;
COULD be able to read and write words containing the patterns.

Here are the websites to support this area of learning:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem4.shtml - this looks at the spelling pattern ‘oa’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem9.shtml - this looks at ‘igh’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/snap/snap.shtml - a snap game to help the children quickly identify the letter patterns in words.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/whirl/game.shtml - I would recommend this website to support the blending of sounds together when reading.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/literacy/phonics/index.shtml - a great website with different levels. Start at the medium level and then work on from there at your own pace.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/16022007/wordmaker_vowels1/lesson.html - I really like this one. You could easily have a go at sections 1 and 2.
http://www.starfall.com/n/skills/the-lonely-vowel/load.htm?f - a great little video!
http://www.starfall.com/n/level-a/learn-to-read/load.htm?f - select the games to play with our spelling patterns in them.

Communication, Language and Literacy
This week the focus will be on developing the children story sequencing and story langauge. Plenty of reading of traditional tales at home will support this. Linked to our Here I Am theme the children will receive a postcard from Jim the giant as he has gone on holiday after putting his house up for sale. The new occupant of his house is no other than the gingerbread man!

Problem-solving, reasoning and numeracy
We will continue to develop the children’s understanding and use of comparative language, with a specific focus on tall and short. By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to identify objects that are tall and short.
SHOULD be able to order up to three objects in order of height saying which is the tallest, which is taller and which is shorter/shortest.
COULD be able to compare the heights of a range of objects and use other language to compare and describe the size.

Here are some websites to support you:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/numeracy/numbers/index.shtml - This is a good website for reviewing addition and subtraction even though we are not working on it directly at the moment.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/big_small/eng/Introduction/default.htm - looks at big and small.
http://www.little-g.com/shockwave/apple.html - a lovely website introducing small, medium and large’
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/docs/shortesttotallest.doc - print out and order at home.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/sizeordering.swf
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=compare-order7 - fab!

http://www.kidport.com/GradeK/Math/MeasureGeo/MathK_tall.htm - a simple website for identifying the tallest and shorted but remember to encourage your child to say the language associated with the height.
http://www.kidport.com/Grade1/Math/MeasureGeo/G1-M-MG1-1-2.htm
http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ - this is definitely one to go on. Click on the measurement one and then on length. You will see some towers in the left hand corner. If you click on them they change the focus of the comparative language.


What else will we be doing? Well if I was to say ‘Run, Run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me I’m the …..’ you would know. Yes! We are doing The Gingerbread Man. Here are some websites to support this fantastic traditional tale.

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/stories/gingerbread.htm - this is a great electronic version of the story for the children to read alongside you. This version shall be the one used this week in class.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/stories/colour/gingerbreadman.shtml - this version can be printed off to colour in and then perhaps your child could develop their writing skills to add captions to the pictures.
http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/gingerbread/gingerbread_man_poem.htm - this is a fantastic poem based on the story of the gingerbread man.
http://www.starfall.com/n/holiday/gingerbread/load.htm?f&n=main -the children can design their on-screen gingerbread man.

These are some of the activities your child may choose to do throughout the course of the week:
Sequencing the pictures from the story and retelling it in a written or oral form.
Rhyming bingo to focus on the rhyming aspect of the refrain.
Writing speech bubbles for what the characters may be saying in the story.
Adding percussion to the refrain of the story.
Role-play of the story with the props and masks.
Creating maps showing the route the gingerbread man took.
Sewing gingerbread family glove puppets.
Using the story board characters to retell the story in sequence.
Making gingerbread men biscuits.
Designing and making bridges using construction and junk materials for the gingerbread man to use instead of jumping on the fox’s back.
Designing their own gingerbread man.

Here I Am
We will be continuing to look at Holidays this week in Here I Am. As a response to last week’s work, the children will be creating a collage or painting of a holiday have taken. In addition to this they will be learning about Pentecost – a special holiday- when Jesus kept his promise.

Reading questionnaire
This week the rest of the school have their parents’ evening. We are currently looking at reading throughout the school and fostering a reading culture in our community. A questionnaire will be sent out to you this week. Please could you take the time to complete it and return it to me by the end of the week. Your opinions are really valued.

I think that is all for now except to say have a great week. I know we will.

Take care

Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxxxx

Once upon a time...lived happily ever after.

Hi there!

As I mentioned on last week’s blog, Miss Lauren Scott will be completing her final teaching practice with us until the Whit holidays. She will teach the children every day except Thursday when I shall be back in class with the children. Miss Scott is familiar with the children and is aware of the high level the children are working at. She will be supported by Mrs Higgins and Mrs Latham as usual. However, I would appreciate that any messages be passed on to myself or Mrs Higgins. Thanks.

The theme for this half term is ‘Traditional Tales’. Jack and the beanstalk is the story for this week and all areas of learning will be tied into this. Last week the children received letters from Jim the Giant. These have been very well received with lots of independent and self-initiated writing completed by the children as a result of the letters. We even had some flags made for the giant’s castle on the junk modelling table.

Communication, Language and Literacy
By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to say a sentence and write a sentence with support.
SHOULD be able to write a sentence with a capital letter and full stop.
COULD be able to write a series of sentences and include some connectives such as ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘so’, ’because’ and ‘when’.

The children will be asked to write a sentence linked to their favourite character in the story, extending it to say why they chose the character. They will also be sequencing the pictures from the story and then writing sentences to match the sequenced pictured. This will provide a vehicle for which they can achieve the learning objectives stated above.

Here are some great websites with traditional tales on them that the children may enjoy:
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/are_they_the_same/eng/Introduct/default.htm - the session part 1 on this page. Click and drag the characters to the books.
http://pbjc-lib.state.ar.us/mural.htm - this is an illustrated version of the story to be read to your child.
http://www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/curriculum/literacy/lit_site/html/fiction/fairytale2/jack/Jackactivities/contentspage.htm - WOW!!! A great many things to do on this website.

Phonics
The children are doing tremendously well with their phonics. We are moving onto new sound patterns this week which include ‘or’, ‘oa’, ‘ar’ and ‘igh’. By the end of the week, the children;
MUST be able to identify the patterns ‘or’, ‘oa’, ‘ar’ and ‘igh’ on sight;
SHOULD be able to use them to make new words;
COULD be able to read and write words containing the patterns.

Here are some websites to support this area of learning:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem4.shtml - this looks at the spelling pattern ‘oa’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem9.shtml - this looks at ‘igh’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/snap/snap.shtml - a snap game to help the children quickly identify the letter patterns in words.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/whirl/game.shtml - I would recommend this website to support the blending of sounds together when reading.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/literacy/phonics/index.shtml - a great website with different levels. Start at the medium level and then work on from there at your own pace.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/16022007/wordmaker_vowels1/lesson.html - I really like this one. You could easily have a go at sections 1 and 2.
http://www.starfall.com/n/skills/the-lonely-vowel/load.htm?f - a great little video!
http://www.starfall.com/n/level-a/learn-to-read/load.htm?f - select the games to play with our spelling patterns in them.

Problem-solving, reasoning and numeracy
The focus for this week will mainly be on the use of comparative language linked to the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to identify objects that are tall and short.
SHOULD be able to order up to three objects in order of height saying which is the tallest, which is taller and which is shorter/shortest.
COULD be able to compare the heights of a range of objects and use other language to compare and describe the size.

When comparing size we use the language big and small. When specifically talking about height we use tall and short. Many children confuse tall and big. Any support you can give towards this is really appreciated. Thanks.

Here are some websites to support you:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks1bitesize/numeracy/numbers/index.shtml - This is a good website for reviewing addition and subtraction even though we are not working on it directly at the moment.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/big_small/eng/Introduction/default.htm - looks at big and small.
http://www.little-g.com/shockwave/apple.html - a lovely website introducing small, medium and large’
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/docs/shortesttotallest.doc - print out and order at home.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/sizeordering.swf
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=compare-order7 - fab!

Here I Am
In RE this week we start our new topic of ‘Holidays and Holydays’. The children will learn to:
RECOGNISE what a holiday is;
REFLECT on their experience of holidays;
APPRECIATE that holidays can be happy days.
I will be working with the children on this on Thursdays when I am in class all day. Therefore, I would appreciate it if you could prepare your child to talk about a holiday they have had, look at photographs and talk about the weather and what they did whilst there.

Primary Arts Network

As you are aware we are involved in creating art work on the theme of 'echoes'. We have just completed our piece for Warrington Museum. I thought you may want to have a sneak preview. We hope to take the children to see it when it is displayed.

Thank you
Our sponsored ‘Boogie Woogie’ has so far raised just short of £170. This is amazing. If anyone has any outstanding sponsor money please could you pop it in and then we can send it off. Please pass on our thanks to all your family and friends for their generosity.

Uniform
Last week we did have some girls coming to school with nail varnish on. We always have smart children at St Vincent’s and hope that you share our pride in our children’s appearance. Therefore, would you mind checking that there is no nail varnish on their fingernails? Cheers.

BOOK SWAP
Outside my classroom each morning and afternoon there will be a book swap basket. Please feel free to have a rummage and take any you would fancy reading. All that we ask is that you bring it back when you have finished or place one in the basket you’d like to swap.

That’s all for now folks!

Have a fantastic week.

Best wishes
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx

Learn to read then read to learn!

WOW!!

That is all I can say to describe the amazing Easter bonnets paraded at the end of last term. Needless to say, I was not a judge as I am far too emotional to make a choice between one angel’s bonnet and another. Please do not fret for a photograph has been taken for a keepsake and, for you to use when their 18th birthday approaches! And now…

BOO HOO!
Can you actually believe that it is in this half term last year that you met the team you decided to entrust with your child’s education? Well believe me it is. The nerves are now beginning to flutter in my stomach as I contemplate the fact that not only do I have to stand up in front of LOTS of new faces, but our little darlings who we love and have nurtured are now being prepared to flee the nest and transfer to Year 1. (Now I know what my dad went through when I got married). HOWEVER, I do need volunteers to come along to the new intake meeting and put new parent’s minds at rest that we are not raving loonatics! Even if we ask children to kiss baked beans and truly believe that the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk corresponds with us via The Beanstalk Mail!

YES! We have a letter? But of course! Never? I could go on…but I won’t. The giant refuses to let the beanstalk grow any further for fear that his belongings will be stolen once again. A ploy? Yes, only to get the children writing. Yet a very good ploy as this is the term when the children flourish and blossom into writers of the future and beyond. (Mmm…felt like I was an extra on Star Trek then! Not good! Apologies to any trekkies reading this week’s blog) Our classroom has been transformed and we now have a Giant’s castle to role play in and…I am sooooo excited about this! But it is a secret and your child will have to tell you what we have in place of the Doctor’s surgery.

Student Teacher
As you may be aware we have the benefit of a final year student, Lauren Scott, who will be doing her final teaching practice with us next week. Lauren has been fully informed of the level at which your child is working and Mrs Higgins and Mrs Latham will be supporting her as normal. I have been banished to the depths of…no seriously…thankfully some teachers did it for me many, many years ago and made me the teacher I am today. So, a seven week holiday in Barbados then? No such luck! I shall be working with some Year 2 children about fantasy world (somehow I don’t think it will be too challenging for me, imaginary worlds, fantasy fiction! Can I tell the difference between reality and fantasy?), and Year 3 children on phonics but will observe my class in the afternoon and continue to do their handwriting and phonics work. Leave my babies? No way. I shall be teaching them every Thursday though. Mmm…what will I have up my sleeve then? During this time please make sure that any correspondence and information is passed directly onto me or Mrs Higgins. I shall always be available should you need to see me at any point and the blog spot will continue as normal.

So what have we in store for this week?
Thanks to Mrs Harding, our science leader, we have a science show on Friday morning. Therefore, this week will be very much science based. As I mentioned in the blog before Easter, we will be looking at materials. This will also form some of our art work for the theme of ‘Echoes’ for the Primary Arts Exhibition at the Gateway. In addition to this, our theme of materials also lends itself to our one week maths topic on sorting. By the end of the week, the children:

MUST be able to sort objects and materials by a given criteria;
SHOULD be able to sort objects and materials according to their own criteria;
COULD be able to record their sorting in a diagrammatic form.

You may wish to support your child by having a look around the house and outside environment, discussing with them what things are made of and why. Remember to use all the sense. What does it smell like? Feel like? Sound like? Etc. Here are some good websites to support the children in their learning:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/5_6/sorting_using_mate.shtml - this is a good website for the children to consolidate their understanding of the different properties of materials. We shall be investigating which materials will be best for making a raincoat for a Incy Wincy Spider so he doesn’t get wet when it rains. Perhaps you too could test out some different materials. Remember it needs to be bendy and waterproof.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/6_7/grouping_materials.shtml - the children will work on sorting different objects according to their materials and properties. This website consolidates their understanding but a look at household objects first would be a great idea.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=materials2d - this is good once they understand the different materials.

As part of the theme of materials the children will be exploring magnets. This is one of my most dominant memories of primary school. I am still fascinated by them now. Why not explore things around the house that attract the magnets but remember to stay clear from the TV!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/magnets_springs.shtml - this website is a little older (actually KS2) but I think the children will be okay just investigating what the magnets will pick up and thinking about what they are made of.

Phonics
All the assessments of letter sounds and names were completed at the end of the last half term. If your child does still need to work on a few I will write them in their diary this week. Believe it or not, they fit on a little label now! In class this week we will be reviewing the sounds ‘oo’, ‘ai’ and ‘ee’. The children are pretty familiar with ‘oo’ and ‘ee’ as I have often referred to them in class previously. I shall be using this week to focus on the children’s spelling and sounding out of words using the letter sounds they have been taught. This will form the basis of the records for Miss Scott to ensure that the children are working at the correct level. Here are some websites to support the children. By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to identify all the letter sounds and names;
SHOULD be able to orally segment and blend simple three letter words;
COULD read and spell more complex words containing the sounds ‘ee’, ‘oo’ and ‘ai’.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem2.shtml - click on Daisy the Snail. This is the poem the children will be learning this week to help them learn the sound ‘ai’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem7.shtml - another poem for ‘oo’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem1.shtml - I love this poem to help the children reinforce ‘ee’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/print/print.shtml - this page has some wonderful print and do activities. Why not have a go at making your own poem containing the sounds of the week?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/snap/snap.shtml - a good website which has our new sounds in but also helps prepare for others to follow.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/spelling/spelling.shtml - again has other sounds but will help prepare the children.
http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/phaseThreeAS1_v2.html - this will be used in class to help the children. Give them a word and they can drag the cards into the frames. To find ‘ee’, ‘oo’, and ‘ai’ click on the rainbow and it will change for you.
http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/poopDeck_v3.html - a good website for helping with those blending skills.
http://www.starfall.com/n/make-a-word/long-e/load.htm?f - good old starfall! Click on Pete the Sheep and the games associated with it.

Reading
Tuesday sees the launch of The Year of Reading. Reading is vital to life long learning. A quote from a good friend of mine over the holidays was: ‘You begin by learning to read, and then you read to learn.’ Let this be the moto for this year across the whole country. Take time out to enjoy a novel, read a magazine, catch up on a sporting article, just read for pleasure. You can not imagine the impact that it will have on your child seeing you as a reader. Remember that Penketh library is not too far away. Why not join if you are not a member already. Penketh library celebrates its anniversary this year too. Each child will receive a special gift to mark the launch of this very special year. Enjoy your read! I have spent much of my holiday with my nose in a book, much to the neglect of my housework. I am currently reading ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak. If anyone fancies it afterwards I will be leaving a book swap basket outside the classroom door starting next week. Just pick it up and take it and if you have one you’d like to swap just pop it in the basket for others to share.

Sponsor money
It would be greatly appreciated if any outstanding sponsored Boogie Woogie money could be returned to school by the end of this week so we can collate it and send off the cheque. Many thanks to you all for your generosity.

PE Kits
We will be doing PE on Monday morning. Please make sure that your child does have their PE Kit. Thanks. Do not worry if your child forgot theirs on the last day it has been washed and ironed at Widow Narraway’s Laundrette and is ready for getting filthy again!

I think that is all for this week.

Have a great one!

Best wishes Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx

Happy Easter

Hi there!

Let’s begin with an apology. I’m so sorry for the lateness in getting your child’s handwriting homework to you last week. With the wind and the sending of the children through the front of school I forgot to send it. I will try to do much better from now on.

Now let’s talk about last week. How amazing it was! We finally completed our sentences about frogs and the use of connectives to make our sentences longer. The tongues are now firmly stuck in their frog puppets mouths and will soon be displayed on the wall in the classroom. The work the children have been doing on frogs has been further enhanced thanks to Mrs Bolton who has acquired us some frogspawn for in our water tray. The children have really loved this and have been drawing the frogspawn and creating diagrams. Already we can see the changes happening and this weekend should see the tadpoles emerging from the protective gel. It must be said that the children are truly amazing and have really impressed us with how much they have chosen to find out of their own accord. Thanks for all your support at home.

What is this? A beanstalk? Growing in our classroom? Yes! It’s true. Last week we saw the arrival of our very own ‘Grow your own beanstalk kit’. This is like no other kit. Oh no…it is magic! We have planted our beans (baked) and have sprinkled them with magic dust. We already have a leaf. Will the beanstalk grow any higher? But of course it will. This week we hope to encourage the children to write more by having them receive a letter from the giant via the beanstalk. I wonder what will be the outcome?

In addition to this, the children will be entering a national poetry competition. In preparation for this could you talk to your child about:
Who their best friend is
What they like to watch on TV
What they consider a treat (not food)
Their pet ( and if they haven’t got one what pet they would like to have – this can be a crazy one)

Thanks.

As always, the last week of the half term is Assessment and Review Week. I will be assessing:
Number recognition
Letter sounds and name recognition
Blending of words when reading
High frequency words
Ordering of numbers
Understanding of subtraction
In addition to this we will be assessing the children on their understanding of comparative language e.g longer, shorter, taller etc for the half term to follow Easter. Please refer back to previous blogs to find websites to support he revision of these areas.

The Easter Story
We take the opportunity to spend the whole week on the celebration of Easter with the children. This week will be filled with fun activities for them whilst they understand the meaning behind the celebration of Easter. The story is told to the children sensitively and in a way which will help them to understand. Thanks to Mrs Worrall, our RE Coordinator, we have some lovely websites to support this week.
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/christianity/easter/easter.htm - this is an illustrated version of the story. You may wish to omit the part about the nails as this often upsets the children.
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Easter/Easter.aspx - find out more about the traditions surrounding Easter.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/re/b-dag/ngfl-container/re-unit2-en.html - some lovely activities on here.
http://www.teachingandlearningresources.co.uk/resourcesjigsaws.shtml -online jigsaws for the children to do.
http://www.teachingandlearningresources.co.uk/colourbookeaster.shtml - printable Easter colouring activities.
http://demo.iboard.co.uk/screens/thread_home.htm?thread_id=21# - a lovely website with lots of fantastic things to do. We will be using this in the ICT suite with the children.

Easter Bonnets
There will of course be our other fun activities. I can’t wait to see all the wonderful Easter bonnets the children will have made. We do take a photograph of them for their Year Book.

Egg Rolling Competition
Please remember that the eggs need to be hard boiled.

Sponsored Boogie Woogie
The children will be dancing non-stop to ten songs on Monday in aid of Nugent Care. Please can you make sure that your child has their sponsor form in their bags for signing after the Boogie Woogie. Many thanks as this will allow for the sponsor money to be collected in that week prior to the Easter break.

Fundraiser
Year 5 and 6 are also holding their very own fundraising event. This will be on Tuesday afternoon. There will be games and small items for sale. If your child would like to contribute then bring along 50p on Tuesday. Please remember to place it in a labelled purse or an envelope.

Science Week
On our return to school we will be holding a Science themed week on Materials. Over the holidays I would appreciate it if you could see if you have any old pieces of material, wool, foil, wood, bricks etc that will help us in our investigations.

I think that is all for now so all that is left to say is…

Have a Happy and Holy Easter

Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx

Who will be the winner?

Welcome to this week’s blog!

Last week was very hectic to say the least. Needless to say we didn’t quite get round to doing everything we planned but the written work completed by the children on the life cycle of a butterfly was amazing!. Therefore, we will be continuing with the theme of frogs and how they change from a tadpole.

We are actually having a competition. Last week, the children made frog face puppets using paper plates and now they are going to have a competition to see who can write the longest sentence to create the frog with the longest tongue. The puppets they have made are fantastic and so will the sentences I am sure. As they find out more information we will be able to review their understanding of non-fiction texts. You may wish to visit the library and see if you can find any books on frogs for your child to share with us at school.

In addition to all of this we will begin a mini art topic on the theme of Echoes. There is to be an exhibition of Primary Art held at The Gateway and The Pyramid later this year. Our school is taking part in the exhibition and our class is creating a large piece of art to be displayed in Warrington Museum. Hence, the two weeks to make sure the art is of the highest quality.

Talking of art, our Van Gogh pictures are now up in the classroom and look truly magnificent. Please feel free to pop in at the end of any day and have a look at your child’s masterpiece. Even Mr Barker has commissioned us to do one for his office! (Do you think we should charge him the price that Van Gogh’s paintings bring? Who knows judging by the art we could possibly have a future artist in our midst)

Phonics
We are very close to ensuring every child knows their letter sounds by Easter. If your child does still need to work on a few I will write them in their diary this week. In class this week we will be focusing on the sounds ‘oo’, ‘ai’ and ‘ee’. The children are pretty familiar with ‘oo’ and ‘ee’ as I have often referred to them in class previously.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem2.shtml - click on Daisy the Snail. This is the poem the children will be learning this week to help them learn the sound ‘ai’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem7.shtml - another poem for ‘oo’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/poems/flash/fpoem1.shtml - I love this poem to help the children reinforce ‘ee’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/print/print.shtml - this page has some wonderful print and do activities. Why not have a go at making your own poem containing the sounds of the week?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/snap/snap.shtml - a good website which has our new sounds in but also helps prepare for others to follow.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/spelling/spelling.shtml - again has other sounds but will help prepare the children.
http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/phaseThreeAS1_v2.html - this will be used in class to help the children. Give them a word and they can drag the cards into the frames. To find ‘ee’, ‘oo’, and ‘ai’ click on the rainbow and it will change for you.
http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/poopDeck_v3.html - a good website for helping with those blending skills.
http://www.starfall.com/n/make-a-word/long-e/load.htm?f - good old starfall! Click on Pete the Sheep and the games associated with it.

Problem-solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
MUST be able to identify one less;
SHOULD be able to understand that subtract means ‘take away’ and carry out the operation practically;
COULD be able to independently subtract one number from another, and understand the vocabulary associated with subtraction.

Last week we set the scene for understanding subtraction and it is hoped that the children are more familiar with their subtraction flower by now to enable them to use the different vocabulary associated with this operation. Unfortunately the children sometimes mix up the language of Mr Adder with the subtraction flower.

These are the websites from last week which are still suitable.
http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/take1.html - a good website for reviewing one less but you will need to play it alongside them.
http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/take2.html - this works in the same way but subtracts two.
http://www.sums.co.uk/playground/c1a/playground.htm - this is a great website for problem-solving with subtraction and it has a real visual element to it.
http://www.abc.net.au/countusin/games/game8.htm - this is a great game of skittles if the weather is bad!
http://www.deltamicro.co.uk/primary_online/planetstaken.html - another great website with a problem solving element.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/chi.shtml - I would really recommend this website as they can do addition and subtraction on it as well.
http://www.ictgames.com/soccer_subtraction.html -probably the only time that England will beat Brazil! The number of players on the Brazil team can be used to help work out if the subtraction fact is true or false. If it is false click on next and if it is true then click on the England player.
http://www.ictgames.com/targettakeaway.html - good for once your child has mastered the concept of subtraction and wants to have a go at larger numbers.

Other bits and bobs
You should have received a letter about the Easter bonnet and egg rolling competitions. The last week of this half term is a wonderful celebration of Easter. The competition for the bonnets is judged on creativity and evidence of the children’s own work. And now a plea from the heart. Please make sure that your child’s egg is hard boiled for the egg rolling competition. Yes, believe it or not we do have some who just decorate them and we do wish to stay on good terms with the school caretaker.

On Wednesday evening there is a Friends of St Vincent’s Meeting at St Joseph’s parish club. Please come along if you can. It starts at 8pm.

I am out of school on Thursday and Friday on a Deputy Headteacher’s conference. Mrs Julia Neale will be coming into support the class on these days.

I think that is all for this week.

Have a good one!

Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx

Boing!

Hola!

We had a great time last week learning about how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. However we were a little disappointed to find that when the butterfly garden arrived there were no caterpillars in and we had to send off for them. Not to worry I’m sure they will arrive soon. This week we will be answering the question: Does a frog start off life as a frog? If anyone has access to any frog spawn I wouldn’t say I’d love to have it but will take it off your hands for the children to observe the changes over time. I will be using a lovely book called ‘The Teeny Weeny Tadpole by Sheridan Cain and Jack Tickle.

Here are some websites to look at.
http://ecs.lewisham.gov.uk/youthspace/ca/Lorraine/frog_life_cycle.htm - this is a good cyclical diagram to explain the life cycle and the length of timescale of each stage of growth.
http://ecs.lewisham.gov.uk/youthspace/ca/Lorraine/growth_stages_of_a_frog.htm

Phonics
This week we focus on the use of ‘sh’, ‘ch’, ‘th’ and ‘ng’. The children are familiar with the sounds through their POPAT work but use of two letters for one sound is often difficult to grasp. Nevertheless I have total confidence in the fact that the children will achieve them by the end of the week.

I have been so pleased with the children and their enthusiasm for learning. Many children have brought in books that contain the spelling patterns we have been working on e.g ‘ck’. ‘ss’ etc. Perhaps getting a newspaper and being word investigators for sh, ch and th is a worthwhile exercise, especially if you have a magnifying glass!

http://www.ictgames.com/ladybird_v2.html - this is a great website that you will need to play with your child. It helps them to hear the sounds in simple three letter words. If you give your child a word like ‘pet’, ‘man’, ‘hen’ and then they can make it on the daisies. You can extend this to including four sounds and having words such as ‘clap’, ‘jump’ etc. Perhaps you could use this to try out spelling the three and four letter high frequency words.
http://www.ictgames.com/blendingBingo.html - good for supporting blending of words using the patterns we have already looked at.
http://www.ictgames.com/soundBingo.html - good for blending three letter words together.
http://www.ictgames.com/cvcPop.html
http://www.ictgames.com/blending_dragon.html


Problem-solving, Reasoning and Number
In this area of the curriculum we begin our work on subtraction. The children do understand addition well and this is where the children may have a little confusion. The thing to remember, if you give them any written calculations to do, is to look at the ‘-‘ symbol. A good way is to write it in red to start with then it is more obvious. By the end of two weeks, the children:
MUST be able to identify one less;
SHOULD be able to understand that subtract means ‘take away’ and carry out the operation practically;
COULD be able to independently subtract one number from another, and understand the vocabulary associated with subtraction.

As you can see I have placed the objective of finding one less again. This is just to refresh their memory about the vocabulary of subtraction. In your child’s diary I have sent a sheet with a subtraction flower on it. This works in a similar way as Mr Adder with each flower petal having a different word associated with subtraction for them to learn. I have made each petal a different colour to help them to remember them.

You can get outside if the weather is fine and play skittles, writing the sums down each time.
Alternatively here are some websites they can have a go at over the next two weeks:
http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/take1.html - a good website for reviewing one less but you will need to play it alongside them.
http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/take2.html - this works in the same way but subtracts two.
http://www.sums.co.uk/playground/c1a/playground.htm - this is a great website for problem-solving with subtraction and it has a real visual element to it.
http://www.abc.net.au/countusin/games/game8.htm - this is a great game of skittles if the weather is bad!
http://www.deltamicro.co.uk/primary_online/planetstaken.html - another great website with a problem solving element.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/chi.shtml - I would really recommend this website as they can do addition and subtraction on it as well.
http://www.ictgames.com/soccer_subtraction.html -probably the only time that England will beat Brazil! The number of players on the Brazil team can be used to help work out if the subtraction fact is true or false. If it is false click on next and if it is true then click on the England player.
http://www.ictgames.com/targettakeaway.html - good for once your child has mastered the concept of subtraction and wants to have a go at larger numbers.

The domestics…
On Thursday our Year ¾ children will be hosting their annual fundraising afternoon. Your child can buy little trinkets, sweets, enter competition, etc. They would probably need between 50p and a £1 each. Please ensure it is in an envelope or purse with their name on. Thanks.

As it is World Book Day, there will be a sale of second hand books for adults in the hall after school. If you have any books you would like to send in for the sale that would be great. Thanks.

As a class we too are going to be doing some fundraising whilst we are in Lent. In order to support our Good Shepherd Appeal we are going to have a Sponsored Boogie!! The sponsor forms will be sent out on Monday and the Boogie will happen on Monday 17th March.

I hope you all liked your card and gift for Mother’s Day.

Take care
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx