Year 1

16.9.22

Dear Parents,

This week we have covered the sounds 'ai, ee, igh, oa, oo (food), ar, or, ur oo (foot), ow, oi & ear'. Please see if your child can find these digraphs and trigraphs when reading stories or in the Collins reading books on line. 

The tricky words that the children need to be able to read and spell are; no, go, so, my, by, to, into, out & the.

This week we have finished the topic Mix It! We have begun the science topic called Animal Parts

This project teaches children about animals, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and invertebrates. They identify and describe their common structures, diets, and how animals should be cared for.

In maths we are comparing numbers up to 10 and ordering random numbers, for example putting 7, 5 & 4 in the correct order starting from the greatest or the smallest number. 

Some children are still writing their numbers back to front. Please check with your child that they can write their numbers to 10 correctly. We have been practising this at school. 

This week the children enjoyed the Roald Dahl workshop and watched Fantastic Mr Fox. Thank you to Mrs Kelly who came in to read a story. 

Thank you for helping your child to speak with a quieter voice. We will continue to remind the children to use a smaller voice inside the building. 

Enjoy the week end. 

Mrs Clare and the Team.

9.9.22 Week 1

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the new school year. We are enjoying getting to know the children and they are settling well into Y1, becoming familiar with their new surroundings. They are beginning to learn what is expected of them in a more formal setting. This week, the children have been learning the rules of the classroom and to use a quiet indoor voice during lesson time. During the lessons, we encourage the children to talk to each other about what they are learning and to ask questions to widen their knowledge. However, loud voices can distract some children and put them off their focus. For homework, We would like the children to practise using their quiet voices inside the building so that their ideas and opinions can be heard by others and also take into concideration what others say. This would be a good exercise when sitting around the table for a meal. Are the children listening and taking in what others say? Are they able to join in a converstion and take turns in talking? Is what they say relevant to the conversation? 

This week we have begun our first topic, 'Mix It!'. This project teaches children about basic colour theory by studying the colour wheel and colour mixing. It includes an exploration of primary and secondary colours and how artists use colour in their artwork.

In maths we have been recapping our numbers 0-10, using the Maths, No Problem scheme of work. The children were very excited to be working in their own maths journal.

We have also been going over the phonics that they have been learning in reception class. It would be beneficial if, the children could practise the sounds to become secure with the trigraphs and digraphs. Each week, I will let you know which sounds and words we have been learning so that you can help the children consolidate the phonemes. This will help them to become more fluent in their reading as well as being able to use the phonics confidently when writing. 

We hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your child's school news!

Mrs Clare and the Y1 team. 

15.7.22

Week 6

15.7.22

Dear Parents,

We have finally arrived at the end of the year, and what a year it has been. I would firstly like to say how much I have enjoyed teaching your children, they are absolute stars! I am very proud of them,  the people they have become, the progress they have made, and always showing maturity and enthusiasm. They are certainly ready to move on to their next adventures. I am looking forward to watching them grow even more in year 2. I’ll be looking in their classroom now and again to say hello.

The children are very excited about going into Y2 and have met with their new class teachers and have been in their new classroom to become familiar with the surroundings. I’m sure they will have many questions to ask their teachers in September.

I have no doubt that the children need a good rest after so much learning. However the holidays are quite long and children tend to relax and forget some of what they have learnt. So, what do the children need to do over the holidays to remember their phonics and numbers? Please keep up with reading books for their enjoyment (I have also added a couple of books to the e-Collins library) and make sure that letter and number formation (writing the alphabet and numbers going in the right direction) are correct.

I have also attached a ‘passport to my new class’ page, (there is also a copy in the children’s bag) to write about themselves and bring the passport back for Mrs Ralph on the first day in September. She will collect them in for display.

I would like to say well done and good luck to all the children, a huge thank you to all the parents for helping on trips, in the classroom and helping your child along the way in Y1. It is very important that teachers and parents work together to help the children progress and we can certainly see the progress the children have made this year.

Just to let you know that there will be no PE next week. 

I wish you all the best and happy holidays.

Kind Regards

Mrs Clare and the Team.

8.7.22

Dear Parents,

Last night's open evening was a wonderful success and it was lovely to see and chat to so many of you. I hope you enjoyed browsing through your child's/children's work. They have all really developed and matured, and have made great progress. I am very proud of them. Well done children. 

This week we have been finishing off some of our topic and will continue to tie the ends up next week. 

In phonics we have covered 'i' - wild, tiger, spider, 'a'- paper, chasing, baking, 'ow'- snow, follow, arrow, 'u'- unicorn, music & unit.

Tricky words- two, eye, thought, through & friend.

Maths- we have recapped money. 

Please don't forget to learn the 10s X tables. 

In the children's bags (possibly between pages of books) there are two pieces of paper bunting. Please could they decorate these over the weekend, with pictures to do with Mary Poppins, eg umbrellas, chimney sweep brushes, kites, penguins, Mary Poppin's hat and bag or toys etc.  Please bring them Back on Monday morning so that we can make up the bunting. 

Please could you provide a strong named carrier bag by Wednesday so that we can start putting your children's work in to bring home at the end of term. It is important that you store their work safely in case we need to show it in a future inspection. 

Happy Friday everyone.

Mrs Clare and the Team.

1.7.22

Dear All,

Just two and a half weeks to go. My goodness, this year has flown by.

This week the children have continued to recap sounds 'ea' head, spread, thread, 'ir', bird skirt, girl 'ou', cloud, sound & 'oy', boy, joy, toy. 

Tricky words- any, many, who, whole & two. 

All maths have been completed and we are just going word problems. If parents have time to look at coins with the children and o'clock and half past the hour, that would be useful, please. 

In our topic this week the children have enjoyed looking at mythical creatures from Brazil and using their imagination to create their own, using colour, sand and collage. They are now writing descriptions of their mythical creatures. Please discuss their creature at home, as this will help with their writing. 

Next week we will be checking the 5x tables in random order. 

We are also learning our Spoonful of Sugar song from Mary Poppins. 

Have a great weekend.

Mrs Clare and the Team.

24.6.22

Dear Parents,

This week we have reviewed the sounds 'ue'- blue, argue, value,  'ew' - flew, new,  'u-e' - cute, rule,  'aw' - claw, straw. Tricky words- today, their, people, your, any. 

In maths we have almost finished the book and we are revisiting maths topics from now on to remind us what we have learned through the year. 

Rio de Vida- The children have been recalling the story about the Legend of Vitoria- Regia and they have used their own words to write the story. I have seen fabulous writing from all the children and Mrs Streatfeild was very impressed. 

The children sang beautifully at the Maypole Dancing event. I was very proud of them. A huge well done children! Now onto learning the next song for the end of year performance. 

For sports day on Monday, please don't forget the hard boiled egg, a sun hat, water bottle and put sun cream on your child before sending them to school. 

Have a wonderful weekend, let's hope the sun continues to shine. 

Mrs Clare and Team. 

17.6.22

Dear Parents,

This week in phonics we have been recapping 'ie' -pie, lie, tied, cried,   i-e- time, like, ripe, o- go, post, so, both, o-e, home,  woke, explode, stone & note.

The tricky words- were, one, says, here, & today. 

In maths we have been looking at mass ie using units to weigh objects, using language such as lighter, heavier, as heavy as. 

The children have been busy making masks and learning the La di da carnival song. It has been a busy week. 

At this year's summer production of Mary Poppins YR and Y1 will be toys. All children can choose between soldiers, teddies and dolls. 

By Friday 8^th July please could you send in the following items in a named plastic bag (with handles so it can put on their pegs).

Teddies: children to wear black tracksuit bottoms and a plain brown t shirt (any shade).

 Dolls: children to wear a dress or smartish trousers, shirt / blouse and, if you have one, a waistcoat (please don't buy one, this is optional). 

Soldiers: Please provide black tracksuit bottoms (School will provide the red t-shirt). 

In school we will make / provide teddies ears and soldiers hats. We will be adding buttons to red t-shirts.  

Please could you communicate with each other to be sure there is an even amount of each of the toys.

Times tables- please help your child learn the 2 x tables in random order. 

Thank you. Enjoy the weather, long may it last!

Mrs Clare.

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to the last term. 

This week we have enjoyed the Jubilee celebrations, the Pentecost activities and a drumming workshop. It has been full on already. 

In phonics we have been recapping all our digraphs and trigraphs, and focusing on 'ay- play, spray, tray,   a-e- made, same, game,

ea-bread, sea, read, treat, e- fever, secret, being.

In maths we have covered capacity and volume. The children have been counting how many units (cups or beakers) are needed to fill a container, using words such as full, half-full, quarter full & empty. We are also focusing on 2X tables. They are stuck in the children's spelling books. Please help them to learn them. 

We have already looked at our new topic, introducing the capital city of Brasilia in Brazil. Did you know it is shaped like a plane? 

The children have also begun their mask designs for a carnival. Watch this space!

Please remember to use the Collins e-library. I have attached the next books. 

We will be recapping adding 'ed', 'ing' 's ies & es' on the ends of words. If you go onto Twinkl you can find a powerpoint resource that will explain the rules. This would be helpful as some children are still adding a 't' instead, for the 'ed'. 

For next week, please could you send in a yogurt pot, or kitchen towel tube, or a clean empty baked bean tin (please make sure there are no sharp bits once opened) or any small plastic bottle, elastic bands or anything SMALL that would be suitable to make instruments. Thank you.

Enjoy the weekend.

Mrs Clare and the team.

20.5.22

Dear All,

Here we are at the end of another term. 

This week in phonics we have covered 'ch' -school, echo, chef.

'ze' -freeze, squeeze.

All the sounds that 'a' makes in words such as wasp, father, water & baking.

Longer words such as celebrate, astronaut, playful, pudding, octopus, picture, adventure, creature & feature.

In maths we have been looking at and recognising money- coins and notes. It would be helpful if the children could look at some real coins and notes. Notice the colour and what is on both sides of the coins and notes. They are not expected to add amounts at this stage. 

Topic- this week the children have been making their animal enclosures. They have continued to write their stories about the creature they invented and created with plasticine. 

On the ecollins site, I have added two books for the holidays. Do keep reading other books too. 

Please don't forget to keep looking at the phonics mats I sent by email. Five minutes each day to go over the sounds would be beneficial, so that the children don't forget the sounds. 

Spellings are attached below. 

Next term the topic is Rio de Vida! Here is a little insight to what we will be learning at school.

Dancing feet, step to the samba beat. Shake it, shimmy, hands in the air, wave your flags in the cool night air. Come join the party down in Rio, keeping the rhythm with your party shaker. Bright colours, patterns and feathers. Can you make a headdress or party mask? Meet magical creatures from Brazil’s myths and legends and create your own too. Be as fancy as you like. Let’s get down to Rio where football is king, and practise our skills on golden beaches. Now we need to plan a celebration with fabulous music and song. Let’s invite parents and friends to come along. Bem-vindo ao Brasil os meus amigos.

Have a wonderful half term and a good rest. 

Regards

Mrs Clare and the Team. 

13.5.22

Hello everyone,

This week in phonics, we have covered;

'ear', learn, search, rehearsal.

wr- wrong, wrist, wrinkle.

st- listen, whistle.

sc- science, muscle, scent.

The schwa at the end of words, actor, sailor, collar. 

In maths we have been looking at calendars. We have looked at how months begin on different days, how many full weeks are in a month, how many days in a month and how many months in a year. The children have learned the poem 'Thirty days has September' to help them remember how many days in each month. Please look at calendars at home if you have one. Perhaps they can find their birthday. 

We have also looked at the painting, Tiger in the Jungle, by Henry Rousseau. The children each painted a small section and then joined the sections together to replicate the master piece. 

There will be no forest school next week, so the children will need to come to school in their uniform. 

Have a lovely weekend. 

Mrs Clare

5.5.22

Hello everyone,

This week we have had a full on week, even though we are squeezing it all into 4 days

Tuesday we listened to an amazing author, Chrissie Sain, who wrote the Jam factory series and brought her books to life using props. The children really enjoyed listening to part of the story and finding out how to become an author. 

An exciting time at Chessington Zoo was had by all, learning about where animals live in the wild and whether they are prey or predator. The children took delight in travelling on a bus through the safari to spot giraffes, zebra and rhinos. Walking down pathways, they found gorillas, a variety of cats including lions and tigers and meandering through underwater tunnels to spot ocean creatures. The children were impeccably behaved as always and a joy to take on a trip. 

This week in phonics, we have covered, 'a' in water, want,  'ear' in bear, pear & 'ere' there.

In maths we have finished the review. Please keep looking at 100 squares to notice where numbers are placed. Which number goes under, above, next to, before and after a given number?  Look at patterns, for example 10 more than a given number, 10 less than a given number. Can they see the pattern of twos in even and odd numbers? 

Enjoy the weekend. 

Mrs Clare and the team. 

P.S Enjoy the photos.

292.4.22

Dear Parents,

This week in phonics we have covered sounds; 'tch' match, 'ture' picture, 'al' half, 'a' father. 

Tricky words- once, laugh, our, because & eye. 

In maths we continue to order random numbers to 100 and find how many 10s and ones large numbers have.

Today we have enjoyed creating our yellow and blue pictures for the Ukraine. 

We look forward to the literary festival on Tuesday and our Chessington trip on Wednesday.

Have a super weekend.

Mrs Clare and the Team. 

Welcome back all, to term 5. I hope everyone had a lovely Easter and a well earned break. 

This week, Y1 have begun their new topic, Paws, Claws and Whiskers, by studying animal prints, for example the pattern and colours on a giraffe, tiger, tortoise or a parrot. Using pastels, they recreated the animal prints.

We have started the new sounds from Little Wandle, 'or' (ur) in 'word, worm & worth, 

'u, & oul' (oo) 'awful, playful & could,

'are' (air)  share, square, stare',

'aur, oor' (or), door, floor, author. 

Grow the code- 'aur' , dinosaur, 'al',  'walk, talk, chalk', 'aw' claw, draw. 

Our English language is rather complicated, isn't it? 

In maths we are counting and making larger numbers up to 100. For example, in 67, there are 6x10s and 7 ones etc. We have also been looking at a 100 square and noticing number patterns.

We have been working on P.84-86 in the MNP work book. Some children found this a little challenging, so if you have time this weekend to go over larger numbers, that would really help them. I think you all have the login for Maths No Problem. 

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Clare and Team.

1.4.22

Hoorah! We made it. 

This week in phonics the two new souds are 'ui' as in fruit and juice, and 'ou' as in youth, soup and group. We have recapped all the tricky words learnt so far. Please see previous class pages. 

In maths we have continued to look at fractions; halves and quarters. 

All the children have the next spellings in their spelling books. 

To finish off the dinosaur topic, we invited our Y5 buddies to our classroom museum. The children showed the Y5s around to look at what they had made and read their dinosur stories to their buddy. 

Next term's topic is Paws, Claws and Whiskers. 

Soft fur, sharp claws and twitching whiskers. What’s your favourite animal? One that meows? One that barks? Or maybe one that scurries or slithers? From pets at home to animals in the zoo, let’s find out what animals like to eat and where they like to sleep. Do you know how to look after a rabbit? A cat? Or even a snake? Find out how the elephant got his trunk and how the rhinoceros got his leathery skin. Perhaps you know how the dog got his waggy tail? Can you make a food chain to show who eats who? Who is a herbivore and who is a carnivore? When a gaggle of mysterious pets arrive at the local pet shop, it’s up to you to take care of them. Feed them, clean them and discover their daily needs. After all that work, curl up and take a cat nap.

Please send in a cereal box for the children to make an animal enclosure the first week back. 

Don't forget to keep reading the collins book online. It is important that the children show off their reading skills. 

Next term, please could the children come in their PE  kit on Tuesdays instead of Monday.

Have a super break everyone. 

Mrs Clare and the Team.

25.3.22

Dear Parents,

Just a week to go and the children are looking forward to a break and the Easter Bunny!

This weeks sounds in phonics are o-e,  o, ou ( all making the 'u' sound, eg, brother, mother, nothing, done, son, won, some, come, love touch, young above.

se- making the z sound- cheese, noise, praise.

se- mouse, house, horse, purse

ce- fence, dance, 

ey- (ee) key, valley, donkey

Tricky words- thought, through, friend, work

Spellings are attached, if your child has been away and they don't have them in their spelling book.

In maths we have been looking at whole, half and quarters of shapes and looking at fractions of numbers. Practise at home will really help some children. Using objects to share will help them visualise what a fraction of a number looks like. 

We had an amazing time at Godstone farm and I have attached the photos for you to enjoy. 

Finally, Happy Mother's Day to all the lovely Mums! I hope you will be thoroughly spoilt!

Have a great weekend.

Mrs Clare and the Team. 

18.3.22

Dear Parents, 

This week, the new sounds in phonics are le (apple), al (metal), c (ice) & ve (give). 

Tricky words are; school, call, & different.

In maths we are looking at halves and quarters of shapes. 

The children have enjoyed modelling clay dinosaurs, for the topic, and they have painted their models and the dinosaur teeth. 

We have been learning to ad 'ed' on the end of words. As they read their books please find and notice any words with 'ed' and look at the root part of the word.  Many children want to write 'stoppt' instead of stopped. 

We are looking forward to our trip on Tuesday to Godstone Farm.  The children will stay with their team leader as we wander round the farm to look at the dinosaurs and other animals. They will be spotting carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. 

Have a good weekend

Mrs Clare and the team.

11.3.22

Dear Parents.

This week, in phonics we have covered new sounds, 'y (fly), ow (snow), g (giant) & ph (phone).

Tricky words, this week are; could, would, should, who, whole, where & two.

Going over these sounds with your child would really help them, thank you. 

In maths we have been learning about arrays, grouping objects in each row to make a multiplication sentence. For example five rows of ten footballs is 10+10+10+10+10=50, or 5x10=50. 

For our science topic, we have studied, herbivores and carnivores and matched the different types of teeth to the correct dinosaur. The children enjoyed making dinosaur teeth with clay. 

The children were very excited to make their 'Sockosaurus' on Wednesday afternoon- please see photos attached. 

Spellings are attached below. As you are aware, some spellings are repeated, as in the Little Wandle programme. This is to secure children's spelling. 

Have a great weekend.  

Mrs Clare and the Team

4.3.22

Dear Parents,

This week we have covered the new sounds 'y (ee at the end of words), ea (head), wh (wheel), oy (shoulder).

Tricky words- want, water, any, many & again.

In maths we have continued to read word problems, so that the children can decide if they are addition or subtraction. 

On Wednesday, the children enjoyed prayer stations in church for Easter/lent all linked to our school values, writing prayers, tasting bread, creating with playdough and making hearts with origami. 

Thanks to Mrs Haysom, World Book Day was a great success and the children were able to choose a book in the book swap. 

Thank you to Anna's Mummy for coming in to read a story at the end of the day. 

In our Dinosaur topic, the children learnt about and drew a portrait of Mary Anning. I'm sure they will tell you all about her. 

Laughter was heard through the school, when the children were telling their dinosaur jokes. I think we have some budding comedians. 

Please do read the book on the Collins e-library allocated to your child, as well as reading other stories. 

Don't forget to give your child a sock, ready for their puppet making next week. 

On Monday, children will come to school in their PE kit, so they don't have to get changed here. 

Finally, spellings are added below. Please help your child learn them. All spellings are part of the Little Wandle letters and sounds. 

Have a great weekend.

Mrs Clare and the team.

25.2.22

Dear all,

Thank you to all who were able to join us for the Little Wandle phonics zoom session. I hope you found it enlightening. 

This week we have recapped all previous sounds. It would help the children if parents could help them to recognise the new sounds so far; 'ay, ou (oo ou), oy, ea (ee), ir, ie (igh, ee)  ue, u(oo, yoo), o (oa), i (igh), a (ai),  e (ee), a-e (ai), i-e (igh) , o-e (oa), u-e (oo, yoo), e-e (ee), ew (oo, yoo), ie (ee) & aw (or). I will add the new sounds to the class page that we have been learning each week, so parents can go over them with the children. We also recap them everyday at school. 

We have entered the first week of term with a big bang, learning about dinosaurs, making dinosaur eggs, moulding plasticine into dinosaur shapes and changing words to familiar songs accompanied by percussion to compliment the dinosaur topic. 

In maths we are looking at solving word problems. If you can do this verbally at home, it would be very beneficial for the children to hear and try and work out if the problem is an addition or a subtraction. Eg, I have to buy 2 ice creams and when your 5 friends come for tea, I will have to buy more. How many ice creams will I have to buy altogether.  I had a packet of 18 sweets, I gave 10 away, how many do I have left. 

This week, we also welcome back our Y5 reading buddies.

I have attached the spellings for next week below. 

For homework, this weekend- please find a dinosaur joke that your child can tell in class.  Write it down, so that they can stick it in our joke book. 

Please make sure your child has a spare pair of socks and pants, named in a little bag (sandwich bag size) to keep in their tray at school, as some times children do have accidents. Also please make sure all clothing is labelled clearly with their own name, not someone else's name if they are second hand. We find lost items far more quickly and easily if they are named correctly. 

Have a super weekend. 

Mrs Clare and the team.