Autumn Week 13: it's been frosty!

 Hello Hedgehog Parents,

Just a short update this week!

The highlight of this week has been the frost! It's been so lovely to see the sun and the sparkly ground. The children have loved being outside in it - lots of observations about ice, frost, melting ice, ice on different surfaces and other such things. 

We had our Nativity dress rehearsal on Friday afternoon and it was fantastic! The children have been working so very, very hard on the Nativity and I am incredibly proud of them. We can't wait for you to see it! Thank you for all of your support with learning lines and providing costumes. 

Our Lost and Found story has finally come to a close after a term of rehoming various animals. We managed to find Rudolph, using a map and some excellent navigational skills. He was in a precarious situation involving a crocodile, but luckily we managed to rescue him. He and the other reindeer have all returned to Greenland, much to everyone's relief. During this episode of the story the children looked a map which had a key - we talked about why maps use symbols and how they can be used. 

Once again, I have not set homework this week. Having tested all of the children on their spellings, I have updated their 'high frequency word' lists at the back of their purple home learning books. As you will see, the children are gradually learning their words and because we are constantly revisiting them, they should retain them and begin to use them in their writing.  If your child did not have their purple book in on Thursday/Friday please send it in on Monday so that I can update their spelling list. 

Next week I will send out a few Christmas holiday homework ideas - all optional. As usual, the main homework for your children will be reading! I will make sure they have a few books to keep them going. 

I think that's all for now. Have a lovely weekend and I will see you next week for much Christmas fun!

From Mrs Simpson

Autumn Week 12: A pantomime, Christmas decorations and other joys of the season

 

Hello Class 2 Parents,

This week has mainly been about Christmas!

Father Christmas contacted the Lost and Found officers to request their help with moving his reindeer from their summer grazing back to his grotto. The children wrote some instructions for how to relocate some reindeer, then hopped on a plane to find them. They searched carefully and rounded up the reindeer. However, when the reindeer were counted there were only....8! Rudolph was missing! The only sign of him was some tracks in the dust, leading to the river. 

The Lost and Found officers have been making plans to find Rudolph. It's an urgent mission because the river appears to be occupied by crocodiles. 

The children had a fantastic morning on Thursday watching the pantomime - there was a lot of excitement and audience participation! They went on to spend Thursday afternoon decorating the classroom using a variety of traditional crafts - paper snowflakes, paper chains and bunting included. 

In maths:

Year 1 have been learning to subtract using a number line. The important skill is not to begin counting until you have completed the first jump (so if it is 10 - 9, start on 10, and say '1' as you jump to 9, not when you are on 10). 


Year 2 have been adding two-digit numbers, firstly not crossing a 10 (e.g. 45 + 23) but then crossing a 10 (eg 45 + 26). We will continue this next week. 

The spellings group have been learning that when you add 's' to a word ending with a -y, 'the y becomes and ie' - for example, cries, flies, bunnies, babies.

The phonics group have been taking part in phonics assessments this week, so have no new graphemes to learn. 

There are no spellings and no homework this week.

Over the next two weeks the class will be taking part in lots of Christmas-related activities, including getting ready to perform our Nativity. Myself and Mrs Neal will be carrying out assessments of spelling, reading and maths. There will therefore be no more spelling or maths homework until after Christmas, but please keep helping your child to learn the high frequency words in the back of their purple books.  These will be updated next week showing your child's progress - will will test them again, and highlight any new words they are able to spell. 

Please remember to send your child in with their Nativity costume next week, ready for our dress rehearsal on Friday morning.

Have a good weekend!

From Mrs Simpson