Week 2: A bit cooler and a bit busier!

Hello Class 2 Parents,

The first full week is done!

It's been a week of  the children getting to know routines and expectations, and of us getting to know them and where their learning is at. 

Among other things, the children have:

• learnt about passport jobs. These are jobs the children can choose from each morning (usually 6-8 jobs throughout the week)
• done some maths assessment activities with me and Mrs Neal
• done some ERIC time (Everyone Reading In Class) - looking at big books, non fiction books, fiction books and phonics books
• done some group reading
• done some whole class reading
• done a piece of independent writing (so I can see what they have remembered!)
• taken part in their first P.E. lesson of the year - they got changed incredibly independently, I was impressed!
• taken part in their first music lesson of the year
• practised lining up very smartly and quietly to go into worship
• started phonics lessons

Importantly, we also shared the story The Bog Baby by Jeanne Willis. We read it twice and discussed the book. It will be our whole class reading book for this half term (more on whole class reading during Monday's parent meeting). The children went on to make and decorate a clay bog baby. I was very impressed with them - they really tried hard with their clay work. They are very into Bog Babies, which is good because the story will form the basis for some of our learning this term. 

Ordinarily, there will be weekly homework but this will start next Friday. For now, please just enjoy reading with your child. 

I hope to see you on Monday for our meeting.

Have a good weekend!

Mrs Simpson

Here are a few photos from the week:

A warm welcome to a new school year

Hello Class 2 Parents and welcome to a new academic year!

Year 2 parents: welcome back to the Class 2 blog!

Year 1 parents: a very warm welcome to Class 2! I use this blog to let you know what we have been up to each week in class, to give you any information you might need and to set homework. Sometimes homework will be printed out and put in a homework folder, but at other times it may be a link to an online game, or a suggestion for an activity to do that doesn't need printing out; so if you're ever unsure of what the homework is, check here!

It has been a good first few days in Class 2. We have taken things slowly (even more so than usual thanks to the confusing temperatures!). We have focussed on getting to know the classroom (which looks quite different to last year), getting to know each other again, and learning our new school rules:

Be kind
Be safe
Be ready to learn

Mrs Neal and I have been starting some assessments of phonics, spelling and reading and these will continue next week. The first week or so will very much be seeing where the children are with their learning and helping them to settle back into the routine of school. 

A note about reading books.
The way we read with your children is going to change slightly. More information will follow. One aspect of this is that your child will take home a badger book every Friday. They should have one in their bag, along with a letter explaining what badger books are. In case the letter has been mislaid, you can find a copy here. 

Your children will also have reading books - Year 2 have come home with one to be getting on with, and Year 1 will have one by the end of next week. It just takes a bit of time to assess everyone and make sure they have the right books! In the meantime, enjoy your badger books. 

If you have anything you want to catch me about, please do! I can usually be found at the end of the day (except Thursdays) and am always happy to talk. 

I don't always remember to take photos, but this week I've taken a few just so you can see the class getting reacquainted. Hopefully everyone is in there somewhere!

Have a good week end,

Mrs Simpson