Category: Reception Blog

This week we have continued our work on celebrations, this time we focussed on Advent. We had a look at traditional ways people may celebrate advent in the UK. We found out that advent starts on the nearest Sunday to November 30th and lasts for four weeks leading up to Christmas. Some people use Advent calendars to help count this down, and much to our surprise, not all of them contain chocolate! We also looked at how other countries celebrate advent. Germany was our favourite as we found out that sweets get hidden insider your shoes!

The children are continuing to progress well with their sounds and are now starting to blend these sounds together to make words. This week they have been reviewing the sounds taught and will be continuing learning their ‘special friends’ (two letters that make one sound). Please watch the videos below with your child to review some of these sounds and support the work in class. Just like last week, please follow the log in instructions for Oxford owl to read the online book and quiz as well as reading the book bag book or ditty sheets that your child brings home in their diary. Those children with QR codes should have a go at the activities in the video. Remember to sign your child’s diary every time they read with you (this includes the online videos). We are very impressed with how well the children are doing with their phonics! Well done!

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/ICPXGgdf/RcEjAg2V

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/jvVLl9g4/IBzCZE6i

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/2VelQRXn/WY15D2zg

In maths this week we have been continuing our work on the numbers 4 and 5. We have been experimenting with showing these numbers in lots of different ways, as well as being introduced to five frames to help us see how many of an object we have. We have looked at one more and one less nursery rhymes, exploring how the number increases or decreases by one each time. We used this knowledge to come up with our very own one more and one less nursery rhyme. We have also explored four sided shapes and have had lot’s of fun spotting these in our learning environment.

Miss Masterson will continue the after school library session on Monday 5th December This week it is RKM’s turn. Please come to the main school Reception once you have picked up your child and you will be invited in once the session begins. Your child can then choose a book and listen to a story telling session. Bring your book back to school on your next library session (every two weeks).

It’s showtime! Reception are very excited to be performing our Nativity play ‘The very first Christmas’ on the 7th and 8th of December. Just a reminder that this is ticket only so if you do want to come and watch, please purchase these from the school office. We are also providing children with a costume to wear so please do not worry about this.

Another lovely week in Reception, we are very much looking forward to seeing what next week has in store! Have a great week, from all of us in the Reception team.

This week we have continued our work on celebrations, this week focussing on The Christmas Story. We have used this story to create our Nativity performance and we now have roles to play. We are still practising our songs, getting our voices pitch perfect for our performance to our grown ups in the next couple of weeks. Just a reminder not to worry about costumes as we try very hard to use what we currently already have in reception.

The children are continuing to progress well with their sounds and are now starting to blend these sounds together to make words. This week they have been reviewing the sounds taught and will be continuing learning their ‘special friends’ (two letters that make one sound). Please watch the videos below with your child to review some of these sounds and support the work in class. Just like last week, please follow the log in instructions for Oxford owl to read the online book and quiz as well as reading the book bag book or ditty sheets that your child brings home in their diary. Those children with QR codes should have a go at the activities in the video. Remember to sign your child’s diary every time they read with you (this includes the online videos). We are very impressed with how well the children are doing with their phonics! Well done!

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/knn7t8oz/mUlg4zyu

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/DwnizN1I/Re8smhpQ

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/qr9lZ9cI/HOXSJaey

In maths this week we haver been focussing on the numbers 4 and 5. We have been experimenting with showing these numbers in lots of different ways, as well as being introduced to five frames to help us see how many of an object we have. We have also had as go at estimating this week. We are really enjoying our maths lessons, and each week we are getting stronger with our counting.

Miss Masterson will continue the after school library session on Monday 29th November. This week it is RMT’s turn. Please come to the main school Reception once you have picked up your child and you will be invited in once the session begins. Your child can then choose a book and listen to a story telling session. Bring your book back to school on your next library session (every two weeks).

Now the weather is getting colder and wetter, please feel free to send your child in with a named hat, scarf and pair of gloves for them to wear outside. Make sure to remind the children to pop their things in their bags/pockets to keep them safe when they are not using them. If you notice its raining outside your child cab also bring in a pair of named wellies to stop the from getting soggy socks.

Thanks again for all of your support, have a lovely week!

This week we are continuing to work on celebrations. We are looking at our school value of ‘Kindness’ and how we celebrate this. We are learning how to be a kind friend and are celebrating the ways in which people demonstrate kindness. We are also starting to think about the celebration of Christmas. The children are being introduced to the Nativity and we are stating to learn the songs. Next week the children will be learning more about the Nativity and will be given a role for the performance in December (more details to follow in the Friday Focus). Please do not worry about costumes we will let you know if we need anything but we do try to use the costumes we have in school.

The children are progressing well with their sounds and working hard to blend sounds together. This week they have been reviewing the sounds taught and will be beginning their ‘special friends’ (two letters that make one sound). Please watch the videos below with your child to review some of these sounds and support the work in class. From Friday, your child will come home with a reading diary, please follow the log in instructions for Oxford owl to read the online book and quiz as well as reading the book bag book or ditty sheets that your child brings home in their diary. Those children with QR codes should have a go at the activities in the video. Remember to sign your child’s diary every time they read with you (this includes the online videos).

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/aI0n0swy/9pNyOKvh

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/fvZ4SJlr/QoKIUujv

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/SFYzbNoB/3j6qVGgg

This week in |Maths we are consolidating our understanding of 1,2,3. We have been looking at shapes – triangles and circles and recognising the number of properties in these shapes e.g. a triangle has 3 vertices and 3 straight sides, a circle has one continuous curved edge. We have been making shape pictures using these shapes and have looked at orientating the shapes in different ways and have looked for shapes in the environment. We are also looking at positional language with a focus on ‘on top, in front, behind, to the side and under.

Miss Masterson will start the after school library session on Monday 21st November. She will begin with RKM. Please come to the main school Reception once you have picked up your child and you will be invited in once the session begins. Your child can then choose a book and listen to a story telling session. Bring your book back to school on your next library session (every two weeks). RMT’s library session will begin on Monday 28th November and carry on every two weeks after.

Don’t forget that Friday is ‘Children in Need’. Children can come to school in their pyjamas or in something spotty for a donation of £1.

Have a lovely week

The Reception Team

This week we are continuing with our topic of celebrations. We will be focusing on bonfire night. We will be learning about bonfire night and Guy Fawkes and why we celebrate bonfire night. We will be singing songs, reading stories, move like fireworks, make a guy and a pretend bonfire and will learn about how to stay safe on bonfire night. We hope to see you all at our firework display on Wednesday evening – if you haven’t got your tickets then please speak to the staff in the school office.

This week we have split into our new phonics groups. Some of the children are having to go back over the sounds that have previously been taught as they are not secure. Please continue to practise going over the letter sounds cards that have been sent home with your child, every night. Once secure with the sounds please start putting the cards together to make simple cvc (consonant, vowel, consonant) words such as s-a-t, p-i-n, d-o-g etc. The rest of the children will continue to learn the rest of the set 1 sounds and will be using these sounds to read and write words. Again continue practising the sound cards every night and make cvc or ccvc (consonant, consonant, vowel, consonant) words such as c-l-a-p, or cvcc word such as j-u-m-p. Some of the children will be bringing a simple book or ditty sheets home. These are to be read every night. Please sign your child’s reading diary each time you hear your child read. We have added some more phonic videos for your child to watch and have a go at below:

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/LF3oojPV/lMFmA4M9

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/vE1lbJlv/A2HSkqkx

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/tBeMBIbs/mUeHIndB

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/27m540kn/oPj02C8v

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/9qvmIJ7j/1jntgSrW

This week in maths we are starting to focus on 1, 2, 3. The children are looking for the amounts in different ways without having to rely on counting e.g. recognising what the numbers look like on a dice, on fingers, on dominoes, as a numeral. as a group. We will also be looking at and developing our understanding of how these amounts are made up. A deep understanding of our numbers will help us as we move on to larger numbers. See if you can notice amounts of 1, 2 and 3 around your house or out in the environment. Can you spot 1, 2 or 3 in different ways?

Have a wonderful bonfire night and remember to stay safe.

The Reception Team

This week we are continuing to think about Autumn and will be talking about the festivals that occur in Autumn. We will be focusing on Diwali the festival of light. The children will learn all about Diwali, the people that celebrate it and how it is celebrated. We will have a wide range of activities across the week and will be making Rangoli patterns, divas, learning songs and dances and will act out the story. It is important that children learn about a wide range of religions and celebrations and understand that people have different beliefs and cultures. Diwali is due to fall on October 24th this year. If you see anything about it on the T.V or hear fireworks around this time, ask your child to share with you what they have learned about Diwali.

This week the children have been assessed on the letter sounds they have already been introduced to. After half term the children will be split into groups as a result of these assessments. The children that confidently know their letter sounds and are able to blend words will begin on simple reading books or Ditty sheets. Those children that are less confident will recap over the sounds already taught and will work on their blending skills. Please continue to support your child at home with these important skills. We have added some videos below for the sounds we have covered this week. Watch these with your child so that they recap the sounds taught in school. We will continue to add videos throughout the year to support the children’s learning at home.

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/IbOw3TpA/yXzmffPC

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/K2wkTXp9/Sc5uxC6q

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/QCupyr9c/Z0j21krd

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/mqhjXTvl/SjjJNfFH

This week we are coming to the end of our topic ‘Just Like Me’. Over the last few weeks we have done a lot of work on comparing and patterns. This week we are trying hard to make our own repeating patterns. We are all able to do a simple A,B,A,B,A,B pattern but we did find A,B,C,A,B,C,A,B,C and A,A,B,A,A,B patterns a little trickier. Maybe you could practise this at home by getting some objects from outside such as conkers, leaves and acorns or even things from the cupboards such as fork, knife and spoon. See if you can make some different patterns.

Miss Masterson is now back with us in Reception. The children are staff very happy to see her and she will be spending the week getting to know all of the children. Please bare with her while she gets to know all of the parents faces at pick up time. We would like to say a big thank you to Miss Frost and Mrs Brindley for their help and support over the last few weeks.

Now that the children have settled and feel comfortable in their surroundings we have noticed that some children are beginning to push the boundaries and are ignoring some of the rules. This is something we will work on continuously in Reception as the children develop their independence. We operate a system in Reception where the children are responsible for their own behaviour and are encouraged to make the right choices. If they make the wrong choices they have some time out to reflect on their behaviour before being able to go back into their child initiated learning time. We ask that you support us on this at home so that we can work together to share the same message about making the right choice.

After half term we will be learning about the celebration of Bonfire night. Could you please collect empty kitchen roll and toilet roll tubes for us and send them in after half term for our art activities.

Have a wonderful half term break. Stay safe and have lots of fun

The Reception Team

This week we have continued on with our work on Autumn. We have been looking at the story ‘Don’t Hog the Hedge’ and have been focusing on hibernation and what this means. We have also had a focus on sharing as part of the story, We are learning what ‘sharing’ means and how to be a good friend in Reception just like Hattie the hedgehog was in the story. We have been sorting our Autumn collections and have made patterns, transient art and different types of pictures with all of the foliage collected.

This week we are learning the sounds o, c, k,u. Add the flashcards sent home on Friday to your collection and continue to practise going through the sounds every night. Remember to put 2 or 3 of the sounds together to make words and use your FRED talk to read them e.g. c-a-t, c-u-p. Can a grown up say a word and you have a go at writing it? The children will be assessed on their sounds next week and will be placed into Phonics groups to continue with the Read Write Inc programme. Once your child knows their sounds and can segment to read they will start on a reading book. Please also read the library book brought home with you child on Friday. Reading to children is one of the most important ways to instil a love of reading in your child. Please return all library books on Friday so they can choose a new book.

In Maths this week we have continued with comparing. We have looked at length by comparing string of different lengths using the language shortest and longest. Size using the language bigger and smaller and will be looking at repeating patterns.

As the weather is getting colder please ensure your child comes into school in a warm waterproof coat as they spend a good portion of the day outside. If your child is bringing in a hat or gloves then please make sure these are named. Can we also remind parents that children should only bring water in their water bottles each day please.

Have a lovely week

The Reception Team

This week we have started to learn all about Autumn. We have been talking about the things we already know and finding out some new facts. We are going on an Autumn walk looking for signs of Autumn and are trying to collect some Autumn foliage. If you spot any Autumn foliage such as coloured leaves, conkers, acorns or pine cones then please collect them and bring them in to add to our collection in school.

This week in Phonics we have been introduced to the phonemes p and g. We now know the sounds m,a,s,d,t,i,n, p and g. Please go through the flashcards sent home on Friday. One side should have the picture and rhyme and the other side should just show the phoneme. Practise these so that you know them all. You could then start putting the sounds together to read simple words such as mat, sit, pan etc. This is the first stage of your child’s reading journey. Once they know all of their set 1 sounds correctly and can blend them together to read words they will begin on reading books. Try to get into the habit of doing your reading activities every night.

This week in Maths we have been sorting and comparing. We have been looking at different ways to sort objects looking for similarities and differences. We have also been comparing amounts, size and height and length. Can you find a way to sort some items at home? How did you sort them?

We will be having photos on Wednesday this week. There is an opportunity for family photos at the end of the day. Please see your Friday focus for details. Continue to help support your child’s independent skills by letting them dress and undress themselves and put on their own shoes and coats.

The children enjoyed learning about dinosaurs last week and are continuing to develop some key role play skills. We have had some very loud and noisy dinosaurs outside!

Have a lovely week

The Reception Team

This week we have started to look at the topic of Dinosaurs. Many of the children have enjoyed playing with dinosaurs over the last few weeks so we wanted to enhance their learning. You may have noticed our lovely dinosaur den outside where the children can explore the different dinosaurs and act like dinosaurs. This week we will be reading stories, singing songs and learn some facts about dinosaurs.

We have started the Read Write Inc Phonics program in Reception. We are starting to learn the set 1 sounds and how to write these letters. We have also started to blend the letters together to make simple words. Shortly your child will come home with some of the letters they have learned. Try to get into the habit of going over these every night with your child. They could also practise writing the letters and have a go at reading simple words by putting some of the letters together e.g. m-a-t. Once the children have been introduced to all of the set 1 sounds and can blend the words confidently to read they will bring home a reading book.

This week we are completing our baseline assessments and will be beginning our White Rose Maths scheme. We are starting on the topic ‘Just Like Me’ and will be focusing on sorting. We will be looking for similarities and differences and identifying different ways to sort. This could be by colour, size, shape or item. Have a go at sorting some items at home – how have you sorted them?

The children have settled very well into Reception and are working hard at learning the routines and rules of the settling. They are being encouraged to be much more independent. Please support this at home by getting your child to do some things by themselves such as dressing themselves, going to the toilet and wiping themselves. Getting their own shoes and coats on and carrying their own belongings. This will all help with them becoming more independent in school.

Please be aware that as the week goes on the children do become very tired. It is absolutely normal for them to struggle a little so don’t be alarmed if they say they don’t want to come to school, its just their way of dealing with their emotions. Try and keep to regular bedtimes or even get them into bed a little earlier. They are all doing brilliantly and are using lots of energy learning and playing.

Have a good week

The Reception Team