Class 1 Autumn Term Newsletter
Welcome back to school, I hope you had a relaxing summer and enjoyed the lovely weather we were so lucky to have this year!
Class One have settled amazingly well back into class. They are getting used to their new school routines and have all demonstrated great resilience. We will begin by spending the first part of this term settling back into school and learning. We will begin the year with a play-based approach and gradually introduce more structured forms of learning as the term progresses. Please see below showing Class One’s learning for this term.
English
In English, the focus will be on developing confident independent reading, correct letter formation and simple sentence structure. This will be done through targeted phonics lessons and learning linked to the stories such as The Gingerbread Man, The Three Little Pigs, and Dogger. Pupils will focus on the predictive phrasing and repeating patterns and familiar settings within the texts. We shall also explore a short film ‘The Girl with the Yellow Bag’ and look to draw inspiration for setting descriptions and short narrative writing. Class 1 will also study the structure and purpose of lists, labels, and signs alongside the story ‘Not a Stick’.
Phonics
Initially pupils will repeat and review many of the letter sounds (phonemes) already taught in Reception. These include phase 3 phonemes which are /j/, /v/, /w/, /x/, /y/, /z/, /zz/, /qu/, /oo/, /ar/, /or/, /ur/, /ow/, /oi/, /ear/, /ch/, /sh/, /th/, /ng/, /ai/, /ee/, /igh/, /oa/, /air/, /ure/, /er/ and phase 4 cluster sounds such as /str/. Phonemes are single sounds and are made up of single or multiple letters. For example, the /f/ phoneme is a single lettered sound and /ee/ sound is a two lettered sound (diagraph).
F-ee-t has 3 sounds.
Later in the first half term, pupils will be introduced to a new set of sounds know as phase 5 phonemes. For example, /oy/ for b – oy (boy).
The key objective is to secure the current phonetical knowledge and then to increase it by introducing new sounds so that pupils develop into fluent, independent readers.
Maths
In Maths, we will focus on counting within numbers 1-20, different representations of numbers, counting forwards and backwards and solving 1 more and 1 less. Later in the term, pupils will learn more about addition and subtraction within numbers 1-10, number bond relationships, fact family number sentences and geometric shapes.
Science
Our first science topic is all about everyday materials. Class 1 will explore and investigate different types of materials and objects that are made from these materials. They will also investigate the varying properties of materials understanding why using one material over another is better. We shall be conducting lots of experiments linked to material properties and using these to help us in our DT this term. Later in the term, Class 1 will be studying the weather and our different seasons.
Topic-History/Geography
Our history topic is the Great Fire of London. We will explore how the fire started, what happened during the fire and what impact it had on the City of London and its inhabitants after the fire.
Our Geography topic is hot and cold places. We shall be exploring key characteristics of hot and cold places, seasonal changes and associated weather patterns.
RE
Our first RE topic will be looking at exploring the question: What do my senses tell me about the world of religion and belief? This will focus on the Christian, Hindu and Jewish faiths. Later in the term we will explore the question How does a celebration bring a community together? With focus on Muslim and Christian celebrations.
Art/DT
In our art topic will be exploring hot and cold colours and experimenting with texture and patterns linking this to the artist Wassily Kandinsky.
In DT we will be exploring different structures including ways and materials used to make them, leading to us building new houses for the Three Little Pigs.
Music
We will be looking at the song Hey You! It is written in an old-school Hip-Hop style. We will learn about the differences between pulse, rhythm, and pitch.
PSHE
In PSHE we will be focusing on families and friendships, safe relationships and respecting ourselves and others. This will include families and people who care for me, recapping the NSPCC –PANTS message learnt in Reception. Learning about the NSPCC –Speak out, stay safe scheme, and what is meant by consent.
Computing
Class 1 will be looking at programmable toys.
PE
For this term, PE will be taught on Tuesday and Friday. Class 1 will focus on fundamental skills, such as movement and balance. They will also learn and enhance their ball skills.
Kits will be sent home on Friday please ensure your child’s PE kit comes back in on Monday and is in school all week as there are sometimes changes to or extra PE sessions.
Reading
Within school, pupils will be reading with an adult at least every week. This is in addition to the regular reading opportunities within phonics and English lessons specifically. Please encourage a love of reading by providing as many opportunities as possible for your child to read to you, ideally this should be daily.
Please use their reading diaries to record their reading at home and provide a comment where relevant as this helps us to support them further during school time.
Your child will have opportunities during the week to change their reading book after they have read and enjoyed it. Reading books will be changed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please be advised that some days there are no additional adults in the class therefore your child’s book may not be changed, but I will endeavour to do so on these days.
If your child has finished reading their reading book, please encourage and support them to bring their completed reading book/s and reading diary into class whereby there will be a ‘Changing Tray’ to put it in.
In addition to reading a new book, repeated reading is also very beneficial as this promotes reading fluency (reading with speed and expression) and good comprehension skills should you discuss the book with your child.
Please could their reading book and record be brought to school every day so that staff can record and comment on their reading during individual and group reading at school. Thank you.
Homework
Weekly homework will consist of a small phonics or sometimes maths activity based on the sounds/things we have been working on in the week. Homework is set to provide further practice and to consolidate learning from the week.
Your child will be given a homework book in which to complete the activity. This will be set on a Friday and need to be returned by the following Wednesday.
Homework will commence after the ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening.
Pick up
Please be advised some afternoons at pick up, I am the only adult in class. Unfortunately, this makes it difficult for me to come directly onto the playground to see and speak to you. Please do come a bit closer to the fence to speak with me should you have any queries. I will try my best to answer at the classroom doorway or find a way to come onto the playground area.
Alternatively, should you have any queries or specific questions that cannot be answered during pick up time, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me via the school office.
Kind regards
Mrs Tokeley