We will do most of our writing through our topics.

The children will be writing in a variety of genres. There is a strong expectation that all children will use a capital letter to start and then finish their ‘sensible’ sentence with a full stop. Each sentence should have clear finger spaces to denote each word.

We are now moving forward to creating more complex sentences, where the children will be extending the content by using a conjunction – ‘and’, ‘because’ and ‘so’.

We will introduce the use of question marks and exclamation marks to demarcate sentences.

We will continue  discussing and using adjectives to add interest to our writing.

Children will participate in a ‘guided reading’ session each week with the class teacher.  They will be heard reading individually and in a group by the class teacher and by another adult.  

Discuss vocabulary – even if your child has read it fluently, they do not necessarily understand what it means.

Talk about our topics. Any additional research will make them knowledgeable, confident and better writers!

When writing at home, encourage your child to use the Monkfrith script using lead out strokes.

When writing at home, encourage your child to use the Monkfrith script remembering to write on the line and that most of the letters always sit on the line. 

To improve their handwriting further, please remind your child the importance of neat presentation and to write letters with ascenders and descenders correctly and with a consistent height.

Continue to support your child in reading back what they have written to you to ensure it makes sense and includes a capital letter and full stop. Encourage your child to use adjectives to make their writing more exciting.

Encourage children to bring in and share their home learning with the teacher and the class to continue to build confidence.

End of Year 1 Writing Targets

Reading for at least 5 – 10 minutes each day makes a huge difference!  Reading material can take the form of packets, magazines, signs and of course fiction, non-fiction and poetry books.  READ pictures too!

Remember to keep reading to your child, as it should be an enjoyable experience – get cosy with a nice blanket!

Talk about new and interesting vocabulary that they come across and make sure they understand the meaning.

We follow the Supersonic Phonic Friends phonics scheme.

There will be daily phonics lessons with the inclusion of handwriting.

This term we will be revising all of the sounds and tricky words that have been taught.

There will be a Phonics Screening check in June in which the children are asked to read many read and alien/nonsense words.

Here is a link to the sounds taught

Basics 2 and 3 Alliteration and Actions

Basics 3 – Spelling-Alliteration-and-Rhymes

The-Higher-Levels-5-Spelling-Alliteration-and-Rhymes-1.pdf

Find sounds that we have learnt in words in books, praise when they see sounds and tricky words in menus and in signs.

Encourage your child to use their finger to point to the sounds in the words when reading new and unfamiliar words.

When spelling – always encourage your child to break down words and listen out for the sounds in the words – especially the end sounds.

Some helpful & fun websites you can use to support phonics:

https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/resources

https://www.phonicsbloom.com/
(there are a few free to play games in the phase 3,4 and 5 section)

https://ictgames.com/mobilePage/literacy.html

The topics we will be covering this term are:

Multiplication and division: We will begin the term by providing the children with opportunities to use their knowledge of counting in 2s, 5s and 10s to begin some simple multiplication and division using sharing and arrays. They will also learn ways to double numbers.

Fractions: The children will be taught how to find a half and a quarter of a shape and a quantity.

Position and direction: In this module, we will look at positional language, making sure everyone is secure with left, right, above, below, top, middle and bottom.

Place value: We will be working on building our previous skills of adding, subtracting, finding one more, one less and ordering them focusing on numbers to 100.

Money: We will be learning to recognise coins and notes we use and learnt to count coins.

Time: There will be opportunities to explore time, using the terms before and after and learn to tell the time to o’clock and half past.

Please visit the White Rose website, where you can find videos to recap their learning.

Encourage your child to read the door numbers on your walk home – can they identify odd and even?

On the walk home count a specific car type/colour.

When shopping, encourage your child to look at the weights and prices of items.

Go to the park. Collect, group and count natural items in 2s, 5s and 10s. Talk about any 2D and 3D shapes you may see. 

Expose your child to real money – create a ‘coin jar’ at home and allow your child to count the amount – Can they count the coins in 1’s or 2’s accurately? Extend their learning by creating a 5p and 10p jar.

Create models with junk modelling discussing the 3D shapes they’ve chosen using the language faces, vertices and edges.

Some helpful & fun websites you can use:

http://www.topmarks.co.uk

Numbots – this will help to build number fluency.

MyMaths 

End of Year 1 Maths Targets.

Splendid Skies

We start the Summer term with an exciting topic called Splendid Skies in which we will be learning about the different types of weather and looking for signs of the seasons and discussing seasonal changes.

We will study TV weather reports and create our own weather report, keep a weather diary and learn about the life and work of Sir Francis Beaufort.

Enchanted Woodland

In Summer 2 our topic will be Enchanted Woodland.  We will be learning about British wildlife and woodland habitats that are in our surroundings.

The children will have an opportunity to observe and identify plants and animals and appreciate the wonder of the woodland.

From clay we will be making our very own Tree Boggart.

Splendid Skies

Please talk about the topics and encourage your child to do additional research to help improve their knowledge and contribute more in class.

If you have any other books/stories that focus on the weather or seasons, please send them in so your child can read it or share with another child or the whole class.

Enchanted Woodland

Take a walk to Oakhill park and /or other parks and explore the surroundings. What did your spot that is different / never noticed before, then come and tell the class about it, this will set the class a challenge to see if they can spot it next time they are at the same park.

If you have any other books/stories that focus on the woodlands, please send them in so your child can read it or share with another child or the whole class.

The topics we will be covering this term are:

Money 

Children will learn what money is, where it comes from, and how it is used, including understanding costs and safe places to keep it. They should be able to explain needs versus wants, and suggest safe ways to store money.

Keeping safe at home

Children will learn how to stay safe at home and online, including understanding that medicines and household products can be harmful if misused and that medicines can help people stay healthy.

My Family

Children will learn about different types of families and the people who care for them. 

Losing and finding

Children will learn about losing and finding things and changes in life and learn about ways to express their feelings when things are lost or change, such as moving home, losing toys, pets, or friends.

Looking after myself

Children will learn about road safety and who helps us keep safe and the role of the emergency services.

Talk to your child about trusted adults in the family.

Discuss ways to stay safe at home and show them where the ‘safe’ foods and products are kept in your house and other homes they visit regularly.

Teach your children your address and teach them how to call emergency service if you are not able to.

We follow the Barnet Syllabus for Religious Education (RE).

Summer 1 – We are focusing on the Big Question – What is our goal?
This is about understanding what different Abrahamic religions and worldviews teach about what is good, of worth or value, and the ultimate goal that individuals should aim for.

Summer 2 – This half term we will be focusing on the final Big Question – How do we get there?

This Big Question is called Path (Praxeology) which is about understanding that humans may carry out certain actions, behaviours and rituals that are seen as essential to progress and remain on their path, to reach a goal

Talk about the things we are learning.

By being respectful about all religions when discussion around religion occurs.  This may be through reading/watching the news or programmes.

This term we will be listening to and appreciating pieces of classical music that represent the seasons.

Encourage your children to listen to a wide range of different music styles.

Ask your child about their learning.

This term the children will be learning:

Dance 

Children will explore travelling, movement, and balancing skills, and learn to count to music in dance. They will copy and link actions into short phrases, work alone and with a partner, and perform their ideas. They will also give feedback using basic dance vocabulary.

Athletics

The Children will develop athletic skills such as running, jumping, throwing, and changing direction. They will take part in activities that involve measuring performance, competing to improve scores, and working both independently and collaboratively.

PE lessons will usually take place on Thursday.

Daily movement activities in the form of yoga, gross motor and movement breaks will continue where possible.

PE kit should be in school at all times and clearly labelled with your child’s name. For safety, long hair should be tied back for all sporting activities. Earrings will need to be removed during physical exercise; if ears have recently been pierced, they should be taped. Children who are well enough to be in school are expected to take part in PE activities.

Programming – moving a robot

The children will learn how to explain what commands do, follow directions by moving forwards, backwards, left and right to create sequences.

Finally they will begin to use Scratch to plan and programme a sprite to create a simple program.

Remind your child how to use the internet safely.

Homework is set every Friday and should be returned on Wednesday. 

Homework will usually reinforce the week’s learning through speaking activities to develop oracy skills, alongside a selection of maths and/or phonics and/or topic-based tasks.

A guided reading book that we have read during the week is also sent home on Friday and should also be returned on Wednesday along with the homework book.