We hope you are all having a wonderful half-term break! It has been a very busy and exciting first half-term in Pufferfish, and we are so proud of everything the children have achieved already.
A Visit from the Dentist
Recently, the children enjoyed a visit from a dentist, where they learned all about keeping their teeth healthy and strong. In the lead-up to the visit, we talked about the importance of looking after our teeth, brushing twice a day, and making healthy choices. The children had great fun practising their brushing techniques using a giant set of teeth and a large toothbrush! A huge thank you to Vivienne’s mummy for kindly loaning us the supporting resources. The children absolutely loved using them, and they helped to bring our learning to life.
Phonics Update
We are incredibly proud of the progress the children have made in phonics so far. The children have now completed all of the Autumn 1 sounds and have already learned 20 sounds!
You will have received your child’s assessment information alongside a set of flashcards in their book bag. Please continue to practise these regularly at home. Every little bit of practice helps to build confidence and fluency.
Next half term, we will begin learning the next set of 16 sounds, including digraphs. A digraph is when two letters join together to make one sound, such as sh, ch and th.
To support your child’s pronunciation, please take a look at the Little Wandle website and familiarise yourself with the correct pronunciation of the pure sounds. This is vital in supporting your child’s early reading and blending skills. For parents | Letters and Sounds
Please also continue to read with your child every day and record this in their yellow reading record. As a reminder, we only need the date, the book title and a smiley face or your initials.
Every time your child reads, they move one step closer to earning a special reading pin badge!
Maths
The children are making fantastic progress in maths. They have been working hard to confidently count within numbers 1-6 and have been practising subitising.
Subitising is the ability to recognise how many objects there are in a small group without needing to count them one by one. For example, when you roll dice and instantly know it shows four dots, you are subitising.
Next half term, we will begin learning about addition and subtraction within 6. At home, you can support this learning through everyday activities by purposefully giving your child the wrong number of items so that they need to work out how many more they need.
For example:
If your child needs 5 grapes for a snack, give them 3 and ask, “How many more do you need?”
When setting the table for 4 people, put out only 2 forks and ask, “How many more forks do we need?”
If they need 6 building blocks to complete a tower, give them 4 and ask, “How many more blocks do you need?”
Encourage your child to talk about:
How many they started with
How many they needed altogether
How many more were required
PSHE
In PSHE, we will be learning new vocabulary through the story The Colour Monster as we delve deeper into recognising, naming and describing emotions.
We will also be exploring strategies that can help us when we experience different feelings and thinking about how we can recognise emotions within ourselves.
Art
Our learning about colour and shape will continue next half term, with a focus on the artist Wassily Kandinsky.
The children will be creating their own artwork inspired by Kandinsky’s famous use of colour and shape, producing beautiful pieces featuring concentric circles.
PE
In PE, we will begin using the wall bars to develop core strength and stability. Strong core muscles are incredibly important for posture, balance and developing the control needed for writing.
Writing
The children have thoroughly enjoyed the start of their writing journey and are already showing fantastic enthusiasm and confidence when mark-making and writing independently. We are so proud of their efforts and progress. Please take a look at the photographs below to see some examples of the children in action.
Understanding the World
As part of our Understanding the World learning, we will be exploring:
Changes in animals over time
Location and Place
The names and features of our local environment
These exciting topics will help children develop their curiosity about the world around them and deepen their understanding of the community in which they live.
You can support our Understanding the World learning through everyday conversations and observation. When out and about, encourage your child to notice changes in animals and nature, such as how birds, insects or pets grow and change over time. Talk about places you visit in your local area and discuss their names, features and purposes. You could ask questions such as, “What can you see here?”, “How is this place different from our house?” or “What animals might live here?” Looking at family photographs, exploring local parks and discussing familiar landmarks are all wonderful ways to develop your child’s understanding of the world around them and help them make connections with their learning in school.
Thank you for your continued support. We hope you all enjoy the rest of your half term break, and we look forward to welcoming the children back on Monday morning for another exciting half term of learning!
Mrs Mackett and Miss Cox
