Dear Parents,

It is a joy to see your children back from their half term feeling refreshed and ready to learn. We have had an explosive week doing a range of firework art using different mediums, making cup fireworks, creating patterns and mark making, singing firework songs – it’s been spectacular! The weather may have been a little dull, but it has not prevented us from enjoying our forest camp session. To end our week, we have been making up firework dances to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture as well as Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’. We were really impressed with the mark-making this week and how engaged the children have been with their writing; please do give your child opportunities to write at home (even if it is nonsensical); shopping lists, copying a silly pattern, playing consequences, labelling items from the cupboard or creating a menu for supper are all great examples.

In Phonics, we have split into our phonics groups and have started doing more word writing and blending using the RWI scheme. We are putting a big focus on the skills associated with reading especially oral blending. Here are some great games at home you can do to help your children with gaining this skill. These are perfect to do in the car on the way to school or whilst going for a walk as an alternative to I spy.

Our literacy focus has been  on Postman Pat this week. We have been exploring the characters and their behaviour as well as looking at the setting of the story. The children are now familiar with the words: challenge, perseverance, record-breaker, sorting. The children have been drawing maps of Pat’s journey, creating Machines to help Pat post letters more quickly and retelling the story using pictures.

In Maths, we have been looking at one to one correspondence   as well as number recognition using dice, numberlines and numicon to help children feel more confident in  their counting skills. Next week we will continue looking at subitising  and understanding that the number we finish counting on is the amount we have (cardinal principle) .

We took part in National Outdoor Classroom Day on Thursday, where we took our art skills outside and made some beautiful creations with powder paints and some splatter art which we will continue with next week when we look at the work of Jaxson Pollock. The children have loved taking part in a variety of art forms with our lovely helper, Joy. They have made rockets from cups and used their pattern skills to create some spectacular wonders (please see our photo gallery for more).

Our focus next week is an extension of fireworks, where we will be researching Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, in reflection of this religious celebration on 31st December. Children will be understanding how, when and where Diwali is celebrated through role play, stories and creating Diwali inspired crafts. We will also be looking at Remembrance and giving a Kites-friendly understanding of why Remembrance Day (Nov 11th) is important to people.

Challenge: Can you spend some time with your child doing some blending games (see above) and some segmenting games (e.g “chop- how do you spell chop?”- Help your child to separate into 3 sounds ch-o-p.) These can be done out and about, in the bath, cooking dinner, as a competition between siblings!

Reminders: 

As you’ve have noticed it is getting wetter and colder. Please could you ensure your child has the following:  Hat, coat, gloves, waterproof  kit (as well as leggings/ trousers & long sleeve to put underneath) for forest camp and NAMED wellies.

Wow sheets: The purpose of wow sheets are for the children to share something they have done with the class to practice their communication and language skills. You can write anything your child has done on their wow sheet, whether they did something exciting over the weekend, saw friends or family, rode their scooter, helped you cook dinner etc. If you can not find the WOW sheet- please just note down on a piece of paper or send us a photo!

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation.

The Kites Team