CYPRESS INFANT SCHOOL
Reception Homework letter
Spring 1- 2010
This half term’s learning theme is: Transport
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Children will be encouraged to:
- Select and use resources and activities independently.
- Set goals for themselves.
- Think about what they need to do to achieve their goal.
- Persist for an extended period of time.
Communication, Language and Literacy
- Reading: The Jolly Phonics reading scheme will be introduced this term. Teacher choice books will be sent home as and when your child is able to consistently hear and blend together individual phonemes. Please continue to encourage your child to choose a reading book from the book corner on a regular basis.
- Writing: We will continue to build words using the sounds that we have been learning, focusing on a sound a day plus a daily recap of all 42 phonemes:
Week 1 (week beginning 4/1/10 – m, d, g, o
Week 2 (week beginning 11/1/10 – u, l, f, b, ai
Week 3 (week beginning 18/1/10 – j, oa, ie, ee, or
Week 4 (week beginning 25/1/10 – z, w, ng, u, oo
Week 5 (week beginning 1/2/10 – y, x, ch, sh, th
Week 6 (week beginning 8/2/10 – qu, ou, oi, ue, er
- We will start learning tricky words from week 2 (week beginning 11/1/10)
Week 2 – I, the
Week 3 – he, she
Week 4 – me, we
Week 5 – be, was
Week 6 – to, do
Please practise sight reading and spelling them with your child.
- Dictation books will be sent home once a week to reinforce the word-building work done in school, as and when your child is able to consistently hear and blend together individual phonemes.
- Handwriting: Adults will no longer be required to support their children tracing their names at the beginning of the day. Daily handwriting practice will take place in the afternoon instead. Focused handwriting input will take place every week on your child’s reading day.
- We will be thinking about questions: what, when, why, etc. and will begin to explore descriptive language.
- We will continue to help children to build their confidence when working with other children and playing together.
Mathematical Development
§ We will learn about subtraction – how to take away using objects, fingers or mentally.
§ We will model corresponding language, introduce simple forms of recording and solve simple real life problems.
§ We will also learn to sort objects, make choices and justify our decision.
Please continue to count on and back from 0 to 10 and start practising from 10 to 20. You can also practise finding 1 more/1 less mentally up to 10.
From week 2, a daily maths task will replace the morning handwriting routine. This task will change on a weekly basis. Instruction cards will be available to explain the objectives – staff will let you know how to extend the activity to suit your child’s needs.
Knowledge and Understanding:
· In Science children will be learning about pushes and pulls as well as sound.
· We will start doing simple investigations.
· In ICT children will be learning how to write their names using the computer keyboard and how to use the mouse to move icons.
§ In RE children will be learning about the creation story.
§ In Design and Technology we will begin to record our ideas and refer to simple tools and techniques.
Creative Development:
- In Art children will be learning about colour mixing, working from close observation and working on a large scale collaboratively.
- In music children will be learning the names and sounds of musical instruments and exploring tempo.
Physical Development:
Children will be:
- Exploring malleable materials.
- Demonstrating control holding different body shapes when moving in PE; copy movement phrases with beginnings, middles and end.
How you can help your child at home:
§ Reinforce the school rules.
§ Share their small target with your child and feedback to us in the home/school contact book.
§ Reinforce daily the letter sounds and actions sent home in the phonics book.
§ Encourage children to use their phonic knowledge to blend words when sharing their Jolly Phonic reader.
§ Help children to hear individual phonemes and write the corresponding letter when using their dictation books.
§ Make sure that they can dress and undress themselves independently, including zipping and unzipping coats.
Fronter
Hopefully by now you have had the chance to log in to Fronter. There are lots of exciting
things on there including videos of our One World Week and Christmas performances,
linking to learning websites and games and information for parents. Your child should
have a sticker with their username and password (as well as the Fronter login address
homework book. Look out for more new links and content on Fronter.
Dates for your diary:
January
Week beginning 4th – Arts Week events*
19th – Individual Children photos*
29th – Trip to Hornimans Museum*
February
12th School breaks up for half term
Week beginning 22nd – Science Week
March
16th & 18th – Parents evening and science week exhibition *
23rd – Reception spring performance – 2pm
April
1st – School Breaks up and end of term do
19th – INSET Day
Week beginning 20th – Healthy Week
May
19th – Group Photographs
June
Week beginning 7th – Environment Week
30th – Sports Day – Year 1 and 2 (a.m) and Nursery and Reception (p.m)*
July
1st – New to nursery and reception open evening
2nd – Reports out to parents
8th – Parents evening and Art Exhibition*
23rd – School Closes
PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT STAFF IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR CHILD
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