Oak

Class Letter Spring Term 2012

3rd January 2012

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year to you all! We hope you had a magical Christmas and you are looking forward to the exciting Spring Term. We are settling into the new term very well and are eager to learn.

This half term the topic we are focusing on is Toys and the second half of the Spring term we will be learning about buildings and structures. Our Knowledge and Understanding of the World focuses on how toys are made and the different purposes of toys. Our Creative Development will have a focus on Toys and we will be using different medium and types of paper to experiment and express themselves through art.

We are beginning to set up our Role play area as a Toy Shop and Toy factory. As part of our Toys topic we would like to invite an outside speaker to come and talk about their memories of their childhood and what toys they used to play with. If you have any childhood toys that you would like to send into school for our class museum, they will be greatly appreciated and looked after.

Throughout Communication, Language and Literacy area of the Foundation Stage during the Spring term, we will be building on our speaking and listening skills through stories, role- play activities and discussion. We will continue to work on and build up our skills and knowledge of the letters of the alphabet, learning both the letter name and phoneme (sound) that each letter can make. We are also going to be building CVC words and putting them into context. We will be using our THRASS charts to help us with our writing. The children will be encouraged to apply their understanding and knowledge to their reading and writing. They are doing great so far!

The key words from the Reading scheme will be introduced to help the children with their reading and words may be sent home for the children to recognise and learn as part of their homework. The Reception High Frequency words are given out as homework for the children to learn by sight, they will be added to when appropriate, it would also be fantastic if you could constantly introduce these words to your child in a fun way. We play flash card games in class and the children are picking up these words very well.

In the Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy area of the Foundation Stage, counting, reading, writing, ordering and comparing numbers to 10 and 20 (and beyond) will be focused on. Also we will begin to look at simple addition and subtraction skills and methods and counting in multiples of two and multiples of ten. Other topic areas include: weight, time, money and shape and space. We teach the children to write the numerals starting at the top each time- it would be wonderful if this was reinforced at home too.

Many of the activities in our I.C.T unit will be based around using simple educational programs and mouse control. Also all the children will be taught how to use digital cameras. Computers and technology are a fun and easy way for children to learn through and are used in every lesson to support the children’s learning, this helps the children develop skills they have learnt to a higher level.

Homework will be given out on a Friday and returned to school on the following Wednesday, unless stated otherwise. Also the children have their reading book changed twice a week and Physical Development takes place on a Monday and Wednesday.

Finally, Oak Class assembly will take place 2nd February at 3pm in the hall and I hope that you will all come along to see what they have been getting up to this term.

Please remember we all want the best for your child. If you have any concerns, however small, please do not hesitate to pop in to see me. Thank you for your ongoing support it is greatly appreciated.We hope your child has another exciting term in Oak Class.

Thank you for you ongoing support and I look forward to meeting you all personally,

Thank you,

 Mrs Brewster