Hello and welcome to the first weekly blog. Normally this will be updated by Monday each week to let you know about key messages for the week ahead.
We have had a super first week back, with lots of happy children learning new routines and getting to know their new staff and classroom. It has been wonderful to see everyone settling in so positively, and we are looking forward to an exciting year ahead!
Reading
We hope you enjoy looking at books together at home and this should remain a huge part of your reading through school. Going forward, we will swap reading books that children can read to you on Mondays and Thursdays.
Children should return their books on Monday and Thursday mornings. Parents, please help where possible by encouraging children to have their books out of their book bags and ready to return. This helps us to change books as efficiently as possible. Please note that we are marking books in and out so that we can be sure all our books are being returned so we will contact you if we have not had a book returned.
Children will be given their next phonics books to take home on Mondays and Thursdays. These texts will be the same books that children are practising during their phonics sessions in school, helping to build confidence and fluency with you at home. We recommend you listen to your child 3-5 times a week or ideally daily!
We will continue to use the Reading Journey, as in Reception, to keep a record of the books you have enjoyed together at home.
We also have a special Year 1 ‘Love of Reading’ book, which will go home with a different child each week. Children can record a book they have enjoyed and will also be able to borrow our class teddy to share in the fun! We will start sending this home in the next few weeks.
Spelling
Each Monday, we will teach 10 new spelling words. We will revisit these during each English lesson throughout the week and will also set games on DoodleSpell to help reinforce learning.
DoodleSpell is a fantastic way to practise spelling patterns, recap sounds and continue developing phonics skills. Login details will be given out at our Base Meeting on Tuesday evening.
Maths
We will also provide login details for DoodleMaths at our Base Meeting on Tuesday at 5:00pm.
We encourage children to log in regularly to practise their maths skills. Ideally, children should complete their five maths questions each day and begin building a streak. We will also set assignments through DoodleMaths to support and reinforce the learning taking place in our maths lessons which enables the children to collect stars.
If you are unable to attend the Base Meeting, login details will be sent home on Wednesday, so please look out for them.
Topic Homework
Each half term, children will also complete a topic homework activity. A copy of this half term’s homework menu can be found on the previous blog post alongside the key documents for the term, and paper copies will also be available at the Base Meeting.
Please choose one activity from the homework menu and return it to school towards the end of the term. In October, the whole school will take part in a Topic Showcase Lesson, where children will have the opportunity to share and celebrate their work. The date will be shared in the Crossdale Newsletter and we will update you on this in the next few weeks.
Thank you for your continued support. We are looking forward to a fantastic term of learning together!