Summer Term 1

This term our topic is 'What is Colour?'. This is an art based topic in which we will be looking at a variety of art skills such as colour mixing, adding tints and shades, using different brush strokes for different effects and learning about primary and secondary colours. We will also be learning about both local, national and international artists. We are also going to be conducting some science experiments based around colour. 

Reading - The expectation is that the children read at least three times a week. The children will come home with two books, their normal phonics one and a 'reading for pleasure' book. Both books will be changed on a Monday and Thursday, with the reading for pleasure book being chosen by the children themselves. 

The purpose of keeping a book and reading it multiple times is as follows:

1. The first read is for decoding and reading common exception words (applying phonic

knowledge and recognising phonemes in context – knowing that ‘high’ contains a trigraph

for example and is read as h-igh and not h-i-g-h. Being able to read common exception

words by sight - he, she, was, you, all etc). The first read may be a little robotic because of

this.

2. The second read is for prosody; to encourage reading with intonation and expression.

3. The third read is for fluency.

If children are on the Accelerated Reader scheme, they can bring in their books as soon as they are finished and then complete a short comprehension quiz on the book. The children have to achieve 80% or above in three consecutive quizzes before they can move up a level. All the AR books are kept in the library and the children are responsible for choosing their own text. You can log on from home to check your child's progress, using the log on details given at the start of term.

All children are expected to have their reading folders containing their reading books and reading records, in school every day.

Spelling - Year Two children have spelling lists that would be of benefit for them to learn each week. They could practice writing these out at home in a variety of ways and they could also see if they can add that word into a sentence and write it. They will have a spelling test on Fridays. These spelling lists are also available on Spelling Shed to help the children consolidate their learning at home.

Year One children have also got words on Spelling Shed which link to their Phonics learning that week. They also have a phonics pack in their reading folder containing Phase 5 graphemes and Common Exception Words which can be practiced at home. 

Log in details for Spelling Shed can be found in the front of the children's reading record.

This term Year One children will also have some phonics homework in order to help prepare them for the phonics screening check. The children will need to scan the QR code each week in order to access a selection of real and fake words. 

P.E. - This term P.E. will be on Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday will be a session with the sports coach and it will be outside, so warmer clothes may be needed. Friday will be ball skills, including netball and football, in which we will be outside as much as possible. Please could the correct kit be worn and long hair needs to be tied up.

Forest School - This will be on a Thursday afternoon, every other week. Please could you make sure that your child has a waterproof coat and wellies on this day. With the unpredictable British weather, the forest school area will be muddy after a lot of rain so if your child does not have wellies, they won't be able to join in.

Swimming - We will send a separate email regarding swimming if we are able to use the pool this term (weather dependant!)