Pencils at the ready!

Hi and welcome to another fabulous week in Year 1 ! There is lots to do this week (mmm...I started singing the ‘Very Very Busy’ song from Christmas then!), so without further ado, let’s get on...

Literacy

This week, the children will be writing their very own versions of a story from another culture. We will be looking for evidence of all the things they have learned so far this term to improve their writing.One exercise we will be introducing the children to, is the use of a memory technique to help write the setting of story. The children SHOULD be able to talk to you about this by the end of the week, as children last year, really took hold of the idea and ran with it.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

First, the children will learn a rhyme, where they associated pictures/objects with the numbers 1 to 9. (in red) By Friday, ask your child if they can remember the actions to go with this.Then we will add an element of a story setting to each number (in green)

1 – SUN – a location
2 – SHOE – something close by
3 – TREE – something in the distance
4 – DOOR – a sound you can hear
5 – HIVE - something you can touch
6 – STICKS – a smell
7 – HEAVEN – something moving or moving somewhere
8 – GATE – emotions or feelings
9 – WINE – a different viewpoint

The children then take all of these elements and use them to help them remember the order of the sentences to write the opening of their story...

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a beautiful young girl named Cinderella. She lived in a small, thatched-roof cottage, with her stern, wicked and cruel stepmother and her two ugly stepsisters, who were always mean to her. Close by to the cottage, there was a stream, where silver fishes darted in the light of the moon each night. In the distance, through her small bedroom window, Cinderella was able to see the royal palace, where she had longed to visit since she was a little girl. She could hear the sound of birds singing happily in the garden and the bees humming around the silky, fragrant flowers which had just bloomed. As she wandered downstairs in her dreary clothes, sweeping brush in her delicate hands, she dreamt of going beyond the cottage gardens to the palace. Would she ever get there? The answer, she assumed, would always be NO! Until that is, a special delivery landed gently onto the doormat...this was to be the day that would change a humble servant-girl’s life forever!

Lots of these ideas, were actually from children themselves, so they are not unattainable! I can’t wait to read them at the end of the week.

The children will also be assessed on their knowledge of the spelling patterns that we have been focussing on. They will need to be able to both read and spell words containing the patterns:

SH TH NG AI EE IGH OA OO AR OR UR OW OI EAR AIR URE ER

You will receive an update on these at the end of the week.

This week’s question: Are there any letter patterns that make the same sound?

The children will be set a series of spelling challenges, in which they will have to try and work out the spellings to a number of words. Sound simple? Well, they will have a few words which don’t fit the patterns they have been given and they will have to work out what other letters can make the same sound. The children have played this game a few times, and it is really improving their ability to choose the right patterns.

http://www.ictgames.com/cluster.html spelling game based on the initial sounds they can hear

http://www.ictgames.com/hybrid.html it took me a while to figure out how to play this game! To select a word in the wordsearch, click on the first and the last letter of the word you wish to highlight, and the cow will ‘MOO’ if you are correct! A great way to investigate spelling patterns.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/snap/snap.shtml click SNAP when the sounds match the word written on the right hand side

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/longvow/spelling/spelling.shtml drag and drop the correct spelling pattern into the gaps before the time runs out.

Numeracy

We are having a real push on our number bonds challenge now, so to get some extra training in, a great site to practice these questions against the clock is http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/851/Hitthebuttonv7.swfYou need to click on NUMBER BONDS and then select ‘bonds within 10’ for year 1 and ‘bonds within 20’ if you fancy a challenge . Let us know how many you can get in one minute!

The first ten minutes of each numeracy lesson, is dedicated to practising mental strategies, which will enable the children to rapidly recall key number facts. This week, we will be focussing on:
· recognising the value of the digits in two digit numbers - this is important, particularly as the children need to understand which number represents the 'tens' when finding ten more and ten less.
· recalling one more and one less than a two digit number - the children were fantastic at finding one more than number, but found it difficult to calculate one less.
· doubling multiples of 5 and 10 up to 50 - ask the children if they can remember to double the tens and double the units?
· be able to write the numbers to 100
· recognise the names of 2D shapes

During the main part of the lesson, we will be reviewing work from last week, and then move onto looking at ordinal numbers. Although this sounds very grand, it is being able to say which is first, second, third...and so on. Why not try having a race and awarding badges or medals to the people who came 1st, 2nd etc.

The children will also learn about numbers which are greater than and less than. Do they know that the crocodile really doesn't like BIG NUMBERS and so he EATS them!!

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Imagine teeth drawn on the <>

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ordinal_numbers/eng/Introduct/default.htm ordinal numbers
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx this is the story of how the Chinese Zodiac was created. It will also be a fun way for the children to learn about ordinal numbers, as well as getting into the spirit of Chinese New Year!
http://www.ictgames.com/rabbit2.html why not write some of these numbers on paper and ask your child to draw the 'crocodile'.
http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/nonmembers/gamesroom/awards/awardc.html there are some difficult numbers on this, including decimals, but the children will be able to access the DIVING AWARDS MEDALS - which country wins the GOLD?
http://www.ictgames.com/dragonmap.html odd and even revision from last week
http://www.ictgames.com/fairy_fog_odd.html
http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/nonmembers/gamesroom/stick/stick.html virtual counting stick
http://www.ictgames.com/newduckshoot10s.html counting in tens - shoot the duck on the target number
http://www.ictgames.com/spitfireufo.html although this is aimed from year 2, the children in Year 1 could also access it by counting on in steps of that number.
http://www.mathsonline.co.uk/nonmembers/gamesroom/bugs/bugrace3.html a great game for two players. Choose 0 as the lowest number and 9 as the highest, it will create a game to practice and reinforce those number bonds!

Reading

Many, many thanks for those of you are who supporting your child at home in all areas, but particularly in reading. We will be conducting a survey next week across the school to see which class has the highest percentage of comments relating to reading, in their diaries.
I am confident that we could be the first class to reach 100%, so your support with this will be greatly appreciated.
In order to help us do that, your child will probably come home and ask you to write a comment in their diary at least once during the week. If you refer to the reading targets which were given to you before Christmas, this will help you when you are writing comments. It has also been really encouraging for us to hear how children are spotting their spelling patterns when out shopping! Keep up the good work!

Why not make up a story with your child this week? You can download some scenery, puppets and a list of things you will need from

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/jackanory/make/puppettheatre.shtml?page1

If you do make some, we would love you to bring them in for us to see!

Homework

Most homework is returned on time, on Monday mornings, but there are a few that don’t make it in on time. It would be really helpful, if you could ensure your child hands in their homework along with their diaries on MONDAY MORNING, so that it may be marked, ready to return to you on Wednesdays.

Friends of St Vincent’s

The friends held a meeting in school this Friday at 3pm, in response to a dwindling turnout at their evening meetings. There were a few new faces, but they would love to have many more! They have helped to provide many of the new equipment and resources that we have in school, and the greater their numbers, the easier the workload!

They have offered to make some drawstring bags for us, in order to store some of the new playground equipment. To help with this, they have asked that if anyone has any material which they wish to donate, then please send it into school. Maybe you have some old duvet covers that you no longer need, or some material that you promised you make something from! Many thanks in anticipation of your generosity.

Advance notice

On the 2-6 February, we will be holding our bookfair in school. This is always a very well attended event and raises a great deal of commission for us to add and improve our resources in school. This time, the fair will be open for 5 evenings after school, from 3.00-4.00pm. We have a high total from last year to beat, but I am sure we can do it! Many thanks to Miss Knight for organising this (and Mrs Narraway behind the scenes!)

Water bottles

We have noticed this week, that not all children are bringing water bottles into school. It is vitally important that your child remains hydrated throughout the day, and so a drink is important. Also, a clear, non-fizzy drink is best – there are some great flavoured waters in the supermarket if plain water doesn’t appeal! Could we also ask, that water bottles are labelled, as quite a number haven’t been. Many thanks.

Punctuality

There have been a number of children who have been late for registration this week, which has really unsettled them in the mornings. We have activities which start as soon as the children come in, and so these opportunities are missed, even if your child is just 5 minutes late. We have also noticed that a few children have been dropped off at 8 o’clock on the playground. Children cannot be supervised on the playground at this time and there are health and safety issues with the children’s safety. Thanks for your understanding and co-operation with this.

Parent’s evenings

Many thanks to those of you who have returned your request forms this week. Unfortunately, of the 20 returned so far, the vast majority have requested the same time! Please could I ask that you are as flexible as possible, in order to fit everyone in. If you haven’t returned your form, please could return it by Monday, so that times may be allocated to you. Many thanks.

I think that is all for this week!

Year 1 team x