We are looking forward to an exciting and memorable last term together!
We are all working hard getting ready for our SATS tests in May.
As we get closer, it’s important that we remember:
SATs focus on what children know about Maths and English.
They will not reflect how talented they are at science, geography, art, PE…, and they certainly won’t highlight all their amazing personal characteristics.
SATs don’t tell the whole story.
As long as we try our best, everyone will be proud of us!
English: This term we will be looking at a range of writing styles. Firstly, we will be writing a balanced argument then we will be writing spy stories! We will continue to apply grammatical features from the KS2 writing objectives in our writing.
Maths: In our maths lessons we will be covering the Year 6 objectives from the maths Curriculum. We will be focussing on the using and applying aspect of maths through problem solving, reasoning, explaining and investigating.
Topic: We are covering two topics this half term. We will start with a short topic looking at Climate change and how this affects our local area. We will then move on to study the amazing Ancient Greeks! Although Climate change is only a short topic, we will study in detail how the area of Haughton Green and Denton is affected. During our Ancient Greece topic, we will also complete lots of art work and use clay to try and recreate some of the beautiful vases and sculptures they created.
Science:
Classifying Living Things: In this unit children will learn how to classify living things using the major classification kingdoms. They will identify and describe the observable characteristics of a range of classification groups including micro-organisms, plants and animals. Children will make careful observations to identify the characteristics that help scientists classify all living things, such as whether a living thing has a backbone and how they reproduce. Children will also be able to use their observations to construct classification keys of increasing complexity. They will use evidence from their investigation to predict and investigate how to accelerate the rate of decay. We will complete this unit in the summer term.
Evolution and Inheritance: In this unit children will have worked towards answering the Quest question ‘How do living things evolve?’ They will have investigated how living things have changed over time and that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago. They will have had the opportunity to make a visit (real or virtual) to a Natural History museum and they will have constructed a geological timeline. Children will have identified how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution. They will have explored the principal of inheritance, recognising that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but that normally such offspring vary and are not identical to their parents. Children will have researched how plants and animals are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and they will have identified some beneficial adaptations that may lead to evolution. They will have explored natural selection through drama and designed their own species.
Homework
The children will continue to get English and maths homework every week. We will always set the homework on a Friday, and it must be brought back into school by the following Wednesday.
We will be doing P.E. on Tuesday and Thursday. The children need their kits in school on these days. Just a reminder that school P.E. kit comprises of a white t-shirt, black shorts and pumps. All jewellery must be removed for P.E. Our units this term will be Danish long ball and athletics.
We also have lots of exciting things to ensure that the end to our time at Corrie is memorable! This includes the Year 6 show, Sports and Health week, Corrie’s Got Talent, Leavers Assembly and Go Ape trip!
Year 1 will be doing Forest School in the final Summer Term. Please make sure that children have their wellies and shower proof coat/trousers in school for the final term. Thank you
What will we be learning this term?
English
We will begin the term by writing a set of instructions to follow and make Pirate Hats for our Pirate Camp adventure set in Forest School. We will innovate and compose our own Pirate Poetry inspired by ‘Ten Thing’s Found in Shipwrecked Sailor’s Pocket’, by Ian McMillan. In the final term, we will read ‘The Night Pirates’ by Peter Harris and innovate our writing using ‘Talk For Write’ strategies.
In all their writing, children will be actively encouraged to use their phonics skills to spell out words using a phonics mat if needed and begin to say words and sentences out loud in preparation for writing sentences. We will also be learning to read and spell Common Exception Words. These are words we will read and write LOTS but that don’t follow the phonic sounds we have learned so far.
Follow the links below for resources to support this learning at home:
There will also be a focus on developing pencil control and a good writing position to support handwriting as the children practise the essential pencil strokes they will need for correct letter formation of lower and upper case letters.
Find more information about Guided and Home Reading towards the bottom of the page.
Maths
This term we will be following the school’s maths scheme Power Maths to focus on the following objectives:
Multiplication and Division
Numbers to 100
Fractions
Position and Direction
Money
Time
Follow the links below for games and activities to support this learning at home:
Further work about the season of Spring and our new unit about Plants.
This unit will introduce children to the idea of plants as living things which grow and change over time. Children will work towards answering the question, ‘How can we make a plant identification kit?’ The unit will encourage children to recognise the common features, similarities and differences between plants. Children will learn about the basic structure of a variety of common flowering plants, including trees. They will identify, name and describe the main parts of plants, including trees. They will learn that trees are plants and will learn the meaning of ‘evergreen’ and ‘deciduous’ when describing and comparing trees. Children will describe and compare common plants and trees in their local environment and will learn specific vocabulary relating to trees, e.g. trunk, bark etc. They will have the opportunity to plant, grow and observe their own plants throughout the unit.
Children will consider how to treat plants as living things with care. At the end of the unit, children will create a model plant, a record of local plants and an identification kit for plants in their local area.
Working Scientifically, children will focus on observing closely using simple equipment, naming and grouping and recognising similarities and differences between plants. Children will make and record their observations and will also have the opportunity to gather and record data in a simple way to help in answering questions.
This unit builds on any work children have done in the Foundation Stage. This is the introductory unit on plants and lays the foundations for future work in this area.
Follow the links below for games and activities to support this learning at home:
We will be doing drama work in class and art inspired by pirates. Later in the term we will be designing a Pirate Packed Lunch.
RE
During this term we will be learning about what it means to belong to a faith.
Computing
Moving a robot and programming animations.
PE
The children will be following the Primary PE Passport Curriculum which our Kick-start team will help us deliver this term. This term we will be learning Tchoukball and athletics skills.
Our days for PE this term are Monday and Friday.
Please make sure that PE kits are always in school on these days. We monitor having the correct PE kit available when needed as part of our Assertive Mentoring Scheme and it will be reported on in your child’s termly report.
PSHE
Relationships – families, friends and oneself
Changing Me – our bodies and the future
Music
Pirate shanties and the song ‘Your Imagination.’
Home / School Learning
Homework
In Year 1, homework will be given out every Friday and expected back every Wednesday. Children will receive either a maths task based on what we’ve been learning in class and they will choose a piece from the Pirate Homework Menu (one piece per week in any order they wish).
Children are encouraged to be as creative as they wish and can choose how to present their homework so if they have published something using an iPad, tablet or computer please email it to us! year1@corrie.tameside.sch.uk
Please make sure that completed Homework is brought into school on these days. We monitor Homework as part of our Assertive Mentoring Scheme and it will be reported on in your child’s termly report.
GREEN – On time by Wednesday
YELLOW – Late by Friday
RED – No homework completed that week
Guided Reading and Home Reading
Please encourage a love of reading at home and share stories together as often as you can. It is the most important and long lasting contribution parents can make to their child’s early learning and fundamental to successful lifelong learning and wellbeing.
Follow the link below to find lots of advice, support, free online stories and activities suitable for Year 1 children learning to read.
Each Year 1 child will be given one reading book every week (Big Cat) to practise reading with their adult at home. In addition, they will choose a book to bring home for the week from our class library reading for enjoyment collection. They will also be given a log in to access their own online account for the online reading program Reading Eggs.
The reading book will be linked to the phonics phase and sounds that your child will be learning in school. It is important that you listen as your child reads this book to you as often as possible during the week so that they become secure and confident using the focus phonemes to decode words when reading.
The second reading book is a ‘reading for enjoyment book’. These are ‘real’ books rather than School Reading Scheme books. They are books matched to children’s interest level rather that their reading level. They include picture books and often text which engage children well despite being beyond the level at which they can decode for themselves. They are therefore intended to be read aloud by or shared with an adult (as a bedtime story for example).
We will also provide you with access to a fun online reading program called Reading Eggs. There are lots of stories, games and activities to have a go at. As they move through the levels, they are awarded with reading certificates which we check weekly, print off in school and celebrate in class. This has proven to be a great motivator for children as they become proud and confident readers.
Reading Eggs login details are stuck inside your child’s Reading Log.
We ask that you read with your child as often as possible (a minimum of twice weekly in line with school policy). Do this in frequent short sessions (5 to 10 minutes depending on how long your child can maintain focus and motivation).
Please always sign and date in their Reading Log on each separate occasion you read with your child. We will check reading records and change reading books every Wednesday but will not know they have completed their reading if they are not signed and dated. New reading books will be sent out on Thursday. We monitor Home Reading as part of our Assertive Mentoring Scheme and it will be reported on in your child’s termly report.
GREEN – Reading book completed at least twice by Wednesday (evidenced by parent and signed and dated each time in Reading Log)
YELLOW – Reading completed but books returned late by Friday or read only once
Children who attend our ‘Boost group’ have been identified as needing an extra ‘boost’ with their learning.
Each morning, each child will work to develop their speaking and listening, reading, writing and maths skills.
Here you will find further information about what your child in Boost Group will be learning in other areas of the curriculum, along with other useful information.
Topic: Let’s Go To China
Our topic this term is Let’s go to China. We will be learning about human and physical features of China, along with Chinese culture traditions and celebrations.
Science: Habitats
Children will learn that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other. Identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
PHSE: JIGSAW Dreams and Goals
Our school follows a scheme called Jigsaw and this term Boost group children will complete a unit called ‘Dreams and Goals’ which the children will choose a realistic goal and consider the steps needed to achieve the goal. The children will recognise who they work well with and who it is more difficult for them to work with They will also consider ways they work well in a group
RE:
In RE the children will be looking: What makes some places sacred?
Art:
The children will be look at various forms of Chinese art.
PE: Fitness (also swimming for year 4 children)
The children will have the sports coach working with them on a Tuesday afternoon. This half term, the children will be developing their fitness.
Please ensure that their correct and full PE kit is in school all week as PE days may change to accommodate other activities taking place in school.
Year 4 children, will join their peers and attend swimming lessons on a Monday afternoon. Please make sure the children have appropriate swimming kits and towels in a bag.
Music:
The children will continue using Charanga scheme to progress their music skills.
Computing: Data and Information
This term the children will begin by using labels to put objects into groups, and labelling these groups. Children will demonstrate that they can count a small number of objects, before and after the objects are grouped. They will then begin to demonstrate their ability to sort objects into different groups, based on the properties they choose. Finally, pupils will use their ability to sort objects into different groups to answer questions about data.
Forest School
Children in Boost Group will continue to take part in Forest Schooling each Friday. We venture out in all sorts of weather conditions and therefore children should have waterproof and warm clothing and sturdy footwear.
Other Support
To help support each child’s individual needs, children may take part in other activities to support their needs. These may include Zones of Regulation, speech and language, motor skills, lego therapy, social skills, memory skills or support with specific life skills.
Home Reading:
We ask that you read with your child as often as possible and sign their reading record a minimum of twice weekly in line with school policy. We will check reading records and change reading books every Friday. We monitor reading, homework and PE kits as part of our Assertive Mentoring Scheme.
Homework
Homework will be issued each Thursday and should be completed each week and handed in by each Tuesday to achieve GREEN for Homework in Assertive Mentoring. If it is handed it in on Wednesday or Thursday you will achieve YELLOW. If you don’t hand your homework in you will be RED for that week.
Other important information:
Please ensure your child’s name is clearly written in all your school uniform.
Children have a login for Active Learn, Readingeggs, Spellingshed and Times Table Rockstars.. Each of these will help support your child’s learning and can be used at home. Please ask an adult if you lose or forget your login.
KEEP IN TOUCH!
Parents & Carers are always very welcome to call in to discuss any aspect of their child’s learning, any other area of their school life or just to say ‘hello’.
If there is anything you need, or any help we can give you with anything, please let me know by either messaging on Google Classroom or speaking to us..
We are available after school, except on Wednesdays because that’s when we have our Staff Meeting. If a matter is urgent, you can always speak to an adult in the morning.
Thank you for your continued support.
Boost Group Team
Mrs Appleton-Jones, Mrs Chambers, Miss Inocencion, Miss Newton, Miss Turner and Mrs Farrington
Happy New Year! We hope that you had a lovely Christmas break and that you are ready for an action-packed term ahead. We have lots of exciting things planned, which include our WW2 workshop on 21st January and Bike-ability 9th and 10th February. All of the children have also been invited to attend SATs boosters starting w/b 19th January and should have a letter to inform you of the booster and day.
English
We will kick the term off by looking at the classic book Goodnight Mr Tom set during WW2. We will use this to inspire two pieces of writing: a non-chronological report and a formal letter. After half term, we will then be looking at the short film ‘Francis’ which tells the story of a girl’s mysterious disappearance in a National Park in America. The children will be focusing on applying all the Year 6 grammar objectives into their writing.
Reading
Our novel this term is Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carrol. Letters from the Lighthouse is set during World War II. It’s a story that is wrapped in mystery, secrecy and suspense. When Sukie goes missing, her brother and sister embark on a remarkable journey to find her. The children are evacuated from London to the countryside and it’s there where young Olive and her brother Cliff will plunge into a mysterious, rollercoaster of an adventure to be reunited with their sister. Twists, turns, coded messages and conflicts prevail in this beautifully pitched story that provides a fine balance between sensitivity and adventure.
Maths
We will continue to use Power Maths in our lessons. We will start the year by looking at algebra before moving onto decimal and percentages. We will then move onto perimeter, area and volume. We will continue to develop our arithmetic skills through Fluent in 5 and weekly arithmetic practice tests.
Topic
Our topic this term is WW2. We will learn about the outbreak of the war and what life was like for civilians during WW2. We will develop our historical enquiry skills by looking a range of sources to learn more about the impact of WW2 on Britain.
RSE
We will continue working on our RSE scheme ‘Jigsaw’ and discussing issues which are important to us and help us work together as a team. Our topic is Dreams & Goals.
Computing
Our new computing unit explores the concept of variables in programming through games in Scratch. First, learners find out what variables are and relate them to real-world examples of values that can be set and changed. Then they use variables to create a simulation of a scoreboard
PE
PE will be on Mondays and every other Thursday.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR PE KIT.
HOMEWORK
We will continue to have a creative approach to our homework this term. You will be given Maths and Spelling homework each week as well as being able to choose from a range of creative activities in Topic.
Homework is given out on Friday and is due in the following Wednesday.
Reading records are checked every Wednesday and children should be reading a minimum of twice per week.
If you have any questions or concerns or wish to discuss any aspect of your child’s learning, please come and see us before or after school.
We are really looking forward to a great half term with you all!
We hope you’ve all had a fantastic summer and are ready for the new term. We’ve got an exciting few months ahead, and we can’t wait to dive in! The Autumn Term is always a busy one, so here’s a little peek at what’s coming up:
English
To begin the school year, we are starting with the text ‘The Naughty Bus’ by Jan and Jerry Oke, this is a really fun book to kick start our brilliant work in English and will provide lots of great writing opportunities. We will be creating our own exciting adventure stories to share with our families.
We will be continuing to enhance our phonic knowledge and will be looking at lots of strategies to help us with our spelling of the Year 1 and 2 words.
Maths
We are starting the year with the ‘Numbers to 100’ unit in Power Maths looking at counting in 10’s to 100, partitioning numbers, comparing numbers and adding numbers on a number line.
We will then be moving onto addition and subtraction, looking at the column method.
Science
This half term our science unit is ‘Uses of everyday materials’. We will be learning about different materials and how we use them in our everyday lives. We be exploring the range of materials used in our school and will carry out a range of experiments to test the most suitable material for a particular task.
Topic
Our topic this half term is ‘Magical Mapping’, we will be developing key map skills through a range of engaging geographical skill-based activities. We will explore a range of maps at a local, national and global level, developing the understanding of how to navigate around an atlas to find key countries, continents, oceans and seas along with devising their own maps and routes. We will learn how to ‘view from above’ looking at aerial photographs to spot human and physical features, understand simple map symbols, compass directions and develop key geographical vocabulary throughout the unit.
Jigsaw
Our first Puzzle is called Being Me In My World. We will be discussing how we learn, how we can help others and our school community.
PE
PE will be on Wednesdays.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR PE KIT. This should include a plain white t-shirt or Corrie t-shirt, plain black shorts or leggings and black pumps.
FOREST SCHOOL
Forest school will be on Tuesdays.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR FOREST SCHOOL CLOTHES. This needs to be suitable clothing and footwear for wet, muddy activities.
HOMEWORK
We will continue to have a creative approach to our homework this term. You will be given Maths and Spelling homework each week as well as being able to choose from a range of creative activities in Topic.
Homework is given out on Friday and is due in the following Wednesday.
We read in class every day, so make sure you always have your Reading Log in school.
Please make sure you also read twice each week at home and ask an adult to sign your Reading Log for you.
We will check your Reading Log every WEDNESDAY to see that you have read at home, so please don’t forget!!
We’re really excited for this term, and we’re sure it’s going to be a great one!
Here you will find information about what your child has been learning in Year 1 and how you can help them at home. This page will be updated with information about current and future topics.
What does your child need for Year 1?
A school uniform and shoes
A school water bottle
A coat suitable for the day’s likely weather
A pair of wellies
A PE kit and set of spare clothes in a soft bag to hang on their peg. White T-shirt (with or without school logo), black shorts and black pumps or trainers.
A school satchel and / or school book bag for their Homework book, Reading Books, Reading Log and Reading for Enjoyment Book
A smile!
Please label all of your child’s belongings with their name.
What are we learning this Autumn term?
English
We will begin our term by reading ‘Whatever Next’ by Jill Murphy which is a lovely story about a bear’s imaginative journey to the moon. The children will be encouraged to use their own imagination in role playing their own journey to the moon! The children will learn about writing for different purposes; composing and writing lists and questions and simple phrases and sentences to show the beginning, middle and ending of a story.
Later in the term the children will be reading ‘Beegu’ by Alexis Deacon which is a fictional story about an alien lost on Earth. They will use ‘Talk for Writing’ strategies to retell the story and then work together to create our own lost alien story using a story map.
In all their writing children will be actively encouraged to use their phonics using segmenting to spell out words and begin to say words and sentences out loud in preparation for writing sentences.
We will also be learning to read and spell Common Exception Words. These are words we will read and write LOTS but that don’t follow the phonic sounds we have learned so far.
Follow the links below for resources to inform parents and support this learning at home.
There will also be a focus on developing pencil control and a good writing position to support handwriting as the children practise the essential pencil strokes they will need for correct letter formation of lower case letters.
Find more information about Guided and Home Reading towards the bottom of the page.
Maths
This term we will be following the school’s maths scheme, Power Maths to focus on the following objectives: –
Unit 1: Numbers to 10
We will be working on children’s ability to recognise, represent and manipulate numbers to ten. Children will sort and group objects using different criteria. They will learn to recognise and count different representations of numbers to 10 and use a tens frame to structure and reason counting.
We will be using vocabulary such as ‘digit’ and writing number names as words. As we count forwards and backwards, we will be using ‘one more’ as a way to describe a number increasing and ‘one less’ for a number decreasing.
Children will use these skills to compare and order numbers to 10 using concrete and pictorial representations to support their reasoning. They will be introduced to ordinal numbers (First, second….) and use a number track to count ‘one more’ and ‘one less’.
Unit 2: Part-Whole within 10
This is one of the most important units of work to teach in maths. Children who have a solid grasp of numbers to 10 are able to apply this knowledge to so many other areas, including numbers to 20, numbers to 50 and beyond, and addition and subtraction.
Children will be taught how to partition numbers to 10 using part-whole model
Children will use this knowledge of part-whole model to begin writing number sentences. Like in the above example 5+4=9 They will explore number sentences in detail to explore number facts 5+4=9 is equal to 4+5=9 is equal to 9=5+4 is equal to 9=4+5
This work helps to secure number bonds to 10. During this unit, children begin to build this to number bonds to 20.
They will learn symbols > more than, < less than and = equal
Unit 3 & 4: Addition and subtraction within 10
This unit focuses on number bonds within 10 and number bonds to 10. Children will be introduced to formal addition through the idea of ‘count all’ and ‘count on’ strategies. A ‘count all’ strategy is when all parts are added together to make a whole. A ‘count on’ strategy asks children to start with a number and count on.
Children will be introduced to the key language of subtraction and a range of scenarios in which subtraction takes place.
Children will model each of these situations using concrete and pictorial representations: taking away cubes, crossing out pictures and counting back on a number-line.
Follow the links below for games and activities to support this learning at home.
The Science topic this term will be’ Identifying Materials.’
In this unit children will identify and name common types of materials including:- wood, metal, plastic, rubber, fur, towelling, nylon, wool, sponge, cotton wool, paper, card, brick, ceramics, rock and some liquids and powdered solids.
They will label, collect and group together objects made from the same material. They will state that different objects can be manufactured from the same materials. They will investigate why some materials are unsuitable for some objects and provide reasons for this.
During the unit children will be working scientifically to investigate the properties of different liquids. They will also investigate which materials are good to wrap and protect a hollow chocolate object being sent through the post.
Follow the links below for games and activities to support this learning at home.
Topic (History, Geography, Art and Design Technology)
5..4..3..2..1..BLAST OFF! The theme of our topic work for the Autumn term is ‘Space’. We will be learning about our own places in Space and peoples’ exploration of places beyond our own planet into outer space! We will investigate what Earth looks like from Space using Google Earth and explore how people watch the stars. We will be documenting significant events and developments in Space exploration using a timeline. We will find out how astronauts like Mae Jemison and Neil Armstrong, Tim Peake and Helen Sharman were significant in their contribution to Space Exploration. We will investigate the Apollo Moon landing using historical sources to find out.
Follow the links below for websites to support this learning at home.
The first focus for our Arts lessons in Autumn is Poetry. Linking with our PHSE work ‘Being Me’ we will work towards writing and performing a poem in response to the question ‘Who are you?’ We will explore words and poetry then write our own poem to perform for our grown-ups at a Poetry Presentation.
In the second theme for our Arts lessons we will be looking at a selection of artworks by artists such as Henri Matisse and Piet Mondrain. We will use these artworks to help us explore different ways to use line, pattern and colour in both paper based and digital art.
RE
During this term we will be learning all about people who are Christians and finding out about what they believe through stories in the Bible. We will also be celebrating Harvest this year and attend a special whole school service at St. Mary’s Church.
Computing
The children will be following the ‘Teach Computing’ scheme of work and learning about computing systems and networks. During this unit, the children will about technology in the classroom and how to use it, developing keyboard, trackpad and mouse skills and how to use a computer responsibly.
PE
The children will be following the Primary PE Passport Curriculum which our Kick-start team will help us deliver this term. This term we will be learning key fundamental movement skills and how to play invasion games .
Please make sure that PE kits are always in school on PE days. During the Autumn term, PE will be on Tuesday and Thursday. Bring PE kit in on the first day back if possible. We monitor having the correct PE kit available when needed as part of our Assertive Mentoring Scheme and it will be reported on in your child’s termly report.
PSHE
Our school follows a scheme called Jigsaw and this term our Year 1 children will complete a unit called ‘Being me in my world’ which celebrates all the qualities that makes people unique. Children will get lots of opportunities to discuss and share what is good about themselves and how they want to grow in the coming year ahead. Later in the term children will complete a unit called ‘Celebrating Difference’. Children will explore accepting others are may be different to them, learning to include everyone and problem solve conflict. They will also learn about bullying and how to help themselves and others if it happens.
Music
We will be exploring a unit called ‘Hey You!’ using the school’s music scheme, Charanga. We will listen and appraise a range of Hip Hop songs such as:- Hey You! by Joanna Mangona, Me, Myself And I by De La Soul, Fresh Prince Of Bel Air by Will Smith and It’s Like That by Run DMC. They will also play a range of games to find the pulse, rhythm and pace using their voices and either use recorders or glockenspiels to accompany a piece of music.
Forest School /Outdoor Learning
Over the year children will have regular opportunities to access the outdoors for Forest School sessions and other outdoor learning such as seasonal walks to nearby Hulme Woods. It is essential that children have suitable clothing including something warm and waterproof and wellies for this time. The nature of these types of experiences is that clothes can get very muddy and wet so suggest you provide items you do not mind getting soiled. We will let you know what and when these things will be required.
Home / School Learning
Homework
In Year 1 homework will be given out every Fridayafternoon and expected back every Wednesday morning. Children will receive either a maths or a reading task based on what we’ve been learning in class and they will choose a piece from the Space Homework Menu (one piece per week in any order they wish).
Children are encouraged to be as creative as they wish and can choose how to present their homework so if they have published something using an iPad, tablet or computer please email it to us!
Please make sure that completed Homework is brought into school on the right day. We monitor Homework as part of our Assertive Mentoring Scheme and it will be reported on in your child’s termly report.
GREEN – On time by Wednesday
YELLOW – Late by Friday
RED – No homework completed that week
Guided Reading and Home Reading
Each Year 1 child will be given a reading book every week on Friday to share and practise reading with their adult at home. In addition, they will choose a book to bring home for the week from our class library reading for enjoyment collection once a week on Monday to be returned to swap the following Monday. They will also be given a log in to access their own online account for the online reading program Reading Eggs.
The reading book will be a ‘phonic reading book’ which children will have already been worked on with their teachers during Guided Reading in class. The text will be linked to the phonics phase and sounds that your child will be learning in school. It is important that you listen as your child reads this book to you as often as possible during the week so that they become secure and confident using the focus phonemes to decode words when reading. There are notes on the inside front and back cover of the book to give you lots of different ways to use the book over the time you have it. Remember practising little and often (5 -10 mins every day) is key to keeping motivation up. We will also send a copy of sight words that go with each book. You can practise these on the 2 nights your child’s reading book is not sent home, using the games given in the booklet we supply.
The second book your child will bring home is a ‘reading for enjoyment book’. These are ‘real’ books rather than School Reading Scheme books. They are books matched to children’s interest level rather that their reading level. They include picture books and often text which engage children well despite being beyond the level at which they can decode for themselves. They are therefore intended to be read aloud by or shared with an adult (as a bedtime story for example).
We will also provide you with access to a fun online reading program called Reading Eggs. There are lots of stories, games and activities to have a go at. As they move through the levels, they are awarded with reading certificates which we check weekly, print off in school and celebrate in class. This has proven to be a great motivator for children as they become proud and confident readers.
Reading Eggs login details are stuck inside your child’s Reading Log.
Please encourage a love of reading at home and share stories together as often as you can. It is the most important and long lasting contribution parents can make to their child early learning and fundamental to successful lifelong learning and wellbeing.
We ask that you read with your child as often as possible (a minimum of twice weekly in line with school policy). Do this in frequent short sessions (5 to 10 minutes depending on how long your child can maintain focus and motivation).
Please always sign and date in their Reading Log on each separate occasion you read with your child. We will check reading records and change reading books every Wednesday but will not know they have completed their reading if they are not signed and dated. We monitor Home Reading as part of our Assertive Mentoring Scheme and it will be reported on in your child’s termly report.
GREEN – Reading book completed with Reading Log dated and signed at least two separate times by Wednesday (evidenced by parent sign and date each time in Reading Log.
YELLOW – Reading complete but book and/or Log returned late by Friday
RED – Book and /or Log not returned or not signed and dated in Reading Log that week
We are looking forward to this busy and exciting year ahead and hope to make the children’s final year in primary school a successful and memorable one!
Each pupil in year 6 has been given a different responsibility across school. We have sent out letters for the prefects to give them permission to come into school at 8:30am each morning to help in different classes.
Just a few notes to make everyone aware of when things will be happening:
PE will be every Wednesday afternoon and every other Thursday morning, so the children need their kits in school on these days. Just a reminder that school P.E. kit comprises of a white t-shirt, black shorts and trainers or pumps and if P.E. is taking place outside and the weather is cold, the children are allowed to wear dark jogging bottoms and trainers. All jewellery must be removed for P.E. If the children cannot remove the jewellery themselves, it is best if they do not wear it on the PE days.
English This term we will be looking at a range of writing styles. We will be basing our writing on King Kong by Anthony Browne and will use this famous story as inspiration to write newspaper reports.
We will also be looking at a video called ‘The Eye of the Storm’ and will be completing our own narratives based around this.
In SPaG lessons we will be revising all areas of punctuation and continuing to work on all the aspects of grammar to make your written work better. Remember the children have weekly spellings to learn.
Maths In our maths lessons we will be covering the Year 6 objectives from the maths Curriculum using the Power Maths scheme. We will start by focusing on place value of numbers up to 10,000,000. We will then cover the 4 operations before tackling long division!
Topic The first topic we are covering this year is a North America. We will be looking at lots of Geographical skills during this topic and will be finding out lots about all the different countries and diverse cultures within this fascinating continent. Part of the weekly homework in Year 6 will again be to complete some topic based activities and the homework menu will again be used to choose activities from.
Science Our Bodies: In this unit children will learn how to identify and explain the different systems which are constantly at work within the human body. We will look in detail at some of these systems including the circulatory system and we will look at how the heart works to circulate our blood around the body.
Changing Circuits: In this unit, the children will learn how to create and develop increasingly difficult and complex circuits, building on the work they did in year 3.
Computing The children will become web-designers this term and will be creating websites for a chosen purpose. We will identify what makes a good web page and use this information to design and evaluate our own website using Google Sites.
Homework
The children will continue to get spelling and maths homework every week and they will also have a topic sheet which they can select homework from. We will always set the homework on a Friday and it must be brought back into school by the following Wednesday. The children will also be bringing home their reading books every day and it is vitally important that they read every day. We are really working on the children’s comprehension skills so it would be great if you could ask them questions about their books every time you read with them.
If there is anything you need, or any help we can give you with anything, please let me know by either messaging on Google Classroom or on the year 6 school email (year6@corrie.tameside.sch.uk), catching me in the morning or after school, or giving me a phone call.
The children in school have continued to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Some of the delicious strawberries were sold at the Summer Fair and we have received amazing compliments about them. As a result of the gardening, school have received a level one, RHS School Gardening Award.
Children who attend our ‘Boost Group’ have been identified as needing an extra ‘boost’ with their learning.
Each morning, each child will work to develop their speaking and listening, reading, writing and maths skills.
Here you will find further information about what your child in Boost Group will be learning in other areas of the curriculum, along with other useful information.
Topic: Manchester
This term we will be learning about the Manchester. We will learning about where Manchester is located. We will also study Manchester over time tracing how several aspects of national history are reflected in the locality.
Science: Materials
In the materials unit we will learn about solids, liquids and gases and investigate if a material can change its state.
Art
The children will be focussing on developing their printing skills.
PHSE: JIGSAW Relationships
Our school follows a scheme called Jigsaw and this term Boost group children will complete a unit called ‘Relationships’ which the children consider who they are as a person in terms of their characteristics and personal qualities. They will consider the positive and negative aspects of being online and the rights and responsibilities that they have when on line.
RE:
In RE the children will be learning ‘What can we learn from religions about what is right and wrong?’
PE: Athletics
The children will have the sports coach working with them on a Wednesday afternoon. This half term, the children will be developing their knowledge and skills of athletics.
Please ensure your child has correct and full PE kit is in school all week as PE days may change to accommodate other activities taking place in school.
Music:
The children will continue using Charanga scheme to progress their music skills.
Year 3 children will continue to learn how to play a brass instrument with Tameside music service. Music lessons are every Monday. If your child would like to take their brass instrument home to practice, a deposit can be paid to the office allowing them to take it home.
Computing: Desktop Publishing
This term children will become familiar with the terms ‘text’ and ‘images’ and understand that they can be used to communicate messages. They will use desktop publishing software and consider careful choices of font size, colour and type to edit and improve documents. They will start to add text and images to create their own pieces of work using desktop publishing software
Forest School
Children in Boost Group will continue to have the fantastic opportunity to take part in Forest Schooling each Tuesday. We venture out in all sorts of weather conditions and therefore children should have waterproof and warm clothing and sturdy footwear. On sunnier days, the children may need a sunhat and sun cream.
Other Support
To help support each child’s individual needs, children may take part in other activities to support their needs. These may include Zones of Regulation, speech and language, motor skills, Lego therapy, social skills, memory skills or support with specific life skills.
Home Reading:
We ask that you read with your child as often as possible and sign their reading record a minimum of twice weekly in line with school policy. We will check reading records and change reading books every Friday. We monitor reading, homework and PE kits as part of our Assertive Mentoring Scheme.
Homework
Homework will be issued each Thursday and should be completed each week and handed in by each Tuesday to achieve GREEN for Homework in Assertive Mentoring. If it is handed it in on Wednesday or Thursday you will achieve YELLOW. If you don’t hand your homework in you will be RED for that week.
Other important information:
Please ensure your child’s name is clearly written in all your school uniform.
Please ensure that your child has a reusable water bottle (these can be ordered via Parentpay) to ensure that they can stay hydrated.
Children have a login for Active Learn, Readingeggs, Spellingshed and Times Table Rockstars.. Each of these will help support your child’s learning and can be used at home. Please ask an adult if you lose or forget your login.
KEEP IN TOUCH!
Parents & Carers are always very welcome to call in to discuss any aspect of their child’s learning, any other area of their school life or just to say ‘hello’.
If there is anything you need, or any help we can give you with anything, please let me know by either messaging on Google Classroom or speaking to us.
We are available after school, except on Wednesdays because that’s when we have our Staff Meeting. If a matter is urgent, you can always speak to an adult in the morning.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Appleton-Jones, Mrs Chambers, Mrs Farrington, Mrs Holt, Miss Newton and Miss Turner
