This term we are learning about:
Bright Lights, Big City
This project teaches children about the UK's bustling capital city. The project develops children's knowledge of key locations, transport, the Royal Family, contrasting places and events that have shaped London's past. Children will compare London to our local city Plymouth and Lusaka in Zambia.
Who will help me with my learning?
Class Teacher (CT): Mrs Hannon
Teaching Assistant (TA) : Mrs Kane
What are the main topics?
Term 1 - Childhood
Term 2 - Bright Lights, Big City
Term 3 - School Days
When do I need to wear my PE kit?
Every Friday
Come to school in your PE kit: white t-shirt, black shorts and trainers
In cold weather: black joggers and a sweatshirt
Please ensure all kit is clearly labelled.
Home Learning
Reading - Read your RWI book at least three times a week. Share a Reading for Pleasure book every day - you could read to an adult, an adult could read a book to you or you can take turns to read.
Sounds - Practise our sound of the week at least twice per week as well as how to write the letter(s).
Maths - Play Numbots for 5 minutes every day.
Topic - Complete one or more activities from the learning ideas menu linked to our termly topic and bring your work in to share with the class.
What else do I need to know about Year 1?
- I need to bring my water bottle daily
- I can bring a healthy snack but snacks are provided in school
- Reading books are collected in, changed and given back to me on a Friday.
- My teacher will provide all the resources I need to support my learning, so I don't need to bring in my own items.
- I will be ready, respectful and safe at all times in school.
Should you have any questions, please get in touch with your child's class teacher.
Year 1 Information for Parents
Reading in year 1
In Year 1, our children are taught to read using the high quality systematic synthetic phonics programme Read Write Inc. (RWI) Children are taught consistently to use phonics as the route to reading unknown words. At this stage, we introduce the opportunity for pupils to have sufficient practice in reading and re-reading books that match their progress level both at home and in school. We will send RWI books home that match your child's progress level. Children will need to re-read a book three times at home to ensure accuracy, then fluency and finally comprehension. Please go to the Oxford Owl website to find eBooks that are relevant to your child's age and RWI colour group.
Oxford Owl Log in as a student using Username: srpa1 and Password: srpa1
If your child has come to the end of the Read Write Inc programme, they will move on to Accelerated Reader (AR) books. Children will complete a reading test which will give an AR level. Children pick their book at their level from the school library. When children have read their books and feel confident to answer questions about the plot, characters and their likes/dislikes, they take an AR quiz. The quiz will give the child the next AR level to take - it can move up, down or stay the same.
When children have become fluent and confident readers, they will now read to learn. They will learn comprehension skills using a high-quality whole class guided reading programme, increase their reading fluency through daily practice, listen to high-quality books read by an adult every day and read for pleasure in school and at home.
Reading fluency is an essential pre-requisite to reading comprehension once children have a sound knowledge of phonics. Children should be able to read quickly and accurately with good intonation and phrasing so that their attention can focus on comprehension and meaning.
By the end of year 1 pupils should read words accurately and fluently without overt sounding and blending at a rate of over 60 words per minute.
Phonics Screening Check
Year 1 children will sit the Phonics Screening Check in June. Children who didn't pass the Phonics Screening Check in year 1 will retake it in the Autumn term of year 2.
Maths in year 1
Daily maths lessons are taught in small steps using the NCETM scheme of learning. We provide children with practical equipment to secure their understanding of each small step. As they develop as mathematicians, they are expected to use both pictorial and written methods as outlined in our whole school calculation policy. To help children succeed in maths, there is a strong focus on developing maths fluency and arithmetic skills.
Fluency is promoted through IT programs such as TT Rockstars and Numbots and daily fluency sessions. This allows children to monitor their own progress, motivate themselves and practice essential elements. By being fluent and developing automaticity, pupils spend more time learning to reason with complex maths questions.
You can support your child at home:
- Encourage your child to use Numbots for 5 minutes each day - little and often is more effective.
- In year 1, the children need to be secure in their knowledge of numbers to 100 and be able to count forwards and backwards in multiples of 2, 5 and 10.
- Home learning is set on MyMaths every term to embed what we are learning in class.
- Encourage maths learning in fun ways e.g. cooking, play shop keeping, using songs for timetables etc.
- If your child is eager to complete extra home learning, please find the maths booklets attached to our units of learning this term.