Butterfly & Dragonfly Class (Reception) 2023 - 2024

Welcome to Butterfly and Dragonfly Class 

Butterfly Teacher: Miss Harrison

Dragonfly Teacher: Mrs Fife

Teaching Assistant: Mrs Duncalf 

Teaching Assistant: Mrs Healey

Teaching Assistant: Miss Littler

Here you will find useful information about our learning and the things we are getting up to in Reception.

Autumn 2

This half term our topic is 'Fabulous Food.' The story we will be basing our literacy activities around is ‘I’m Going to Eat This Ant’ by Chris-Naylor Ballesteros. We will be continuing to hear and say the initial sound in words (and some subsequent sounds), link sounds to letters, write labels and captions, segment the sounds in simple words and blend them together (Write CVC words) and begin to break the flow of speech into words.

As always in Reception our aim is to follow children's interest so learning, topics and activities can change all the time!

In our maths this half term we will be subitising numbers, identifying which numbers are one more than, making comparisons of up to 6 objects, beginning to understand that numbers can be made of smaller parts e.g. demonstrating this using the part-whole model/five and tens frame, putting numerals 0-10 in order, identifying/naming/ comparing circles and triangles and identifying and naming shapes with 4 sides.

Foundation

In our foundation lessons this term we will be:

Continuing to learn about our senses – touch, smell, see & taste, talk about changes that have happened throughout our life, talk about weather in different countries, discuss the importance of food and the effects it has on your body, drawing and painting poppies, learn about Remembrance Day/Guy Fawkes - song/rhyme, look at food chains, talk about family and people in the community and their roles, looking at different food from around the world, talking about food that you have at home –what is your favourite meal, create fly swatter paintings, exploring food – past and present and where it comes from, learning about  the weather cycle, explore the celebration thanksgiving – what would you give thanks for, designing and creating our own 3 course meal, creating a poster naming the seasons and their changes, continue to discuss oral health, creating our Christmas cards/Christmas lists and listen to the Christmas story/talk about traditions

RWI (Read Write Inc)

At Darnhall we follow the RWI Programme 

How and what do the children learn?

READING
The children:

•  learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letters/letter groups using simple picture prompts
•  learn to read words using sound blending
•  read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out
•  after meaningful discussion led by an adult children show that they comprehend the stories by answering questions

WRITING

The children:

•  learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds
•  learn to write words by saying the sounds and graphemes
•  learn to build sentences orally using adventurous vobabulary
•  start with simple sentences and develop towards more complex ones by the end of the programme
•  compose a range of texts using discussion prompts

TALKING

Children are assessed so they work with children at the same level. This allows them to take a full part in all lessons.

They work in pairs so that they:

•  answer every question
•  practise every activity with their partner
•  take turns in talking to each other

Key words

Reception will be tested on their key words every Friday. If they know ALL key words then they will receive the next set. Please ensure that you continue to practise all key words. 

We will also be learning a 'Tricky Word of the Week'. These are: he', 'she', 'I', 'of', 'it', 'was', 'so'.  

Reading at Home 

Please listen to your child read their reading book as much as possible alongside other story books. Remember to log these in their reading diary.  

For every 3 recorded reads, your child will receive a stamp on their reading worm. Once all 12 stamps have been placed on the 'Reading Worm' they will be able to get a free book from our amazing Book Vending Machines.

 

1 completed reading worm = 1 frequent reader book

2 completed reading worms = 1 frequent reader book AND a reading buddy.

3 completed reading worms = 1 frequent reader book
4 completed reading worms = 1 frequent reader book AND a reading buddy.

5 completed reading worms = 1 frequent reader book

 

 

Remind them to bring their reading book into school everyday in their book bag.

Please encourage your child to look after their reading book as they are costly to replace.

Rhyme of the Week:

Week 1: Mary Had a Little Lamb

Week 2: Incey Wincey Spider

Week 3: Old Mother Hubbard

Week 4: Little Peter Rabbit

Week 5: Jack and Jill

Week 6: Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

Week 7: When Santa Got Stuck Up the Chimney

Tapestry is Reception's platform of communication with parents and ourlearning journal provider.

Tapestry allows you to view all your children’s observations, photographs and videos. You can like and comment on observations that we add for your child and it’s also possible for you to add your own observations. Your comments and own observations will allow us to find out about which activities your child really enjoyed and the learning they get up to at home. The photos that you add will allow us to celebrate any achievements/wow moments/special days out that happen outside of school, which will help us get to know your child even better!

Reminders

Please ensure your child wears the correct school uniform at all times.

 

Only small studded earrings are allowed.

As the children's learning also takes place outdoors, they need to wear sensible waterproof dark shoes and a warm waterproof coat with a hood or hat. Please write your child's name in their school uniform, book bags and packed lunch boxes.

If you have any questions or issues regarding events at school, you can always come and see us in the morning or after school.

We are looking forward to an exciting year in Reception