Butterfly & Dragonfly Class (Reception) 2023 - 2024

Welcome to Butterfly and Dragonfly Class 

Butterfly Teacher: Miss Harrison

Dragonfly Teacher: Mrs Fife

Teaching Assistant: Mrs Weedall 

Teaching Assistant: Miss Littler

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

Summer 1

Literacy 

This half term our topic is 'All Creatures Great and Small' alongside children’s interests. The story we will be basing our literacy activities around is ‘The Extraordinary Gardener’ By Sam Boughton. Here is what we will be developing in this unit of work

Developing Sentence Writing:

1: Plan and say a sentence accurately
2: Plan and say a sentence accurately / Represent parts of the sentence with drawings or marks that have meaning
3: Plan and say a sentence accurately / Represent words with growing GPCs
4: Plan and say a sentence accurately / Write a word to match each spoken word
5: Plan and say a sentence accurately / Write a sentence accurately

Developing Extending Writing:

1: Plan and retell part of the extended writing
2: Plan and retell parts of the extended writing
3: Plan and retell the extended writing / Represent words with growing GPCs
4: Plan and retell the extended writing / Write words for each section of the writing
5: Plan and retell the extended writing / Write a sentence for each section of the writing
6: Plan and retell the extended writing / Write two sentences for each section of the writing 7: Plan and retell the extended writing / Write in own words

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

In maths we follow the Whiterose programme. This term we will be exploring

• 3D shapes: Recognise, name, find 2D shapes withing 3D shapes.
• Pattern: Identify, copy, and continue.
• To 20 and beyond: Build numbers beyond 10 and count verbally.
• How many now: Odd one more, identify how many have been added and take away.
• Manipulate, compose, and decompose: Select a shape for a purpose, rotate and manipulate shapes.

Foundation

In our foundation lessons this term we will be learning about:

• Eid Al Fitr
• Growing plants - investigate what happens when we change the variables 
• Make sun catchers
• Use paint tool on the IPad to make flower art
• Clay to make plants/flowers
• UK Royal Family 
• Seasons - Harvest in the Summer
• Explore school setting and the local area
• Create flower drawings in the style of Kadinsky and the autor Sam Boughton
• Recap previous learning

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: ‘can’, ‘are’ ‘do’, ‘had’, ‘my’, ‘her’ and ‘be’.

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

 

 

Please bring reading book into school everyday in your childs book bag.

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

Rhyme of the Week:

Week 1: Two Little Dickie Birds

Week 2: The Grand Old Duke of York

Week 3: This Little Piggy

Week 4: Round and Round the Garden

Week 5: B-I-N-G-O

Week 6: Pat-a-cake

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.

PE for both classes is on a Wednesday. Please can children come to school wearing their PE kit on this day.

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 term in Reception