Butterfly & Dragonfly Class (Reception) 2022 - 2023
Butterfly Teacher: Mrs Chappell
Dragonfly Teacher: Mrs Fife
Teaching Assistant: Miss Simpson
Here you will find useful information about our learning and the things we are getting up to in Reception.
Spring 1
Literacy
This half term our topic is 'Best of British' alongside children’s interests. The story we will be basing our literacy activities around is ‘Naughty Bus’ by Jan Oke. We will be learning to: Write labels and captions, break speech into words, hear and say initial sounds in words, use some clearly identifiable letters to communicate meaning, representing some sounds correctly and in sequence, attempt to write short sentences in meaningful contexts, use phonic knowledge to write words in ways which match spoken sounds and write some irregular common words.
We would love for you to share on Tapestry any journeys you have had in Britain, especially London as this will help to make children’s learning more meaningful and exciting. It will also provide children with an opportunity to share their experiences with the class.
As always in Reception our aim is to follow children's interest so learning, topics and activities can change all the time!
Maths
In our maths this half term we will be continuing to do lots of work on number, looking at patterns and connections, and spatial reasoning. This will not just be during our maths sessions, it will be ongoing throughout our daily routines such as snack time, registration, completing our daily calendar, lunch time, home time etc. This will help children to use numbers in context and deepen their understanding of number through real life situations. During our maths sessions we will continue with daily starters where we will revisit and solidify our prior maths learning such as: number composition, bonds to 5, subitising, finding one more/one less, shape, pattern, time. We will also be learning to estimate, count onwards, partitioning to create number bonds, explore 3D shapes, compare numbers, mass, and capacity. As always, we will be doing this in a fun and hands on approach that relates to the
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 ‘you’, ‘they’, ‘on’, ‘is’, ‘for’, ‘at’, ‘saw’.
Rhyme of the Week:
British Nursery Rhymes
Week 1: Humpty Dumpty
Week 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Once I Caught a Fish Alive
Week 3: Dingle Dangle Scarecrow
Week 4: Old King Cole
Week 5: I Hear Thunder
Week 6: London’s Burning
Reading at Home
Please listen to your child read their reading book as much as possible alongside other story books. Remember their read on the GoRead App.

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.
Tapestry:
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 photo's 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.