Acorn
Welcome to Acorn class
We are a mixed class of Reception and Year 1 children who enjoy learning and exploring the curriculum in a hands-on practical environment, both inside and outside.
Our topic this term is ‘Adventure is Out There!’. Through stories and film we have studied compass points and geographical features such as mountains, valleys, waterfalls, rivers and villages. We are beginning to label different features on a map and make our own maps. We are learning about the four countries that make up the UK and their capital cities.
Phonics
We follow the Read, Write, Inc phonics scheme (RWI) from the very start of Foundation Stage. Children will begin by learning the Set 1 sounds, then learning how to blend the sounds to read words.
They then move on to ‘Red Ditty’ books which include simple phrases to begin to build fluency. Red words are then introduced for children to learn by sight.
Set 2 sounds are then introduced and reading books will come home which reflect the sounds that are being taught in class.
Supporting Phonics at Home
'Early Years Learning is Fun' is the Youtube channel created by Michelle Hayers to support children with their phonics at home. These short videos are in the same style of the class lessons, they are designed to be interactive with children joining in and to develop confidence and fluency with reading at home, in line with what is being taught at school. Click on the links below:
Green words using Set 1 sounds for speedy reading
Green words using Set 2 sounds for speedy reading
A Guide to the phonic screening test including real and alien words (Year1)
Year 1 spellings
Spellings for Year 1 are given out each week into their small red spelling books. These are tested on a Friday, with a new list being given out each week to practice. These are the words that children need to apply into their independent writing and are mostly the Year 1 ‘common exception words.’ A good way to learn spellings is to look at the word, say it, cover it, write it and then check it. This can be repeated during the week until children are confident with the spellings.
Reading books are changed on a Monday and Thursday.
Year 1 recap Set 2 sounds and are then introduced to Set 3 sounds and will continue to use the RWI scheme to develop reading and writing skills.
P.E. days
Acorn Class P.E. days are Wednesday and Friday. This term our P.E. focus is throwing and catching skills, tennis and bench ball for Year 1. Children need to come dressed in P.E. kit including trainers.
Welly Wednesday
Every week we also take part in Welly Wednesday activities where we explore a range of learning opportunities through nature based activities. This includes looking at our local environment, plants, animals and the changing seasons.
Outdoor learning is a large part of our learning in Acorn class and children have access to an outdoor area all of the time. It is important that children come to school every day with a waterproof coat with a hood and keep a pair of wellies on the rack outside which they can access independently.
First day isolation
If your child needs to self isolate then work will be placed on seesaw every night ready for your child to complete the next day. For their first day of isolation when there is no work on seesaw please use the ideas on this page for your child.
Self isolation ideas Foundation
Please keep your child’s reading book and diary in their book bag and sign it each time you hear your child read.
PE takes place on a Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Children may come to school dressed in P.E. kit
Please log in to your child’s Seesaw (Year 1) or Tapestry (FS) account to see what they have been doing.