Blog 9 /Rabbits
Date: 6th Feb 2025 @ 5:59pm
6th February 2025
I keep saying 'Stop sharing' but their germs keep coming my way! But I'm back and almost fighting fit, give me a few days. I missed them and was more than ready to see their smiles and loveliness this morning. They didn't disappoint!
Learning had been going on as usual as I had sent detailed notes and planning resources for my cover so here is a summary of what's been occuring:
English: we have finished the whole book and have also done our assessment piece where they re-wrote the story. We are currently publishing it in best for our Let Your Writing Shine board. We have liked the story (and not just because the main character is called George and we have a few in Rabbits!) and how, as writers, you can make the impossible come true in a book.
RE: lots of Bible stories to read and learn about.This week was the Stilling of the Storm and having faith (which we also have one of in Rabbits!). We've been using a lot of drama to help understand the events and why the Bible is a special book for Christians.
History has been a big one this half term. Lots of knowledge learnt as well as some skills. We've tried to think like a Historian and consider what makes a 'significant event or person in history' and what a historical source is (obviously we need to have some puns going on here!). We've learnt about the Wright Brothers, Bessie Coleman and they particularly liked Amelia Earhart (we have an Amelia in Rabbits too!). Today has been all Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. I'll let them fill you in with details of all of these.
New phonics GPCs: ve, ce, se, ph, wh, ea, y (as in fly/happy), le, al- and that's just been the last 2 weeks! We are growing the code well and our instant recognition of all of these as a flashcard is amazing. Now to spot them in books and use them in our writing. I have prepared a Grow The Code explanation for adults so look out for that in bookbags after half term with your own Grow the code for home with ideas how to use it. I will be doing phonics assessment next week which I will share with you at parents' evening.
Talking of helping at home...maths. You know our focus is on teen numbers and understanding what each numeral means but we are also using addition and number bonds. So we talk in tens and ones (units) and want your child to be really confident in:
- knowing 18 = 1 ten and 8 ones. Ask them to show you how they can dual count to 100
- being able to hold 10 (etc) in their head and count on without having to start from 0. This just needs tons of practice. Do it when you're walking around the village. This is number 23 High Street, keep counting in 1s from 23.
- knowing all the number bonds from 3 to 10 off by heart because an addition strategy is to know 6+2 = 8 so 16 + 2 must equal 18 etc. Seeing patterns in maths is a huge element of being 'maths-y'. I asked them to do some homework for me and bring me evidence that if they choose their number bond and keep adding 10, does our strategy work? (2+5= 7, 12+5=17, 22+7=29, 32+7=39 etc). Playing Shut the Box and number bonds wipeout is particularly fun way of making them remember maths facts.
- Think of a number. I'm thinking of a number that is less than 20. It is an even number. It is less than 16 but more than 10. It has 4 ones. They loved this yesterday and got them using all the right language. Again, as you're going places and can't bear I spy!
- < > = We don't use the crocodile language anymore; stick to 'greater than' and 'less/fewer than'. Key strategy: how many tens? how many ones? The greater number needs the greater space. 15< 20.
Run out of time to talk about PSHE, PE, science, computing but I'll look forward to seeing you on Tuesday or Wednesday to have a quick chat about how they are doing academically & socially. I'll bring their books for you to peruse while you're waiting. And while I think about it, get them to tell you about their new writing book... I've revved them up nicely to get excited to use it next week. We had a very pleasant 5mins looking through our English book and finding ways to make ourselves feel proud of our progress now that we are (over) half way through the year.
Here's to making the time to feel proud of ourselves! Off you go, you can start...
Mrs H
