Rabbits' blog 1
Date: 28th Aug 2024 @ 6:21am
Blog 1/ 28th August 2024
Greetings and a very warm welcome to Year 1! I wonder how you're feeling? After all my years teaching in primary (and I have spent a lot now in Reception and KS1) the transition from YR to Y1 can sometimes be a challenging one. This is mainly because parents and carers were not expecting it to be; of course there would be nerves and trepidation about joining school- it is different to pre-school settings. But year 1 is another big step and some families find that nervousness creep up on them almost without warning and it makes going back to school a bit daunting. If that is you or your child, please be assured that I understand and have planned in time and space in the first week (and half term!) to allow that all-important settling in and getting to know you routines. Also know that it is quite normal for a child to have wobbles at some point in the year and together, we will deal with them.
You might notice that I am calling this year's Rabbits - Rigorous Rabbits. I was going to go with respectful but that sounds as if they aren't/weren't and I'd expect every child at school to show respect to me and the school rules so instead, I've gone with 'rigour'. And what do I mean by rigour in year 1 school setting? I mean that we will basically do our best, put in a lot of effort and build up our resilience to school life and academic and social successes.
From day 1 I will be demonstrating what rigour looks like in our classroom; I'll probably start with tidying up! We don't have individual drawers in year 1 so their book bags will be used a lot to go in and out of to get books, put away drawings etc. Each house team has a book bag box. (And please no backpacks- they won't fit!) We will explore the classroom a lot over the first few days so they know where everything is; I promise you by December they will be rigorous in their knowledge of where everything should go and I love how independent they quickly become in their classroom.
What else will we do those first few days?
I've planned to start our timetable straightaway (we have a lot to teach in our curriculum) so phonics, English, maths, reading will all happen. 'Choosing' will also be in there for a while. I love watching and being a part of their play; I really get to know them a lot quicker that way.
We will have (Golden) Ray of the Day every day. 1 child per day (sometimes 2) will bring home a teddy as a reward for something that impressed the classroom adults. I imagine I will choose some sort of evidence of rigour which might range from looking after their stuff or maybe showing determination to read or correct a mistake. Please get your child to contribute to the teddy's diary and then they bring it back the next day and share it with the rest of the class. We ask them questions that usually always include- what did you have for tea?/where did they sleep? It is a joyful time of the day. I will plan for every child to have been Ray of the day by the end of the first half term (attendance providing).
What else do you need to know?
I will promise to be rigourous in my love for my new rabbits and in my dedication to their academic and social development over this year.
Let's get cracking!