Autumn has arrived!

We have started our autumn topic this week and we were all very impressed with the knowledge the children had of the changes happening all around them at this time of year! Yesterday, the children either had the opportunity to go and pick some apples from the school orchard OR hunt for some autumn debris that could be used in a natural art collage - its currently stapled onto the wall in reception so hopefully you'll be able to see a gradual progression! We have also started learning our harvest song today so apologies if children are singing it non-stop! I can't stop humming it. All the children will also have the chance to cook over the next two weeks - either an apple try bake or snail bread....

We are continuing with group reading this week and some children have had their sound pots changed to the next set of sounds - this should eventually be happening for all children. Could we ask that children bring in their book bags everyday with their group reading books, sound pots and home learning diaries please - they are used in school throughout the week. 

Reception team

A new week...

This week we will be beginning our Autumn topic. Over the next two weeks we will be looking at the season and how it differs from others. Why not encourage children to chat about the changes they can see happening all around them? 

We'll be beginning our build up to the schools harvest festival (Friday 4th October) and begin practising the song we will be singing! As well as singing, reception will be cooking, creating, writing and making! A very busy week ahead! There will also be a focus upon the origins of Harvest and the meaning behind it.   

Thank you for signing up to the phonics workshop session. We will hopefully have a date for you soon but I can say that it will be first thing in the morning (9.00am) so hopefully you will be able to attend! 

Cursive letter formation

Hello all,

Below is a link to a website that contains a fantastic resource for cursive letter letter formation. We will be using this with the children but I hope you also find it useful at home! You do have to sign up to the website but it is free and hassle free. Alternatively, I can put it onto a memory stick or attach it to an email. 

http://www.tes.co.uk/ResourceDetail.aspx?storyCode=3003266

The children have been having a great go at the obstacle course we built today! We'll be chatting about why exercise is so important for our bodies and how you can exercise in lots of different ways! 

Reception team

Maiden Castle Farm

We can now confirm that receptions first trip up Maiden Castle Farm will be on 30th September 2013 - the original date discussed on Monday's parent information session. 

We have had a few parent helpers offer their assistance but if you are available please come and tell us! The more the merrier! 

Group Reading

Hello everyone,

Today we started to do our group reading rota and the children have taken to it like ducks to water! 2 groups of children will have come home with books today in a yellow topped plastic wallet. We have gone through, some or all of, the books content in class, but we encourage children to read through the book at home either independently or with an adult. We will chat about it during the next group reading session! All the children should have a group reading book in their book-bags by the end of the week.

It is wonderful to see so many children coming in and saying they have gone through their sound pots at home! If you are becoming confident with the sounds in your pot, have a go at writing some of the letters in cursive! If you need any input with letter formation please ask and we will be more than willing to help! 

Reception team

The beginning of a new week

Next week will be the beginning of receptions 3rd full week at Prince of Wales and the key question we will be focussing upon is 'How are our bodies special?'. We'll be finding out about different parts of the body and what they're called, comparing our bodies and discovering body percussion! 

Here's a task, I wonder if any children can name 7 different body part names... The more obscure the better! Bring it in on a Wow! moment card or come and tell us on Monday! 

Whilst we're on Wow! moments, a massive thank you for all of them this week! It is fantastic to see the children working so hard at home! 

If anybody has any recyclable materials at home that they no longer need/want, please feel free to bring them into school... We'll find a good use for them.

The soft sounds session sheet of paper is still up on the parent board so please feel free to put your name up or inform us of your interest! We'll leave it up for the remainder of next week!

Reception team

What we're up to and a plea, together?!

We've been very busy this week, gardening, continuing phonics and beginning PE! Children are preparing the garden area outside reception ready for next years planting season. First plea - if any parents have any time available to come in and help some children to dig up the garden area by the gate coming into reception, please feel free! 

In phonics this week we've been looking at the sounds p, i, n, m, & d - I would just like to say how hard all the children have been working in phonics! I hope the sound pots are helping in this respect. 

Second plea... If anyone has any unused or old pots, pans, wooden/metal spoons, or for that matter musical instruments, we would happily give them a new home! We are hoping to set up a musical area outside the reception classroom where the children can fine tune their musical masterpieces! We would be extremely grateful! 

A quick reminder that the parent information session for reception is next Monday at 9.00am - if you are unable to attend, a newsletter will be going out on the 30th September containing all the information. 

Lastly, we will be beginning group reading next week, so as the week goes on your child will be coming home with a plastic wallet with a book inside - we will have looked at the book in school but we encourage children to read them at home too! 

Thank you! 

Reception team