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Year 1

Welcome to Year 1!

Our topic for the Summer term is 'Wonderful Walford'

During this topic, we will be exploring our local area. As part of our history work, we will look at schools and toys from the past and in geography we will explore where we live. As part of our science work, we will work with the Community Gardens and look at plants and growing. We will also create our own sculptures in art inspired by famous artists and design healthy smoothies as part of our Design & Technology work.

In PSHE, we will explore how we can achieve our goals and how we can keep ourselves healthy.

Our PE will cover fundamental skills and health and fitness.

Please download and view the topic web at the bottom of the page for more information.

Showbie

Showbie is a program which allows children to upload, save and share their work in class and at home whilst also receiving interactive feedback from their teacher. Everyone will be given a Showbie username and password and it is available on iPads, tablets and computers. We will be using this regularly within lessons and for homework each week.

Showbie has proven to be a valuable communication tool during the enforced school closure in order for children, parents/carers and teachers to keep in touch. The Showbie App includes a range of features which have been utilisied by all:

Messaging communication
Sharing / Uploading work
Instant feedback
Voice Notes
Video Uploads
Class Discussions (Key Stage 2)

Walford will continue to use Showbie as a clear channel of communication between home and school.

I will continue to set and mark homework via the Showbie App on a weekly basis. Extra (optional) learning activities will be provided where appropriate in order to consolidate learning in school. Showbie will be used as the new home-school link for reading. Every child will have a reading folder in their assignments where all reading and comments can be recorded on a nightly basis.

There will also be a general communication folder where any important messages can be shared with class teachers. Class teachers will endeavour to respond to these messages as soon as possible. It is important to remember that children will also be able to see this, so anything of a sensitive nature should be dealt with via telephone or email.

As a result of these changes, your child will no longer bring home a Communication Green Book (KS1).

Showbie will be used for you to record any learning that you complete at home, including:

reading
spelling practise
Education City
Oxford Owl eBooks / RWI Bookshelf

I will check Showbie every day to see what you have been doing. Our aim is to be paperless, therefore most written communication will be via Showbie or the school email system.

Reading books:
Reading books will be changed weekly. Please could you aim to read with your child every day, even for just 5 to 10 minutes! Every little bit of reading practise will help your child develop their reading skills- not just word recognition or sound blending techniques, but their comprehension of the text they are reading. The children will be given a level for their comprehension skills so, as well as hearing them read every day, asking questions to check their understanding of the text is really helpful too! The children will be heard read weekly in their guided reading groups with Miss Weyman or their RWI group leader, as well as individually. Some information about early-reading is available at the bottom of the page.

Empowering English - RWI / Big Write:
In Year 1, RWI phonics sessions will run alongside English lessons where children will be taught about different text types and genres as well as spelling and grammar rules. Some PowerPoints of all the ‘Green and Red Words’ are contained at the bottom of the page to help your child build their confidence in essential High Frequency Words should you wish to do a little extra practice.

The English focus for the Summer term is familiar stories and cultural stories (fiction), instructions and recounts (non-fiction) and poems on a theme (poetry).

Marvellous Maths:
In Maths we will be revising our number bonds and looking at the symbols +, - and = (10+5=15, 15=10+5), working on multiplies of 2, 5 and 10, understanding the place value of numbers to 100 as well as exploring money. The children will continue to use representations such as the part, part whole model and bar model. We will be working on our rapid recall of number facts and consolidating our number formation.

Sensational Science:
In the Summer term, we will cover the topics ‘materials’ and 'plants and growing'. As part of our science work, we will visit the local community gardens.

Pacey PE:
This term we will be working on basic fundamental skills for team games and how to keep our body healthy.

Hair-Raising History:

As part of our history work, we will be looking at toys from the past. We will use pictures and discussions with grandparents to help us find out and compare toys in the past with toys today.

Globe-Trotting Geography:

In Geography, we will be learning about the weather and appropriate clothes for different conditions. We will be exploring the 4 countries that make up the UK and comparing our locality with Shanghai.

Helpful Homework:
Homework will be set each week. This will be set via Showbie on Thursday every week and should be completed by following Monday morning. Paper copies will be provided where necessary and a pack containing useful resources such as a sound chart, number line and word mats with be given to your child at the start of the year for use at home. Also, please remember that for anyone wishing to do a little extra homework, Education City and Phonics Play are accessible via the Internet, passwords can be found in Showbie.

You can also find useful learning resources on BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/this-terms-topics

For photographs of class and school activities, please click on 'CHILDREN' and then 'GALLERY'. There are also lots of videos on Walford TV. Also, remember to keep checking Twitter: @WalfordSchool for regular updates too.

Please feel free to come and see me about anything you may need help with. I am happy to meet with you and discuss any comments, questions or concerns you may have about our topic, the work covered in class or your child's progress. Please let the office know if you are not receiving updates from the website and would like them. Email updates and newsletters will remind you of useful information and future events such as class assemblies, trips and parents’ evenings etc. if you provide your email address.

Best wishes,
Miss Weyman