Getting ready to write!
The children are progressing quickly with their phonics learning and reading. Alongside blending to read, the children also need to segment words to spell. Children often find this harder and lack confidence in their ability to write.
In Reception, the children take part in shared writing activities where they can ‘have a go’ on whiteboards with the support of adults. We then encourage independent writing in all the areas of provision. This includes writing a label for their model, writing a shopping list in the role-play shop or writing a letter to a friend. We value all the children’s attempts at writing and model writing (and making mistakes) to them.
You can help at home by:
- Providing plenty of different types of pens and pencils and encouraging your child to use a correct grip
- Encouraging them to use the school’s handwriting style and to use lower case letters; we teach that a capital letter is required for the first letter in a name and at the beginning of a sentence
- Spelling is harder than reading words – praise, don’t criticise. Little whiteboards and pens are a good way for children to try out spellings and practise their handwriting
- Remember that at this stage children’s phonetic attempts are valued. They will learn the correct spellings of words later. We want the children to become confident writers by ‘having a go’ and using their phonetic knowledge independently.
- To be able to write, children need to be well co-ordinated through their whole body, not just their hands and fingers. Games that help co-ordination include throwing balls at a target, under-arm and over-arm, and bouncing balls – also skipping on the spot, throwing a Frisbee, picking up pebbles from the beach and throwing them into the sea.
Have fun!
The world of work
This week it is Money and Enterprise week and two visitors came to talk to us about setting up and running a business.
Meg from Radish bookshop in Chapel Allerton talked to us about how businesses can help others. In her shop are a range of Fairtrade items alongside the books that she sells. Well done, Isaac, for remembering the term Fairtrade and winning the book prize from Meg.
Harriet from a shop called Chirpy, also in Chapel Allerton, talked to us about how she set up her business and the importance of choosing a good name and advertising her shop to encourage customers to visit. She had lots of interesting products to show us. On the height chart she brought, Lewis was as tall as a wheelie bin!
Call and say hello to Meg and Harriet if you are visiting Chapel Allerton.
Fun fit
The Shuffles Fun Fit after-school club has been running this half-term including a different energetic activity every week.
There has been a mix of street dance, breakdance, multi-sports, short tennis, football coaching, relays & fun games with the main aim to keep the children active and to have fun.
We will continue to offer the club in the Spring and Summer terms and we intend to use some of our PE and school sports government funding to fully subsidise this and other physical activity after-school clubs. Look out for more details when the Spring after-school clubs information is sent out.
‘I like going to Shuffles fun fit club because we do a different fun thing every week.’
Several times on purpose
During anti-bullying day, Year 1 had some great discussions about bullying.
We looked at our school definition, focussing on the fact that bullying takes place more than once rather than a one-off incident.
Bullying is where you hurt someone, physically or emotionally, more than once and on purpose.
Using material from the go givers website, we talked about how words can hurt others as much as being hurt physically. The class were able to identify lots of people they could tell about any bullying incidents.
Then we were involved in an anti-bullying dance workshop with Flex Dance Inc. Well done, Lewis, for knowing that David Cameron is our prime minister. Here we are in rehearsals.
STOP!
Today is anti-bullying day, part of national anti-bullying week. Several of our classes have taken part in anti-bullying dance workshops led by Melissa from Flex Dance Inc. All the artists of the songs used in the whole school performances have been victims of bullying in their lives. Well done to all the children involved who learned their routines in such a short time and produced very confident performances.
Last week at our latest School Council meeting, all school councillors agreed to keep our current definition of bullying:
Bullying is when you hurt someone, physically or emotionally, more than once and on purpose.
Alongside this definition we have used the following prompts for the children to remember:
- Several
- Times
- On
- Purpose
- Start
- Telling
- Other
- People
Advice about bullying is available on a number of websites. These include Kidscape, Childline, anti-bullying alliance, BBC and ThinkUKnow. Talk Time homework this week will give you chance to discuss this important topic with your child/children.
Our children tell us they would speak to an adult in school, family or friends if they were to experience bullying or if they saw bullying.
‘I feel safe because school would deal with bullying.’
‘I feel safe at school as there are always teachers there if you ever have any problems.’
‘I feel safe at school because everyone around me looks after me.’
Pupil health questionnaire 2013
If you do have any concerns about bullying, please speak to a member of staff.
Taking over
This Friday, it’s the Children’s Commissioner’s Takeover Day. The day gives children and young people the chance to work with adults for the day and be involved in decision-making. Children benefit from the opportunity to experience the world of work and make their voices heard, while adults and organisations gain a fresh perspective on what they do. It’s hoped this will help break down barriers between generations and encourage children’s active involvement in their communities.
As part of Takeover Day, I’ll be having a meeting with a Governor, Mrs Greenhalgh, and Mrs O’Malley, the School Resources Manager, and joining us will be some Year 5 pupils – we’ll be reviewing the school finances, checking that our spending is on-track! After that, some younger pupils will join me for a ‘learning walk’, one of the ways I use to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning in school. Some pupils will take over the certificate assembly, too. In each class, there will be takeover activities – pupils might lead a spelling test or teach the first part of a lesson, for example.
Around Leeds, lots of organisations invite pupils in to takeover in some way. Lest week, four Year 6 pupils visited NHS Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group. Here are extracts from their thank you letters:
We came to Leafield House so we could learn new things and find out about the different jobs which people have. I especially enjoyed learning where the money is distributed to and how you deal with it. I never knew that North Leeds were responsible for £240 million!
The first thing that we did was have a ‘Grand Tour’ of the building. I’ve learned a lot of things about the NHS like there are 55 people in Leafield House and the UK has £600,000,000 to spend. I have learned lots and lots more as well… When we were in the meeting, I was really nervous because there were so many adults! We discussed the best ways to help those who need help from the NHS.
All the members of staff were very kind and helpful. Thank you very much for my visit. It was a real privilege to spend the day with all of you.
We visited the NHS because we are interested in health, medication and people’s needs.
I found the information you provided us (about the different jobs) particularly useful as I am having thoughts about being a doctor as my career when I’m older.
I learnt that it is hard work being an employee at the NHS building (especially when it comes to managing money) and you have to be qualified for the job. I also learnt all about the executive chief (Nigel Gray) and how he came to the job of managing!
I don’t think you could have done anything different as everyone was very friendly, smart and sometimes you tried to make us giggle – and it worked!
To summarise, our visit was great and fun! Again my deepest thanks to you and everyone in the NHS – thank you!
Thank you very much for the remarkable time we had at NHS. I really appreciated it! We came to learn new things and improve our knowledge about the different jobs people have and where the money from the government is distributed (I think I have achieved that with the help of you guys)!
My favourite thing that we did was Dragons Den because we got to intimidate people and think of different business ideas. Thankfully, we got a tour of the whole building and got to ask as many questions as we liked. After that, we looked at the posters and put down as many ideas as we could about how to make children be heard. You and your team have helped me when speaking out to people I don’t know more confidently.
I also learnt about how you can project your voice in the Boardroom. To be honest I can’t think of anything you could have improved… It was brilliant!
Thank you very much for inviting us to the NHS. I really appreciate it. The reason we came to the NHS was so we could learn lots of new things.
I loved going round all the rooms and finding out about all the different jobs people have. I loved learning about how the money is shared into lots of different NHS services and I think my favourite bit was Dragons Den because I love making decision. I also enjoyed working with adults about characters with problems. I don’t think you could have done anything better it was all perfect.
Thank you very much for all your kindness. All the staff were really nice and welcomed us very well. Thank them for that too.
Roundhay Juniors Park Run
Roundhay Juniors Park Run – Weekly Free 2km Timed Run for Juniors
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/roundhay-juniors/
It is only for juniors – if you’re not a junior, how about trying one of the weekly Saturday parkrun events?
What is Roundhay Juniors parkrun?
It is a 2km run for juniors only (4-14 year olds). If you are not a junior please try one of our weekly Saturday parkrun events instead.
When is it?
It is run every Sunday at 9:00am.
Where is it?
It’s run in Roundhay Park, Leeds. See Course page for more details.
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/roundhay-juniors/course/
What does it cost to join in?
Nothing – it’s free! Please register before your first run http://www.parkrun.org.uk/register/. Only ever register with parkrun once. Don’t forget to bring a printed copy of your barcode (request a reminder).
How fast do I have to be?
We all run for our own enjoyment. Please come along and join in whatever your pace! We’re friendly! Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee in a local café – please come and join us!
Eureka
On Wednesday, Year 1 and 2 spent the day at Eureka – a great way to finish off our Doctor! Doctor! Big Topic.
Spiders!
Reception are loving their topic on arachnids. They even made their own web!
Class Assembly
Thank you to everyone who came to our class assembly. The children did really well and the dry run on Thursday morning was perfect – a little bit of excitement when they saw all their families meant it didn’t go quite according to plan but nevertheless we hope you enjoyed it. Thomas did particularly well with his loud voice and confidence – well done, Thomas!
Thank you for your support – it makes a big difference and shows the children that their learning is valued.
