receptionparents

Helping children read

Maths objectives

Good websites

Autumn 2008 Newsletter
Dear Parents,

WELCOME!
For those of you who are sending children for the first time there is a lot of information to absorb so hopefully this letter will help. We have a busy term ahead and we would like to outline some of the things that we are planning to do as well as give a couple of reminders.
Our theme this first half term is 'All about me'. I would be grateful if you could send in the following 3 photos: " Your child as a baby " Your child now"
These are an important part of our topic work and will be used carefully to form displays etc. Please could all the photographs be named on the reverse with your child's name. All photos will be returned at the end of the year.

Literacy: The scheme we are using to teach reading and writing skills is "Jolly Phonics" which aims to introduce all the main phonemes (letter sounds) in 9 weeks, but we spread it out a bit more! (Introduction leaflet is attached.) We will constantly revise these and so don't worry if you think your child is not keeping up! Your child will bring home their sound for that day in their home/school diaries. Please practice this with them each evening and as time goes on revise previous letters, remembering to use the action. When sounding out letters we encourage the children not to add an "uh" sound on the end of a letter. For example 'c' should not be sounded as "cuh" but rather as a click in the back of the throat. Jolly Phonics resources are available in the shops, but we discourage parents from buying the video and reading resources, as we use these in school. However, we will not be using the workbooks so feel free to buy them if you wish.

Maths: At this stage the children need lots of practical experience of maths - counting things, recognising numbers, cooking at home, recognising money, games that require counting on. Workbooks of addition and subtraction are not necessary as many children are not ready to record maths formally, but need the practical experiences to build a good foundation.

Reading Books: Children will initially bring home a book of their own choice for you to read TO her/him. You may keep this for as long as you want and record the title and their response to the book in the home/school diary. When we feel your child is ready we will begin him/her on our reading scheme…but there is no rush, so please do not panic!!!

Parent Talk: There will be a chance to come and chat on Friday 3rd October at 2.50pm in the classroom. (Please note: Unfortunately there will not be a crèche but part-time children may come in uniform and join their classmates in assembly.) At this meeting we will chat about the first few weeks, how the children are settling in and any questions you may have.

Term Dates: These can be found in the Home School diary.

Girls hair needs to be tied back neatly using accessories in suitable school colours - black, grey, burgundy

PE Kits: Please send in on the first day. They will stay in school and only come home at the end of term for a wash!

Lunchtime collection. Please wait OUTSIDE in the reception play area of school at 11.50am if you are collecting at lunchtime. We will bring the children to you from the classroom.

Helping Children Read
Welcome to the adventure of reading! Children are all different, as you will know, and they all develop at their own pace. Not all children are ready to start reading when they enter Reception, whereas some already have developed early reading strategies. So how can you, as a parent carer, support your child on this journey?

Model reading for your children - let them see you enjoying reading - magazines, books, newspapers, telephone directories, catalogues...

ESTABLISH A HABIT OF BEDTIME STORIES
reading them or making up your own.
Run your finger under the words as you read to your child.
Demonstrate how to read a book correctly, turn pages etc.
Choose books with rhyming and repetition.
Return to favourite books - children love to hear the same stories again and again.
Encourage them to predict what could happen next or make up their own endings to stories.
Encourage them to join in repeated phrases.
Allow them to “re-read” a book from memory and identify words they recognise
Reading to your child
Stop at easily predictable words and allow your child to finish for you.
Ask “What happens next?”
Listen to your child’s thoughts about the story and discuss illustrations.
Look back and revisit familiar words.
Ask “What can you remember about the story?”
Your child reading to you
Offer help and support if they are struggling as it is important to maintain the flow of the story so that it makes sense!
supply the word
point to any picture clues
ask questions that encourage them to predict
re-read the beginning of the sentence to give a clue
point to the first letter and ask if they know the sound
Other Fun Activities
There are lots of other ways you can encourage reading.
Look at packaging, signs and shop names (ASDA!)
Play games spotting things like “For Sale” notices or the word “STOP”.
Model writing cards, shopping lists etc and allow children to have a go/copy
Play games - memory games, I spy etc.
Sing action rhymes and songs
Play commercially produced picture and word games and puzzles.
Play spot the difference games
Look for familiar words in other books (eg. look, yes...)
Listen to story tapes

Your child will not necessarily read in school or bring a new reading book home EVERY DAY. Some days they may bring home a book they have already read to reinforce words. Some days they may not bring a book at all. But you can still share books with them - from their own collection or the library. And if it’s getting a bit stressful...have a cuddle - the book can wait!!!

Maths Objectives for Reception

*Say and use the number names in order in familiar contexts.
*Count reliably up to 10 everyday objects.
*Recognise numerals 1 to 9.
*Use language such as more or less, greater or smaller, heavier or lighter, to compare two numbers or quantities.
*In practical activities and discussion, begin to use the vocabulary involved in adding and subtracting.
*Find one more or one less than from 1 to 10.
*Begin to relate addition to combining two groups of objects, and subtraction to ‘taking away’.
*Talk about, recognise and recreate simple patterns.
*Use language such as circle or bigger to describe the shape and size of solids and flat shapes.
*Use everyday words to describe the shape and size of solids and flat shapes.
*Use everyday words to describe position.
*Use developing mathematical ideas and methods to solve practical problems.