Wow, what an absolutely wonderful week we have had! This week has been filled with learning, enjoyment, and passion, and we can't wait to share our week with you!

The children have been focusing on building their resilience, and I must say, we have thoroughly enjoyed watching the noticeable difference in their attitudes. It has been heartwarming to see the children eager to face challenges with a smile on their faces, demonstrating a true spirit of perseverance.

This positive shift has also been evident during our powerplay sessions, where the children have the opportunity to further develop their learning through play. During this time, they have been working collaboratively to problem-solve and support one another, reinforcing their learning in a fun and engaging manner. As we continue to nurture this resilience, I encourage you to celebrate your child's efforts at home as well. Encourage them to take on new challenges, whether it's a puzzle, a new sport, or even helping in the kitchen. Every little effort counts and contributes to their growth!

English

 It’s been fantastic to continue our focus on reviewing the sounds we've already learnt, and watching the children engage with new sounds has truly been a joy. It’s wonderful to see them recognising their “special friends” and using ‘Fred Talking’ to boost their reading skills. Their confidence in reading words is really coming along!

We've also been having a great time using Fred fingers to help with writing in our books, and it’s definitely making a real difference. Plus, we’ve been practising our red words, which are super important for their reading and writing. A little reminder that going over these red words at home would really help them progress, so any extra practice you can manage would be brilliant!

Thanks so much for all your support at home. Together, we’re helping the children grow their love for reading, which is so important!

 

In Mrs. Winchcome's group this week, we have begun exploring the enchanting tale of 'Rapunzel'. The children have shown great enthusiasm, and it's been a joy to witness their creativity and engagement.

This week, we started with making predictions about the story. It was delightful to hear their imaginative ideas on how the plot might unfold. Following this, we took our storytelling to the next level by dramatizing various scenes from 'Rapunzel'. The children put a lot of thought into how the characters might be feeling, and it was evident in their performances.

Additionally, we introduced the concept of freeze-framing. The children selected specific pages from the book and created freeze-frame representations for the class. Their peers had a fun time guessing which scene was being portrayed, showcasing not only their understanding of the text but also their ability to work collaboratively.

 

Maths

This week we have continued to develop our subtraction skills. We have absolutely smashed our previous targets, especially when it comes to subtracting one-digit numbers and multiples of ten. I am thrilled to report that we are now tackling the challenge of subtracting two-digit numbers from two-digit numbers. The children have completely blown us away with their incredible progress in this area!

To support our learning, we have been using 100 squares, which have proven to be a valuable resource. We’ve broken the subtraction process down into manageable steps: first, we partition the number that we are subtracting, then we jump back the ones, followed by jumping up the tens. Voila! We arrive at the answer. We have even challenged ourselves with some word problems, which not only tests their understanding but also encourages problem-solving skills.

Subtraction can be quite a tricky concept, but we are genuinely so proud of the amazing determination the children have shown. Their hard work and perseverance are certainly paying off, and it has been wonderful to see their confidence grow with each lesson.

Thematic

This week, our thematic learning has been focused on oracy skills. It has been a fantastic experience for the children, and they have thoroughly enjoyed the learning journey.

Throughout the week, we have discussed what it takes to be a good speaker. The children had the opportunity to work in groups, where they collaborated to create presentations showcasing their knowledge of plants. This enabled them to apply what they have learned in a fun and engaging way. They crafted wonderful posters and were given the chance to present their findings to the Year 1 classes.

We are so proud of how the children stepped up to the challenge! They demonstrated impressive skills, from standing tall and facing their audience to making eye contact and even incorporating actions into their presentations. It was delightful to see their confidence shine through.

As we continue to enhance their oracy skills, I encourage you to support your child's communication development at home. Engaging in conversations, asking open-ended questions, and encouraging them to express their thoughts will further enrich their learning experience.

Reading

Reading at 3 - Every Friday at 3 our doors will be open for you to come in and read with your child, please note, this will be for the full 15 minutes and children should not leave any earlier. Their books will be set up and ready for you to come in and enjoy listening to their wonderful reading. 

Reading folders – Some children will continue to bring home two books, one being a RWI home book. Children are expected to try and read this three times during the week to ensure they are building on their reading fluency. The RWI home books will be changed, by an adult.

The other book (with the coloured sticker) should be changed independently by the child themselves - first thing in the morning is a great time to do this! 

Some children have been moved onto the accelerated reader programme. We will continue to assess and move more children onto this when they are ready. Children can change these books after they have completed the quiz online. The AR login can be found here… https://global-zone61.renaissance-go.com/welcomeportal/1892319

For a guide on how to use Accelerated Reader please click here… https://www.chiltonprimary.co.uk/accelerated-reader

Please ensure that the reading folders are placed in the reading trays/baskets, so we can read with your children and ensure books get changed. Thank you for your support with this!

Please listen to your child read as much as possible at home and record this in their reading records. Every week, one child from each class will receive a reading certificate in our Chilton Heroes assembly.

Love to learn

For this weeks love to learn, we would love to see you practice your partitioning skills! Use a part-part whole model to break the whole number into two parts! You might want to represent this in different ways. Be creative and have fun!

63          51          92          67          34          87          75          98          23          66          12

Dates to remember

Wednesday 16th October – No year 6 swimming this week; usual PE lessons to happen

Thursday 17th October – Kent test results to parents

Thursday 24th October – Parents invited into look at children’s books at 3.15pm

Friday 25th October – Inset day – School closed to children

 

We hope you have a lovely weekend, and we can’t wait to see all on Monday for another fun packed week!

Miss Kennedy, Mrs Winchcome and the Year 2 team

 

 Mrs Poppy Winchcombe – Team Azure – poppy.winchcombe@chiltonprimary.co.uk

Miss Maddy Kennedy – Team Peacock – maddy.kennedy@chiltonprimary.co.uk