Weekly News! 28/2/25
Welcome back to term 4, we hope you had a restful week. Thank you very much for your children’s amazing efforts with their love to learn. It has been wonderful to see how children have expressed their understanding of space through art ad models. From glittering planets to rocket ships made of recycled materials, their creations have not only enhanced our learning environment but also sparked interesting conversations amongst the children.
RWI
At this stage in our Read Write Inc programme, most of the children are working diligently on learning and practising Set 2 sounds. It's wonderful to see their enthusiasm and engagement with the materials and activities we’ve been using in class. Additionally, some learners have begun to explore Set 3 sounds.
Our current focus includes reading 'alien words'. These fun, made-up words help the children to apply their phonics knowledge without relying on familiar vocabulary.
Furthermore, we continue to work on 'red words', which are high-frequency words that do not follow standard phonetic rules. These words are learnt by exploring which part of the word is not following the rule and recognising the word as a whole.
Maths
Children naturally express their understanding of numbers, patterns, and shapes through mark-making. This is an important step in their mathematical development. Children were tasked with recording how many children were in school that day from their classes and which house colour they belong to. Additionally, we also conducted a fun activity around crisps. Each child had the opportunity to express their preference, and it became a lovely exercise in both personal choice and data gathering with children choosing to record their answers in a variety of ways.
Later in the week, in explored the relationship between numbers looking at one more and one less. Children practiced counting on for one more and taking one away for one less.
Next week we will be exploring the composition of numbers 6,7 and 8.
Thematic
As part of our ongoing quest to nurture our little ones not only academically but also as responsible citizens, I wanted to share some of the exciting ways we’ve been exploring British Values in our classroom.
We began by exploring the value of respect, which aligns beautifully with our school value, treating others as we wish to be treated. We have been delving into individual liberty through the delightful story of Astro Girl, where the main character aspires to be an astronaut, just like her mum. This engaging tale has inspired wonderful discussions amongst the children about their own dreams and aspirations, emphasising the importance of believing in oneself.
To further embed the principles of democracy and the rule of law, we came together as a class to brainstorm ideas for our own class rules. Each child had the opportunity to voice their suggestions, and then we held a vote to decide which rules we would adopt. This process not only empowered children to shape their own learning environment but also provided a practical understanding of how democracy works.
We have also explored oracy this week, an important opportunity for our young learners to develop their speaking and listening skills. Effective communication is a vital skill that will serve them throughout their lives, and this week will highlight what makes a good speaker.
A good speaker is not just someone who talks fluently; it is also about being clear, confident, and engaging. We explored various elements, including articulation, expression, and the ability to listen actively. These skills are essential, as they help children articulate their thoughts and feelings, share ideas, and engage with others effectively. Furthermore, being a good speaker nurtures confidence, which contributes positively to their social interactions and academic success.
To support our understanding of what makes a good speaker, we watched Michael Rosen perform his wonderful tale, "We're Going on a Bear Hunt." Michael's storytelling is a fantastic example of how to capture an audience's attention through rhythm, tone, and expressive body language. After the performance, the children had the opportunity to retell the story using a story map, allowing them to practise their narrative skills and express their understanding creatively.
Team Ocean were lucky enough to have a special visitor this week- Amjad (Adam’s daddy!) He joined us to teach the children about Ramadan and the festival of Eid, both of which are significant celebrations for Muslims. We would like to say a huge thank you to your family for sharing such an important part of your religion with us.
Later in the week, children were received a message from a rather worried alien, who had lost their baby alien. The alien was incredibly concerned for their baby, as they believe she is feeling quite scared all on her own somewhere in the vastness of space. This heartfelt message has ignited a wave of enthusiasm amongst the children, who are eager to help find the baby.
In our explorations, the children created maps to help locate the baby and investigated what might have happened to her.
Next week we will continue to explore Space.
Term 4 Dates for your Diary
6th March – World book day
10th – 14th March – Book fair
World Book Day Thursday 6th March 2025
This year's World Book Day theme at Chilton, will be picture books. We invite children to share their favourite book on this day and if they wish. Children are invited to dress up as their favourite character from a book if they prefer. We would like to remind families that there is no expectation for you to spend money on costumes. An enjoyment of reading and sharing a story is our main aim for World Book Day.
Book Fayre
The Chilton Book Fayre will arrive on Monday 10th March and run until Friday 14th March outside the Year 5 classrooms. Children will come home with a World Book Day book voucher. These can be spent at the Book Fayre. Cash and online payments are also available, and a percentage of the monies raised will go towards funding more books for Chilton children.
14th March 9 – 11am – Managing children’s behaviour workshop in the studio
14th March at 2pm– The Speaker 2025 Chilton final (parents of children speaking will be invited along to watch)
21st March – Red nose day/Rock your socks day for Downs Syndrome awareness. This year Red Nose Day is celebrating its 40th anniversary, originating in 1985. We would like to invite children to come into school in 1980s dress up. Children are invited to wear odd socks as part of their outfit to show support for Rock your socks Downs Syndrome awareness day.
21st March – Parents invited into school from 3.15 to look at their child’s learning prior to parent teacher consultations
24th March – Parent teacher consultation week
25th March – Year 3 trip to the Roman Museum
27th March – Year 1 local area walk
28th March – The Viking Speaker Final; 4 winners from Chilton to attend
2nd April at 9.05am – Easter Bonnet Parade for Reception, year 1 and year 2 in school hall
3rd April – Easter Egg Hunts in school
3rd April – Last day of term. School finishes at usual time.
Important information
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From Monday 3rd March, we invite parents/ carers in every Monday at 3pm to read with your child. You are welcome to come into classrooms or make use of the outside area to share a story with your child. We look forward to seeing you there.
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PE kits need to be worn in to school each Thursday please.
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Please ensure that children have a named water bottle which is already filled with water at the start of each day.
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All clothing to be named please
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Please complete the WOW moment sheets regularly so that we can add these to the children’s learning journey books
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Reading books are changed every Tuesday and Friday, please place your child’s reading folder into the basket outside their classroom
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From the beginning of term 4, we will begin to track reading at home. This is to encourage children's reading for pleasure and certificates will be given for certain milestones. Please remember to sign your child's reading record every time they read at home ( we will count every read not every book read!)