Willow Class

Welcome to Willow Class! We are a kind, caring and happy class who love to explore our indoor and outdoor areas – there is always something exciting to do!

Our curriculum offers children a wide range of opportunities and first hand experiences to help them to be independent thinkers and encourage them to try new things and enjoy a new challenge. Our learning is child centered and follows the interests of the children alongside a carefully planned progression of skills. We embed the ‘Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning’ – playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically across both our indoor and outdoor areas.

In Willow Class we like to use our Gem Powers to help us learn. We use:

• Ruby Power - to be kind and listen to others
• Diamond Power - to  solve problems
• Sapphire Power - to  stay focused
• Emerald Power - to  be brave and have a go

Some useful websites and games to support learning:

EYFS

https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/early-years/ 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b08bzfnh/numberblocks

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/topics/numeracy

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/3-5-years/counting 

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/maths/primary-maths-age-4-5-reception/

Reading at home:

• Establish a regular time and place for daily reading, such as before bed or first thing in a morning.
• Keep a variety of reading materials available (picture books, fiction, non-fiction, atlases, dictionaries, magazines, newspapers, join the library and visit regularly).
• Share your own experiences of books (eg. talking about favourite book) and read yourself – children will want to follow your example!
• Lots of talk! Ask questions encouraging children to think and make predictions about what they are reading.
• Involve children in reading for specific uses as well as pleasure (eg. shopping list).

Home reading books:

• Look at the front cover, back cover and pictures to engage children.
• Encourage children to point to the words as they read.
• Give children time and encouragement to have a go at reading independently.
• If they are stuck on a word support them with blending, rather than telling them.
• Make the experience interactive by asking questions about the story, the pictures and what they think of the characters – focus on understanding as well as word decoding.
• Encourage children to spot any spellings they are learning (esp. tricky words which they cannot sound out e.g. the, you, was).

Useful questions to support your child’s reading:

• What kind of book is it? (fiction/ non-fiction/ poetry etc)
• Can you tell anything about the book before you start reading? How do you know?
• What has happened so far?
• What do you think might happen next? Why?
• How would you like the story to end?
• Where is the story set?
• Who are the characters? Who do you like? Dislike? Why?
• What is your favourite part of the story?
• Can you retell this part of the story?
• Can you think of words that start with the same sound / rhyme?

Go read

This year we will be using an online app called 'Go Read' to record your child's reading at home and at school. Log in details have been sent home. Please comment on 'Go Read' when you hear your child read their school book. Comments from parents are a good way to let us know how your child is getting on with reading at home. Here are some suggestions of what you could comment on:

• Did they enjoy the book?
• Can they remember the story?
• Are they reading the text or using pictures for clues?
• Do they understand the meaning of the text?
• Are they confident to attempt new words?
• Do they recognise their mistakes and self-correct?
• Do they recognise any tricky words?
• Are they reading with expression?
• Are they using their phonics to help them decode unfamiliar words?

Something new to read...

Want some new books to read with your child? Follow this link to the Book Trust website and explore...

www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/bookfinder/

Some other things to keep you busy...

30 day Lego challenge – google it to find ideas!

Outside fun

https://www.naturallylearning.co.uk/50-outdoor-activities-toddlers

Fun fine motor skills

https://theimaginationtree.com/40-fine-motor-skills-activities-for-kids

See below for 'being active' ideas.