Autumn Term: Week 6
This week’s Super Andro Learning Power was Reflectiveness. The children started by looking at themselves in a little handheld mirror. They were asked to consider carefully what they saw and then describe it. Were they happy about what they saw? Most children made really positive comments, they liked their smile or their eyes. A couple said their hair was a little messy and one had a little red mark on their cheek. We discussed how being a reflective learner meant being honest about what they saw. We extended this idea to their everyday lives and in particular about their work in school. It is always good to be proud of achievements. It is also important to recognise mistakes and to learn from them. Sometimes things don’t go so well and a reflective learner knows and understands this and will decide to do things differently in the future. The children were encouraged to think about what went well and what would be even better if.. when they reflect on their work, friendships and playtimes.
The Year 2 applied this Learning Power after reading their version of Samuel Pepys diaries. Did they use expressive and exciting voices? Did they read loudly enough? The answer was of course, yes. The children have also been learning their timetables with a little help from the ‘Macarena! Upon reflection, this is a very fun way to practise them.
Year 1 have demonstrated good reflection of their work. They looked at their Shark in the Park display and decided it would be even better if they added a piece of writing to it, so they did. In mathematics they revisited the properties of 2D shapes and have had a go at naming a shape for each number 1- 10 starting with a circle/oval to a 10 sided shape: a decagon. They have been creative and made a variety of 2D pictures to some 3D models. In Forest School they used their imagination and made 2D shapes with sticks, tying them together with string.
This week in Reception the focus book has been Spinderella by Julia Donaldson; this book has helped the children to reflect on the purpose of numbers in our World. The children used their developing fine motor skills to thread string to make spider webs. They then decorated them with ways to make 8. In phonics this week they looked at ‘r’, where we decorated Nancy’s new puppy, Poppy in line with the Jolly Phonics song. They thought of over fifty words for the lesson on ‘b’, they made flapjacks for ‘f’ and licked lollipops for ‘l’! The children’s writing is really coming on as their phonetic knowledge expands and letter formation improves; the theme of being reflective really sunk in with one child, as he commented “I’m being reflective, I’ve made a mistake and now I’m rubbing it out!”
This week in Chaffinch and Kingfisher classes, they have been focussing on Personal, Social and Emotional Development; this is one of the Prime Areas in the EYFS. In particular they have been working on developing the skills of managing their feelings and behaviour. This is a very important area of development for the children. They are observed, supported and taught ways in which they can learn to play together while also being mindful of their friends and learning to share the resources. For example, when playing with the coloured rice in the ‘tuff’ tray the children have learned how to consider their friends’ needs. When filling up the containers they were encouraged to share with their friends, so everyone had some rice to play with. In story-time the children practised turn-taking. They waited for their turn to talk about what might happen next in the story and to talk about the pictures. This demonstrated how if they all talk at once they cannot listen to each other.
The Nightingale children played a game matching and sorting lots of socks in the ‘tuff’ tray. They did so well putting the socks together, that we are sure they are now ready to help at home! The children were very excited when they went on a treasure hunt outside, searching for coloured balls, hidden all around the garden.
The Robin children sang about the sunshine and explored the colours and ribbons on Mrs Radley’s magic blanket during Music Maestro’s! They also showed curiosity and initiative as they used pots, plates and other tools to investigate pasta.
The Sparrow children started their week with a fun musical activity. They explored the sounds of shakers whilst singing nursery rhymes and ended the day with an adventurous Autumnal walk through the gardens and along the seafront observing nature.
Today the school was awash with the colour yellow, as the children wore something yellow to support the charity Young Minds. The children learned that it is okay not to be okay and that there is always someone they can turn to if they are feeling unhappy.
The total amount of monies raised will be announced by Mr Jones in next week’s Bulletin. Thank you for your support.
