Welcome back!  There is no homework bulletin this week but there are spellings and reading to do.  There were also two Easter holiday optional tasks which could be done.

Additonally, there is a new maths app which is being promoted by NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics).  It is free to download for a short time.  It is called SUMAZE! (age 4-7) and although it looks simple, it is very good for encouraging problem solving.

Happy Easter to all the children and parents in Sycamore Class.  Enjoy a lovely break and have lots of fun.

If you are able to visit the library over the holidays I would encourage you to take out two different books by the same author (not a series of books) and try to find similarities and differences between them.

Things to look out for could be:-

• characters
• setting
• language
• plot

Suggestions of good authors could be Dick King-Smith, Roald Dahl, Lauren Child, David Walliams, Jill Murphy and Julia Donaldson.

 

The new training schedule for Times Tables Rock Stars is now up and running.  Please aim to practise at least three times a week.

 

This is the current leader board using rockstar names.

We had a lovely walk around the local area earlier this week.  Thank you to the parent helpers who came and helped us on the walk.  You assistance was very much appreciated.

 

After half term we will be continuing our learning about castles.  We will be designing and making drawbridges.  Please could each child bring in one small or medium sized cardboard box which has all six faces. (i.e. it has a bottom, top and all the sides).

Thank you

23.1.19

As we are planning our walk around the local area next week, please can we ask that your child comes into school with warm, waterproof clothing (including hats and gloves) and a change of footwear in a named carrier bag.  If the weather is too cold or wet next week, we will rearrange the walk for a more suitable day.

During the week beginning 28.1.19 we will be going for a walk around the local area to look at Victorian homes and comparing them with more modern houses.  We would love some parent helpers to accompany us on our walk.  If you may be able to help, please speak to Mrs Burridge.

Thank you to everyone who has sent in photographs of rooms in houses.  They have been fantastic stimuli for discussions about new and old houses.  The photographs of children measuring temperatures have also been fabulous.

For those who have not yet emailed them - its not too late!

Spring Term Topic - Castles

The children are very excited to be starting our new topic on 'Castles' in the new year.  We have a couple of requests.  Firstly, if you have any books, leaflets or photographs about castles we would love to see them, plus if you have ever visited a castle with your child then please remind them of what you saw. learned and experienced.

Secondly, we would like your child to take a photo of any room in your house and email it to us at school.  We will be looking for similarities and differences between their home and a castle.

We have set up a new email account which is just for home learning activities.    If you need to contact the school for any other reason, please use the usual email address for the school office.  When the photos have been used in lessons then they will be deleted.

The email address is:- sycamore@linsladelower.beds.sch.uk

Please write your child's name in the subject box.

In January the children will continue to change their library books every two weeks.  The children were re-organised into new groups in November so please ask them which group they are in so you know which is their library day.

Library weeks - 7.1.19, 21.1.19, 4.2.19, 25.2.19, 11.3.19 and 25.3.18

Tuesday - Emerald and Amber

Thursday - Diamond and Sapphire

Friday - Topaz and Pearl

We have reached the end of a very busy and hugely productive first term.  The children have all worked extremely hard (even doing maths revision this week!).  We would like to thank you for all of your support this term.  Children are reading regularly, practising their spellings and reinforcing their school learning at home.  I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2019!

This week we have been studying 'Mass' in maths and we would like the children to continue their learning at home.  One of the best ways to learn about mass (weight) is by cooking and baking so their homework this week is to weigh out the necessary ingredients in grams and kilograms and then cook and eat it.  If you have manual scales it will help them to read the measurements accurately.  If you would like to take a photo of the finished product (or bring it into school to show) that would be fantastic.

Christmas is a very busy time of year so please enjoy time together as a family.  

We would like to make some houses using cardboard boxes as part of our learning about 'The Great Fire of London'.  We would like each child to bring in a cardboard box (preferably a cereal box) so that they could design and decorate their house.

Please bring them into school as soon as possible.  (If you have more than one then please send in your spare boxes).  Thank you.

Practising Spellings At Home

 

It is really important that parents and caregivers are involved in helping children to learn their spellings. Confidence in spelling allows children to write more freely and imaginatively.  Here are some games or ideas you could use. Why not try a different one each night to keep it fun and interesting. Remember everyone learns by; Doing it, seeing it, saying it, writing/drawing it, listening to it so making sure you have variety of games and tasks is a great way to ensure the learning sticks!

1) Word Search

Create your own word searches using your spelling words. Or use this link to get your computer to do it for you. http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/WordSearchSetupForm.asp

2) Draw your words on Lite-Brite. http://www.sfpg.com/animation/liteBrite.html#%7CHERE or a magnetic writing board (magna doodle etc)

3) Air spelling:

Choose a spelling word. With your index finger write the word in the air slowly, say each letter. Your parent needs to remind you that you need to be able to 'see' the letters you have written in the air. When you have finished writing the word underline it and say the word again. Now get you parents to ask you questions the about the word. For example they could ask 'What is the first letter?' 'What is the last letter?' 'How many letters are there?' etc.

4) Media Search:

Using a newspaper or magazine you have 15 minutes to look for your spelling words. Circle them in different coloured crayon. Which of your spellings words was used the most times?

5) Shaving Cream Practice:

An easy way to clean those dirty tables is to finger paint on them with shaving cream. Squirt some on the table (with your parent’s permission and supervision!) and then practise spelling your words by writing them with your finger in the shaving cream.

6) Salt Box Spelling:

Ask your parents pour salt into a shallow box or tray (about 3cm deep) and then practice writing you spellings in it with your finger.

7) Scrabble Spelling:

Find the letters you need to spell you words and then mix them up in the bag. Get your parents to time you unscrambling your letters. For extra maths practice you could find out the value of each of you words.

8) Pyramid Power:

Sort your words into a list from easiest to hardest. Write the easiest word at the top of the page near the middle. Write the next easiest word twice underneath. Write the third word three times underneath again until you have built your pyramid

9) Ransom Note:

Cut the letters needed to for your words from a newspaper or magazine and glue them down to spell the words.

10) Spell It With Beans:

Use Lima beans (or any dried beans or lentils) to spell out your words. If you glue them onto separate pieces of card then you made a great set of flash cards to practice with for the rest of the week.

11) Pipe Cleaners Or Tooth Picks:

These are just a couple of suggestions of things you could use to for your spelling words.

12) Tasty Words:

Just like above but this time try and find tasty things to spell your words with, like raisins. Then when you spell them right you get to eat them!

13) Design A Word:

Pick one word and write it in bubble letters. Colour in each letter in a different pattern.

14) Sign Your Word:

Practice spelling your words by signing each letter in sign language. Use the internet to help find the correct signs in British Sign Language.

15) Water wash:

Use a paintbrush and water to write your words outside on concrete or pavements.

16) ABC Order:

Write your words out in alphabetical order. Then write them in reverse alphabetical order.

17) Story Time:

Write a short story using all your words. Don't forget to check your punctuation!

18) Simple Sentence:

Write a sentence for each of your words. Remember each sentence must start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.

19) Colourful Words:

Use two different coloured pens to write your words. One to write the consonants and one to write the vowels. Do this a couple of times then write the whole word in one colour.

20) Memory Game:

Make pairs of word cards. Turn them all over and mix them up. flip over two cards, if they match you get to keep them, if not you have to turn them over again. Try and match all the pairs.

21) Finger Tracing:

Use your finger to spell out each of your words on your mum or dad's back. Then it's their turn to write the words on your back for your to feel and spell.

22) Spelling Steps:

Write your words as if they were steps, adding one letter each time. (It's much easier doing this on squared paper)

23) Scrambled Words:

Write your words then write them again with all the letters mixed up.

24) X-Words:

Find two of your spelling words with the same letter in and write them so they criss cross.

25) Ambidextrous:

Swap your pen into the hand that you don't normally write with. Now try writing out your spellings with that hand.

26) Telephone Words:

Translate your words into numbers from the telephone keypad.

27) Secret Agent:

Write out the alphabet, then give each letter a different number from 1 to 26. (a = 1, b = 2, c = 3 ect.) Now you can spell out your words in secret code.

28) Missing Letters:

Ask your mum or dad to write out one of your words loads of times on piece of paper, but each time they have to miss out a letter or two. Then you have to fill in the missing letters. After you have checked them all try it again with another word.

29) Listen Carefully:

Ask your parents to spell out one of your words then you have to say what the word is they've spelt out.

30) Acrostic:

Use words that start with each letter in your spelling word. You’re more likely to remember it if it makes sense!

Times Tables Rock Stars

 

The children have created their own avatar for Times Tables Rock Stars this week.  They are keen to have a go at playing the games at home.  Their login is stuck into the front of their reading record.  Please be aware that we have begun learning the 2, 5 and 10 times table in maths but Times Table Rock Stars will ask for the related division facts too.  The children will not know these yet so may need some help with these questions from an adult or older sibling.  If you have any questions, please ask me and I will try to help.

I would recommend that the children keep going with the addition (and subtraction) facts on Math Salamander and alternate between the two websites.  They will need to do no more than five minutes per day.

 

Enjoy a good break over half term.  We'll see you back at school on Monday 29th October.  Don't forget to collect some interesting leaflets!

All of the children in Year 2 have the grid below stuck into their Maths Journal.  Our aim is that by the end of this academic year all children will know these addition facts instantly without the need for fingers or other equipment.  We have a 1 minute challenge on a Friday afternoon when children have 60 seconds to complete as many addition equations as possible.  The children are definitely improving but if they could practise at home as well, that would be even better.

There is a free website you can use which has timed addition practise.  If your device or computer has flash player then you can use it at home.  If you are interested then please click on the link below.

We are about to finish our class book called 'The World According to Humphrey' by Betty G. Birney.  The children have really enjoyed the longer, serialised story and we will be starting a new one next week.

Below is a link to a website which has a recommended reading list for Year 2 pupils so if you are looking for good quality children's books, here are some ideas:-

https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/reading-lists-for-ks1-school-pupils/suggested-reading-list-year-2-pupils-ks1-age-6-7/

25.9.18

We are missing a few jumpers and cardigans.  Could you please check that your child has come home with the correct clothing and return any which may have gone home with you accidentally.

Thank you.

17.9.18

Last week we had the 'Meet the teacher' session where some important information was shared regarding Sycamore Class.  If you were unable to attend the meeting, here are the things you need to know:-

P.E. days are Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Library books are changed every other week. (week beginning 10.9.18, 24.9.18, 8.10.18, 29.10.18, 12.11.18. 26.11.18)

Tuesdays - Emerald and Amber groups

Thursdays - Diamond and Sapphire groups

Fridays - Pearl and Topaz groups

If you are unsure which group your child is in, please ask them.

 

Spellings will be sent home every Thursday and collected in the following Tuesday, beginning on Thursday 20th September.

Homework will be emailed to you on a Friday starting on Friday 21st September.

If you have any questions about any of the above information, please come in and speak to me at the end of the day.  Alternatively, phone or email the school and I will reply as soon as I can.

5.9.18

Welcome back to school.  I hope that you have enjoyed a wonderful summer and are ready for all the new learning opportunities and challenges we are going to meet this term. 

As parents you are desperate to know what the children have been doing at school and if they are happy.  Often when we ask the children questions about their day we are given one word replies.  This could be because the children are tired and sometimes because they will talk about it when they want to rather than when we are anxious to hear it.

To help you out a little (if you need it), here are some ideas of questions to ask which might encourage your child to talk more.

After school Conversation Starters

My interests are going to the theatre, reading and visiting different places in the world.

I'm very much looking forward to teaching Sycamore Class this year.

 

Mrs Burridge

This term's topic is:

Me and my world.