Key Information & Letters

Phonics support: Phase 3 Sounds:

Here is a link to the scheme we are using with all of the correct pronunciations for each Phase 3 sound: https://youtu.be/DvOuc7cWXxc

Please click on Phase 3 sounds taught in Reception Spring 1.

You can support your child to learn these graphemes by:

• Playing hide and seek - hide the grapheme cards around your home, can your child tell you the grapheme they have found?
• Play teachers and encourage your child to be the teacher and teach you or their siblings each grapheme.
• Flashcard each grapheme - how quickly can you say all of the sounds you see?
• Make a matching set of cards - your child could write each new flashcard and play snap or pairs with your two sets.
• Go on a Phonics scavinger hunt - choose a grapheme card - what can your child find which has the sound on the card? e.g. oi - Can your children find something with the oi digraph in such as a c-oi-n.
• For a reading challenge - Put 3 grapheme cards together, can your child practice their blending skills by sounding out and reading the word you have made? e.g. cat, mat, pin or red. If you are using the Phase 3 sound cards can they make and read words such as, boat, dark, curl or sheep?

Here is a link which explains how we encourage the children to read and blend sounds in words: https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/ 

Please click on - How we teach - How we teach blending.

Maths app:

There is now a 'Whiterose' app called '1-minute maths' which is free to download for Apple/IOS, Android and Kindle devices. Children can practise their addition and subtraction skills and there is also a whole section on subitising! Please see the link below to check it out:

https://whiterosemaths.com/resources/1-minute-maths

Junk Modelling

If you have any junk modelling such as kitchen roll tubes, bottle lids, corks, cereal boxes or washed out tubs which you no longer require please send them into school for our junk modelling areas, the children love to be creative and make amazing models! Please can we ask that boxes or containers which have contained nuts or meat are not sent into school.

Garden pots

As we look to plant seeds and bulbs in preparation for Spring time, we would be very grateful of any donations of large plant pots which you may not require any more.

Comics and Magazines

We would still love to be able to add magazines and comics to each of our reading areas. If you do have any good quality children's comics which you are happy to donate we would be very grateful for them.

Christmas Sing-a-Long videos on Google Classrooms

We hope that you enjoyed the Christmas sing-a-longs. We were so proud of all the effort the children put into their performance! If you were unable to attend the sing-a-long, they have been recorded and added to your child's class on Google Classrooms and will be available to watch from 2.00pm on Friday 17th December.

Please find your child's log in details for Google Classrooms at the front of their reading diary.

When logging into Google Classrooms, please ensure you log out of your own Google account before logging into your child's account. Follow the below steps when logging in:

1. Go to www.classroom.google.com.  Use your child’s details to log in. 
2. Once you have accessed the account, you will find that your child can see their classroom.
3. Click on the classroom and the Singing Video will be on the stream.

If you have any difficulty logging into Google Classrooms and have an Android device please see this guidance below:

1. Open Google Chrome, select Menu (3 dots in top right corner),
2. Open 'New Incognito Tab', navigate to login.earlswood.school and login using your child’s Wonde credentials.

Phonics Grapheme Cards

Just before the half term break, we sent all of the children home with a set of grapheme cards which we have learnt so far. Please do cut out each card - (it would be great scissor practice for your child to have a go at cutting some out) and encourage your child to practice each sound.

Here is a link to the scheme we are using with all of the correct pronunciations for each sound: https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/ 

Please click on Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 1.

You can support your child to learn these graphemes by:

• Playing hide and seek - hide the grapheme cards around your home, can your child tell you the grapheme they have found?
• Play teachers and encourage your child to be the teacher and teach you or their siblings each grapheme.
• Flashcard each grapheme - how quickly can you say all of the sounds you see?
• Make a matching set of cards - your child could write each new flashcard and play snap or pairs with your two sets.
• Go on a Phonics scavinger hunt - choose a grapheme card - what can your child find which begins with the sound on the card?
• For a reading challenge - Put 3 grapheme cards together, can your child practice their blending skills by sounding out and reading the word you have made? e.g. cat, mat, pin or red.

Here is a link which explains how we encourage the children to read and blend sounds in words: https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/ 

Please click on - How we teach - How we teach blending.

We have also been working hard to recognise and read the tricky words: I, is and the. Please also encourage your child to continue to read these words. You could ask your child to spot them in a story book or when out and about.

Climbing Zone

Once a week, your child's class will explore the climbing zone, below are the days for each class. Please ensure all jewellery is removed on your child's climbing zone day.

Phonics Workshop Presentation.

Please see the below link which will take you to the Phonics information presentation. Here you will find out lots of information about how Phonics is taught at school.

A day in the Life of Reception presentation.

Please see the below link which will take you to a presentation where you will find out all about the day in the life of Reception.

Earlswood Reading Teds

We are thrilled to announce the return of our much loved Earlswood Reading Teds in Reception.

Working towards their very own Reading Ted is a fantastic way to support and encourage your child’s daily reading and help inspire a life-long love of books.

How do I earn my Ted?

We would like to give all children the opportunity to earn their Ted this year.

Once your child has 50 recorded reads in their reading record book, they will be awarded their Ted and a celebratory certificate.

We will be counting one read per day from both home and school. Please note, we will not record how many books have been read in one day for instance, if you read three books one afternoon we will only count it as one read. We would encourage at least 5 reads per week.

Every subsequent 25 reads will earn a celebratory certificate and an item of clothing or accessory for your child’s Ted knitted by our enthusiastic and busy team of knitters!

I already have my Ted!

If your child already has a Ted, they will be able to earn a new item of clothing each time they reach a further 25 reads in their reading record book. 

Can I become a knitter?

Yes please! If you would like to become a knitter for the Earlswood Reading Teds please talk to your child’s class teacher.

Happy Reading!