Year 3 have been learning by teaching others. Taking a book of their choice they read the text aloud, created a joint story map and then questioned the younger children to deepen their understanding of learning.
Children
Phonics, Reading and Spelling
Everyday, all the children from Reception to Year 3 begin their day (after Power 5 maths to get the brain started!) focussing on phonics and spelling patterns/rules. They learn new sounds and apply them in their reading and writing. This focus time uses a mixture of group and whole class teaching as well as pupils teaching each other.
In Year 3, pupils we applying the spelling rule ‘a’ when it makes an ‘or’ sound. Using what they learnt as a whole class they applied it in sentences and then explained the difference between WHAT they are learning and HOW they are learning.
Year 6 – STEM afternoon
Year 6 spent the afternoon at St Clement Danes School where they took part in a STEM challenge and had the opportunity to go inside a planetarium. The children used a range of skills to support them during their STEM challenge and asked a range of high quality questions during the planetarium visit. Thank you to St. Clement Danes school for hosting and STEM ambassadors for organising.
Year 5 Journey Outreach
Today, year 5 have had an extraordinary day. We were really lucky to have a team from The National Holocaust Centre and Museum share an insightful journey of a boy, Leo, in 1938. The children had many opportunities of open discussions and were given many clues which helped them learn and understand every step of his journey where it all started in Berlin. It has been a successful day and what the children have learnt today will be the base of our next learning in Literacy.
Regrouping in Year 1
In our maths learning this week, children have been learning to regroup numbers by finding out how many different ways they can represent a given number.
Maths Games
Year 5 have worked so hard for the past few weeks and have demonstrated determination and perseverance through their Shakespeare Production. Now that the play has come to an end I wanted to ‘reward’ the children by having a ‘fun learning’ day with many different activities that enhance their learning, especially after the long-exhausting evening at the theatre.
Year 5 have played a game called “Mathopoly” which helps them with their Maths skills. I was really pleased to see the excitement on their faces and the eagerness to get as many correct answers as possible. Year 5 think that this is such a fun way of practicing their times tables and being challenged at the same time.
Developing dialogue and feedback
On Monday 5th November we had a whole school INSET focussing on developing the type of feedback we give pupils to enhance their learning. Each class is leading their own development project based on an aspect of external research, our own thinking and the unique needs of the children.
Ask the children how they are developing their learning and how feedback is challenging their thinking.
Safeguarding – Who and what are DSPs?
During STEM week, Year 5 took the lead on designing and teaching the rest of school about safeguarding. They revised last years assemblies from the NSPCC which focussed on speaking out. They gave each pupil a card with all the details of the NSPCC and explained what the NSPCC do. The NSPCC will return next year.
In addition, the pupils also designed a poster to be put up around school which explains who our DSPs are and their role. After the half term the pupils are excited to see which poster has been chosen to be professionally printed and displayed in every classroom. Have a look at some of the posters . . . .
STEM Week – health bodies, healthy minds
This week started with a bang (literally, with an exploding balloon) and finished in style! Everyone in school has been learning how to keep their bodies and minds healthy. Over this week there has been lots going on including . . . . .
- creating safeguarding posters
- teaching others about the NSPCC and what to do with a worry
- trying yoga
- mediating
- creating healthy snacks
- investigating the human digestive system
- learning how to keep safe online and how our words can hurt others
- bulb planting
- fruit tasting
- creating smoothies using bike powered smoothie makers
- reducing down drinks to discover amounts of sugar hidden inside
Remember to always talk about how you feel and share your worries. If you need any support please head to the NSPCC website or give them a call on 0800 1111.
