Hello all

 

Now that we’ve been back a full week, I wanted to let you know of a few updates regarding the organisation of the class. I have been very impressed with how well the children have come back and settled into new routines. Getting back into the swing of a full school day has been easier for some than others, but all the children are definitely trying their best and seem to be really enjoying spending time learning with their friends.

 

Changing books

To help with the COVID quarantine rules regarding returning books to school I have decided that books will be changed each week on a Tuesday. We may assign more than one book to last for the week. Books and diaries should still be brought to school every day in case we need to listen to the children read. 

 

Free readers 

Once a child has finished our school reading scheme, they then move onto being a ‘free reader’. They still should be heard read very regularly and this doesn’t mean they are able to read any book. Rather, they are free to choose any age appropriate book as their school reading book. These books can be chosen from home or the class/school library. Either way, the books should still be brought to school each day and evidence of reading should be recorded in their reading diaries. If they are from school, then they will be changed on a Tuesday if needed.

 

Spellings

I will be setting up weekly spelling practice games on Purple Mash to save on books going home. This will follow a spelling pattern each week. This will start next week. A reminder of log in details will be sent home this week.

 

Times Table Rockstars

This website will be great to practise times tables at home. It is more difficult to practise this at school at present due to sharing equipment between bubbles, so any additional practice at home would be greatly beneficial. Again, reminders of log in details will be sent out shortly. 

 

Messages

We endeavour to check the diaries of children each day. However, if there is an important message for me to read, please prompt your child to bring me their diary so it is definitely checked first thing in the morning.

 

Class library plea

Once children are free readers or if they are choosing books to read for pleasure in class, they need to choose a suitable book from our class library. Due to the restrictions between sharing books between bubbles and some books reaching the end of their well read life, we are a bit short of high quality, engaging texts for Lower Key Stage 2. Therefore, if you would like to donate any books to our class library, I would be very very grateful. These don’t have to be brand new. If you have any suitable books at home or find any second hand books that are in a decent condition, they would be very welcome. Below is a wish list of titles but this is just a suggestion. Multiple copies of the same text are not a problem.

 

The Boy Who Grew Dragons Andy Shepherd (or any of the series)

The Iron Man Ted Hughes

The Legend of Kevin Philip Reeve

Varjak Paw SF Said 

The Street beneath my Feet Charlotte Guillain

Weasels Elys Dolan

Mr Penguin and the Lost Treasure Alex T Smith

I Bet I Can Make You Laugh Joshua Seigal

Leon and the Place Between Angela Mcallister

My Name is not Refugee Kate Milner

The Silly Book of Side Splitting Stuff Andy Seed

Stig of the Dump Clive King

The Hundred Mile an Hour Dog Jeremy Strong

Gangsta Granny David Walliams

Lesser Spotted Animals Martin Brown

Sam Wu is NOT afraid of Ghosts Kevin Tsang (or any of the series)

Charlotte’s Web EB White

You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum! Andy Stanton (or any of the series)

The 13 Storey Tree House Andy Griffiths (or any of the series)

The Abominables Eva Ibbotson

Baby Aliens got my Teacher Pamela Butchart

Until I met Dudley Roger McGough

Harry and the Poisonous Centipede Lynne Reid Banks

No 1 Car Spotter Atinuke

The Folk of the Faraway Tree Enid Blyton

The Nothing to See Here Hotel Steven Butler

Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball Laura Ellen Anderson (or any of the series)

Krindlekrax Philip Ridley

How to Train Your Dragon Cressida Cowell (or any of the series)

The Firework Maker’s Daughter Philip Pullman

Starfell Dominique Valente

The Queen’s Nose Dick King-Smith

Alex Sparrow and the Really Big Stink Jennifer Killick (or any of the series)

The Demon Headmaster Gillian Cross

Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet Zanib Mian (or any of the series)

Anisha Accidental Detective Serena Patel

Pugs of the Frozen North Philip Reeve

Cookie Konnie Huq

Kid Normal Greg James

Harriet Versus the Galaxy Samantha Baines

Lightning Girl Alesha Dixon

The Wild Robot Peter Brown

Fortunately, The Milk Neil Gaiman

The Brilliant World of Tom Gates Liz Pichon (or any of the series)

The Legend of Podkin One-Ear Kieran Larwood

Any Roald Dahl books

Any Beast Quest books

Any Rainbow Fairy books

 

Many thanks for your help and support through this time. If there are any queries or questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

 

Mr L Hanson