Curricular Information Big Bedtime Read Primary 1 2020

Curricular Information & Big Bedtime Read Primary 1 2020

Our Wonderful Primary Ones We understand how disappointing it is that you cannot visit the P 1 classes at the moment. However, please be reassured that the children have settled in beautifully and are happy in their new environment. We appreciate what a difficult and sometimes worrying time this is for parents and carers. We want to work together with you to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children in their learning and especially in their wellbeing. Please keep looking on the Blog at the beginning of each week to access the home learning activities the Class Teachers are putting there and look out for photos now we have all the permission forms back. Very soon we will be using an exciting, new way to communicate with you called Seesaw. Until we let you know about your access to this please keep looking on the School Blog. If there is anything you are concerned about or have any suggestions to help us to work with you to support our children, please let us know. Just e-mail or phone school and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Our P 1 Classes Our classes are all next door to each other P 1 R with P 2 R All P 1 classes play together in the same playground at playtime every day.

P 1 G

P 1 L

Health & Wellbeing is at the core of everything we do in St. Mary’s • Pupils and staff follow programmes of work to develop resilience, self-awareness and awareness of self and others rights and needs • Restorative approach used in school to develop empathy and understanding of others and to help understand deal with our own emotions and feelings • Opportunities for children to showcase wider achievements (in class at the moment) so please ask your child to tell us about anything they have achieved – swimming medal, learning to ride their bike etc. They should not bring anything in to school at the moment. Hopefully soon!!

Developing a Growth Mindset enables us to become confident and happy in all aspects of our life

P 1 Curriculum Core Subjects Language – developing skills in Talking and Listening, Phonics, Reading and Writing Numeracy and Maths – developing the ability to apply maths concepts in all areas involves understanding numbers, counting, solving number problems, measuring, sorting, noticing patterns, adding and subtracting numbers and so on. We use active, fun approaches to do this. Health and Wellbeing – developing understanding and skills to keep our mind and body healthy and to enable us to achieve our potential

Other Subjects Social Studies. Interdisciplinary Learning Through topics we study various aspects of simple geography, science and history • STEAM – science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics • Expressive arts – music, art and drama • Literacy and Numeracy • Encourage your child to talk about their topic each term, help them to do research on aspects of the topic that interest them. (Library for books, internet etc). If you show interest and enthusiasm they will enjoy it much more.

Primary 1 Numeracy and Mathematics Conceputal Numeracy Approach • Structured session with Teacher every day • Activities to reinforce and develop numeracy skills • Opportunities to explore numeracy in engaging ways • Children must have a strong grasp of basic number skills to build on for future progression in mathematics • Parents can help at home by supporting with home learning activties

Growth Mindset in Maths • Evidence shows that some children (and adults) lack confidence in number work (especially in mental number) We can help ourselves by using these positive thoughts to develop a Growth Mindset

Number skills to practise with your child (Please look out for the links to games and activities that are sent out with the homework each week. These are engaging and fun as well as being good for reinforcing number concepts) • • • I can say number sequence forward to 20 I can say number sequence backwards from 20 (with support from helper) I can quickly recall number after and before (within 10) I can count on from a given number (within 20) I can count back from a given number (within 10)- this can be tricky for some children • Doubles to 10 (later in the year) • + and – Learn It’s (these will come home later in the year) • Later in the year - counting in 2 s, 5 s and 10 s (this helps with x and ÷ later on in their learning)

Maths • • Money handling, recognition, value & calculations 2 D and 3 D shape - properties Measure – weight, length, volume Data Handling – gathering and presenting information Time – analogue and digital - o’clock/half past Days of the week. Months of the Year. Symmetry and Directions (Simple maps, Bee-Bots) We take a lot of our learning outdoors

Literacy To read and write with confidence children have to continually practise • • • Reading – Daily Reading Skills lessons and opportunities to read in class. Phonics – progressive programme graded to suit development “Big Writing” – structured lessons to develop writing skills. Assessment each term Talking & Listening – activities to develop these crucial skills Handwriting – print then cursive Active Learning – fun activities to reinforce literacy skills

Reading- Fiction/Non-Fiction • Structured reading activities daily in class - other fun reading opportunities throughout the week and Class & School Libraries • Books home to share with parent/carer – Big Bedtime Read and Reading Books • Children who read with an adult develop better literacy skills than those who don’t. It also helps to develop communication and language skills. Support at home is invaluable. Joining the local library (when possible) is an excellent way to engage your child in reading a wide range of fiction and nonfiction text. We will be sending home “Big Bedtime” reading folders after the October break. These will have a selection of books to read with your child as well as their Reading Book.

Talking & Listening Essential skills for communication and learning • Talking - essential for developing language skills – reading and writing stories • Listening – instructions, responding to others • Listening to stories - link to printed text, retell stories in own words • Word Boost Programme – school and home • Prepared talks – Favourite things, topic talks • Play - shared discussion, taking turns, building relationships with each other.

PM Writing & Big Writing • Programmes used in school to raise standards in writing – fiction and non-fiction writing • Major, positive impact on our results over the past years • VCOP - Vocabulary (wow! words) Connectives (and but so then because) Openers (One day. . Last week) Punctuation (. ? , ! “ ” )

VCOP • One of the main aims is that children can “up-level” their writing. e. g. The man went for a walk. The tall man with the red hat went for a stroll along the narrow path. It was a cold day. It was a very cold and frosty morning…

Religious Education • Main resource – This is Our Faith • Christianity - other world religions • Moral education - being kind, sharing, helping others, charity work, making good choices, personal responsibility • • Roman Catholic school – services in school (when possible) Preparation for Sacraments in P 3 & 4 Parish, home & school links

Fun with French in Primary One! Camembert is our little French Bear who helps us to learn French in school We use French as part of classroom practice: greetings, register, simple commands, simple languagequestions/answers We also learn numbers, colours, days of the week, songs and listen to simple stories in French

Supporting Learning From time to time we all need a helping hand to support our learning of new skills Early Intervention In Primary One we track our pupils’ progress and identify any support needs as soon as possible Support can be given in class or in a small group setting with activities tailored to meet these needs and to be fun! School and Home working together makes a big difference to a child’s confidence and progress in learning

Homework Monday-Thursday Please look out for the Homework Grid on The School Blog each week and support your child as needed. (Please return the Golden Folder with the Reading Book on a Thursday. Keep the sounds and words at home in the box you have made up and see Homework Grid for activities) “Chunk” the homework throughout the week to suit your family activities. If you have any questions or concerns we will be happy to help. Please just e-mail or phone school and a member of staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

BIG BEDTIME READ Snuggle up and Read! After the October break we will send home books each week for you to use to share with your child. Please look out for the Folder. It will come home on a Monday and please return each Thursday so that we can prepare folders for following Monday. Please look out for more information on The Big Bedtime Read on the School Blog when the folders come home. (We have to leave the folders and books for 72 hours before preparing for following week so it is really important that they come back on a Thursday)

Working together to help our children to be The Best They Can Be! School and Home Together!