Welcome to Keller Class –  Year 1

Named after Helen Keller (and exploring the value of friendship) – Helen Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. Born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, she lost her sight and hearing after a bout of illness at the age of nineteen months. She then communicated primarily using home signs until the age of seven when she met her first teacher and life-long companion Anne Sullivan, who taught her language, including reading and writing; Sullivan’s first lessons involved spelling words on Keller’s hand to show her the names of objects around her.

Welcome to Year 1: Keller Class 

Autumn Term 2021.

Welcome to the start of the Autumn Term 2021.  I hope that you have all had a great summer break.  This letter is to give you some information about the curriculum that we will be covering this term in Year 1.

This year our class is named after Helen Keller, reflecting our school value of friendship. Helen Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. Born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, she lost her sight and hearing after a bout of illness at the age of nineteen months. She then communicated primarily using home signs until the age of seven when she met her first teacher and life-long companion Anne Sullivan, who taught her language.

Learning Experience:  During our first topic this term, we will be enquiring Where in the UK is Mr Bones hiding? Geography and science will be taught through activities linked to our topic. We will specifically be looking at the human body in science and the United Kingdom in geography.  We will also have weekly music and art lessons.

HPE: Our HPE lessons will be on Mondays and Thursdays.  Each week we will be covering a variety of skills for different games and sports.  Please ensure that your child comes to school in their HPE kits on these days each week. They will need suitable footwear and warm clothing for outdoor sport. Long hair must be tied back and earrings removed, alternatively please make sure that your child has a roll of micropore tape (cheaply available from the chemist) in school at all times, too.

English: To start the term, we will be reading the book ‘The Queen’s Handbag’ – written by Steve Antony. Throughout our English lessons we will be using dramatic techniques and developing our vocabulary and use of phonics to decode and spell words. The children will continue to develop their written skills and will focus on letter formation in their handwriting sessions. They will continue to work on their use of capital letters, punctuation and finger space between words. In guided reading sessions, we will focus on our understanding of a text. 

Phonics: The children will have daily phonics lessons linked to phases 3, 4 and 5. They will take part in the Phonics Screening Check at the end of Year 1. The phonics screen is meant to show how well your child can use the phonics skills they have learned, and to identify who needs further support. The check consists of 40 words and non-words that your child will be asked to read one to one. Non-words are a collection of letters that follow phonics rules, but don’t mean anything. You can help your child by going over the phonics they have learned, reading books and playing games. I can advise which areas your child needs to focus on. 

Topmarks and Phonicsplay have great, free games and all phonics mats are on the school website. 

Maths:  The children will continue to develop their mathematical skills in all areas. We will be recapping on prior learning, embedding these skills and developing independence. To start the term, we will be focussing on place value and developing a secure understanding of numbers up to 10. We will do this by following the concrete, pictorial and abstract approach. 

R.E:  We will follow the IOW agreed syllabus.  This term we will be learning about the Jewish festival Sukkot.  We will do this through weekly RE lessons. 

Homework: Weekly Maths or English homework will be posted on Seesaw every Friday and will be due in the following Thursday. You can take a photograph of your child’s homework and upload it to Seesaw or use the homework book provided.  

Spellings will also be given out each Friday and the children will be tested on their words the following Thursday. Spelling tests will be done in homework books so you can keep up to date with your child’s spelling scores. This means your child will need to bring their homework book to school every Thursday. 

Daily Reading: We are continuing to promote daily reading as a key way to develop a love of books and educational success. It would help your child to talk about the plot and to explain any tricky words to them. Your child needs to change their reading book at the beginning of the day, when they need a new reading book. 

When your child has read at home, please record it in their reading log. I will add this to our class reading chart. 

Water and Fruit: Please ensure your child has a labelled water bottle in school and provide a fresh fruit snack for them or consider our break time snacks. If they are bringing in an apple, it may be useful for it to be cut into slices. 

Books: In order for our children to have an up-to-date range of exciting books to choose from, we have set up an Amazon wish list for the entire school.  If you would like to buy a book for our school, you can be assured that it will be enjoyed and treasured. The link to the wish list has been shared on learning platforms and can be found on the school facebook page. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of the Year One Team:

Pippa Burton, Sian Morris, Nicola Noot and Ella Beardsall.

Homework