Catrine Community Council Lantern Making Workshops 

Saturday 16th November – 2PM – 6PM Catrine Games Hall

Saturday 23rd November 12PM – 4PM Catrine Bowling Green

Come along and make your lantern for the Make Catrine Sparkle Lantern Parade.

NEW HOME LINK ALERT!!

As Literacy champion within the ECC, I always appreciate feedback and suggestions from our parents and carers to further support our children’s literacy learning and development. From feedback received last year at my parent workshop, and from observing the children I feel that it is important that we start driving forward phonological awareness, particularly initial sounds. We will be focusing on the sounds ‘s, a, t, p, i, n‘ and this will be done over 6 months starting in November and ending in May (missing out April due to holidays). The sound of the month will be focused on each Friday at group time with the children through participating in songs, interactive games, as well as many other incredible opportunities and experiences.

I ask that, you as a family can also help to drive this push for phonological awareness forward at home through reinforcing the sound of the month at home, whether this is through placing emphasis on the word when speaking to your child, when out and about in the community as well as completing the monthly challenge set. Also, I ask at the end of each month, if you allow your child to bring in something that begins with that sound to show at an altogether group time with their peers – please note, this does not have to be an object and you do not have to go out and buy anything, it could be as easy as a picture or drawing. If you are ok with the object/picture/drawing staying within the ECC, this would be ideal in helping create an ‘all about ‘s/a/t/p/i/n‘ box which can be used continuously within the ECC. Please let your child’s keyworker know when dropping off whether or not you would like it returned.

I will post the first sound of the month on Friday 8th November, along with the monthly challenge, so keep your eyes peeled! I have attached some links that discusses phonological awareness, the benefits and how to support your child if you wish to read into it further. Any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me, or to speak with your child’s keyworker.

Week 3 Halloween story

Can you make a den or nest and use a torch to retell a Hallowe’en story?

If this is too scary for your child you can adapt it to suit. You can use covers, blankets or boxes and make a cosy space. If you can join your child in the den this is a great space to talk and listen to your child with no distractions, perfect for sharing stories or talking about feelings. You could also use the torch to create some shadow puppets. All pictures can be uploaded to learning journals. I will add a Halloween link below that might be of interest.

Week 4 Autumn leaf craft

Can you go a walk with your children and collect some nice Autumn leaves? Your challenge is to let your imagination run wild and create a fun leaf picture. Some examples are – you can use glue, make leaf rubbings, leaf rainbows, leaf faces or your own ideas. Can you bring your creation in to show your friends?

Hallowe’en home links for the next 2 weeks –

Please click on the link below to find your challenge for Week 1 (which was this week WB 22nd Oct)

Week 1 Halloween scavenger hunt

Week 2 Hallowe’en pumpkin craving (WB 28th Oct)

Can you carve a pumpkin at home with your child and bring into the centre on Wednesday 30th October? We are going to create our own pumpkin patch in our green space. We will have a walk through this area at our Stay and Play or you are welcome to come in at the end of the session for some nice pictures. You can upload pictures onto the learning journal of you working with your child carving it. Can all pumpkins be collected on Friday at the end of the day to take home please?

If you need help sourcing a pumpkin can you let the ECC know by 24th October? Thanks.

Carrie, our Expressive Arts Champion, is leading this month’s Parent Workshop and has tied it in nicely to a messy Hallowe’en theme for you to enjoy with your child.

Please fill in the link below to indicate your attendance option to help with our planning of the session.

Feel free to dress up if you wish to 🙂

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=oyzTzM4Wj0KVQTctawUZKRqhoaEMY8FHkTJQGETc2XZUNTVKRVJWRjlTRUE2WEdRRTBVV0MxQjZIWi4u

As the Literacy Leader, and Julie as Communication Champion, we are introducing a home link that allows you and your child to spend some quality time together. This home link is called the ‘Lending Library’ and will take place over a 4- week block (starting this Friday and ending 8th November due to October holidays).

On Friday, your child will choose a book that they wish within their group time and will come home with this to provide the opportunities of reading with their family and spending time with them in doing so. The book will be located within their named folder that also contains a feedback sheet for your child to fill in. We request if this can please be returned by early on in the following week (Monday/Tuesday), so the library is restocked back up and ready for your child receiving their new book on the Friday. Keyworkers will remind parents/carers throughout the week just in case you forget. If there is any problems, please let us know or your child’s keyworker know and we will try our best to solve these. If your child does not attend the ECC on the Friday, they will receive their book on the last day they attend so they do not miss out.

Have fun and happy reading!!

You can extend your reading time and interaction in many ways. Whilst going through the story, talk about what is happening or what is going to happen based on pictures and the context of the story, discuss beginning/middle/end, highlight the important aspects of a book such as front cover, title, blurb etc. You can also get your child to turn the pages over one by one. You can discuss the characters and events that took place within the story, as well at the end get your child to recall. You can also get them to discuss their likes and dislikes about the book, this all extends on this high quality learning experience and will make story time so much more fun for both you and your child!

This year, I intend to introduce the talk box but for anyone returning this year, it will be different from last year. This year I will be giving the box home at the end of the week and would like for your child to consider what item or object they would like to place in the box to bring back on the Monday and share/discuss with us. It isn’t a particularly big box so the item will be relatively small. This may be something like a flower, a key, a keyring or a photo…..it is entirely up to the child, something that they can discuss. They might want to share it with the group because it is special to them, or they enjoy the feeling. This is an opportunity that will encourage the children to share their thoughts, feelings, ideas, descriptive language, listening and attention skills, conversational skills, turn taking…….the list of learning opportunities are endless.

The only rule is – IT MUST FIT IN THE BOX 🙂