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Our P6 pupils took part last week in the Cross Country Event held at the Ayrshire Athletics Arena. Everyone gave 100% effort and had a great time!

Welcome back!  We hope everyone is feeling rested after their October holidays and I am happy to share that we are now settled back into our school routine in P5.  We have been very busy and lots of new learning has already been taking place.

Literacy 

Primary 5 will focus on building our reading skills and comprehension strategies through accessing both, Bug Club, and continuing with our Harry Potter class novel within school and at home for homework.  Please ensure that your child logs in to Bug Club in preparation for class, as this supports learning and has a positive impact on their progress. In term 2, we are looking at developing our fluency and expression when reading aloud to an audience and we will also look at non-fiction texts later this term to link with our IDL focus.

In spelling, we will continue to focus on our phonemes, blends and common words. This will take the form of activities related to the ‘Active Spelling’ resource pertinent to the ability and stage.

Within listening and talking, we will continue to practise listening to and following instructions. The children will also be encouraged to share their opinions on different matters, as well as providing an explanation as to why they think in that way. This will be predominantly linked to our IDL focus this term but will also encompass many of our curricular areas.

This term our formal writing lessons will centre on Responsive writing. We will use structured planning ideas to allow children to generate pieces and build upon helpful writing techniques to support this. We will also look at some elements of persuasive and report writing to link this to our IDL focus , as well as continuing to revisit descriptive writing periodically. 

Numeracy 

Pupils will be working on 1^st and 2^nd level concepts within their groups focussing on addition and subtraction this term.  We will be using various strategies to help our numeracy confidence grow. This will using our recent place value knowledge to practise our formal notation and also use of number lines and partitioning strategies to support our learning. All pupils will engage in number talks and interactive maths activities to develop their mental maths agility and recall. Times tables knowledge is essential at this stage for all groups and should continue to be practised at home to ensure quick and accurate recall. In Beyond Number, we will be looking at Time as a class.  Many pupils in class have chosen reading analogue time as a personal target. Please encourage your child to tell you the time regularly as this will reinforce any learning in school.

Health and Well-being/ICT/P.E 

We will be continuing to work on our health and wellbeing through our PATHS programme for Primary 5. Focusing on affiliation, building strong bonds and friendships, looking at emotions and our feelings this term and strategies we can use in dealing with these. At assemblies, this will be supported through various connected themes on building a positive self-image and confidence within our pupils. Pupil of the day will continue to be a daily focus.

In P.E, Pupils will focus on gymnastics skills this term with Miss Campbell on  a Friday and Scottish Social Dance skills with Mrs McIntyre on Tuesday. Remember to check your child can remove jewellery themselves if needed before PE, otherwise pupils cannot participate and miss these core lessons.

In ICT, we will continue to work on our basic computing skills and how these can help us in everyday life. Continued practise in class and at home of touch typing and login skills will improve access to various platforms used in school from Glow, Bug club and uploading work to Learner journals.

  R.E 

This term we will be focus on Our Lady and the Gospel of St Mark. We will be supported in our learning by Sr. Juliet from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish who will help us to learn prayers such as the ‘Angelus’.  We will also look at the lives of the Saints, the creation story and discuss themes such as remembrance. In December, we will be preparing as a class during Advent and observe this through various school lessons, assemblies and activities.  As always, the children will attend mass regularly this term.

RRS/UNCRC/ECO

This term pupil will be looking at Article 38 for Remembrance Day and the right to protect children from war as well as articles 4 and 41 and 45 in celebration of World Children’s Day and Human Rights Day. We will also look at Articles 12 & 29 as part of our Eco Pledge.

Science/IDL 

Our IDL focus this term will be science based looking at ‘Animals, their habitats and the classification/diversity of living things’. We will tie this in with a study of ‘David Attenborough’ and the work he does. This will link to many curricular areas such as Art, Literacy and STEM subjects. This will be introduced as our term progresses once we have completed our ‘Knights and Castles’ learning.

We are looking forward to another great term in P5 and thank you again for your ongoing support,

Mrs McIntyre

Welcome back, I hope that you have had a restful October break. It is good to be back with Primary 4 as we start a busy second term.

We will continue to explore the UNCRC Rights of the Child, and refer to the Class Charter which we created together, to ensure that our classroom is a place where we feel safe, where we can learn and grow together.  This term pupils will be looking at Article 38 for Remembrance Day and the right to protect children from war as well as articles 4, 41 and 45 in celebration of World Children’s Day and Human Rights Day.

Literacy

We will be looking at a range of texts this term, including our Bug Club readers. We will be focusing on continuing to develop reading fluency as well as becoming more confident using word attack strategies for unfamiliar words. We will also use a range of comprehension strategies as we show our understanding of the texts we have read and will talk about implied messages from clues in the text as we answer literal and inferential questions.

During writing, we will explore narrative writing, looking at the structure of this genre, and will then write our own pieces of narrative writing.

Spelling will take the form of active spelling activities, and the children will experience phonemes and blends at their working level.

Numeracy & Maths

The class will continue to participate in daily Number Talk activities, to assist in developing a range of strategies for solving mathematical problems.

We will continue to solve a range of subtraction problems, as we link this to our place value and addition knowledge.

We will also explore information handling, looking at a variety of ways in which data is presented as well as the methods for collecting, sorting, reading and organising various types of data.

Health and Wellbeing

As we continue our PATHS programme for P4, we will be reflecting on various emotions such as calm, surprised and angry. We will think about what these emotions might look and feel like, and we will participate in some problem solving activities relating to these emotions.

We will also continue with the Do Be Mindful programme which will allow us, through the use of a range of strategies, to look at ways we can take a mindful moment each day.

PE

PE is on a Wednesday and Friday. This term we will be covering;

• hockey
• gymnastics

Children will require PE kit each PE day.  Please make sure your child is not wearing jewellery on these days as they will be asked to remove these items. Jewellery is not allowed during PE for health and safety reasons. If your child cannot take part for any reason, please contact the school.

IDL

This term we will continue with our comparison of the climate zones of the rainforest areas and the Arctic. We have really enjoyed this in term 1, exploring the location of the areas and looking at the environments in each area.  We will continue to consider how these environments affect living things in each area. We will also look at environmental issues in these regions, including the melting of icebergs and deforestation.

Expressive Arts 

We will look at texture, shape, form and pattern as we create some pieces of artwork relating to polar and rainforest regions. We will also use of creative skills as we move towards the Christmas season, as we design and create some interesting Christmas crafts.

Religious Education

We will be exploring the lives of the saints and reflecting on how they listened to God’s word and responded to it. As the term progresses, we will consider the Holy season of Advent, as we prepare for the coming of the Jesus at Christmas.

The children will take part in class prayers and School Masses, and we will continue to build on our knowledge of common prayers and Mass responses.

Homework will be distributed on a Monday to be completed and returned by Friday.

Keep an eye on the School App and your child’s Learning Journal profile for a snapshot of some of our wonderful learning!

Thank you for your support, I am looking forward to a really great term 2 with Primary 4!

Mrs. MacKinnon.

Primary 7 Term 2 Curricular Update

P7 have settled brilliantly into their role as ‘top of the school’. They have embraced the responsibility of being positive role models, setting an excellent example for the younger classes through their behaviour, effort and enthusiasm. The House Captains have been doing an excellent job in their roles and our younger pupils respond well to them. We are very proud of the start they’ve made to their final year. As we move into Term 2 it’s hard to believe this will be their last Christmas at Mount Carmel; one last round of carols, Christmas jumpers and festive cheer!

Below is an overview of the exciting learning and teaching taking place this term.

Literacy

Reading

P7 will start Term 2 with a focus on exploring poetry. Most pupils will learn how to identify and discuss a range of poetic devices such as rhyme, rhythmic patterns, assonance and figurative language. Most pupils will use these skills to analyse and compare two poems that share a similar theme, considering how each poet expresses ideas and emotions through language and structure.

Moving into December P7 will focus on playscripts: how they are written and performed. They will learn about the key features of a script including stage direction, dialogue, and character cues. Pupils will read and act out short scripts to develop their understanding of dramatic structure, expression and performance.

Writing

Writing this term will be closely linked with our Reading focus. Most P7 will start Term 2 by focussing on critical essay writing; learning how to write a critical essay based on the poem they have been studying. Pupils will be guided in planning, structuring, and writing paragraphs that include evidence and explanation to support their points. Critical essay writing is a skill they will need as they move to S1, this writing block will help them build confidence in forming opinions about texts, using comparative language and linking their ideas and opinions back to the texts.

Moving into December, P7 will plan and write (in groups) their own short Christmas play, focussing on clear dialogue, character development, and creative storytelling. This writing unit will build confidence in writing for performance and support teamwork, communication and expression.

P7 will also have opportunities to write across the curriculum.

Spelling and Grammar

The spelling groups will continue to experience the Active Literacy spelling program; this will introduce common words and focus phonemes pertinent to their level and stage. Most P7 will focus on complex Grammar rules this term:  nouns (abstract and irregular), complex pronouns and extend knowledge and use of adverbs.

Numeracy

Mrs Terras continues to focus on Number Processes. All groups will begin Term 2 with a focus on whole number place value and rounding. Our place value focus will end with learning about negative numbers in application. Most groups will learn about decimal place value. Using their decimal place value knowledge, P7 will learn to add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals of varying decimal places. Some groups will make links between decimals and money and measurement.

Mrs Canning will focus on Data Handling on a Monday.

Primary 7 are encouraged to revise their multiplication tables as these permeate all areas of Numeracy.

Health and Wellbeing

Our PE days have been changes to a Wednesday and Friday due to works in our school kitchen. Pupils are required to have a FULL change on these days. P7 will start Term 2 with a block of gymnastics lessons with the focus on leaps and jumps, rolls and balances. P7 will also have full responsibility for safely setting up apparatus and putting it away. As December approaches, P7 will be swapping pencils for pas de basques as we take to the floor for Scottish dancing. Pupils will be brushing up on their Strip the Willow and Gay Gordons steps! I know they can’t wait!

Through a H&WB mini IDL focus P7 will discuss Substance Misuse of Drugs and Smoking/Vaping. Focus will be on how the media can influence young people’s attitudes and choices. They will explore how advertising, social media, and popular culture can use persuasive techniques to promote certain behaviours. The aim is to help pupils make informed and responsible decisions.

French

Towards Christmas P7 will complete a four-week block comparing a French and Scottish Christmas. We will research similarities and differences. We will learn new vocabulary, use French dictionaries, and increase confidence with writing and reading French.

Science/Technologies

P7 will be investigating Space and Forces. They will be researching features of our solar system and identify the planets. P7 will recognise that the Sun is a star and the largest object in our Solar System. They will identify that objects on Earth fall to the ground due to gravity. P7 will recognise that the Moon doesn’t change shape, we see it differently at different times due to its position in relation to Earth and the Sun. They will recognise that different places on Earth experience night and day at different times due to the Earth’s rotation on its axis. P7 will investigate by creating models and taking part in experiments. They will make predictions, record results, and explain findings.

Expressive Arts

Dance

P7 will continue to build on their knowledge of popular Scottish dances, we are hoping to join in with P6 for more ‘ceilidh’ style lessons. Pupils are encouraged to give it a go as it is part of our Scottish culture and identity.

Drama

Through Drama, P7 will bring their playscripts to life through performance. They will explore how to use voice, movement, and expression to convey character and emotion. They will need to work collaboratively to rehearse and perform their short script.

RME

P7 continue to work towards their Pope Francis Faith Award. This award encourages children to live out their faith at school, at home and in the Parish. Pupils will continue to develop their understanding of the liturgical calendar, exploring key events and celebrations. P7 will take part in activities and prayers linked to Advent as we prepare for Christmas.

UNCRC

As a school we are working towards our Rights Respecting Schools Silver Award. We have reflected and reviewed our Class Charter from Term 1.  P7 asked if they could include that every child has the right to nurture their gifts and talents. We agreed as a class community that listening could be better and have included the responsibility to engage and listen to everyone without interruptions.

This term pupil will be looking at Article 38 for Remembrance Day and the right to protect children from war as well as articles 4 and 41 and 45 in celebration of World Children’s Day and Human Rights Day.

Linking in with the Class Charter, Primary 7 enjoyed the Reward Card system last year and asked to use it again in P7. The reward card system allows pupils to gain reward cards for Wonderful Work, Amazing Attitude, and being a ‘Superstar.’ When the pupils gain five cards, they can choose an individual reward. They can also choose to go for a class reward once everyone reaches five reward cards; this promotes teamwork within the class.

Learner Journals

Pupils will continue to Learner Journals to reflect on their progress and celebrate achievements. We encourage parents and carers to login to Learner Journals as it provides a valuable link between home and school.

Personal Target Setting

This term, pupils will focus on setting their own personal targets. They will reflect on their strengths, identify areas to improve on, and create achievable goals. Regular check ins will help them track progress, celebrate successes and develop confidence and responsibility in their learning journey.

Thank you for all your support,

Mrs Terras and Mrs Canning