Learning and Teaching

We have recently updated our Maths and Numeracy Pathways to ensure coverage, pace and depth for our learners. Our new Pathway is supplemented by Scottish Heinemann Maths, Active Maths, Teejay and Leckie and Leckie materials, to ensure a wealth of resources are available for our children. Our Staff are currently being trained in the SEAL approach (Stages In Early Arithmetical Learning.) SEAL aims to develop secure understanding of Number Knowledge, through using a range of concrete materials,  be able to apply this knowledge to experience success in Maths and apply skills to cope with real-life problems.

Mental Maths:

  • Each class participates in a daily 10/15 Mental Maths input to develop their capacity to find solutions and consolidate pervious teaching.
  • Each class participates in a daily ‘Numbers Talk’ which helps develop fluency and mental Maths strategies, to improve the children’s ability to explain and justify their answers.

https://pages.sumdog.com.

Each child in our school has access to Sumdog at home and at school. Sumdog is an online app which is a way for children to practice Maths skills through games and other engaging activities. Work can be set by your child’s class teacher and children have the ability to play against other children and schools. In Calderbridge, we have a monthly competition for the ‘Top Dog’ for each class, as well as our monthly ‘Class Champions.’ Details of our winners, can be found on Twitter.

Useful Websites to use at home for Maths:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk

https://www.mathplayground.com

What your child will be covering in Class (August-December 2019)

Nursery and Primary 1- Estimating and Rounding, Number, Measure and Data Handling

Primary 2, 3 and 4- Estimating and Rounding, Number Processes and Measurement

Primary 5, 6 and 7: Estimating and Rounding, Number Processes and Measurement

 

What your child will be covering in Class (January to April 2020)

Nursery and Primary 1- Money, Properties of 2D Shapes and 3D Objects, Patterns and Relationships, Time, Fractions, Decimal Fractions and Percentages and Revisit Number and Number Processes

Primary 2, 3 and 4- Money, Properties of 2D Shapes and 3D Objects, Patterns and Relationship, Time, Fractions, Decimal Fractions and Percentages and Revisit Number and Number Processes

Primary 5, 6 and 7: Money, Properties of 2D Shapes and 3D Objects, Patterns and Relationship, Time, Fractions, Decimal Fractions and Percentages and Revisit Number and Number Processes

 

Literacy

To ensure our learners are supported and challenged in their learning, we have recently updated our planners for Literacy to ensure progression of knowledge and skills from nursery to P7. Our planners outline the experiences and outcomes that children should achieve in line with Curriculum for Excellence.

From P1-P7, we follow the North Lanarkshire Active Literacy programme, supplemented by Jolly Phonics, Languageland, Read, Write, Inc and Rainbow Reading.

We have a dedicated Interventions team who work with children to support and challenge the development of Literacy skills.

Reading

Children are taught to read through the process of guided reading using a variety of quality texts and novels, from a range of authors and publishers. We adopt an integrated approach and therefore create a direct link to the spelling and phonics programme. Children are taught to apply their knowledge of spelling and phonics within the context of reading and writing. The children learn various comprehension strategies to help them gain a better understanding of the text. They also learn word attack strategies to enable them to decode words that they find difficult.

We have recently consulted our children and teachers on the types of texts and authors that they are interested in reading. Following this consultation, a selection of new reading materials was purchased to support engagement and enjoyment.

Spelling and Phonics

Spelling and Phonics are taught separately at the infant stages and a different methodology is adopted for each. We take a holistic, synthetic and integrated approach to phonics learning and it promotes daily Listening and Talking, Reading and Writing across the Curriculum. Spelling is taught with one main focussed lesson in the week, followed by short daily activities to reinforce the learning. The words from the taught lesson are known as common words. These are the words which the children are most likely to come across when reading simple texts. They will also use these words in writing. From P4 to 7 Spelling and Phonics are taught together. The children are taught in a block of four weeks, with two weeks being focussed on teaching phonemes and their representations, one week on strategy spelling and one week on spelling rules.

We recently purchased and provided magnetic phonics boards for every Primary 1 pupil. Through parent workshops we have supported parents to help their children use these at home to develop phonics, spelling, reading and writing skills.

Through Intervention workshops and collaboration with the SAM group, we have also been able to provide parents with advice on resources and activities to support their children at home.

Writing

In school all children are taught writing in a variety of ways and across a variety of contexts, linked to the ongoing learning in the school.

Children are given opportunities to write on a daily basis, as well as a weekly ‘taught’ lesson focusing on the different writing genres. Throughout the week there are also opportunities to write linked to interdisciplinary learning.

At Calderbridge, we celebrate success through weekly Star Writers and Head Teachers Awards.

Talking and Listening

This is taught from Nursery-P7 and through a variety of contexts to develop skills including debating, collaborative learning, presenting, discussing and sharing.

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