Dear Parent/Guardian,
Primary one have settled in well to school life and have made lots of new friends. Day by day, the boys and girls are becoming increasingly familiar and confident with the routines of the class and the wider school. We are all looking forward to a fun year of learning here at St. Brendan’s.
I will like to take this opportunity to thank you for preparing the children for starting school by presenting them so smartly in their school uniform and ensuring that their behaviour and attitude is of a high standard. This term with your continued support and help we aim to ensure your child achieves their full potential.
Here is a brief overview of the learning that will be taking place in our primary one class during term one.
Literacy
Children will follow North Lanarkshire’s Active Literacy programme for spelling, phonics and reading.
Primary one will be introduced to the initial sounds through a multi-sensory approach. Two sounds will be introduced each week alongside three common words. Children will be learning to recognise and write initial sounds and begin to blend sounds together and read three letter words.
We will be co-ordinating our handwriting with the sounds we are learning. Children will use whiteboards in class along with other kinaesthetic and visual materials to practise letter formation and early writing patterns.
Children will get two reading books each week. (Monday and Wednesday) These books give you an opportunity for you and your child to enjoy reading together. You can help your child by talking about the pictures in the book to help find clues about the story and it’s characters and also encourage them to make predictions about what may happen next in the story.
Numeracy
Primary one are currently focusing on numbers 0-10. They will be learning to recognise, count and write these numbers. Numeracy is taught actively here at St. Brendan’s through stories, games, number rhymes and songs. They will also be developing the ability to recognise, sequence and write numbers to 10, while exploring numbers before/after/between/largest/smallest. You can help at home by practising numbers to ten (counting forwards and backwards, missing numbers out when counting and asking your child to tell which number is missing etc…) and reinforcing the above vocabulary
Social Studies
Our Topics this term are ‘Traditional Tales’ and ‘People in our Community’. Through the topic, ‘People in our Community’ we will be learning all about the many different jobs people have in society. We will start by discussing the help we get in our homes and school and then go on to look at the emergency services and health care. We also plan to welcome various visitors to our classrooms to find out about the important jobs that they do. There will be lots of opportunities for active learning through role play, art, writing and stories.
Science
In science children will be learning about mini beasts and plants with Miss Cochrane
Health & Wellbeing
PE this term will be on a Monday morning and Wednesday afternoon. The
children will be working on a ‘Mini Athletics’ programme which will include running, jumping, throwing and catching.
R.E.
In R.E. we will be learning about the Bible and how to treat it with reverence. They will be listening to stories from the Old and New Testament.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.
Many thanks
Mrs McCarron
