We have had another exciting week in Acorn Class, full of new learning, exploring, and fun!

Phonics
This week in phonics we began by focusing on rhyming words. The children enjoyed coming up with their own rhymes and spotting which words sounded the same. We also had fun with Robot Rick’s shopping bag—the children had to help segment and blend the sounds of each item he had picked up. We played a similar game with picnic items, carefully listening and blending the sounds together as a class. Another highlight was when the children identified the first sound in their name and matched it to pictures beginning with the same sound—this really helped them to start connecting sounds with letters and objects.

Maths
In maths, we have been developing our subitising skills. We started with recognising 1 and 2 and then moved on to subitising within 3. Using the Numberblocks houses, we talked about where we could see 1, 2, or 3 items and discussed how they were represented. The children also practised accurately matching numbers to quantities—for example, showing 1 finger for 1 item—and explored using their fingers to represent small amounts. We also began our new topic of matching, sorting and comparing objects, where the children had lots of fun sorting items into sets.

PE
In PE, we began by talking about how to stay safe in the hall, including where we can and can’t go and how to move carefully around the space. The children then became witches and wizards, creating potions by following different instructions. They worked on moving around in different ways, weaving between equipment and listening out for the magic words “Hocus Pocus!”—which meant they had to quickly get into a hoop on the floor. This was a brilliant listening and reaction challenge! We also continued with BEAM activities, which are fantastic for supporting balance, coordination, and gross motor skills.

Buddies
A very exciting moment this week was meeting our Year 6 buddies for the first time! The children got to spend some time with their buddies on the playground. This is something we will continue to enjoy most weeks.

Library
We also had our second visit to the school library. Normally, this will take place every Thursday, but this week it happened on Friday as the library was being used by other staff. Each child borrowed a book to take home for the week. Please remember to put your child’s library book back in their bag by Thursday morning so that it can be changed—if the book is not returned, they won’t be able to choose a new one.

Star of the week: Congratulations to Jack, who is our star of the week, for settling in so well and growing in confidence. Jack will be taking home his certificate and Wilfred the Elephant to write in the book all about his time spent with Wilfred over the next week and will bring him back next Thursday.

Please remember to read with your child, even for just 5 minutes! Please also remember to record it in the reading record. We will only change your child's book if you have read with them 2 or more times in that week! Reading books are changed on Tuesday's and Friday's. Please remember to also have the library book in your children's book bag on Thursday to be changed. 

Any issues or concerns we need to know about, please speak to the Acorn team before and after school or email at: acorn@st-barnabas.kent.sch.uk

We are so proud of how the children are continuing to settle into school life—they are doing brilliantly with their learning and routines.