Year 1

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Teacher Message

Dear Parents,

Welcome to our Year 1 class page.

We hope you and your children had a wonderful Easter break and are now excited for the final summer term in Year 1.

This half term we are excited to have your children using their cursive font in their books. Once they have mastered this, they will be ready to join their words. Rest assured, I will tell your child when they are ready to join because the main emphasis is using the correct letter formation before they can join up. I am so proud that all of your children are now using the correct finger grip when they are writing but please do encourage this correct grip at home especially as your children can slip back into old habits until they have mastered their finger grip. 

The homework focus will continue to be Phonics, Learn It's, daily reading and 1000 stories. 

Please continue to encourage daily reading, practise of 'real and alien' words  and the enjoyment of 1000 stories. (See below for details)

Please take time to look at our class page or 'Bluesky' which is regularly updated with information and photographs of what we have been learning in class.

It is our priority to ensure that your child remains happy and safe whilst in our care. However, if you do have any queries, questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email. 

Mrs McCabe: postbox@st-annes.walsall.sch.uk  

On behalf of the Year 1 team, we would like to thank you for your support and we look forward to welcome your child into Year 1 and the opportunity to meet you all very soon. 

The Year 1 Team!

Mrs McCabe and Miss Wallis 

Key Information

Staff in Year 1

• Mrs McCabe Year 1 Class Teacher: Tuesday - Friday 

• Miss Wallis Year 1 Teaching Assistant 

• Mr Johnston Science/History/Geography

• Mrs Baker Art Teacher

• Mrs Baynham-Hughes P.E

Homework in Year 1

Homework in Year 1 will be introduced after October half term. The main focus will be on Reading, Phonics/Spelling patterns and a Maths activity called Learn Its. There are numerous games and activities also available to your child via PurpleMash. When your child is set up with their usernames and passwords, they will be located inside their reading packets so that they can be kept safe. Please look on our homework page for more detailed information on Year 1 Homework.

Reading in Year 1

Children will continue to develop their reading skills through the teaching of phonics in class and with their own class reading book. We aim to change these books once a week and we would like you to listen to your child daily (where possible) to help build their confidence in this area. Please sign your child’s reading record every time you listen to them read and where necessary notify us with your comments. These can be very useful. You are also welcome to record comments about additional books your child has taken an interest in and we encourage you to continue to read '1000 story books' or books of interest to your child so that they can hear you reading too! We are fortunate to have volunteer readers who have the privilege of reading with your child in school. Whilst your child will have read some of their book in class, please understand that we would also like them to read it at home before their book will get changed. This will also help them to develop their own fluency when reading. 

1000 stories

This will continue just like it did in Reception. At the start of the year, your child will receive a new 1000 book alongside a 'wow word' record sheet for you to record and discuss the special wow word in each book. Please encourage your child to change their book independently every morning. Once your child has read 30 books and you have recorded the wow word onto their record sheet, please send this back to class so your child can be rewarded with a certificate. Will your child achieve all 5 certificates by the end of year 1? 

Learn Its

Please continue to persevere with this regular practice of arithmetic skills. When your child reaches a new step, it may be useful to practice the new step first before using the timer. Oral practise will also help your child to remember the facts. Some children will perform better at home without being timed. (Don't worry about this because we will be timing them in class, if it's not always possible to do so at home!) Please speak to me if you need further assistance. 

By the end of year 1, most children will have reached step 6 in their Learn It's. If they have already reached this step, they have made fantastic progress.

Phonics

In Year 1, we start off the year, revising Level 3 Phonics sounds that were previously taught in Reception. After this, we progress onto Level 4 and Level 5. Level 5 being the main level being taught in Year 1. Please use this website (Phonics Play) at home to encourage your children to practise their reading skills by segmenting, using phoneme fingers and by blending. Suggested Levels to practise are below:

Autumn 1 - Any level 3 game

Autumn 2 - Any level 3, 4 or 5 game

Spring 1 - Any level 5 game

Spring 2 - Any level 5 game

Summer 1 - Any level 3 or 5 game depending on which digraph/trigraph your child needs most help

Summer 2 - Any level 3 or 5 game depending on which digraph/trigraph your child needs most help

Woodlands School in Year 1

This will take place every week (Tuesday) during all weathers. We would strongly advise that you send your child into school with a clearly labelled pair of wellies along with a clearly labelled warm waterproof jacket or preferably a wet suit. They can get very messy! 

Physical Education in Year 1

This will take place every week (Wednesday and Friday). Please remember that, we will be expecting your child to come into school all ready in their full St Anne’s PE kit and please ensure that earrings have been removed on this day. Children with long hair will also be expected to have this tied up. 

For the spring term only, we will have dance every Monday.

We thank you, in advance, for your continued support.

Mrs McCabe and Miss Wallis