Year 1

Curious Caterpillars & Daring Dragonflies

Year 1 Team

Teachers

Phonics/Rhino Readers

We understand that some of the language we use to teach phonics at school can be quite confusing! Below is a link to a guide to some of the technical language we use to teach your children with explanations of what the words mean. If you’d like any further clarification on any of these terms please speak to your child’s teacher who will be happy to help.

Phonics for Parents - Guide

Rhino Readers

Books

The new reading scheme we are going to be using at Oasis Academy Marksbury Road is called Rhino Readers. These books are phonetically decodable and follow the pattern of sounds and tricky words children have learnt in phonics. This ensures that children are only being given books with sounds and tricky words they have already learnt. Children will be given a physical book once a week to take home, by keeping the book for a whole week this will allow children to secure the sounds taught in school whilst also building on fluency and comprehension. These books will be called the ‘Learn to Read Books’. Below, you can find some suggestions on how to use these books over a week at home.

Step 1: Look at the first page to practise sounds and Tricky Words.

Step 2: Read the story.

Step 3: Can you find focus sounds in the story outlined on the first page?

Step 4: Re-tell the story in your own words.

Step 5: Re-read the story to build fluency.

Step 6: Tell your adult what you like and dislike about the story. Step 6: Rhino challenge on the last page.

E-Library

If you would like to access another book in the week, children have access to the Rhino Reader eBook library on their iPads or any electronic device. There is a range of fiction and nonfiction texts. Children’s logins can be found on their iPad.

When children get to Year 1, they will be allowed to take an Oasis Academy Marksbury Book. This will allow them to be exposed to different sounds, words and stories. We understand that these texts will not be phonetically decodable however we encourage you to read these with your child. Children will be allowed to swap these as when they wish. They will be clearly marked on the inside with an Oasis stamp. This will really help to promote a love for reading and is the most wonderful gift you can give your child. Once children have passed the Phonics Screening, they will move on to Phase 6 on Rhino readers, before starting accelerated readers. In Year 1 children do not have set reading day so please ensure that their Learn to Read book and reading record are brought into school every day. The Year 1 team will try to read with every child once a week but please note that due to other school activities this is not always possible. Parent/carers are invited into the academy for a reading workshop on Monday 7th November at 5pm. This will cover the new Rhino reading scheme, how we deliver phonics, and preparation of the Phonics Screening Check. This is aimed at adults however we do understand that you may need to bring your children with you.

Book Wings

What Year 1 have been up to this term...

Term 4 Update 2022/23

This term Year 1 finished learning all their Phase 5 sounds in phonics! We are now working hard to recap every sound learnt since reception; these include Phases 2, 3 and 5 sounds.

Please continue to read regularly at home as this is the best way to support your children with their phonics. You may also want to explore the phonics play website as there are many free and fun games to play at home, including:

In maths, Year 1 have been working with numbers to 50. They have been practising counting forwards and backwards and adding and subtracting using a number line to support them.

Year 1 have loved learning about our global goal 12-‘responsible consumption and production’ and have enjoyed turning old t-shirts into bags.

In English, we have re-told the story of the Storm Whale and written letters as Goldilocks apologising for eating all of Baby Bear’s porridge!

Term 3 Update 2022/23

This term Year 1 have been working hard on their Phase 5 sounds in phonics! We have also been recapping on the more tricky sounds learnt since reception; these include Phases 2, 3 and 5 sounds.  

In maths, Year 1 have been working with numbers to 20. They have been practising counting forwards and backwards and adding and subtracting using a number line to support them. 

Here are great apps already downloaded on their Ipad: 

White Rose Maths 
Sumdog 
Numbots

Year 1 have loved learning about ‘Space’. They have learnt all about what it takes to become an astronaut and what they could expect to see if they visited the plants in our Solar System.

In writing they have researched, planned and written an information leaflet about visiting London. Who knew that Buckingham Palace has 75 toilets! 

Have a lovely restful half term and see you for Term 4.  

Term 1 Update 2022/23

Year 1 have had a brilliant start to the school year with the first term passing by in a flash!

Phonics

In phonics, we have been recapping the Phase 3 sounds previously learnt in reception before moving onto Phase 5. Please do ensure that you are reading regularly at home with your child. This is the best way to support your child by practising identifying and reading those sounds or tricky words.

iPad App

Reading eggs is a brilliant tool that turns learning into a game! Please find the app on their iPad. Children may sometimes need help logging in-their login details are on a sticker on the iPad case.

Maths

In maths, children have been practising counting forwards and backwards from 0-10 as well as finding one more and one less. Additionally, the children have moved onto addition and subtraction with number bonds to 5. This involves experimenting with the different way to make 5-why not practise this at home? Children could start with 5 cheerio’s or 5 apples and explore how many different ways they could share these between 2 people!

iPad App

Sumdogs is another super resource that makes learning fun! Please find the app on their iPad. Children may sometimes need help logging in-their login details are on a sticker on the iPad case.

English

Year 1 have been writing whole sentences to describe the book, Stardust; practising sitting their letters on the line and remembering those capital letters and full stops! They have also been introduced to poetry through the poem ‘By Myself’ by Eloise Greenfield. Both classes will be performing this to one another at the end of the term. You can find the video on their Showbie app under ‘Writing.’

Topic

In science we have been learning about our 5 senses with some interesting experiments involving lots of different items to touch, smell, hear or taste! All our experiments, fun and performances can be found under the different folders on their Showbie app.

We hope you have a wonderful break and look forward to seeing you all in November!

Miss Crawford and Mr Ginns

Reading

Please read with your child for 10 minutes every day!

Homework

Currently there is no homework set for Year 1

Maths

NumBots

NumBots

I’m delighted to inform you about a new service we’re using to support your child’s maths education. The creators of Times Tables Rock Stars have produced a platform for boosting addition and subtraction skills, called NumBots.

The children have been shown how to login and have brought home a username label stuck onto their iPad case. They might need some help navigating to the website and entering the details but once they’re in, they just need some quiet space to get on with the games for 5 minutes.

Important: please don’t allow siblings, friends or family to answer for them but do support your child if they’re stuck. In order to get the best out of NumBots children should regularly play for short bursts so we suggest encouraging them to play the game a little but often.

Story Mode – the emphasis is on learning the ideas and concepts behind addition and subtraction so it features more diagrams, shapes and question styles. 2. Challenge Mode – the emphasis is more on speed of recall of key facts, like number bonds to 10, doubling small numbers or adding & taking away in your head.

Emily Crawford - Curious Caterpillars	Tim Ginns - Daring Dragonflies

Exceptional Education at the Heart of the Community

Exceptional Education at the Heart of the Community

Year 1