I have the best job in the world! Supporting children to learn about the world around them, to ask questions and to develop confidence in themselves is a real privilege. This week, the children once again amazed me with their thinking and their ability to apply the knowledge that they have acquired so far this year to new activities. One routine that we have been working on this term is Star Names. This helps children to become familiar with the names of their peers whilst exploring letter names and sounds. Star Names has inspired the children to be writers. At every opportunity the children are writing lists of names or letters to their friends. To support this interest, we have provided students with sensory, physical and motor skill development opportunities.
During Star Names, the children get the opportunity to interview their friends to learn more about them. This helps to develop their questioning, listening and speaking skills. They also explore the Form of the letters in the name by describing what they are like.
This week the children also began to share their Family Books. It has been wonderful to hear about the families and experiences of the children and they have really enjoyed reading each others' books. The children have been incredibly proud to stand up with their parents and present to the class. We are looking forward to hearing more Family Books next week!
One of the best ways to develop an understanding of number is to explore it in an every day context. For K1, that means looking for numbers all around us, comparing heights and through their play. This week, there have been a selection of number stations set up around the room to explore number. The children have been developing their independence to work their way around each of the activities. As they have done this, I have enjoyed listening to their conversations as they explain their answers or ideas to each other. Through observation and questioning, I am able to get a real sense of how well the children are applying their number knowledge to their work and play.
Finally, I wanted to share a moment that really illustrates what we hope to achieve in K1. Pure excitement, enjoyment and love of learning all captured in this photo!