Welcome to the Penguins Class!
Staff
Teacher: Sian Montgomery
TAs: Katie Robson, Rachel Earnshaw and Shauntelle Dawkins
Mid Day Leader: Paula Wright
Newsletter
Earth, Wind and Fire
This half term, we have really enjoyed exploring the topic ‘Earth, Wind and Fire’. Although the weather hasn’t been the best for us to explore outside, it has given us opportunities to experience the snow and rain! The children in the Penguins have loved wrapping up warm, splashing in the puddles and stomping in the snow.
This half term, we have explored ‘The Three Little Pigs’. Each week, we have explored a new material that the pigs used to build their houses; blocks, sticks and hay. The children have really progressed with their construction skills and are all now confidently building towers and anticipating the effects of them falling over.
During our ‘Skill Building’ sessions, we have been continuing to develop our fine motor skills. We have been posting, threading, manipulating dough and stacking! The children really enjoyed the structured nature of these sessions and so we are see huge progress from all of the children.
We have continued to ‘Use technology’ to develop our ability to navigate apps and touch the screen to cause effects. The children are doing so well with their ability to sit, wait and take turns with the support of adults. IPad club on a Monday afternoon is as popular as ever!
Within our Music sessions, we have explored a range of different instruments both big and small! The children in the Penguins class are very engaged by making sounds and so these sessions have been a firm favourite! The children have been practising their ability to ‘stop’ and ‘go!’
The children are all ready for a well-earned break and we are already looking forward to more learning next half term! Have a lovely Easter break!
Signalong
At Kingfisher we use Signalong as a part of a Total Communication Approach, we are constantly using core vocabulary with the children to support their language development and then through each of our topics we introduce new signs and language, which extends their vocabulary further. We also have two “Signs of the Week” which helps maintain and extend key knowledge and skills of everyday vocabulary.
Each half term we will be creating a short video showcasing and demonstrating signs relavent for the current term so that you can learn the signs and further this learning at home.
Click play to watch this half terms Signalong video!
Lunchtime
If your child has a school dinner, the school menus can be accessed by clicking here. For children who bring a packed lunch, please remember to provide healthy and balanced options. We are a Healthy School and will be focusing on healthy eating and how children can make healthy lifestyle choices.
How You Can Help at Home
Communication
- Ask me what I want and encourage me to make a choice! Offer me objects or photographs to choose from!
- Sing Nursery Rhymes with me, using visuals and props to support my understanding.
- Copy what I do – sounds, facial expressions, body language. This will support my communication!
Learning at home –
- Sing nursery rhymes with me – using props helps to engage the children and provides a visual for them to understand e.g. singing 5 little ducks at bath time.
- Cover objects in different materials and encourage me to unwrap them.
- Provide me with opportunities to ‘empty and fill’ – water, rice, pasta etc.
- Provide me with opportunities to make marks using different tools and on different surfaces.
Exploring the world around me –
- Support my learning by helping me to explore different cultures through different foods and music!
- Encourage me to explore the different habitats – what insects, flowers and plants can they find. What do they look/smell/feel/sound like?
- Take me on a sensory trail – What is the weather like? What can I feel? What can I hear?
- We are going to be exploring ‘The 3 Little Pigs’ so perhaps you could take me on a trip to the Farm!
