Welcome to the Puffins Class!
Staff
Teacher: Georgia Jones
TAs: Carrie Ashworth, Carla Davies and Emma Hobin
Mid Day Leader: Charlene Harding
Newsletter
Ticket to Ride
WOW! Time has flown by as we have had so much fun this year! It has been lovely to see the Puffins children grow individually and as a class.
This half term we have been exploring the story ‘Down by the Station’. We have focused on using our voice to make sounds. We have also practiced our sign-a-long alphabet whilst sounding a letter sound. Our visits to the library are so exciting, we love to explore books looking at items on a page and some of us have started to read some words. In Move and Mark we have been practicing different marks such as spirals and circles which can be difficult. We have tried hard to make these in wet and dry mediums such as crayons, corn flour, foam, coco powder, angel delight and sand.
In Early Maths we have continued to enjoy both individual number skills sessions and group work where we have developed our sort, build and manipulation skills. The Puffins continue to amaze us with their fantastic listening and attention skills during these sessions.
In Understanding the World, we have been exploring different types of transport in land, air, and water. We celebrated Father’s Day, it was very exciting to watch the presentation of the children and their fathers, everyone was able to point or say ‘dad’ when they could see their dad on screen. We then had fun making Father’s Day tractor theme cards. Such a lovely way to celebrate the male role models in our lives! For Languages Day we transformed our classroom into Spain for the day, listening to Spanish music, numbers, and traditional celebrations. We had fun making the Spanish flag with tissue paper and exploring the colours red and yellow. We also went on the ‘Puffins Aeroplane’ to Spain where we made choices in tasting some Spanish food and drink; a Puffin favourite was potato chips and puff pastry biscuits.
In Creative Development we have been practicing our spreading skills ranging from less firm ingredients, to firmer ingredients on edible surfaces. The Puffins are becoming mini master chefs in spreading with a child safe knife! We have also been exploring musical instruments, where we have been choosing an instrument of our choice and playing it. We are becoming tolerant of waiting our turn and listening to our friends. The Puffins most favoured musical instrument this term has been the big drum! We have been listening to ‘stop and go’ on command and some of us have been drumming fast or slow when asked.
We have enjoyed the sun this term and loved lots of cooling activities, especially water play! Our confidence on the bikes has also developed this term. We continue to enjoy our visits to soft play and the studio! Sports Day was so much fun! It was lovely to see all the Puffins getting involved with lots of happy smiles😊
What a privilege it has been to work with the Puffins children this year. A special good luck to one of our children who will be moving to New bridge in September! The Puffins wish you all the luck in your new adventure!
Have a lovely summer break😊
The Puffins class team.
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
- Copy what I do – sounds, facial expressions, body language. This will support your child’s communication.
- Give your child lots of opportunities to make choices and request at home. Please contact me if you would like any symbols to support this. Exchanging symbols is a great step forward in communicating your wants and needs. Make sure you always model the language for them.
- Our story is ‘Walking through the Jungle. Can your child recognise any animals in the story? Read the book or watch the story at home! Walking through the Jungle – YouTube
- Listen to the phonics song at home Phonics Song 2 (new version) – YouTube
- Explore and play with different toys (noisy toys, bubbles, light up toys, balloons, and encourage the sign ‘more’ and ‘again’
- Sing lots of number songs: Our Favorite Numbers Songs | Kids Songs | Super Simple Songs – YouTube
- Model numbers throughout the day whilst with your child e.g. counting the steps, counting out cutlery at tea time etc.
- Practice ball skills: throwing balloons to each other, rolling or bouncing balls, balancing balls on cones.
- Get hands on with cookery! Practice chopping with a child safe knife, practice mixing and mashing with different utensils.
- Encourage you child with their self-help skills and hygiene routine. We like to listen to a song in the Puffins.
Practice washing your hands: Sesame Street: Washy Wash Song | How to Wash Your Hands – YouTube
Practice brushing teeth: Brush Your Teeth | Kids Song | Finny The Shark – YouTube
Please access any of the activities suggested here or on the Medium-Term plan. If you need any more support or ideas, please send a message via Seesaw. We love to know about the learning that goes on at home! Let us know how you get on via Seesaw. Enjoy and have fun learning!
Puffins will be swimming on a Thursday afternoon, please can you make sure that your child has got their swimming kit in on that day.
