Welcome to the Swans Class!
Staff
Teacher: Said Zaheer
TAs: Helen Thomas and Jabulie Mazibuko
Mid Day Leader: Charlene Harding
Newsletter
Food Glorious Food
The Swans have been having lots of fun this half term.
They have been enjoying the ‘Food Glorious Food’ topic exploring all different smells, taste and textures.
Our class story has been ‘Handa’s Surprise,’ where we explored all the different fruits that Handa was taking to her friend.
We loved being outside in nature looking at the different changes that are happening as we enter spring, looking at the school apple tree and listening to the birds singing.
We have been using switches when reading stories and exploring sand and lots of different textures, dry and wet, showing preferences to which texture we liked and didn’t like.
In class we have been having lots of fun during using technology sessions, using the plasma screen, switches and the EyeGaze. All the Swans enjoyed choosing the songs and using switches in Helpkidzlearn activities.
The Swans have been creative, making cards and planting cress pots to send home for Mother’s Day.
In communication games, the children have been choosing from three items letting us know which items they want to explore.
Another one of our favourite things to do is having fun playing Boccia in the hall. In class we’ve been on the mats, rolling, stretching, and moving our bodies in Jabadao. We have enjoyed parachute games and have been in the MILE room looking at all the different lights and having our hands and feet massaged.
The children have been using photos of their favourite things to choose what they would like to do at choosing time.
We have also been chilling out during mindfulness sessions and have been in the colour tent developing our visual skills.
The Swans have had a very busy and fun filled half term and are looking forward to the next exciting half term.
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!
How You Can Help at Home
The following activities are suggested as appropriate homework activities which you can enjoy with your child and reinforce the learning we are focussing on this half term –
- Listen to stories on YouTube such as ‘Handa’s Suprise’
- Play two-way games and sing action rhymes, such as ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ or ‘Wheels on the Bus’ supporting your child to join in and participate, leave space to see if your child anticipates what comes next
- Take your child on a nature walk and allow them time to process the sounds in nature. Allow them to explore what they find on their nature walk. Look and touch the buds on the trees. Use simple language to describe spring flowers and the changes in nature
- Find a large bag and put child friendly items from your house into the bag, including toys. Take two random items out of the bag at a time and allow your child to make their choice on which item they’d prefer to explore. Can they choose by reaching out for the item? Are they making their choice by gazing at the item?
- Give your child different materials and textures to explore like something furry and something rough. Will they reach out to grab/feel it? Do they use both hands to explore? Do they enjoy the different textures?
- Hide under a blanket and then pull the blanket off in front of your child. Take turns with hiding under the blanket. How does your child respond to this? Do they show anticipation?
- Explore and investigate with messy materials – mud, sand and water play, etc. Encourage them to explore with their hands. Talk about how it feels, smells and sounds, etc.
- Introduce photos of favourite toys/resources for the Swans to choose between
- Watch the Signalong videos on our school website with your child
