The first week back in January will be “Dinosaur Week.”  This is based on children’s interests, as lots of children asked for dinosaurs on their letters to Santa.  We shall be learning all about when dinosaurs lived, what they looked like and what they ate.  We will be using Non-Fiction books to find this information.  Non-Fiction books give you information/facts.  We would encourage you to use the local library or the internet to research dinosaurs with your child.  Bring in anything you find, so that we can add it to your child’s learning journal.

Children had a wonderful time at our Christmas Celebration today.  We enjoyed eating festive food, dancing with our friends, singing Christmas songs and we even had a very special visitor…Santa!! 

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, safe Christmas holiday, and we look forward to working with you in 2014.

Children have been working very hard throughout our ‘Creative Christmas’ week.  Children have been challenging themselves to create Baubles for their christmas tree, building a stable for baby Jesus, buying presents for their friends in the role play shop, making christmas cards, writing gift tags and much more. 

Next week we shall be having a: “Creative Christmas” week.  Children will be encouraged to independently create their own christmas cards/calendars etc.  Children can self access everything in the creative area, and are encouraged to think about what they want to do before they begin their wonderful creations.  It would be lovely for you to continue this creative work at home.  This video is just one idea of how you can create wonderful christmas decorations with your child.

Thank you to all parents who supported children in our Christmas performance: ‘Shine Star Shine.’  The children really impressed us with their singing, dance moves and narration.  Well done to all children, you were all superstars!!

Thank you to all parents who joined us at Thimblemill Library.  It was a great success, and lots of children now have their own library cards…don’t forget to use them regularly as a great source of books/comics/dvds for your child.  We also had a wonderful story session with Gavin.  I don’t know who enjoyed themselves more, the children or the adults!!

Don’t forget that parents are encouraged to join us at Thimblemill Library this week.  Please come into school with your child, and we will all walk down to the library together.  Children and parents will be joining in with a story session, and you will also have the opportunity to sign up to the library if you are not yet a member.

The dates are as follows:  Class RH on Thursday 28th November and Class RA on Friday 29th November 2013.   We shall be leaving school at 9am. 

As part of our celebrations topic, next week we shall be learning all about St. Andrews Day and Scotland.  Research Scotland with your child.  Where is it on the map?  Who was St. Andrew?  How do people celebrate this special day? 

This week we have been working really hard on hearing rhyming words.  We have been making Silly Rhyming Soup – putting in silly inredients that rhyme; cat, rat, hat, mat etc.  We also played a matching rhyme game.  Some children found it really difficult to hear the rhyming words, so please continue to support your child on this at home.

Next week we shall be focusing on the book: “Pass the Jam, Jim.”  Using this text as a base, we shall be focusing on rhyming words.  Over the weekend, look at rhyming words with your child.  Can they hear that they rhyme?  cat – rat – hat – sat – mat – pat….

We will also begin to look at alliteration. Alliteration is when you have words that all start with the same letter: Jam Jim.  Can you make up silly alliteration with your child, using their name… Silly Sally,  Lucky Laura,  Happy Hamza etc.