Beech Tree Class Blog 2023-2024
Beech Tree Blog
Weekly Update - 15/9/23
Mr Kyriacou (n.kyriacou) on: Beech Tree Blog
Hello everyone,
We are continuing to focus on recapping different writing skills. Using commas for lists, using exclamation marks and question marks correctly, using a and an correctly and creating expanded noun phrases are some of the writing skills that we have focused on this week. Below are some lovely examples of the whiteboard work from some of those lessons.
As part of our Programming unit of work, which focuses on Repetition in Games, the aim of our first lesson was to use loops to create shapes. The children applied their mathematical skills to create the code which would allow them to create a variety of different digital shapes. The repeated movement of their sprite (for this lesson, these were pencils) would depend on how many sides the shape had. Then, they programmed the sprite to move a specific amount of steps each time and finally the children then had to work out what angle the sprite would need to move after each line was drawn in order for this to continue and draw the the entire shape. This could then be repeated as many times as they wanted. It was fantastic to see the children combining their computing and mathematical skills together in order to draw a variety of shapes, starting with a triangle and going all the way up to a decagon.
Take care,
Mr Kyriacou :)
Weekly Update-7/9/23
Mr Kyriacou (n.kyriacou) on: Beech Tree Blog
Hello everyone,
Welcome back to Rufford Park and welcome to our weekly class blog where we will share the learning we have undertaken in class. It will be updated every Friday each week of term. What a fabulous start to the year! It has been lovely getting to know the children this week. They have settled in really well and I have been extremely impressed with how positive and enthusiastic they have all been whilst settling into our new classroom and routines. I have had such an enjoyable start to each day because the children have welcomed me every day with such happy beaming smiles despite potentially underlying start of term nerves.
We are very excited to share that we have been able to organise a visit to Murton Park this half term to support us with our new topic about the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. Further details regarding the trip have been shared via ParentPay.
It was also lovely to meet so many grown ups this week, either at our class door, or during our Wednesday drop in sessions before and after school.
On our first day back, the children created their own half self portraits and did an absolutely brilliant job with them. They look great and are currently displayed outside the classroom. Below are some lovely examples from the children.
In maths, we have started working on place value, understanding what is, how to identify the value of each digit in a number and also show the value of each digit in a number in a variety different ways. The children have shown great mathematical knowledge and shown a really positive attitude to their learning.
I am here to support both your child and you, so if you have any questions, or are unsure of information we send out, please just let me or the office know (at the class door, via the Beech Tree email address beech@ruffordparkprimary.org.uk or via the Office telephone).
Take care,
Mr Kyriacou :)
Weekly Update-21/7/23
Mr Kyriacou (n.kyriacou) on: Beech Tree Blog
Hello everyone,
This week, the children have done some lovely Stone Henge silhouette art, we have finished reading our class novel (Stig of the Dump) and the children ranked and reviewed our class novels that we have read this year. As a treat, we have also been watching the Stig of the Dump television series, which the children have really been enjoying. The children also edited and published their Haiku poems. It's been a wonderful year together, you're a brilliant class and I will miss you all!
On Tuesday we had an Assembly led by a local Librarian telling us about the Summer Reading challenge. This is run in libraries across the country to encourage children to visit libraries and continue to read throughout the 6-week break from school.
This year's Summer Reading Challenge theme is 'Ready, Set, Read!' and aims to keep children's minds and bodies active over the summer break. Children can read anything they like – stories, poetry, fact books, graphic novels or listen to audiobooks – it’s up to them! The books (physical or digital) can be borrowed from the library, and we recommend reading at least six books over the summer, with a Ready, Set, Read! reward for each of the six books they read. Once they have read their sixth book, they complete the challenge and will be awarded a certificate and medal. And best of all, it’s completely FREE!
Saturday 22nd July is Sign-up Saturday in Leeds, which is a dedicated time in libraries for joining the Summer Reading Challenge. There'll be a real buzz in our buildings on this day, as well as a range of self-serve activities, including a hunt for the Ready, Set, Read! characters among our bookshelves.
Summer Reading Challenge - find out more
I hope you all have a good summer and make sure to stay safe.
Mr Kyriacou :)