Transcript Curriculum-Evening-J-and-S-I

CURRICULUM EVENING
Junior and Senior Infants
2013/2014
AGENDA
Welcome
 School Times
 Absences
 Curriculum allocated times
 Main Curricular areas
 Learn Together Programme
 Homework
 Lunch
 Communication
 Farewell
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WELCOME!
Myself and the other staff of Wexford Educate
Together would like to wish a very warm welcome
to all parents for the new school year of
2013/2014.
In particular we extend a very warm welcome to all
first time parents in the school. We’re sure you,
along with your children will feel right at home
here.
SCHOOL DAY
The school day in Wexford Educate Together runs
as follows:
 8:40am – School door opens
 8:50am – School starts
 9:00am – Any child that arrives after 9 will be
marked late and how many minutes late recorded
 9:30 – Any child that arrives after 9:30 is
marked absent
 10:40-11:00 – Small Break
 12:20 – 1:00 – Lunch
 1:30 - Hometime
ABSENCES
All children should be in school everyday unless
they are ill.
 Appointments to outside agencies should be
made for outside school times where possible.
 If appointments are for during school day the
sign out book in the office must be used.
 The school cannot give permission for parents to
take their children out of school for holidays.
 After returning to school a note of explanation
must be handed to the teacher detailing the
reason for absence. A phone call will not suffice
as a written record is needed.
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CURRICULUM ALLOCATED TIMES
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Language

Mathematics
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SESE
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SPHE
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PE
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Arts Education
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Learn Together Programme
English
Gaeilge
(4 hours)
(2.30 hours)
(3.25 hours)
Science
History
Geography
(2.25 hours)
(30 mins)
(1 hour)
Art
Music
Drama
(2.5 hours)
(2.30 hours)
MAIN CURRICULUM
AREAS
English
Phonics – Junior Infants
- Jolly Phonics is the literacy programme
that has been used in the infant classes. This is
a kinaesthetic programme which engages all of
the child’s senses to aid recollection and
absorption.
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Starting off the children simply learn the letter
sounds.
-As the children learn the new letter sounds
they will also learn how to form the letters
correctly. Please encourage the children start
the letters in the correct place.
- The use of capital letters is not encouraged
unless at the beginning of the child’s name.
- Tricky words – These are words that cannot be
sounded out, thus the name ‘tricky words’.
Junior Infants do the first 30 words. Examples
include: the, go, live, etc.
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Phonics – Senior Infants
Senior Infants also complete the Jolly Phonics
programme. They revise all the letter groups in
the first term. In the second term they are
introduced to diagraphs, blends and word
families, etc.
They children in Senior Infants are also
introduced to capital letters and how to form
them correctly.
Senior infants will still do dictation however the
words will be longer and therefore more
difficult. They will also be introduced to
dictating sentences.
- Senior Infants do tricky words from 30 – 60.
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Reading
The Oxford Reading Tree Scheme is available to all
children. They will be moved up a level as soon as one
is completed.
The emphasis is not only to be placed on being able to
read the words but also on comprehension,
punctuation and expression.
Children are put on a level that is appropriate for
them.
The reader that each child gets home should be read
every night. It will have the pages for each night
written on the homework sheet.
These books are changed once a week by the
teacher.
Library books will also be available for children to
bring home for enjoyment.
Writing
-Please ensure that the children are encouraged to
write as much as possible at home. Birthday cards,
letters, lists, name on homework, etc.
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-Also encourage them to use correct pencil grip
and letter formation. Capitals should not be used
in the middle of words/names or starting in the
wrong place. Good posture in their chair is also
very important.
-A writing bag will be introduced to the children
soon and this will be sent home with one child each
night to foster a positive outlook towards writing.
Maths
-The strands covered in the maths curriculum are:
• Number
• Algebra
• Shape and Space
• Measures
• Data
- This school puts a huge emphasis on concrete
work in maths, mental arithmetic and problem
solving. One way to encourage the development
of these skills is to allow the children access to
mathematic ICT programmes and asking them to
solve little problems at home.
- There is a list of good websites for maths games
on the school website.
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Gaeilge
1.Mé Féin
2.Sa Bhaile
3. An scoil
4. Bia
5.An Teilifís
6. Siopadóireacht
7. Caitheamh Aimsire
8. Éadaí
9. An aimsir
10. Ócáidí Speisialta
-
- Myself
-At home
- In school
- Food
- The television
- Shopping
- Hobbies
- Clothes
- The weather
- Special Occasions
In Junior and Senior Infants the children learn through
spoken and heard Irish only. Many strategies are used but
mainly puppets, games, songs and poems as it is all about
fun for the younger children!
OTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION
Visual Arts - this can be a very messy subject,
particularly with Junior Infants! If each parent
could send in an art shirt with their child, clearly
labelled with their name it would prevent stains
on clothes!
 P.E – Junior Infants P.E day for the coming
school year will be Tuesday (after the first
term). Please ensure that your child wears a
tracksuit on this day and appropriate footwear
(no crocs, flip-flops or wellies!).
 Games in school - During the year we will be
asking for volunteers to aid with literacy and
numeracy games in the classroom.
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LEARN TOGETHER PROGRAMME
Learn Together is the programme followed by Educate
Together Schools for religious education. The four
strands of the earn Together Programme are:
 Moral and Spiritual
 Equality and Justice
 Belief Systems
 Ethics and the Environment
If any parent would be interested in helping with
the R.E. Calendar or can offer input in any way,
please contact Susan in the office or myself as I
am the R.E co-ordinator.
HOMEWORK
In Junior Infants the emphasis for homework is
simply to ensure that children have grasped all
the basics for reading and writing that they have
covered in school. The homework will usually be
as follows:
 Nursery Rhyme/Poem
 English/Maths worksheets
 Readers (after Halloween)
 Tricky Word Wallet
 Sound book
 Writing Bag – this will occasionally go home but
is not for homework, it is more for fun!
In Senior Infants the emphasis again is to
reinforce what was taught in school. Senior
Infant homework will consist of the following:
 English worksheet/Handwriting
 Maths worksheet
 Tricky word wallet
 Reader (Level 2)
 Homework should take no longer than 20
minutes.
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Some Homework Tips:
- Have a consistent time for homework everyday. Straight
after school is usually the best time.
- Complete the homework in a quiet, well equipped space.
- Aid the child if help is needed.
- Check homework is completely fully.
- Encourage the child to take pride in their homework and
colouring.
- Ensure your child’s name is clearly on their sheet and that
you have signed the homework sheet.
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Things you should know:
- If homework is not completed a note should be sent in the
folder to explain the reason.
- Due to feedback at the whole school meeting a homework
sheet detailing what is to be done each night will be sent
home with the Junior classes that do not have a journal. In
this way the parents will know exactly what to do and can
sign on same sheet.
LUNCH
The children have two breaks everyday.
 Small Break – 10 minutes for eating and 10 minutes play
time.
 Big break – 10/15 minutes eating and half an hour playtime.
 This means that the children have 20/25 minutes for
eating in total each day. If the children are not finished
their sandwich/fruit, etc., the teacher always encourages
them to bring it out to yard with them and finish it there.
 The teacher cannot leave the room to get drinks/spoons
for children so please ensure your child has everything that
they need for their lunch with them.
 Treat day is on Fridays. On this day children are allowed to
bring in one small treat alongside their normal healthy
lunch.
COMMUNICATION
We feel that keeping an open line of
communication between the teacher and
parent/s is very important. Communication can
be made with the teacher in the following
ways:
 School bag/Homework folder post
 Parent/Teacher meetings which happen in
November
 Incidental meetings – these need to be made
by prior arrangement through Susan in the
office and a reason for the meeting must be
given to ensure the teacher can fully prepare
 Phone call to the school
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR NEED
TO TALK?
Remember that I am always available to answer any
queries of questions you may have regarding your
child. Please do so in the following ways:
1. Informal meeting
2. Note in Journal
3. Phone call
4. Arrange a meeting via secretary
5. P/T meetings 11 – 15th November.
THANK
YOU!
Thank you all so much for your
attendance tonight an for your
attention during the PowerPoint.
Does anyone have a question or
comment?
FAREWELL!
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That concludes the information being given out
this evening. I look forward to seeing you all
around the school and getting to know you all! I
hope we will have a great year together!