Chestnut Class

My Amazing World

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

Wow – what a busy time we are having in Chestnut class.   Our new theme is My Amazing World and we have been concentrating on the story of Going on a Bear Hunt.  We have been looking at the different habitats and encompassing them into our art by mixing colours to reflect the different habitats within the story.

As always, we strive to become as independent as we can and encourage everybody to complete simple independent tasks.

We have been working on our individual targets and continue to improve every day.

In number we have been looking at big and little and furthering our skills in Numicon.

We are continually working hard on recognizing our emotions and how to best manage them to put us all in the best place to learn and become the best that we can be.

Chestnut – you are all superstars!!

    

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Autumn Term

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

What a busy term for Chestnut! We have been getting used to our new class group and for most of us a different classroom. This term we have joined together to recognise and remember, for Poppy Day we made potato print poppies and shared them with our families.

There has been some amazing work done on pupils’ own targets and we have enjoyed some lovely times together too, especially in our music activities – playing musical instruments we made ourselves.

We have been practising our Numicon counting song and working with the big shapes to count up to ten together as a class.

One of our new activities in the coming weeks is an interactive poem called ‘A Recipe for Winter’ – we look forward to sharing some fantastic photos with you in the coming weeks.

  

 

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Hot, Hot, Hot!

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

We have been carrying on with our topic work this half term and started to think about ‘hot places’ and what we might find there. We loved looking at all the different animals from those places and realised that we are a class of animal lovers! As well as our topic work we have also been all working hard with our Maths and Literacy learning. We have been looking at Capacity and making containers ‘full’ and ‘empty’, sorting items, problem solving, and practising our writing, spelling and mark making. This half term some pupils have been to yoga sessions in the hall with Katie from Sports Development and have tried very hard to copy the different moves. A highlight for this half term has to be learning and performing in our annual play. All the pupils were amazing including our Gingerbread Man. The staff are all extremely proud of our young learners this year, well done team Chestnut!

      

      

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'Feeling Hot, Feeling Cold'

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

We have had another very busy half term in Chestnut class where our main topic focus has been ‘Feeling Hot, Feeling Cold’. We have focused on ‘cold’ places this half term and have had a sensory trip to Canada as well as learning about polar animals and exploring how cold the ice is! We have also been learning about Islam this term and exploring all the different artefacts and resources, including a prayer mat, a Hijaab and looking at images of mosques. We have all been very active with a wide range of physical activities, including ‘bikeability’, dance sessions with specialist teachers and lots of fantastic sensory regulation. As always, the pupils have also been developing their communication in lots of different ways - showing they want ‘more’ of an activity and vocally communicating whilst looking in the mirror. What wonderful work, the staff are all very proud!

               

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Express Yourself

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

We have had a fantastic time this term, lots of learning has taken place through lots of fun activities. This term's theme has been “Express Yourself”. Chestnut Class have been expressing themselves through music and dance. Listening to all different types of music and learning fun new dances, the classes favourite dance is the “Wiggle Dance”. Science Week was great, we were all investigating connections. Chestnut Class investigated the sounds the guitar made. Children were strumming and plucking the strings to make different sounds and create vibrations. We also celebrated Japan Day and had a full day of Japanese culture. We had a Taiko drumming session, the children absolutely loved this and all had a turn on the drums. We had a look around a Japanese garden (set up in a room) and had a taste session of different Japanese foods.

                  

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Class 2

Welcome back

Lauren O'Brien (lobrien) on: Class 2

Welcome back to class 2 children.  We have made all the new children who have joined class 2 in September very welcome.  They have all settled in very well and everyone is pleased to be back and enjoying the beginning of the new school year.

Our topic this term 'Big Cook Little Cook' which will incorporate lots of baking, tasting and sensory experiences.  We started this by making gingerbread men/women which we hope you all enjoyed!

My name is Sarah McEwen and I am the new class teacher for class 2.  I have been made extremely welcome by all the staff and children in school since I started on September 1st.  I have been teaching now for over 20 years and have always worked within special schools and with pupils with a wide range of SEND.  I look forward to meeting you all face to face in near future.  We may see each other at the McMillan coffee morning if you can make it.

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Teddy Bear's Picnic

Lauren O'Brien (lobrien) on: Class 2

Class 2 have been using their senses to explore our class story and theme, this half term.

First, we made honey sandwiches for a teddy bear's picnic. The teddies teased us by hiding in different places.  We took it in turns to hide the teddies and find them.  This also helped us to explore our new outdoor area.

After making the sandwiches, we wondered where honey came from.  Luckily, one of our teachers had the answer!  

The honey felt sticky and we loved watching it pour out of the honeycomb.  Feeling the hard ridges of the comb was interesting too and none of us could resist giving the honey a little taste!

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Chestnut Class

My Amazing World

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

Wow – what a busy time we are having in Chestnut class.   Our new theme is My Amazing World and we have been concentrating on the story of Going on a Bear Hunt.  We have been looking at the different habitats and encompassing them into our art by mixing colours to reflect the different habitats within the story.

As always, we strive to become as independent as we can and encourage everybody to complete simple independent tasks.

We have been working on our individual targets and continue to improve every day.

In number we have been looking at big and little and furthering our skills in Numicon.

We are continually working hard on recognizing our emotions and how to best manage them to put us all in the best place to learn and become the best that we can be.

Chestnut – you are all superstars!!

    

0 comment


Autumn Term

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

What a busy term for Chestnut! We have been getting used to our new class group and for most of us a different classroom. This term we have joined together to recognise and remember, for Poppy Day we made potato print poppies and shared them with our families.

There has been some amazing work done on pupils’ own targets and we have enjoyed some lovely times together too, especially in our music activities – playing musical instruments we made ourselves.

We have been practising our Numicon counting song and working with the big shapes to count up to ten together as a class.

One of our new activities in the coming weeks is an interactive poem called ‘A Recipe for Winter’ – we look forward to sharing some fantastic photos with you in the coming weeks.

  

 

0 comment


Hot, Hot, Hot!

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

We have been carrying on with our topic work this half term and started to think about ‘hot places’ and what we might find there. We loved looking at all the different animals from those places and realised that we are a class of animal lovers! As well as our topic work we have also been all working hard with our Maths and Literacy learning. We have been looking at Capacity and making containers ‘full’ and ‘empty’, sorting items, problem solving, and practising our writing, spelling and mark making. This half term some pupils have been to yoga sessions in the hall with Katie from Sports Development and have tried very hard to copy the different moves. A highlight for this half term has to be learning and performing in our annual play. All the pupils were amazing including our Gingerbread Man. The staff are all extremely proud of our young learners this year, well done team Chestnut!

      

      

0 comment


'Feeling Hot, Feeling Cold'

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

We have had another very busy half term in Chestnut class where our main topic focus has been ‘Feeling Hot, Feeling Cold’. We have focused on ‘cold’ places this half term and have had a sensory trip to Canada as well as learning about polar animals and exploring how cold the ice is! We have also been learning about Islam this term and exploring all the different artefacts and resources, including a prayer mat, a Hijaab and looking at images of mosques. We have all been very active with a wide range of physical activities, including ‘bikeability’, dance sessions with specialist teachers and lots of fantastic sensory regulation. As always, the pupils have also been developing their communication in lots of different ways - showing they want ‘more’ of an activity and vocally communicating whilst looking in the mirror. What wonderful work, the staff are all very proud!

               

0 comment


Express Yourself

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

We have had a fantastic time this term, lots of learning has taken place through lots of fun activities. This term's theme has been “Express Yourself”. Chestnut Class have been expressing themselves through music and dance. Listening to all different types of music and learning fun new dances, the classes favourite dance is the “Wiggle Dance”. Science Week was great, we were all investigating connections. Chestnut Class investigated the sounds the guitar made. Children were strumming and plucking the strings to make different sounds and create vibrations. We also celebrated Japan Day and had a full day of Japanese culture. We had a Taiko drumming session, the children absolutely loved this and all had a turn on the drums. We had a look around a Japanese garden (set up in a room) and had a taste session of different Japanese foods.

                  

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Spring Term

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

Chestnut Class has had a great start to this term, we have all been very busy with lots of fun learning activities. In our class the pupils have lots of opportunities to access sensory regulation. In a morning some children participate in our daily sensory circuits, getting them ready to learn. Children also have the opportunity to access sensory regulation during their school day. 

There has been some amazing fine motor skills used during class activities. We have especially enjoyed threading with cereal hoops onto long pasta. We have done lots of mark making in different ways using a variety of tools, the gloop was a messy fun activity where the children used small utensils to make marks in it.

This terms topic is ‘In the Spotlight’ - we have been very active, learning new dances and enjoying new songs. The children have especially loved the “ Wiggle Dance”. We have also been listening to the stories of 'The Three Little Pigs' and 'Billy Goats Gruff'. Having props to tell the story to the children, the noise of the “Trip Trap” on the bridge gets us ready for the troll to come out.

We have been celebrating Chinese New Year by having a tasting session, trying lots of Chinese food. The noodles and spring rolls were a big hit. We have also enjoyed beginning to learn about Japan and after the half term break we look forward to Celebrating Pancake Day and Mother’s Day,  learning some new dances and songs and learning lots in Science week.

          

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Autumn Term

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

In Chestnut Class we have all enjoyed getting back into a routine after the holidays. We have welcomed 3 new pupils and 2 new members of staff and are all settling nicely. This term we have visited SPACE, the multi-sensory centre and the  pupils have explored the equipment there, particularly the swing and slide! Back in school we are also getting better at using resources to regulate ourselves and many of us love using the therapy ball to roll over and bounce on. We are very proud of how well the pupils are joining in with sensory circuits in the hall. Fantastic! This term as well as developing our speech, communication, fine motor and Maths skills, we have also been working hard on our self help and dressing skills. . Keep up the good work Chestnut Class!

                          

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Summer

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

We have all had a very busy half term and been engaged in lots of routine learning opportunities such as our story massage sessions and our bucket time sessions, which continue to be a big hit! Some pupils have also engaged well with whole class stories and wanted them to be read again and again. How amazing! This term we have also taken part in our whole school sing-along and loved performing our Chestnut class ‘Frozen’ medley! Some pupils even enjoyed dressing up as the main characters and we think they look fab! We hope that all the pupils have a fantastic summer and enjoy lots of rest as well as having lots of fun! See you in September!

         

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'Doctor's and Nurses'

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

This term in Chestnut Class we are covering the topic of ‘Doctors and Nurses’. We have all enjoyed lots of role play and are looking forward to a visit from our lovely school nurse Shakila very soon. We have been listening to the story of ‘Zog and the Flying Doctors’ and done some excellent matching of pictures and words where appropriate. We have also been learning about our bodies in Science and singing lots of new songs to learn about our body parts. In History we have been learning about Florence Nightingale and how she is a famous nurse from a long time ago. We have been looking at ‘length’ and ‘capacity’ in Maths with lots of fun play and water exploration. We have also been completing lots of sensory regulatory activities which the pupils have done so well with and been working on developing our fine motor skills during messy play. Very busy! We are beginning to get ready for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations next week with different arts and crafts and even a little bit of baking. We're really looking forward to all the fun.

          

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Who Lives Here?

Claire Howatson (chowatson) on: Chestnut Class

Since returning to school after the Christmas holidays the children in Chestnut Class have been doing lots of amazing Maths work and also working hard on their Communication. From the pictures you can see lots of good number writing, number recognition and counting work, all the staff are so proud! Some children have also been working on their speech as they play and linking more words together whilst others have been asking grown ups to complete activities using lots of great gesture and giving lovely smiles to show they are happy. We are also super proud of how pupils have settled and been joining their class group for circle time. Well done Chestnuts, great work!

This term our topic is ‘Who Lives Here?’ We have already been busy looking at pictures of our houses and developing our art and design skills by making our own houses for our class display. We are also enjoying the stories ‘A Squash and a Squeeze’, and ‘The Three Little Pigs’ and will be doing lots more exciting activities related to these very soon. Today we have been celebrating Chinese New Year in Chestnut Class and have all worked hard designing our own tiger pictures as this year it is the ‘Year of the Tiger’. We hope that you like them. We will also be experiencing the tastes and smells of China tomorrow, lots of fun!

              

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Welcome back

Spring term news

Sarah McEwen (sarah.mcewen) on: Welcome back

Welcome back and a Happy New Year to you all! Everyone sounds as if they have had a fantastic time and have been very lucky with visits from Santa! We all arrived into school on Monday morning looking a little shell-shocked after our lovely relaxing Christmas holiday, but as the week has gone on the children have all settled back into the routine of class and school life.
We have exciting and busy times ahead! I have been assured that 'The School Production' is a wonderful experience so for all those children and families new to school this year I am sure you will be amazed when you come to watch your children performing in either the afternoon or evening production. We will be practising this in school over the next few weeks which I'm certain will be great fun. We will also be busy as 'Maths detectives' this term in our topic of 'shape and number all around us'. We will be sharing stories such as Goldilocks and the three bears, the three little pigs and three billy goats gruff. These stories will allow us to link numbers and size and even some design technology as we may try to build and test houses for the pigs and a bridge for the goats!

   

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busy term

Class 2, Having fun!

Sarah McEwen (sarah.mcewen) on: busy term

After what seemed like a very long time up to half term, now that we’re back the weeks seem to be racing by and Christmas is approaching fast!

Class 2 have been busy since the holiday making pretend fireworks with shiny and coloured paper and streamers and our small world has been a shredded paper bonfire with magnetic numbers to rescue using magnets. This has produced lots of lovely comments, such as ‘don’t touch the fire, it’s hot!’ but also hopefully an understanding of safety for the children.

We will be moving on from our work on Autumn, where we have made a fabulous autumn coloured tree more into Winter with exploratory play using ice. Of course, we couldn’t not include Frozen in this, so we will have ice castles along with small world figures of Elsa, Ana and all the gang!

The most recent highlight in class was our visit from Pudsey bear! The children were all delighted to meet Pudsey and all got the opportunity to get up close to say hello! We then enjoyed a fun filled fund-raising day a few days later.

As December approaches we will, of course be very busy making festive decorations and cards and lots of other things ready for Christmas. We are looking forward to you joining us for our Lower School Nativity on Monday 18th December at 10am.

    

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Class 2

Welcome back

Lauren O'Brien (lobrien) on: Class 2

Welcome back to class 2 children.  We have made all the new children who have joined class 2 in September very welcome.  They have all settled in very well and everyone is pleased to be back and enjoying the beginning of the new school year.

Our topic this term 'Big Cook Little Cook' which will incorporate lots of baking, tasting and sensory experiences.  We started this by making gingerbread men/women which we hope you all enjoyed!

My name is Sarah McEwen and I am the new class teacher for class 2.  I have been made extremely welcome by all the staff and children in school since I started on September 1st.  I have been teaching now for over 20 years and have always worked within special schools and with pupils with a wide range of SEND.  I look forward to meeting you all face to face in near future.  We may see each other at the McMillan coffee morning if you can make it.

0 comment


Teddy Bear's Picnic

Lauren O'Brien (lobrien) on: Class 2

Class 2 have been using their senses to explore our class story and theme, this half term.

First, we made honey sandwiches for a teddy bear's picnic. The teddies teased us by hiding in different places.  We took it in turns to hide the teddies and find them.  This also helped us to explore our new outdoor area.

After making the sandwiches, we wondered where honey came from.  Luckily, one of our teachers had the answer!  

The honey felt sticky and we loved watching it pour out of the honeycomb.  Feeling the hard ridges of the comb was interesting too and none of us could resist giving the honey a little taste!

0 comment