Ask The Owl!
Oxford Owl is a free website built to help you with your child’s learning. It provides a wide range of fantastic support for reading and mathematics, including over 250 free e-books.
Please use the links below to access Oxford Owl.
Reading
Reading with your child is one of the most valuable things you can do to support their education. Research consistently shows that it has a significant impact on children’s learning and development. Reading little and often is most effective, so try to set aside time to share a book every day.
The key is to make reading an enjoyable experience. Encourage your child to see books as a source of pleasure by reading together in a relaxed way. If a particular page, picture or story sparks conversation, take time to explore it together. Books are about much more than reading the words on the page; they provide opportunities to discover new ideas, ask questions and enjoy meaningful discussions.
You can support your child’s love of reading in many ways. Encourage them to pretend to ‘read’ books before they are able to read the words independently, and establish a regular reading routine, perhaps after school or before bedtime. Visit your local library regularly to borrow not only books but also audiobooks, comics, DVDs and games, helping your child discover a wide range of reading materials. If English is not your family’s first language, dual-language books are an excellent way to enjoy stories together and foster a love of reading in any language. Choosing books linked to your child’s interests, whether that is dragons, insects, cooking or sport, can also help to motivate them. Finally, keep books readily available in different rooms around your home so that opportunities to read arise naturally throughout the day.
Handwriting and letter formation
Fluent, neat and joined handwriting relies on letters being formed in the correct way and from the correct starting point. At Someries Infant School we ensure that children are all taught this consistently by teaching weekly short and focused handwriting sessions.
To support the development of handwriting, the school uses handwriting guidelines in all writing books, as well when modelling writing in lessons on flip chart paper and interactive whiteboard backgrounds.
Your child is taught how to form each letter according to the guide below from Nursery. It is important children form each letter correctly as this will support them well when they begin to join their handwriting in Year Two. Please encourage your child to use the correct letter formation when completing homework activities or any other writing activities at home (for example writing greetings cards).
Mathematics
Helping your child enjoy mathematics can have a lasting impact on their confidence and achievement. Making mathematics fun through games, puzzles and jigsaws is a great place to start, while also showing how mathematical skills are used in everyday life. Involving your child in practical activities helps them see that mathematics is both useful and enjoyable.
Encouraging your child to identify problems and work through solutions together is another effective way to develop their mathematical thinking. If they are trying to solve a puzzle or work something out, talk through the problem with them and explore possible solutions together. Even if mathematics was not your favourite subject at school, try to approach it positively and enjoy discovering it alongside your child.
There are many simple ways to promote mathematical learning at home. Talk about the different shapes you can see around your house, involve your child when shopping by working out how much items cost, encourage them to handle money and discuss its value, and look out for numbers on street signs, buses and car registration plates. These everyday experiences help children develop confidence with number and mathematical language in meaningful contexts.
The way mathematics is taught today is likely to be very different from how many adults experienced it at school. Taking time to understand the methods your child is learning will help you support their mathematical development more effectively.
Help your child be epic at maths!
Give your child a head start in mathematics: everything parents need to know about numeracy development from 0-6 with fun activities you can build into everyday life and play can be found by visiting this CBeebies website.
Homework
Homework reinforces what your child is learning in school. It also gives you a chance to become involved in the learning process.
At Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre, all children take a book home from the classroom library daily – try to read the book together every night. As well as reading with your child, you are also politely asked to complete their Reading Record regularly, which helps track your child’s reading progress.
Remember, the time your child spends on homework is less important than their understanding of it.
As well as our ‘formal’ homework, children are asked to talk to their families about what they have learned in school. This can be the most valuable homework of all, especially if you show interest and play an active role by asking your child questions about their day.
Establishing good homework habits can help your child develop confidence, independence and a positive attitude towards learning. Create a quiet, well-lit space at home where your child can work comfortably, ensuring they have access to the equipment they need, such as pencils, a ruler, scissors and glue. Planning a regular homework routine and agreeing when homework will be completed each week can also help children develop good organisational skills. Before they begin, encourage them to have a healthy snack so they are ready to concentrate.
Take an interest in your child’s homework by talking about the tasks they have been set and how these link to their learning in school. Minimise distractions by turning off the television, although some children may find quiet background music helpful. When your child needs support, avoid simply giving them the answers. Instead, encourage them to think independently by showing them how to find information for themselves, for example by using a dictionary or other appropriate resources. It is also helpful to be aware that teaching methods may differ from those you experienced at school, so using the approaches your child is learning in class will help to avoid confusion. Above all, try to keep homework enjoyable and view it as a positive opportunity to spend time learning together.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s homework, please speak to their class teacher, who will be happy to offer advice and support.
