We are now six weeks into the new school year and boy, has it been crazy busy already! I thought it was time to check in and talk about how Jack is getting on in his first term of his first year of junior school.
Learning
I’ve found that Jack’s learning is already coming on leaps and bounds. He’s more interested in telling me about what they’ve learned that day – they’ve been learning a lot about Romans recently and even had a visit to Verulamium. His reading has improved – he’s moved onto much more complicated books but seems to be getting through them with ease.
I was a bit shocked the first week he got homework. In Infants, they used to usually get one piece of homework and their reading; perhaps a challenge if the homework took them over a school holiday. He now has at least one piece of maths, one piece of writing/reading, spellings and still has to fit in his reading as well. He also wants to continue with Reading Eggs outside of school so he is definitely doing a lot of work outside the classroom.
The school have also started two initiatives at school – the Daily Mile where each class fits it in during the day (usually if the class is flagging as it reinvigorates them and gets them ready for learning again) and also outdoor learning on a Friday afternoon where there are a few children from each year group with a member of staff, learning outside. As you can see from the picture below, they often come home absolutely filthy but it seems to be something Jack really enjoys.
Overall, his learning experience so far in Year Three seems to be positive.
Illness
The one thing we have really struggled with so far this year has been illness. He’s already had about five days off which was unavoidable but something we really wish didn’t happen. Jack was so poorly though and due to the 48 hour rule, we couldn’t send him in for many of those days.
He also had school photo day, chess club and Beavers the other Monday and managed school photos before being sent home ill and missing chess club and Beavers. He just seems to be catching everything going at the moment but I am hoping that’s him done for the rest of the term and he’ll manage to be in every day.
Clubs
Jack is doing one after school club this year and that is Chess on a Monday. Monday’s are now very busy for us as Jack finishes chess at 4.20pm but has to be at Beavers for 6pm – that doesn’t leave much time for him to get home, eat then walk over to Beavers but we somehow manage! He is really enjoying his chess club and has taken to the game extremely well. He’s already challenged me to a game at the weekend!
Overall, apart from the days he was poorly, Jack has been having a mostly positive experience in Junior school. I hope this will continue and he continues to love school.
Its good to hear that he is doing well but what a shame he has been ill, my nephew has been out for 5 days too.
Its annoying and sad when they have to miss school because of illness but he’ll quickly catch up. Cant be helped I suppose can it xxx
How is he in year 3 stop doing this to me! I can’t get my hand around it AT ALL! I absolutely love he is doing well though!
Nah I’m not having it – he’s not in year three already that is crazy!
It is so good he is doing so well and it seems like they really offer so much and get them out of the classroom at times too!
It’s horrible when they are sick but he seems to be very happy and doing well
Sorry he has been poorly – Eliza loved studying the Romans last year – this year its the Egyptians which is slightly ore gory