A change from year 1 and 2 to nursery and reception

A change from year 1 and 2 to nursery and reception

by: nia davies - 29-01-12 18:39

I have been teaching in year 1 and 2 for four years and now have a nursery and reception class and would like any tips/help/advice that anyone can offer. I am very keen to try lots of new things but need to ensure Im on the right lines. I am doing lots of phonics, group reading, number rhymes, practical maths activties, some outdoor activities, write dance, pie corbett story telling, dina school and topic work. Thank you!

by: stormgirl

It would be really helpful if you gave a brief run down of how you structure your day or what a "practical maths activity" might look like (how it is planned, how do you choose who gets involved, how long does it run for etc...) before we can comment on how appropriate it is for that age group.

I work iwith the nursery age group so my practical maths activities for example, might range from baking cupcakes, to filling up measuring cylinders in the water tray- they are always child intitiated, and always linked to observations of the children's interests. Children are free to choose their involvement and walk away when they loose interest. 

Probably the biggest change would be adjusting to free flow play, and adapting the curriculum to the children (rather than the more structured other way around sometimes seen for older children)

As all of the learning will come from play. So your planning should be from your observations of the children, and you will follow the children's lead. This sometimes  takes a lot of adjustment for primary trained teachers. 

In an ideal world this age group should have free-flow to outdoors for most of the day, carpet times (particularly for nursery age) should be between 10-20 minutes max, and time spent in structured "sit still and listen" should be really limited. 

The letters and sounds document gives good guidance for what is appropriate phonics wise for nursery age chldren. Phase 1 is focused more on rhyming, songs, listening games & fun with language. The guidance book for teachers is also very good :)

by: me

the best thing you can do is contact your early years team and get on some eyfs traiing quick smart. it is so vital to leave the ways in which they teach in ks1 behind