News

The Year 4 bubble have started studying four different female black artitsts. The artwork has given us a starting point for discussions around racism and the children have been participating in discussions about the Black Lives Matter movement. 

We started the week looking at Alama Thomas' expressionist artwork, and moved onto looking at Kara Walker's shillouettes.  Next week we will focus on Bisa Butler and Lorna Simpson. 

At Holy Cross we promote a love of reading through our class reading areas, wonderful school library and interesting texts for Whole Class Reading.

I want to challenge my future class (currently Year 4 and Year 5) that will be Saturn Class next year.

Your challenge is to find the most interesting and unusal place you can read your favourite book in. It might be up in the tree you climbed, or reading a book whilst doing gymnastics... the options are endless (but make sure you are safe)!

Send in your photos to c.travers@holycross.e-sussex.sch.uk and I will display all the wacky places you love to read in our new classroom!

We know reading regularly with your child can make a massive difference to their progress. But it isn’t always easy to fit it in day-to-day.

Here are some easy ways you can make reading a part of every day:

1. Don’t worry about how long you read for. Every minute spent reading makes a bigger difference than you realise!

2. Don’t worry about what your kids are reading: recipes, cereal packets, Argos catalogues… it’s all useful! Keep books and other reading materials close by.

3. Reading to kids of all ages is helpful. If your little one isn’t reading by themselves yet, read with them.

4. Ask lots of questions: Who, what, where, when and why and ask them to summarise when you’ve finished.

We wanted to share a tool with you to help your child think and talk about the world around them. The TRUST approach can be used when you are talking about reading with your child.

T-take turns to talk about what you are going to read. Say things like: “I feel like reading a book with animals in it today. What do you feel like reading?”

R-recap what’s happened in the book as you are reading. Say things like: “Why do you think that happened?”

U-use lots of encouragement. Say things like: “You’re doing brilliantly today!", "What great ideas…", "Let’s keep reading to see what happens!”

S-share what you know to help your child. Say things like: “Have you learnt about…at school?”

T-tune-in and be interested. Say things like: “I didn’t know you knew so much about…!”