Year 1 Structure

[Eveiebaby]

DD will be starting Year 1 in September and I just wondered if anyone could give me an idea of how her day will be structured. Will there still be times during the day when she can choose what she wants to do or will it all be pretty much mapped out for her? Thanks

[lulaloop]

I am a Y1 teacher.

The day changes throughout the year. Initially it is pretty similar to foundation, lots of free choice and access to outside. Gradually I move to the children all sitting at tables working.

In a typical day in autumn I would do a 10 minute numeracy and literacy input and then work with a small focus group for each of these sessions while the rest of the children choose. Usually my focus group do very practical activities, starting to move to more formal methods of recording their work. As part of the free choice the rest of the children are doing there will be activities linked to what we are doing in that session. In the afternoon we will do topic, PE or ICT.

I also do phonics (20 minutes) and guided reading every day.

As time moves on there is less choosing time (although I always ensure the children have some time every day) but I find the children are ready for a more structured day and I introduce it slowly.

I don't know if this is helpful. It is Friday I am very tired.

[blackeyedsusan]

definately helpful. dd is still 4 (august baby) and is going into y1. she still just wants to play most of the time.

[BrokenBananaTantrum]

Thanks lulaloop that is great. I've been wondering about this. DD is an end of July baby and just doesn't seem ready for sitting at a table all day so you have reassured me.

[lulaloop]

Re-read this and just wanted to clarify!

I do 10 minutes literacy and 10 minutes numeracy input - not 10 minutes of both together

And gradually free choice gets more focused, so for example in the autumn I might do poems in the literacy input and with mt group but still have cars, construction, the sand out as well as some things linked to poems (rhyming games, magnetic letters etc), when we do traditional tales later in the year I will only get things out related to what we are doing eg get the puppets out, some scrolls for writing, bead strings to improve find motor control, encourage the children to make a castle in the craft corner and get the princess/prince dressing up kit out.

[Eveiebaby]

Thanks Lulaloop for the informative info - sounds good so there is still some element of learning through play it seems. I'm not sure why but I thought it would be all sitting at desks.

[lulaloop]

I have to add. This is my Y1. Obviously not all are the same. Some are more similar to Foundation Stage and some are pretty regimented. I am pretty middle of the road I think.

I would expect Y2s to mostly be able to sit at desks and work (although the work might be practical work) and so this is what I build my Y1s up to.

I hope your children enjoy Y1, it such a fun year and the children make so much progress and change so much and it is brilliant :)

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

We met DS's Y1 teacher earlier this week (DS is late July baby too). She said that when they come back in Sept the classroom will be set-up pretty much as their Reception class was (so home corner, not so many tables), and that things will be v familar for the children, gradually moving towards more structure throughout the year.

[sixthrubbishname]

Thanks Eveie for asking the question. DS will be going into Y1 in Sept.
Can I ask Lulaloop DS will be going into a mixed Y1/Y2 class will they be able to do similar to how you do it? Hope that makes sense.

[simpson]

just want to add from a parents point of view with a late August born son who has just finished yr1 that he coped fine with the transition as it was so gradual iyswim.

He did not get any homework/reading books till end Oct as the class was still being assessed.

Later on in the yr they were put onto tables according to ability for reading, handwriting, spelling and numeracy.

He has had an absolutely fab yr and was crying on thursday (his last day) as he had to say good bye to his teacher (going back to Oz) who has been truly exceptional IMO.

Bring on yr 2!!!

[magicmummy1]

Our dd had a great year 1 too - also a summer baby. :)

The transition from reception was very gradual and the teacher handled it very well - I am not aware of any children that struggled with this. At the same time, the academic input was definitely stepped up and dd made loads of progress during the year.

[munstersmum]

Depends so much on the school. DS went into year1 and from the end of Sept they were streamed (their word not mine) for numeracy & literacy. This meant going to different teachers in different classrooms Mon, Tues, Wed mornings. That's at a 'bog standard' state primary with a year size of 32.

DS is end Aug born & the streaming brought his work on fine but I strongly believe it had an impact on behaviour management (lack of/lack of consistency) because they all had so many teachers. Form teacher post was job-shared.