Barford Primary School

 This week's (10th February) Talk Homework question is:

 ‘When the snow has fallen and the world looks shimmering white, what do you enjoy doing most? What do you most enjoy looking at? Why?’

...and the 'words' of the week are:

Merlins:           rare (uncommon, unusually good)

Buzzards:        valuable (worth a lot of money or important in some other way)

Red Kites        to astound (astonish; shock someone greatly)

Eagles:            to investigate (to inquire carefully) 

Spoken language lies at the heart of communication and without it there would be no books and no writing.  One of the best ways for children to improve their work at school is for them to become confident and articulate speakers.

We believe that your involvement in your child’s learning is crucial and that you can make a real difference to the progress your child makes.  With this in mind we are introducing a new simple form of Talk Homework.  Each week we will send home a simple discussion task; it will be same for all children in school so families can do it together. The aim is to get children sharing ideas with their families and developing their vocabulary and imagination.

Please help your child to discuss the question they have been given and particularly focus on why they think that.  It is vital for children to try to talk in full sentences and to use words such as 'because'. 

Please discuss the question at home and let the children know your opinions. 

Here are some simple guidelines for how to do it:

• Set aside an hour for ‘Talk Homework’;
• Encourage as many family members as possible to be home on Talk Homework evening and consider discussing the question while having a meal together.
• Don't just give your opinion, use the 'because' word to explain why you think that.
• Give the possible opinions of two contrasting family members who are not present for the talk, and use the 'because' word to explain why they may be different.
• Ask others around the table to give their opinions and to use the 'because' word.
• Ask your child his/her opinion and ask them to use the 'because' word.
• You could link the topic back to something you remember from when you were a child and say why things may be different now.

 We do hope you will enjoy joining in with this learning.

PREVIOUS TALK HOMEWORK TOPICS:

• What have you done to help someone else this week (people you know and people you have never met)? What else could you do?
• Tell (don't read) your favourite story to your family.
• What is your favourite book? Why?
• If it were possible for an animal to talk, which animal would you choose to have a conversation with?  Why?
• What change would you most like to make to school? Why?
• If you had a million pounds, what would you do and why?
• What magical power would you like to have and why?
• If you could be an animal for a day, which would it be and why?