Welcome!
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Writing
The list below shows the ten key points about how we approach writing for year 2 children at school, many of which you can support with at home too!
INTERESTING THEM!
Make writing relevant for children – write about real experiences or link to a topic they are interested in. Bookmaking is super!
READING
Read lots of high quality texts in a range of genre e.g. fiction, instructions, explanations, information, diary, poetry, letters, reports and recounts. They will replicate some of the super features in their own writing.
SPEAKING AND LISTENING
Speaking and listening is key, at school we use many drama techniques and talk partners to support the development of ideas.
VCOP – enhance writing by focusing on these elements:
Spellings – using phonics knowledge and patterns as well as high frequency words, only pick up on a few at a time (we use a maximum of 3) and start with words children will use more regularly. Games and investigating spelling patterns, as well as lots of exposure to key words will help embed spellings, rather than learning lists by rote.
Practise in many exciting ways e.g. outside in chalk or sand, using paint
In Key Stage 1, children should be forming letters correctly, sizing them appropriately and placing letters correctly on lines (decenders e.g. g, y have tails below the line). We use the cursive letter formation, starting in Year 1, to aid with the joining process in Year 2 – an objective on the new National Curriculum
It is important that children know what their targets are and how they can improve their writing. Next step responses from the children are usually very important to ensure that they have no misconceptions and to ensure that they undersand why they made mistakes.
Children need to be able to check, edit and improve their own writing. We always encourage children to take ownership of self assessmennt and learn from young age how to evaluate their work and peers work.
We support children with writing by building up to longer writing through many smaller activities. We model each activity to children and do shared writing that gives them ideas and confidence before writing on their own. We scaffold children in many ways, using sentence starters, picture cues, word banks, drama and so on, so that they do not feel worried when writing on their own.
It is important children see adults undertaking the writing process too!
Encourage them to be as independent as possible – not to be afraid of making mistakes.
Praise, Praise, Praise! Encourage and praise children as much as possible for any writing they do. Encourage them to share their writing with others to give them a greater sense of purpose. Display their writing to celebrate their successes.
Maths: Mastery Maths
Children are learning the new approach to Maths by attempting to explain their answers, prove them correct and use them in different ways. The new approach to Maths allows all the children to try the same problems and learn in the ways that suit them and their learning styles better.
Collaborative learning is key to our children and we continue to allow them to use their own creative thinking to solve problems and share different ideas regardless of the outcomes. Children grow in confidence to feel that they are able to achieve no matter how hard the learning is.
There are three main parts to our Maths lessons: In focus, Let's Learn and independent or guided practice.
Children attempt all three aspects of solving problems beginning with CONCRETE objects and moving on to using PICTORIAL representations and ending with ABSTRACT recording and working out!!
It would be great if you could encourage your child to practice these key non-negotiables. If you would like advice on how help your child achiee in numeracy please speak to a member of the Year 2 team on the playground each morning!
Year 2 – English Non Negotiables
Expectations for pupils by the end of Year 2
Capital letters.
Full stops.
Question marks.
Exclamation marks.
Commas in a list.
Apostrophe (omission)
Introduction of speech marks.
Year 2 – Maths Non Negotiables
Expectations for pupils by the end of Year 2
2 digit numbers and tens
Two 2 digit numbers
Three 1 digit numbers
Spring 1
The topic for this term is Land Ahoy!
In English the children will be learning about non fiction writing which will cover fact files and instructions. They will also be looking at quality fiction texts.
In Maths we'll be covering multiplication and division using practical apparatus/objects and solving abstract multiplication and division calculations.
In Science we will be learning about seasonal changes and describing seasons in detail and the different effects they have on the planet.
In Geography we will be covering the knowledge of mapping and locating the seven continents of the world and the oceans as well as the countries of the UK and their surrounding seas.
In History we are looking at famous people linked to travel and discovery like James Cook.
In Art we are focusing on still life drawing and will be looking at models of ships to practice different skills of art.
In R.E we will be covering sacred books and their importance in different faiths including Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
Gentle Reminders:
Year 2 P.E for this half term will remain on Thursdays and Fridays.
Please ensure children come to school with sensible P.E kits and shoes, such as white polo shirts, black tracksuit bottoms for the colder days and plimsolls or trainers.
Please ensure that children bring their reading books and homework folders from Wednesday as they will be changed weekly.
Check out these fun but educational websites:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3c6tfr
http://www.ictgames.com/resources.html
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/parents/
Some useful links for Phonic games
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/literacy/
http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/
http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/