Welcome to Year 2 Parents'Evening. 2013

What do we do in Year 2? Numeracy 4 a day . Counting Place Value 2D and 3D Shapes Handling Data Measures Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. Money Using and applying . At the start of each maths lesson the children will be given 4 sums using any operation. E.g. 2 addition 2 subtraction. The children will work out the sums in their 4 a day books. The aim is to improve their mental strategies and speed 4 a day

Literacy Instructions Letter Writing Recounts Riddles Story writing Poetry Big Write Every Friday the children will take part in big write. On a Thursday the children will take home big talk homework which will explain what the children are going to be writing about and will often include prompts to help with the discussion. We try to link our big write to topic work we have been learning about that week. For example – When learning about the Great Fire of London the children would write a diary account as though they were Samuel Pepys. Guided Reading As well as the main reading scheme which the children take home each night the children have a guided reading session once a week led by the teacher. Each group read a different text either fiction or non-fiction. The children will read in reading pairs/ on their own/ or as a group. During the reading the teacher will ask a variety of questions about the text.

Examples of questions used in Guided Reading. -Where does the story take place? -What is happening at this point in the story? -How do you feel about____? Why? -What questions would you ask the character? - Can you think of another story with a similar theme? Reading Topic Books Comprehension Guided Reading With Teacher. Book Reviews on Guided Reading Books Handwriting Practice

Home Reading Books The children will bring home their reading book every night. Often some of the reading is followed up by comprehension in class. The focus is making sure the children answer in full sentences. If your child is tired after a long day it is okay to read alternate pages with you. Sometimes children might be reluctant readers so suggest to your child that they read to their favourite teddy while you listen in.

Science History/ Geography Art Health and Growth. Grouping and changing materials. Forces. Plants and animals in the local environment. Variation. Electricity. History/ Geography Great Fire of London. Florence Nightingale. The Seaside in the Past. Katie Morag – The Isle of Struay. The Seaside. Bhola Island. Art Painting, collage, model making, DT – moving vehicles and frames.

Songs linked to topic work. Come and See Beginnings Signs and Symbols Preparing Books Thanksgiving Opportunities Spread the word Rules Treasures Judaism - Shabbat Spanish The children are going to learn simple conversations, songs and counting. Music Songs linked to topic work. Games Throwing and catching, kicking and aiming. Team games, Gymnastics and Dance.

Blocked Curriculum Topic work has now been blocked to help the children maintain enthusiasm and interest as well as linking other subjects to the topic. For example – History –Great Fire of London 2 weeks Art – Making Tudor Houses 1 week ICT – Newspaper Report on the Great Fire 1 week Big Write – Writing on the Great Fire On going

Assessment At the start of each lesson we tell the children the objective of the lesson and agree a success criteria ( this is a checklist of how they are going to achieve the objective). We want to encourage the children to take responsibilty for their work. We do this using different methods- Self Assessment – We use traffic lights or smiley faces for the children to indicate how they feel they are coping. Peer Assessment – 2 Stars and a wish the children will tell each other things they like about their work and one thing they can improve upon.

Examples of Assessment.

Expectations. In Year 2 we build upon the foundations that have been laid down in Reception and Year 1. Some of us have acquired the basic skills of Literacy and Numeracy and can use these skills to work independently. Some of us are still developing these skills and need our teachers to support us in our learning journey. Please remember that each child follows their own learning journey and we support them as they mature and develop.

Routines We are trying to encourage the children to be independent within the classroom. Morning – The children are responsible for – Hanging up coats and bags. Putting homework in the tray. Putting reading book in their reading box. Giving class teacher letters. Putting water bottles by the sink. Afternoon - Putting homework and reading book in their own bag.

Example of part of the timetable. Monday 9.00 – 9.10 Register 9.10 – 9.30 Guided Reading 9.30 – 10.20 Literacy 10.20 – 10.30 Milk and Fruit 10.30 – 10.45 PLAYTIME 10.45 – 11.05 Phonics 11.05 – 12.00 4 a day / Numeracy 12.00 – 1.15 LUNCH 1.15 – 2.15 Topic 2.15 – 2.30 PLAYTIME 2.30- 3.00 Topic 3.00 – 3.15 Collective Worship/ Story

By the end of Year 2 we want our children to be? HAPPY ENTHUSIASTIC INQUISTIVE LEARNERS!!!! Be able to work independently. Stay on task (30/40 minutes). Communicate and express themselves confidently within class. Develop an awareness of the needs of others in class, school and the wider world. Show empathy and willingness to help others.

Mrs Richards and Mrs Nawrocki Mrs Mc Gain and Mrs McQueen How do we achieve this? Through the Year 2 Team :- Mrs Richards and Mrs Nawrocki Mrs Mc Gain and Mrs McQueen Mrs Fernandez As a Year group we strive to create a positive atmosphere and can do approach by a system of rewards. Individual star charts. Group table awards Star of the week Stickers to reinforce teacher expectations. Well Done!

Within the curriculum we may use many different strategies to develop the children’s learning. We work in groups. where we develop turn-taking listen to and respond to others collaboration. We work in pairs. develop skills and ideas communicate them confidently We work independently. We work as a class. Sharing ideas Depending on the lesson purpose children will be grouped accordingly – which can be mixed ability and work is differentiated.

Frequently asked questions. Do I correct every word when my child is writing? No. The children should be able to write high frequency words and harder words should be phonetically plausible. What can I do when my child can’t blend a word? Certain words such as – because, said, what cannot be blended therefore the children need to develop sight vocabulary and memorise whole words. How do I best support my child with reading? Talk about the story. Ask the 5 W’s – Who, What, Where, When, Why? Decode – break words into sounds. Guess- from the meaning of the sentence what the words is.

What do I do if my child reverses letters and numbers? Simply practise b d p q Numbers practise correct orientation Do you do SATS? Yes we do. The children complete a writing, reading maths and spelling test. The children complete the tests in summer term in small groups during lessons so that they are unaware. Where should my child be at the end of Year 2? The average child should be at level 2 by the end of the summer. So in Maths a level 2 child would be able to – Count and record up to 100 and round numbers to nearest 10 Understand place value to 3 places. Add, Subtract, (understand more and less) Multiply and Divide in number, money and measures. Recognise 2D and 3D shapes.

Handle Data. Read scales. Measure in cm and m. Understand position and direction and use terms – ¼ turn clockwise. Tell time – O’clock, quarter past and half past. In Literacy a level 2 child would be able to – Recognise Year 2 high frequency words and use their phonic skills to decode unfamiliar words. In writing a level 2 child would be able to – Write a sentence containing a noun, verb, adjective and connective. Write a page of A4 either as a story, recount or letter with a clear beginning middle and end and punctuated with capital letters, full stops, question marks and exclamation marks.

We look forward to a HAPPY YEAR together. Partnership. None of this would be possible without the support of you, the parents. Our aim is to work as a team in partnership with you to do the very best for the children in our care! We look forward to a HAPPY YEAR together. Thank you from all of us.