Our department now consists of 3 classes: Year1 Mrs Best KS1 leader Year1/2 Mrs Bell Year2 Mon-Wed Mrs Lyons; Thu and Fri- Mrs Afaq Teaching Assistants: Miss O Rourke and Mrs Flaherty This will allow us to plan across the classes easier to ensure continuity and progression.
Last year our new department spent a great deal of time planning our new topics for the new curriculum The overview of this planning will be on the website soon It is a two year cycle so all the classes will be working on the same topic but with slight differences eg this term in history we are all working on a different aspect of kings and queens A two year cycle will ensure all the children will cover everything regardless of which class they are in Each class develops the overview into their own topic web again these will be on the website but we will also send home a paper copy Sharing topics will allow us to do more days like last week which was an enormous success The new curriculum has changed but the main change is in maths and English the expectation has been raised!
Governments phonic programme 6 phases Reception children are expected to cover phase 2-4 Year 1 children are expected to cover phase 4-5 Year 2 children are expected to complete phase 5 and cover phase 6 However children progress at different rates and work at a level appropriate to their learning still ensuring the children are challenged. We use our highly trained TA s to help us deliver the program. Letters and Sounds is a systematic, high-quality programme. It has pace it takes place 4 times a week for half an hour; it follows a similar pattern everyday to ensure it is systematic and it is multi- sensory so we play games; sing songs; use whiteboards. Letters and Sounds is continually reinforced in the classroom guided reading; in writing tasks word banks; encouraging children to sound out words etc.
Guided reading this will take place once a week The children will bring home a home reader please read with your child every night. Talk to your child about the characters in the book; Can they re-tell the story; What do they think about the characters ask question like Which was your favourite character/ Which wasn't your favourite character Why? The children will bring home up to 2 home readers a week if you want your child to read more than this please get them to read their own books/ go to the library its so important that children read real books as well as reading scheme books; it broadens their reading skills and understanding of books tremendously. Reading happens all the time in a classroom we ask the children to do shared reading of the big books at the beginning of the lesson; read labels around the classroom; reading worksheets or word banks which help when the children are doing their work. The children will have the opportunity to change their reading books on Tuesdays and Thursday with supervision.
Year 2 writing- The children will be encouraged to write independently. They will need to make attempts at spelling unfamilar words using their phonic knowledge and use resources such as dictionaries, word banks and begin to use a thesaurus to use a wider range of vocabulary.. In Year 2 there is a greater emphasis on grammar and punctuation and written comprehension to supplement comprehension activities through guided reading. We will continue to look at different genres of text in both reading and writing looking at their purposes and format. This year we are going to be working very hard with the children s handwriting. This is a big part of the new curriculum. We will be having regular handwriting practice. Any opportunities to for your child to practise their handwriting and how they form and join letters will be greatly beneficial.
In the new curriculum the expection in maths has been raised in all aspects so this year we will be working very hard to develop the children s mathematical understanding so they can continue to develop their understanding as they progress through the school. We make maths fun, practical and meaningful. If you want to help your child at home with their maths work then mental maths is the ideal opportunity. Ten minutes every day in the bath; at the tea table; in the car is really beneficial. The more confident a child is with mental maths the stronger the foundation is for their mathematical understanding. Year 2 will receive mental maths targets and these are linked to where your child is at and what we are working on at the moment eg counting up in 2s, 5s and 10s We will also give out ideas on how to help your child develop their maths targets
Homework in KS1 in year2 We will be sending home targets for reading, writing and maths with ideas on how you can help your child to achieve these targets. Reading targets are closely matched to some of the things we will be working on in our guided reading sessions/letters and sounds sessions so supporting the children s work in class. Writing targets are related to your child s next steps in becoming independent writers in Year 2and how they can improve their writing. Maths targets are related to the basic skills in mental arithmetic. These will be mainly the basic skills the children need in maths as a solid foundation further on in their school life e.g. extending number bonds. Maths targets will be reinforced in our mental maths sessions in class. The targets will be reviewed every term and we will send home new targets and information on how your child is doing. We also try to send home ideas on how you can practice the targets. Reading Please read with your child as much as possible. We will send home examples of the types of questions you can ask your child once you have read with them. Half termly project We will set a half term project for all the children in KS1 to complete.
We Only Reach for The Highest Worthington Way We are gentle we don t hurt others We are kind and helpful-we don t hurt anybody's feelings We listen-we don t interrupt We are honest we don t cover up the truth We work hard we don t waste our time or others We look after property we don t waste or damage things Behaviour ladder/marbles in the jar Values -6 of the best Self-discipline Kindness Courage Joie de vivre Resilience Honesty