Welcome to Cairn Gorm

1. Welcome to Cairn Gorm Miss McGowan and Primary 2/3

2. Curriculum for Excellence • Principles – giving children opportunities to; - progress at a rate which meets their needs and abilities • draw different strands of learning together • experience challenging and motivating tasks • Children will develop skills through the ‘Experiences and Outcomes’ • Learning Logs – Experiences and Outcomes are broken down into ‘I can’ statements

3. Active Learning Approaches • Opportunities will be provided for children to engage their thinking within tasks • AiFL strategies used: • Lolly sticks • Self Assessment encouraging children to think about their next steps • Whiteboards • Traffic lights • Fist-to-five • Thumbs • Peer Assessment • WWW/EBI wall • Teachers and Classroom Assistants will be available to support independent tasks

4. Numeracy and Maths • Children will be working within classes for Numeracy this session • Learn Its – 3 facts, 5 minutes, 3 weeks • Children will work on same topic within class • Work will be set at an appropriate level for each child • Active learning approaches will be used to support written tasks and activities

5. Literacy • Literacy times will be the same each day for Primary 2, 3 and 4, with children working on the same thing during these times • Primary 3 – all working together alongside Mr Morton’s P3s • Primary 2 – continuing to improve phonics • Children will also be developing Handwriting skills • Tools for Reading and Writing – Broken down in Learning Logs • Literacy lessons will eventually intertwine with our class topics – developing our talking and listening skills, writing skills and organising and using information

6. Topic • This term our theme will be Historic Scotland • Our class topic will be‘Knights and Castles’ • Topic will allow opportunities for children to make links between various curricular areas of a Curriculum for Excellence

7. P.E. • Tuesday, Thursday and Friday • Health and Safety Rule – if a child has recently had their ears pierced then they should tape up their ears • Developing various skills and techniques • Re-establishing P.E. Routines • Gymnastics

8. Master Classes • Master Classes will take place on Monday afternoons • Stage group working • Term 1 –Primary 2– Drama and Art & Design • Term 1 –Primary 3– Art & Design and Craft

9. Science • Science will take place on Wednesday afternoons • Working in class groups • Term 1 – Biological Systems – Focusing on: Major organs and preventing illness

10. Community Groups • Wednesday afternoons • Primary 2s will work as a Class Community Group • Mrs Fullarton to take the Primary 2s during this time • Focus on Health & Wellbeing • Primary 3s will work with their own Community Group eg. Pupil Council, Eco Warriors etc.

11. Learning to Learn • Monday mornings • Different formats • Primary 2s – Class discussions • Class agree on targets for the week – review the following week • Focus for Main Targets – Literacy, Health & Wellbeing, Numeracy & Maths • Smiley face system on SMART Board • Primary 3s learning to work with coaching partners – still with a focus on particular targets and reflecting on these each week

12. Expressive Arts / RME • Drama, Music and Art & Design lessons within Topic • Taught within Master Classes • Dance within P.E. Blocks / Topic • Art & Design – teaching and developing skills • Ensuring links are being made to artists, developing the language used • Art Week – Celebration of Skills, Term 2 • RME – Comparing how Christian beliefs and values are demonstrated with other religions

13. Homework • Spelling • Reading • Topic related – children will be issued with various homework tasks throughout the topic • News – as well as being encouraged to discuss in class during Check-in etc. • Correspondence folders • Homework diaries

14. Quality Contract • Class Rules discussed and agreed by the children • Signed by the children • Rules focusing on Rights of the Child and respectful behaviour • Aiming to create a positive working environment • Quality audience • Quality lines • Giving children responsibility for their own learning – Class Jobs

15. Golden Time / Golden Rules • Traffic Light System – every child starts each day with a Green card • Children can earn up to 30 mins of Golden Time each week • Children who do not follow the rules will be given a warning, followed by a yellowand then a red card • Red card is equal to -5min • Golden Rules – Children can earn Golden Tickets giving them the opportunity to gain a reward at the end of each term

16. General School Information • Children arriving at the school from 9.05am will be recorded as late • Please notify staff if there are any changes to medical information • Parent Helpers – please let me know if you wish to add your name to the list! • Learning Conversations – beginning of September • Class Newsletters provided each term (please collect one at the end of this meeting)

17. Worries and Concerns • Each child in the class will be issued with Correspondence folders • These will be sent home daily alongside Homework Diaries with any letters etc. • Homework will be put inside these • Please feel free to add any notes etc. into these folders • If you have any worries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me - no matter how small!