Welcome to

1. Welcome to Sky Class ‘Meet the Teacher’ September 2014

2. What happens in Sky class ? • The children are shown in the morning what they are going to be doing in the day using the visual timetable. • Children have a daily literacy and maths lesson. They are sat in groups for these lessons according to their ability. This means that the work can be differentiated to the need of each group. Often children are mixed up to work in mixed ability or friendship groups. • Once a week the children have an ICT, Circle Time lesson, music lesson and R.E lesson. Twice a week there is a science lesson. .

3. Three times a week the children have a topic lesson which is when history, geography, art and other cross curricular lessons are taught. • Children have a phonics session in a differentiated group on a daily basis. • Everyday the children have a guided reading session after lunch. This is timetabled according to their group and they read with me or a TA. If they are not reading that day then they carry out another related activity such as comprehension, personalised learning handwriting, writing journal or I pad activities. .

4. Sky Class I encourage the children to take more responsibility for their own learning and they are encouraged to work independently and co-operatively in groups throughout the week. In year 2 the children have the chance to support the adult in school with monitor jobs. These are on a weekly rota basis. The children use ICT and the outdoor environment where possible to support their learning. The children develop their self-confidence as they take larger parts in the school Christmas play and in assemblies.

5. Monitoring Progress At the end of year 2 the children are teacher assessed in reading, writing, speaking and listening, maths and science. These levels are reported to the county and are used to measure the success of the school. Each child is informally assessed daily through independent and guided work, conversation and marking. At points throughout the year the children are more formally assessed as part of an assessment week and this supports my planning to see what the next steps are in learning.

6. Age related expectations In year 2 it was expected that children will reach a level 2b in maths, literacy and science by the end of year 2. All the children are supported to try to reach this and are extended if they are already at level 2. New guidelines for assessment are still not with us in school but level 2 will the end of year expectation. Last year you will have been informed of your child’s level in the end of year report. If you’re not sure where they are then please ask!

7. Maths • At the start of Year 2, children have already acquired a basic knowledge and understanding of shapes, numbers and the number system. • During Year 2, they develop more sophisticated counting skills, begin to describe and explain patterns and relationships involving numbers and shapes, and use more formal methods of recording. They extend their knowledge and use of number facts and develop their understanding of all four arithmetic operations. • Children solve problems from real-life and mathematical contexts. They begin to record and carry out the calculations involved, checking that an answer makes sense in the context of the problem.

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11. Maths • In Year 2 the children have a weekly mental maths test and from October will have a weekly times table test from the scheme ‘Cracking Times Tables.’ This scheme works in levels depending on the time table that has been passed. It starts on x2, then x2, x5, x10 moving onto the other tables.

12. Writing • In Sky class the children have a weekly extended writing session called Big Write. • I encourage the children to extend their writing skills and each child has their own targets to try to achieve in the lesson. At the end of each lesson the child assess their own work and think about their next steps.

13. Writing • In year 2 the targets for level 2 writers are to: • Write in sentences with capital letters and full stops. • Use time connectives to order ideas • Write a beginning, middle and end to a whole piece. • Stay in past or present tense. • Use ? ! and , in a list. • Group similar ideas together • Use neat, cursive writing • Use wow words: interesting nouns, verbs and adjectives. • Use simple connectives because, and, but, so • Spell high frequency words correctly • Spell more complex words accurately using spelling strategies.

14. Reading Books • Children have all been given an appropriate level reading book. • In Sky class books to be changed are placed in the reading basket in the morning. Myself or the TA records the new book in the reading folder after the child has selected a new book. • I am happy to change books daily as appropriate according to the level. • Please ensure that reading record books are in school everyday, then guided reading sessions can be recorded.

15. Reading • In year 2 the targets for level 2 readers are to: • Read independently using appropriate strategies when reading unknown words. • Read with some fluency and expression. • Recall specific, straight forward information • Answer questions regarding a text using inference and deduction. • (Inference is information the children can gain from text without it actually written down. Deduction is the conclusions they come to having read the text). • Understand the features used to organise the text. • Identify effective language choices. • Have an awareness that the writer has a viewpoint or purpose. • Discuss own choices in reading with reasons why.

16. Science •The science curriculum in year 2 is taught in half termly units. They are called: Plants Using electricity Uses of everyday materials Animals, including humans Living things and their habitats The children use first hand experience through investigation to record and make conclusions.

17. Science objectives In year 2 the targets for level 2 in science are to: Suggest how to find things out and with help make suggestions about collecting data to answer questions. • Use simple texts, with help, to find information. • Use simple equipment and make observations about the activity. • Observe and compare objects, living things and events. • Describe observations using scientific vocabulary and record them, using simple tables. • Say whether what happened was what I expected.

18. Topic • Each half term the children will learn about a cross curricular topic. Each topic will have a focus of subjects such as DT, art, history or geography. We will also make links to literacy, numeracy and ICT. • You will find a topic web showing each half term’s objectives on the year 2 page of the school website. • At the start of each topic the children will have an exciting WOW day to stimulate their interest in the topic. • Each half term the children will have a trip linked to their topic.

19. Personal, Social and Emotional Development • Each week the children have a themed circle time where we play games to develop self –confidence, encourage team work and build friendships. • The circle time also involves discussing a topic and giving the children chance to share their thoughts and ideas for dealing with issues or problems.

20. P.E • Each week the children have a tennis lesson with Caroline Care and a P.E session with a specialist P.E teacher that covers either dance, gym or games. • In year 2 - Pupils explore simple skills. They copy, remember, repeat and explore simple actions with control and coordination. • They begin to show some understanding of simple tactics and basic compositional ideas. • They talk about differences between their own and others' performance and suggest improvements. • They understand how to exercise safely, and describe how their bodies feel during different activities.

21. Music • The children have a weekly music lesson with Mrs Law where they practice singing, compositional and listening skills. • They are also beginning to learn to play the recorder.

22. Uniform • Please ensure that your child’s name is in all items of clothing, including shoes! • P.E kit must be kept in school, so that it is available every day. • Please can children have a coat and please provide wellies. In sky class we still continue to learn outdoors where possible.

23. Medical Matters • Any absence requires a note or telephone call explaining why. • If you child has sickness or diarrhoea then they need to be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school. • Head lice are common! Please check regularly and treat as recommended. • No medicines can be administered by staff without prior consent. • Children with asthma will be helped to take • their inhaler.

24. How you can find out how your child is getting on? It is important that parents and the staff work together. We want you to feel comfortable about exchanging information and discussing things that will benefit your child. We have Parent’s Evening in November and March. We also send an Interim Report out in February. Please don’t feel that this is the only time you can come in and talk to us. You can make an appointment to suit you to come in for a chat or you can catch me in the playground before or after school.

25. Parent helpers If you are interested in coming into school to support with sharpening, reading or jobs in any class then please put your name down.

26. Please remember…. If you have any concerns or questions, we will be happy to help you. Mrs Collett- Headteacher Mrs Richardson-Sky class teacher Mrs Butler-TA– Tues, wed and thurs Mrs Finch TA – Mon and tues Mrs Owen - Fri

27. Any questions?