Welcome

1. Welcome to Year 2 Parents'Evening. 2011

2. Numeracy Counting Place Value 2D and 3D Shapes Handling Data Measures Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. Money Using and applying Literacy Instructions Letter Writing Recounts Riddles Story writing Poetry What do we do in Year 2?

3. Science 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.

4. French Continuing from Year 1 Simple conversations, songs and counting. Music Songs Using instruments- specialist teaching from Miss White Games Throwing and catching, kicking and aiming. Team games, Gymnastics and Dance. Here I Am Homes and Families Signs and Symbols Visitors Celebrations Thanksgiving Self- Giving Holidays/Holydays Building Bridges Difference Judaism

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. How do we achieve this? Through the Year 2 Team :- • Mrs Baker/ Mrs O’Rourke, Mrs Nawrocki and Mrs Hennessy • Mrs Mc Gain and Mrs McQueen • Mrs Rogers. 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!

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.