Phonics/Reading Opportunities

Throughout the first term, children will continue to learn to read fluently and spell using Little Wandle. The children will also look at a range of different types of books in guided reading and will be heard read individually and within a small group. Children will have a new book each week that will be changed on a Monday. The children will need to read that book at home to support their decoding skills. The children will revisit this book within their guided reading sessions to reinforce their understanding.  Within the guided reading sessions, the children will practise decoding unfamiliar words and a range of comprehension skills. Children will also follow the Spelling shed scheme to help them read and spell a range of spelling patterns that include different suffixes or alternative spelling patterns for the ‘j’ sound.

 

Writing Opportunities

In Year 2, there will be plenty of opportunities for children to develop their writing skills. Children will practise and improve their handwriting using the PenPals handwriting scheme.

 

At Welsh House Farm, our writing is taught using Talk 4 Writing – this approach teaches children to read and write independently for a variety of audiences and purposes within different subjects. The approach moves from dependence towards independence, with the teacher using shared and guided teaching to develop the ability in children to write creatively and powerfully. The children will be introduced to a wide variety of poetry, fiction and non-fiction texts which will form the basis for their own writing.

 

We will be starting with a nonsense poem (The Quangle Wangle’s Hat) and move on to Meerkat Mail – a lovely book about a Sunny the Meerkat travelling around the world searching for something, only to discover it was in his own home all along.

 

The children will learn to write different non-fiction genres throughout the year - letters, instructions, reports and recounts, to name but a few.

 

Creative Opportunities

In Year 2, children will be taught how to use different materials creatively and apply these skills in creating paintings, drawings and digital art. The Access Art curriculum offers children opportunities to learn about architecture, printing, sculpture and expressive painting. The children will look at the connection between music and art through collage.

 

Our music curriculum is Charanga which allows the children to learn about different genres of music, while learning to sing songs and compose music to accompany the songs they learn.

 

STEM Opportunities

For mathematics, Year 2 will be following the mastery approach to the teaching of mathematics using White Rose Maths. Children through collaborative work will be encouraged to investigate and interrogate mathematical concepts. The children will use both manipulatives and representatives to help develop their analytical and mathematical skills. There are also opportunities for the children to support their understanding at home by accessing the parents section on the White Rose scheme.

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Children will explore technology through weekly computing lessons during which they will gain a grounding in basic computing skills. They will also explore Information technology around us, digital photography, robot algorithms and creating music.

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In Design Technology, the children will take part in termly D.T projects and create a class exhibition at the end of term. In Year 2, the children will investigate sliders and levers by making their own book, investigate joining techniques by creating a puppet and learn how to prepare food by creating a salad.

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For Science, we will explore and investigate different scientific concepts. They will learn key facts, new vocabulary and how to create an experiment. The children will explore materials and their properties, investigate habitats and identify food chains and learn about what makes a healthy body.

 

Parent Corner

Children are expected to wear grey or black trousers or a skirt, a white T-shirt and purple school jumper. Children are encouraged to wear black shoes. On days that year 2 have PE, they will need to arrive in school in their P.E kit which is a white T-shirt and leggings or tracksuit bottoms/shorts. Children will also need to bring a water bottle in for use during their PE lessons.

 

Homework is sent home on a Friday and the children will need to hand their homework in on a Tuesday. In Year 2, we are focusing on establishing the routine of homework. However, it is essential that you hear them read regularly and record what you have read in their reading diaries. The children will be provided with a reading bag, reading book and reading diary. Each child will be expected to bring their reading bag every day. The children will have a new reading book every week and will be expected to practise reading daily.

 

There is a range of before and after clubs catering for both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 children. A letter will be sent home at the beginning of each term outlining the different clubs and children will need to apply to join an age appropriate club through Arbor only. Parents can communicate with the school by emailing the teacher, emailing enquiry on the school website or speaking to the teacher directly at the end of the day. Teachers will share all the important information via Arbor and therefore it is essential you sign up for this APP.

 

School begins at 8.30 and finishes at 3.15. It is essential that children arrive on time so they can settle for the day and are picked up promptly. Attendance is vitally important as often lessons are taught in sequence and missing out on learning activities can make the children anxious.

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