Dear parents,
A big, warm welcome to Class 2! I hope you all had some lovely family time in the sun this summer and feel ready for the year ahead. We have already had such a great start to the school year and I know we’re going to achieve so much and have lots of fun along the way! We have some exciting lessons within our subjects this term, mainly based around the overarching theme of Houses and Homes.
Literacy
In Literacy we shall be looking at a lovely picture book, called “The Something” by Rebecca Cobb, which is about a hole in a little boy’s garden and the imaginative ideas his family has about what might be in the hole. We will also be studying a poem called “The Deserted House” and trying to write some poems of our own. Finally, we will be using a non-fiction book about The Great Fire of London to complete some non-fiction writing.
Geopraphy
We will be using a few Geography skills this term when we look at maps of the local area and where the houses in our village are.
Computing
In Computing we will be considering what is meant by the term “technology” and will be identifying the main parts of a computer before practising using the keyboard to type and edit text.
PE
PE will be taught by Bright Sparks, who will be teaching the children football skills. These sessions will be on a Tuesday morning. Then on a Thursday morning, Mrs Hall will be teaching the children Striking and Fielding skills. Please ensure that your child has appropriate PE Kit ready on those two days. Tracksuit bottoms or leggings won’t be needed until after the October half term, so please ensure your child has a pair of shorts to wear before then.
Music
In Music, we will be focusing on the skills or listening and responding to music, especially classical music.
PSHE
In PSHE, using the Jigsaw scheme, the children will be thinking about and discussing what it means to Be Me in My World before Celebrating Differences in term 2.
Maths
In Maths we shall be looking at place value of numbers within 20, before moving onto addition and subtraction of these numbers. Following this we move into looking at the place value of numbers within 50 and finally, we will begin to learn about multiplication.
History
In History, we will be learning about how houses have changed throughout history from the Celts up to the modern day. After half term, we will be learning about the Great Fire of London and making links between what we know about how houses were made and why the fire spread so quickly. We will be trying to answer the enquiry questions: Why was there a “Great” fire of London? And Has London burned since?
Science
In Science this term we will be learning about everyday materials and learning the difference between objects and the materials they are made from. We will be sorting and grouping materials and testing the properties of these materials.
DT
For our DT project we will learn how buildings can be strengthened by the way they are built. We will be using this knowledge to design and make a house for the three little pigs to keep them safe from the big bad wolf!
Art
In Art, we will be learning how to draw, in particular looking at the concept of line and how line can be used for different effects. We will use this short unit to help us to create some Harvest Artwork ready for our Harvest Festival. After half term our focus will be on exploring and creating maps through various art forms, including drawing, printmaking and designing stained glass.
RE
In RE we will be learning about the religion of Islam, in particular asking the question: “Who is Muslim and how do they live?” This is a two part unit that we will return to after Christmas. After half term we will have a Christianity focus and will be asking the question: “Why does Christmas matter to Christians?” This learning will be supported by the performing of our Nativity Play.
Reading Books
Every child should be reading for a minimum of 10-15 minutes each evening. This is perhaps the most important piece of homework! As children progress through Year 2 they may start to want to read to themselves, but please do encourage them to also read aloud to you so that you can help them to really understand what they are reading. Remember to discuss the book, pick out favourite words, retell the story and make the reading fun! If your child is tired, support them by reading together or just sharing a book and talking about the characters, plot, setting – this is very important when learning to read.
As a reminder, the children will be given a “sharing book” on a Monday. This is part of our Guided Reading across the week and the children are encouraged to talk about what they did and didn’t like about the book in class. The idea is that they read this with an adult, as often it will be above their own reading level.
On a Friday, the children are given their Monster Phonics book. The children will have read, or at least looked at and talked about the book, 3 times before they bring it home. They should be able to tackle the reading of it with some sounding out of the key words. They need to practise reading this several times to support their development of fluency and understanding.
Therefore, the children need to make sure that they have the “sharing book” in their book bag on a Monday and the Phonics book on a Friday so that we can change the books each week.
All reading (including any books you have at home or from the class library) can be recorded on the Reading Record Booklet and then brought to school to be stamped – a certificate will be given in Thursday assemblies for each completed booklet. We will occasionally ask to see children’s reading records, so please also make sure that these are kept in your child’s book bag.
Homework
Your child will have a Home Learning Book and will be set a selection of Maths and English questions to work through each week, which will cover a variety of topics. Please support your child to work through as many of the questions as they can.
Reading
Every child should be reading for a minimum of 10-15 minutes each evening. This is perhaps the most important piece of homework! As children progress through Year 2 they may start to want to read to themselves, but please do encourage them to also read aloud to you so that you can help them to really understand what they are reading. Remember to discuss the book, pick out favourite words, retell the story and make the reading fun! If your child is tired, support them by reading together or just sharing a book and talking about the characters, plot, setting – this is very important when learning to read.
As a reminder, the children will be given a “sharing book” on a Monday. This is part of our Guided Reading across the week and the children are encouraged to talk about what they did and didn’t like about the book in class. The idea is that they read this with an adult, as often it will be above their own reading level.
On a Friday, the children are given their Monster Phonics book. The children will have read, or at least looked at and talked about the book, 3 times before they bring it home. They should be able to tackle the reading of it with some sounding out of the key words. They need to practise reading this several times to support their development of fluency and understanding.
Therefore, the children need to make sure that they have the “sharing book” in their book bag on a Monday and the Phonics book on a Friday so that we can change the books each week.
All reading (including any books you have at home or from the class library) can be recorded on the Reading Record Booklet and then brought to school to be stamped – a certificate will be given in Thursday assemblies for each completed booklet. We will occasionally ask to see children’s reading records, so please also make sure that these are kept in your child’s book bag.
Spelling
Our Spelling work is done through our Monster Phonics daily sessions rather than by weekly testing. However, it would be great if you could help your child to read and spell the common exception and high frequency words appropriate to the Phonics they are learning.
Numbots
Numbots is a fun way for your child to become proficient at those Maths fluency skills that are so important to help them to do more complicated calculations as they go through school. Please encourage your child to try to work through the program and there are certificates awarded each week for the biggest improvements in speed and accuracy of answering.
Uniform
Please check that all of your child’s uniform, including shoes, is clearly labelled with their name – this saves so much time when trying to sort out clothing!
Water Bottles
Please send a named bottle of water for your child to drink in class. The bottles will be kept in a box in the classroom to eliminate distractions on the tables, but the children are encouraged to drink regularly throughout the day. It is important to remind your child to take bottles home everyday to ensure they are clean and hygienic.
Stationery
Your child will have all the stationery they need provided for them. There is no need for the children to bring in pencil cases from home, however if they do bring in their own stationery, then I must insist that the pencil case is small enough to fit into their tray so that the tables are clear for cleaning at the end of the day.
Key Dates
Friday 11th September – PTA welcome back coffee morning. All parents invited. 9am in the hall.
Friday 11th September- Whole School Spirituality Day
Tuesday 22nd September – PTA AGM in School Hall (7.30pm)
Friday 25th September – European Day of Languages – breakfast from 8.15
Friday 25th September – In school poetry competition
Tuesday 29th September – Harvest Festival at Framfield Church
Thursday 1st October – Ringmer Alliance Poetry Competition
Tuesday 6th October – Lions Club Eye Checks
Friday 9th October – Parent Workshop on ADHD/Autism (1.30)
Monday 19th October and Wednesday 21st October – Parent Consultation Evenings
Monday 2nd November – School Photos
Friday 13th November – Crazy Catwalk for Children in Need
Monday 16th November – Odd Socks for Anti-bullying week
Tuesday 24th November – KS1 Multiskills event at Uckfield College (Year 2 only)
Friday 27th November – Takeover Day (Children become the teachers!)
Monday 30th November – start of assessment week
Wednesday 9th December – Open the Book Donkey Walk
Tuesday 15th December – Christmas Jumper Day & Whole School Christmas lunch
Wednesday 16th December – KS1 Nativity
Thursday 17th December – KS1 Christmas Party (1.30-3.00)
Friday 18th December – End of term Cup Assembly (2.15)
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at hsullivan@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk
Many thanks
Mrs Sullivan
