Owls Class 2020-2021.  Welcome back

This year, Owls class will be taught by Mr Doman. We are supported in class by the wonderful Mrs Axenderrie and Miss Green. We can't wait to welcome you all back into school and begin an exciting Year 2. 

Term 1 Information

Arrival and drop off times

We have adjusted the school timings to promote social distancing. Please see the table below.

Usually, we have an open door policy and love to chat with parents each morning however due to current restrictions this will not be possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us via Class Dojo and we will get back to you as quickly as possible. Please refer to the Corona virus section of our website for further information about returning to school in September.

Topic - Great Fire of London

Our topic will be rich in History and dilemmas as we look back at the events of 1666 that caused the fire and how London changed as a result. Our topic will link to our Literacy in Term 1 and we will develop the skills to write a diary about the fire in the style of Samuel Pepys.

Maths

We begin Term 1 with Place Value and lots of daily practice of fluency in counting, number bonds and number facts taught in Year 1.

PE

PE will take place every Thursday morning, please wear full PE kit to school and children will remain in PE kit for the remainder of the day. Remember, PE kit includes house colour t-shirt, black shorts/joggers and trainers. All PE lessons will take place outside in Term 1 so please make sure you are dressed appropriately.

Please check Class Dojo daily which will be my main platform for communication with parents. I love to keep the page busy with photos and updates of what is happening in class and the children get very excited to know their parents have seen each post, especially if they are in it!

Parents often ask us what they can do to help their children. The 3 most important things are:

• Make sure children are in school each day, on time and with the correct equipment (Regular attendance makes a massive difference to progress and attainment),
• Read, read, read with them at home. Being able to read is a key skill for learning in just about every subject from Year 2 onward.
• Encourage them to keep going. If you're positive about the benefits of learning when they're feeling tired or finding something hard, it will encourage them to keep having a go and continue to build resilience.  

Reading for success

All children will read to an adult in school regularly. They will also be reading with a partner each day in phonics for decoding, while Guided Reading activities will boost comprehension. However, nothing boosts a child's progress in reading more than reading to a grown up at home.

Book bands: We use Oxford Reading Tree scheme books are colour coded into reading bands. Children progress through the colours as they show that they can both read and understand the texts. Each time they move up a band we’ll write it in their Reading Record. Will will support the children in choosing the right book together from our reading trolley in the cloakroom area.

Spelling

English spelling is sometimes tricky.  But, good spelling makes a good first impression so many times in adult life, whether you're applying for a job, writing a report or even just emailing.

In primary school, good spelling is still an important part of Key Stage 2 SATs. Feeling confident about spelling can also boost children’s writing to a higher level, encouraging them to use more adventurous, exciting vocabulary.

To help children get to grips with the many rules of spelling, we use the Read Write Inc. spelling programme from Year 2-6, with at least three 15-minute sessions a week and regular assessments.

Year 2 children begin the spelling programme when they have finished learning Phonics. Children learn different things at different rates, so some children will begin immediately, while others will continue with phonics at first. We assess regularly to ensure children are in the right group for success.

How you can help your child fast-track to fantastic spelling:

• Ensure they learn and practise any spelling homework.
• Check out the Year 1 and 2 words that children should know by the end of KS1; it’s in the front of the Reading Record books.