Year 2 Teachers: Miss Bates Miss Evans
Curriculum Information
Select this link and it will bring you to the topics for Summer Term 2013
In Year 2 we teach discrete subjects, making strong links between subjects. We do this by teaching the different lessons in blocks of 3-4 weeks with an overarching topic e.g. Space: During our space topic we look at the Space Race and famous astronauts for history; design alien soft toys in DT and learn about forces in science.
Phonics- Every day children have a 20 minute phonics session. These sessions include opportunities to build on phonological knowledge through reading, writing and spelling activities. In Year 2 we are looking at phase 5 of a programme called Letters and Sounds. Towards the end of the year we will be starting phase 6.
Literacy – Lessons are an hour long and consist of word/sentence /text level work. Every two weeks we study a different genre. These include: narrative writing and stories, recounts, poetry, drama, instructional writing, explanation texts and non-chronological reports.
We encourage talk partner work, whiteboard work and drama to engage all pupils.
Core Reading Scheme
“Letters and Sounds” and “Oxford Reading Tree”.
Maths – Lessons involve mental/oral starters followed by the teaching various maths concepts which children need to apply. There will be both practical work that uses practical resources and book work. The children are taught a range of mathematical skills with the emphasis on mental maths and problem solving. Every 2-3 weeks children are given a focused times table that they are encouraged to learn, starting with 2, 5 and 10 times tables.
RE – We follow the Diocesan scheme of work ‘God Matters’. Activities to explore Catholicism and other faiths include art, drama, written tasks and discussion.
Science – During science we encourage children to learn through doing. There is opportunity to learn through practical activities. We develop the children’s reasoning of the world through experiments and investigations. Children are introduced to scientific vocabulary at the start of each topic to enable them to discuss their views scientifically.
Foundation subjects – All our foundation subject (history, geography, art, design technology) are linked by a topic per term. The first term of Year 2 is Space. Through drama workshops and project based work, children are given the opportunity to make strong links between the different subjects. To support foundation subjects, we take trips to places that support their learning. For example in October Year 2 visit the Science Museum in London to explore the Space gallery and Launch Pad activity centre.
PE - PE covers games skills, gym and dance.
Classroom Organisation
In order to promote independence, please ensure that your child is in his/her class line when the whistle goes at 8:40, ready to enter the school on their own.
Children should be coming to school with their reading book and record, book bag and named water bottle every day.
PE kits should remain in school for the week, with all items named. Any children with earrings that cannot be removed must have tape in their bags so that they can be covered during PE lessons.
Lunch money is preferred in a named money belt; otherwise they must hand in their purse to the class teacher/teaching assistant.
Homework
Times table – please encourage your child to learn their tables, starting with 10s, 5s and 2s. Good knowledge of tables helps in many areas of numeracy.
Handwriting – Please persevere with the cursive style of handwriting. Your child will get there in the end!
Helpers for reading
Teaching assistants aim to hear your child read as much as possible. We would really appreciate some volunteers to help with this.
Websites
The following websites are very useful for helping support your child with learning.
Http://www.coxhoe.durham.sch.uk/curriculum/curriculum.htm
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/
Speaking and listening
Speaking and listening is a very important aspect of your child’s learning. Sessions take place weekly, and children are encouraged to discuss what they are going to talk about with parents. Letters will be sent home when it is your child’s turn.
Differentiation
In order to ensure we cater for all the learning needs of the children, we differentiate the work set. This is very important to ensure that they reach their full potential and their confidence is maintained. The class teacher works with different focus groups throughout