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20th September 2011

Dear Parents/Carers,

Autumn Term Curriculum Letter for Year 2

First of all, welcome to Ash Class!  I am very much looking forward to getting to know your children and also yourselves.  I am sure that it will be a happy and successful year for all.

As it is the start of a new year there may be a few changes to routines you will need to know about.  I have listed our basic routines below:    

• Weekly spelling lists are sent home on a Monday in a spelling book.  The children should practise these and also try and use the words in sentences.  It is equally important for your child to try and use these words in their everyday talk too.  The children are then tested every Friday.
• Homework is set on a Friday, to be returned on a Wednesday.  Homework instructions are given on a piece of paper which will be inside your child’s homework book.  Homework will be varied from week to week.
• As well as learning spellings and completing any homework given, the children are expected to read every night at home, keeping a record of their reading and reading responses in their Yellow Reading Record.  Please make sure an adult signs the reading record every evening.
• In Year 2 the children will also start practising their times tables.  I will let you know when we will begin this.
• Please ensure that your child’s uniform and PE kit are labelled clearly.
• Please remember that no jewellery is to be worn during PE lessons and hair must be tied back.
• Please make sure that your child brings in a labelled bottle each day containing water only.

The following information is to give you a broad outline of some of the work your child will be covering during the Autumn term.  Our topic this term will be:

‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ and of course learning about the Nativity.

Where possible, I will try and plan most lessons around these key themes.  The main skills and concepts on which we will be concentrating are:

Literacy:

•  Fiction:  Stories with familiar settings and Traditional Stories
  
  We will be focusing on reading and responding to a variety of text types, identifying with the characters, reviewing stories, telling and writing stories.   

• Non-Fiction: Instructions and  Explanations
  

We will be reading a variety of text types, following instructions, doing lots of practical work, understanding the different features used and drawing from our experiences to write our own sorts of non-fiction.

Phonics, reading and spelling: Continuing with the Letters and Sounds programme, guided reading

Speaking and Listening: Show and Tell.  This term I would like the children to bring in things from around the world to talk about as part of their show and tell. Half of the class will do show and tell on a Monday and the other half will do theirs on a Friday. Please see the list regarding which day your child has show and tell at the end of this letter.

Numeracy:

These are the main focuses for the whole year.  These will be taught when appropriate to their topics at the time and depending on how the children grasp these concepts.

Counting, Partitioning and calculating

The main focuses in this unit are:      

• Place value in 2- and 3- digit numbers
• Partition into multiples of 10 and ones
• Comparing, ordering, reading and writing 2-digit and 3-digit numbers
• Use the < and > symbols
• Patterns and sequences
• Counting on and back in steps of different sizes
• Odd and even numbers
• Mental methods
• Addition/subtraction of 1- and 2- digit numbers
• Partitioning and counting on/back
• Solving problems and puzzles involving understanding of numbers and operations; explaining their methods and justifying decisions

Securing number facts and understanding shape

The main focuses in this unit are:

• Addition and subtraction facts to 10; pairs that sum to 20; multiples of 10 that sum to 100
• Tables for 2, 5 and 10
• Doubles of numbers to 10; corresponding halves
• Solving problems involving numbers, money or measures, using addition, subtraction, multiplication or division
• Patterns, relationships and properties of numbers and shapes
• Estimating and checking answers
• Describing and visualising properties of common 2-D and 3-D shapes
• Line symmetry
• Sorting and making shapes

Handling data and measures

The main focuses in this unit are:

• Sorting information on a diagram using one or two criteria
• Organising information using lists and tables
• Presenting data in block graphs and pictograms
• Collecting, organising, presenting and interpreting data to answer questions
• Identifying further questions
• Choosing and using appropriate units of measure and measuring equipment
• Measuring and comparing lengths, weights and capacities using standard units

Calculating, measuring and understanding shape

The main focuses in this unit are:

• Mental calculations: adding and subtracting 1-digit number or multiple of 10 to/from a 2-digit number
• Informal written calculations: adding and subtracting 1- and 2-digit numbers
• Following and giving instructions for movement using mathematical language
• Solving problems involving numbers, money, measures or time
• Estimating, comparing and measuring lengths, weights and capacities
• Using units of time and reading time to the quarter hour
• Reading scales and interpreting the divisions

Securing number facts, relationships and calculating

The main focuses in this unit are:

• Counting on and back from different numbers in 2s, 5s and 10s
• Building up the 2, 5, or 10 times-tables
• Finding half, quarter and three quarters of shapes and sets of objects
• Doubles of numbers to 20 and corresponding halves
• Describing patterns and relationships involving numbers or shapes and testing examples that fit conditions
• Solving problems using counting, the four operations and doubling or halving in practical contexts, including measures or money
• Using the symbols +, −, ÷ and = to describe, record and interpret number sentences
• Multiplication as repeated addition and arrays
• Division as sharing and repeated subtraction (grouping)

Science:  During the Autumn term we will be focusing on the topics of Grouping and Changing Materials and Electricity.  There will be lots of fun and practical lessons involved.     

Foundation Subjects:              

Art and Music will be taught by Mrs. Matthews and Mrs. Harry, while PE lessons will take place on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.  Both Geography and History will be studied through our topic- ‘Around the World in 80 days.’

ICT:  We will be using our new Apple Mac computers in ICT lessons to cover both ICT skills and to extend learning in particular lessons.  We also use the computers for various projects and as an aid to research.

RE: Our RE work this term will focus on the concepts of Church, Ceremonies, Belonging and Community.

PE: We will have P.E. every Monday and Wednesday afternoons.  These lessons will involve a variety of games and dance for this term. Please remember that no jewellery is to be worn during PE lessons and hair must be tied back with either a blue or black hair band.

Teaching arrangements

Miss Poole is taking part in teaching training this year and will be with Ash Class through out most of the year which we are extremely excited about. On a Tuesday afternoon, Mrs Matthews and Mrs Harry will be teaching the children Art and Music.  We also have our teaching assistants, Mrs Hamwijk and Mrs Harry working with us.  The children are very comfortable with these adults and we feel very lucky to have so much help on hand.

Show and Tell Days

Monday                                          

Trips

At the moment we have a theatre group coming into school to celebrate Black History Month and a Pantomime over the Christmas season. 

Meet the Teacher

You are invited into Ash Class on Tuesday 20th September at 2:30pm.  It will be an opportunity to meet with me informally, go through the above information and clarify any concerns.

Please also put into your diaries our Year 2 Assessment meeting on Monday 21st November 8.50 – 9.30 am.

My door is always open so please do not hesitate to come and see me if you have any questions or queries.

Many thanks in advance for your support and kindness.

Yours sincerely

Mrs C. Rodenas       Miss J. Poole       Mrs C. Hamwijk     Mrs D. Harry

Click here for a print version of this letter (PDF)