15th September 2015
Year 2 Meet the Teacher
Dear parents/carers,
I hope you all had a wonderful summer holiday; it is lovely to meet both you and the children and start
getting to know you all.
I hope that this information regarding routines in Year 2 will be helpful.
Reading
Your child will be given a reading book and a reading record – please encourage them to read every night
(a few pages a night is fine) and discuss the content with you. Please sign the reading record.
The book and reading record will need to be in school every day, as we regularly listen to the children read
and check their reading records for comments or notes. Your child will need to be responsible for making
us aware if they need to change their reading book. Time will be allocated for this throughout the day.
Please note, we may ask some children to read a book twice. This is so we can assess for fluency and
understanding.
Phonics/ Spelling
The children will receive Phonics three times a week for 20 minutes. They will be in a group at a suitable
level. Spellings will be given out on a Wednesday to be tested in a spelling quiz the following Monday.
Please make sure that your child brings their spelling book to school each Monday to enable us to stick
their new spellings in.
Homework
Homework will be given out on a Wednesday along with their spellings, and is to be returned to school the
following Monday. The homework will usually involve numeracy and /or literacy work to support the learning
undertaken in class; there may be additional homework to support your child in making the best progress.
These home learning activities should not be overly arduous or time consuming (we recommend no more
than 30 minutes). Please ensure your child’s homework is completed with a sharp writing pencil and is
neatly presented.
You could help support your child’s learning at home by practising the following basic skills: learning by
heart their number bonds to 10, 20 and 100; 2x, 5x and 10x tables; doubles and halves; odd and even
numbers and so on. You could also help at home by using mathematical language such as: longer than/
heavier than; looking at timetables such as TV guides or bus timetables; talking about days of the week;
seasons; allowing them to select coins or talk about money when shopping. You could also encourage the
use of numbers in every day situations e.g. setting the table, counting out objects, pointing out numbers in
the home and outdoors etc.
Key Stage 1 Assessments
At the end of Year 2 children will be formally assessed in Maths, Spelling, Punctuation, Grammar and
Reading. These are likely to take place in the second half of Spring term, so please don’t plan any holidays
for then! The end of year assessment will be based on both the formal assessments, and the work that the
children complete throughout the year.
The children will complete practice papers prior to the test so that they are familiar with the format. We call
the tests ‘Big Quizzes’ and try and make them as relaxed as possible for the children. There is nothing
specific you need to do at home other than reading regularly, completing homework and practising basic
maths skills. We ask for your support in ensuring this is a stress-free time for the children.
PE
PE will be on a Wednesday with Mrs Annis. Your child should have their full PE kit in school, which should
be clearly labelled. Tracksuit bottoms and jumpers are fine for colder weather, as are trainers for outdoor
lessons. Jewellery must not be worn for PE and long hair should be tied back. Swimming will be on a
Friday morning starting 25th September for 4 weeks.
Topic
Our topic is ‘Fire, Fire’ and will involve:
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Learning about the Great Fire of London and Guy Fawkes’ Gunpowder Plot
Looking into the lives of significant people from the period such as Thomas Farynor and Samuel
Pepys
Creating an imaginary recount and diary based on the Great Fire of London
Exploring texts such as George and the Dragon, The Dragon Machine and Maisy’s Dragon and then
writing their own Fantasy Story
Investigating pattern and rhyme by composing fire poems
Comparing maps from before and after the fire to understand the scale of damage
Making Tudor buildings to create a 3D model of London in 1666
Baking bread to eat ‘inside’ our model of London
Choreographing and performing fire dances
Using different mediums such as marble paint and pastels to create a silhouette of the London
skyline during the fire and firework art
Programming and directing Beebots around London stopping at various sight-seeing spots along
the way to compare London now and then
A fire-fighter visit to talk about fire safety
History off the Page: This is a company who provide a whole day of workshops based on a topic.
They provide valuable learning opportunities for the pupils through a combination of role-play,
practical activities and hands-on experience with replica artefacts. The pupils will study the lives of,
and take the roles of, workers and residents of London on Monday 3rd September 1666.
N.B. It is very likely to be the only cost this year, as currently I foresee no other costs for
educational visits. The cost would be no more than £18 per child. If you are happy to pay this
for a fantastic learning opportunity for your child, please write your child’s name on the list as
you leave. Thank you.
Other
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As the weather gets cooler, please make sure your child has a suitable coat in school that is
labelled.
Please make me aware if someone other than yourself is picking your child up from school.
If there are any questions now or throughout the year, please do not hesitate to see me at the end of a
school day. Alternatively you could leave a message in your child’s reading record, telephone the school
and leave a message, or email office@holyredeemer.worcs.sch.uk.
I am looking forward to working with you and the children this year.
Thank you for your support.
Miss Davies