Welcome to
Sky Class ‘Meet the Teacher’
September 2014
What happens in Sky class ?
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The children are shown in the morning what they are
going to be doing in the day using the visual
timetable.
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Children have a daily literacy and maths lesson. They
are sat in groups for these lessons according to their
ability. This means that the work can be
differentiated to the need of each group. Often
children are mixed up to work in mixed ability or
friendship groups.
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Once a week the children have an
. ICT, Circle Time
lesson, music lesson and R.E lesson. Twice a week
there is a science lesson.
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Three times a week the children have a topic lesson
which is when history, geography, art and other
cross curricular lessons are taught.
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Children have a phonics session in a differentiated
group on a daily basis.
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Everyday the children have a guided reading session
after lunch. This is timetabled according to their
group and they read with me or a TA. If they are not
reading that day then they carry out another related
activity such as comprehension, personalised learning
handwriting, writing journal or .I pad activities.
Sky Class
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I encourage the children to take more responsibility for
their own learning and they are encouraged to work
independently and co-operatively in groups throughout the
week.
• In year 2 the children have the chance to support the adult in
school with monitor jobs. These are on a weekly rota basis.
• The children use ICT and the outdoor environment where
possible to support their learning.
• The children develop their self-confidence as they take
larger parts in the school Christmas play and in
assemblies.
Monitoring Progress
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At the end of year 2 the children are teacher
assessed in reading, writing, speaking and listening,
maths and science. These levels are reported to the
county and are used to measure the success of the
school.
• Each child is informally assessed daily through
independent and guided work, conversation and
marking. At points throughout the year the children
are more formally assessed as part of an
assessment week and this supports my planning to
see what the next steps are in learning.
Age related expectations
• In year 2 it was expected that children will reach a
level 2b in maths, literacy and science by the end of
year 2. All the children are supported to try to
reach this and are extended if they are already at
level 2. New guidelines for assessment are still not
with us in school but level 2 will the end of year
expectation.
• Last year you will have been informed of your child’s
level in the end of year report. If you’re not sure
where they are then please ask!
Maths
• At the start of Year 2, children have already acquired a
basic knowledge and understanding of shapes, numbers
and the number system.
• During Year 2, they develop more sophisticated counting
skills, begin to describe and explain patterns and
relationships involving numbers and shapes, and use
more formal methods of recording. They extend their
knowledge and use of number facts and develop their
understanding of all four arithmetic operations.
• Children solve problems from real-life and mathematical
contexts. They begin to record and carry out the
calculations involved, checking that an answer makes
sense in the context of the problem.
Maths
•Count in steps of 2, 3, and 5 from 0, and in 10s from any number, forward and backward
•recognise the place value of each digit in a two-digit number (10s, 1s)
•identify, represent and estimate numbers using different representations, including the
number line
•compare and order numbers from 0 up to 100; use <, > and = signs
•read and write numbers to at least 100 in numerals and in words
•use place value and number facts to solve problems
Solve problems with addition and subtraction:
• applying their increasing knowledge of mental and written methods
• recall and use addition and subtraction facts to 20 fluently, and derive and use related
facts up to 100
• show that addition of 2 numbers can be done in any order (commutative) and subtraction of
1 number from another cannot
• recognise and use the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction and use this to
check calculations and solve missing number problems
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Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 multiplication tables,
including recognising odd and even numbers
calculate mathematical statements for multiplication and division within the multiplication
tables and write them using the multiplication (×), division (÷) and equals (=) signs
Recognise, find, name and write fractions 1/3 , 1/4 , 2/4 and 3/4 of a length, shape, set
of objects or quantity
Maths
• Interpret and construct simple pictograms, tally charts, block diagrams
and tables
• ask and answer simple questions by counting the number of objects in
each category and sorting the categories by quantity
• ask-and-answer questions about totalling and comparing categorical
data
• Order and arrange combinations of mathematical objects in patterns
and sequences
• use mathematical vocabulary to describe position, direction and
movement, including movement in a straight line and distinguishing
between rotation as a turn and in terms of right angles for quarter,
half and three-quarter turns (clockwise and anti-clockwise
• Identify and describe the properties of 2-D shapes, including the
number of sides, and line symmetry in a vertical line
• identify and describe the properties of 3-D shapes, including the
number of edges, vertices and faces
• identify 2-D shapes on the surface of 3-D shapes,
• compare and sort common 2-D and 3-D shapes and everyday objects
Maths
• Choose and use appropriate standard units to estimate and measure
length/height in any direction (m/cm); mass (kg/g); temperature (°C);
capacity (litres/ml) to the nearest appropriate unit, using rulers, scales,
thermometers and measuring vessels
• compare and order lengths, mass, volume/capacity and record the
results using >, < and =
• recognise and use symbols for pounds (£) and pence (p); combine
amounts to make a particular value
• find different combinations of coins that equal the same amounts of
money
• solve simple problems in a practical context involving addition and
subtraction of money of the same unit, including giving change
• compare and sequence intervals of time
• tell and write the time to five minutes, including quarter past/to the
hour and draw the hands on a clock face to show these times
• know the number of minutes in an hour and the number of hours in a
day
Maths
• In Year 2 the children have a weekly mental
maths test and from October will have a weekly
times table test from the scheme ‘Cracking
Times Tables.’ This scheme works in levels
depending on the time table that has been
passed. It starts on x2, then x2, x5, x10 moving
onto the other tables.
Writing
• In Sky class the children have a weekly
extended writing session called Big Write.
• I encourage the children to extend their
writing skills and each child has their own
targets to try to achieve in the lesson. At
the end of each lesson the child assess
their own work and think about their next
steps.
Writing
In year 2 the targets for level 2 writers are to:
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Write in sentences with capital letters and full stops.
Use time connectives to order ideas
Write a beginning, middle and end to a whole piece.
Stay in past or present tense.
Use ? ! and , in a list.
Group similar ideas together
Use neat, cursive writing
Use wow words: interesting nouns, verbs and adjectives.
Use simple connectives because, and, but, so
Spell high frequency words correctly
Spell more complex words accurately using spelling
strategies.
Reading Books
• Children have all been given an appropriate level
reading book.
• In Sky class books to be changed are placed in the
reading basket in the morning. Myself or the TA
records the new book in the reading folder after
the child has selected a new book.
• I am happy to change books daily as appropriate
according to the level.
• Please ensure that reading record books are in
school everyday, then guided reading sessions
can be recorded.
Reading
In year 2 the targets for level 2 readers are to:
• Read independently using appropriate strategies when reading
unknown words.
• Read with some fluency and expression.
• Recall specific, straight forward information
• Answer questions regarding a text using inference and
deduction.
(Inference is information the children can gain from text
without it actually written down. Deduction is the conclusions
they come to having read the text).
• Understand the features used to organise the text.
• Identify effective language choices.
• Have an awareness that the writer has a viewpoint or purpose.
• Discuss own choices in reading with reasons why.
Science
•The science curriculum in year 2 is taught
in half termly units. They are called:
Plants
Using electricity
Uses of everyday materials
Animals, including humans
Living things and their habitats
• The children use first hand experience through
investigation to record and make conclusions.
Science objectives
In year 2 the targets for level 2 in science are to:
• Suggest how to find things out and with help make
suggestions about collecting data to answer questions.
• Use simple texts, with help, to find information.
• Use simple equipment and make observations about the
activity.
• Observe and compare objects, living things and events.
• Describe observations using scientific vocabulary and
record them, using simple tables.
• Say whether what happened was what I expected.
Topic
• Each half term the children will learn about a cross
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curricular topic. Each topic will have a focus of
subjects such as DT, art, history or geography. We
will also make links to literacy, numeracy and ICT.
You will find a topic web showing each half term’s
objectives on the year 2 page of the school
website.
At the start of each topic the children will have an
exciting WOW day to stimulate their interest in
the topic.
Each half term the children will have a trip linked
to their topic.
Personal, Social and Emotional
Development
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Each week the children have a themed circle
time where we play games to develop self –
confidence, encourage team work and build
friendships.
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The circle time also involves discussing a topic
and giving the children chance to share their
thoughts and ideas for dealing with issues or
problems.
P.E
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Each week the children have a tennis lesson with Caroline
Care and a P.E session with a specialist P.E teacher that
covers either dance, gym or games.
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In year 2 - Pupils explore simple skills. They copy,
remember, repeat and explore simple actions with control
and coordination.
They begin to show some understanding of simple tactics and
basic compositional ideas.
They talk about differences between their own and others'
performance and suggest improvements.
They understand how to exercise safely, and describe how
their bodies feel during different activities.
Music
• The children have a weekly music lesson
with Mrs Law where they practice singing,
compositional and listening skills.
• They are also beginning to learn to play
the recorder.
Uniform
• Please ensure that your child’s name is in
all items of clothing, including shoes!
• P.E kit must be kept in school, so that it is
available every day.
• Please can children have a coat and please
provide wellies. In sky class we still
continue to learn outdoors where possible.
Medical Matters
• Any absence requires a note or telephone call
explaining why.
• If you child has sickness or diarrhoea then they
need to be symptom free for 24 hours before
returning to school.
• Head lice are common! Please check regularly and
treat as recommended.
• No medicines can be administered by staff without
prior consent.
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Children with asthma will be helped to take
their inhaler.
How you can find out how your
child is getting on?
It is important that parents and the staff work
together. We want you to feel comfortable about
exchanging information and discussing things that will
benefit your child. We have Parent’s Evening in
November and March. We also send an Interim Report
out in February. Please don’t feel that this is the only
time you can come in and talk to us. You can make an
appointment to suit you to come in for a chat or you can
catch me in the playground before or after school.
Parent helpers
If you are interested in coming into
school to support with sharpening,
reading or jobs in any class then
please put your name down.
Please remember….
If you have any concerns or questions,
we will be happy to help you.
Mrs Collett- Headteacher
Mrs Richardson-Sky class teacher
Mrs Butler-TA– Tues, wed and thurs
Mrs Finch TA – Mon and tues
Mrs Owen - Fri
Any questions?