Welcome to Topaz Class Topaz Class

Mrs Lake Mrs Douglas – TA in class every morning and most afternoons, also teaches for the last hour on Thursday afternoon Mr Cox – P.E. Mrs Lihoreau – Music Staff in Topaz

Topaz Class Curriculum National Curriculum objectives are planned for around a topic. There will be discrete sessions for Maths, Handwriting, Phonics, Grammar, Reading, P.E. and Music. Where possible links between these sessions and our topics will be made.

Topaz Class Timetable: MON Diary Maths Phonics Assembly Break time Literacy Grammar Lunch time Group Reading Handwriting Break time PE Story TUES Handwriting Maths Phonics Assembly Break time Literacy Grammar Lunch time Group Reading Topic Break time Topic Story WED Word of the week Maths Phonics Assembly Break time Literacy Music Lunch time Group Reading Topic Break time Topic Story THURS Maths act Maths Phonics Assembly Break Duty Literacy Group Reading Lunch time PEICT FRI Spellings Maths Phonics Assembly Break time Literacy Group Reading Lunch time Topic Break time PSHE Story

Topaz Class Handwriting A short session most days. We will be continuing with the fully cursive script introduced last year. Frequent practice to encourage neatness and speed.

Topaz Class Phonics Daily Phonics sessions. Currently revising and consolidating work covered in Year 1. Year 2 work will expand on phonemes taught in Year 1 and teach alternative spellings. Later in the year will look at spelling patterns for plurals, adding ‘ing’ and ‘ed’, other suffixes and common prefixes. Will also cover the spelling of key words.

Topaz Class Reading Daily reading sessions when Guided Reading occurs with the teacher. Other activities completed by the other groups at this time. These may include comprehension work, phonics activities or other Literacy based activities. Individual reading also occurs with teacher or TA as necessary.

Topaz Class Grammar Includes elements of punctuation, grammar, sentence structure etc. Children given time to practice skills during session. Although taught discretely, there will usually be a writing activity planned for the same week which will allow them to practice the new skill and vocabulary is reinforced in all Literacy lessons.

Topaz Class Writing Wherever possible work in Literacy lessons is linked to Topic work but text types may also be taught as separate units. Will include different styles of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

Topaz Class Mathematics Taught everyday. Includes teaching knowledge, skills and methods as well as mathematical problem solving, reasoning and investigative tasks.

Topaz Class Topics We will have a different topic each half term. Each topic will have a different subject focus but will also incorporate other areas of the curriculum. This half term’s topic is ‘Brilliant Britain’ which has a Geography and History focus.

Topaz Class Groupings Different groups for Reading, Writing and Maths which are based on ability. Groups are flexible and children may move throughout the year. Topic/Home groups are a mixture of abilities. Names for these groups are linked to our topics so will change each half term.

Topaz Class Homework Reading: Please read every night. Enjoy, practice, build stamina, promote interest. Please fill in your child’s reading record sheet when they have completed a book. Children are responsible for changing their own books. This should be done at the start of the day or during our daily reading sessions.

Topaz Class Homework cont. Homework tasks will be sent home on Fridays and should be returned the following Thursday. This will be weekly spellings and a Maths task. The Maths task will usually be linked to the work children have done in Maths that week.

Topaz Class Homework cont. Spellings will be a mixture of High Frequency Words and words using the spelling patterns covered in phonics that week. They will be tested on the Thursday. If HFWs are incorrect your child will be given the incorrect ones again the following week.

Topaz Class Other things to do at home Read! As well as having your child read to you it is also important for you to read to them. Talk to them about their day and what they have been learning.

Topaz Class Parents’ Evening Will take place in October and March. October will be target sharing session. March will be a chance to discuss progress towards meeting their targets.

Topaz Class Key Stage One Assessments New assessments were introduced for 2016, with higher expectations to previous years. Formal assessments in ‘Reading’, ‘Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar’, and ‘Maths’ will occur during May. 2 papers for Reading, 2 SPaG papers (1 Spelling & 1 Punctuation and Grammar), 2 Maths papers (1 Arithmetic & 1 Reasoning). All marked by class teacher.

Topaz Class Key Stage One Assessments We will spend time in school preparing your child for these assessments. Teacher Assessment is used to give your child their final level for all subjects. Uses work done throughout the year to form judgment and the tests will form part of this.

Topaz Class Morning Routine Children should arrive at school between 8:50 and 9:00 and come straight into class where there is an activity for them to do. Please make sure they are on time. There will be an activity for the children to do in class. May do jobs such as filling their water bottle or changing a reading book before coming to class. We encourage independence so please allow children to do this themselves.

Topaz Class Class rules These rules were discussed and agreed as a class. Our class rules are: 1. Be respectful to other people. 2. Listen to everyone. 3. Be kind and look after each other. 4. Share and take turns. 5. Play nicely and be a good friend. 6. Sit nicely. 7. Keep the classroom neat and tidy. 8. Try hard and do your best. 9. Do the right thing.

Topaz Class Rewards Stickers for Class Chart earned by class as a whole. Once this is filled there will be a class treat. Individual stickers for good behaviour, work or effort which can be kept on individual sticker chart in tray. Mystery pupil every week with small gift as reward and the chance to take Rufus home for the weekend. Whole school: Star of the week and Writer of the week.

Topaz Class Rewards We have also introduced our House Point system. 4 houses across the school; Greene, Hurrell, Pemberton and Wade. Children earn house points for good work, behaviour, following rules, being helpful etc. Points are counted up for all the houses and the house cup is awarded to the house with the most points in Friday assembly.

Topaz Class Behaviour We are continuing with our existing behaviour policy. Behaviour which interrupts learning is not tolerated. Any unkind behaviour towards others is also not tolerated. Incidents are logged by myself and Mrs Rouse and an incident form completed. Parents will be notified if this happens.

Topaz Class Show and Tell No specific day. Children should sign their name on the sign up sheet in the morning if they wish to take part. Only once a week per child. May be special items of interest to them, a special activity, something they have made, information linked to our topics or class work, certificates etc. Should not be toys or Lego models.

Topaz Class Your child needs … - A water bottle with fresh water each day. - PE kits should be in school for PE lessons on Mondays and Thursdays. Outdoor kit, including suitable shoes, is necessary as we will be doing PE outside this term. - Suitable spare outdoor shoes for use on the field. Children are not allowed to wear PE shoes for playtime use.

Topaz Class Also … Some children may want to bring in their own pencil case. This is allowed but is not a necessity as we provide all necessary stationery. Please make sure it fits comfortably in your child’s tray. No toys should be brought into school. Please do not allow precious or valuable items to be brought in, in case they are damaged or lost.

Topaz Class Reminders -Please check for letters / s home every day. -Information about what we will be focusing on in lessons will be on the class notice board and on the Class Topaz page of the school website.

Topaz Class PTFA Please support our PTFA. They do valuable fundraising to help provide resources and trips for our children. Please try to attend their AGM on Wednesday 21 st September.

Topaz Class Questions? I am usually available each day before school for a quick chat, or after school (except Wednesdays) for a longer discussion if necessary. Please see me or the office to arrange a meeting. Please do come to see me if you have questions / concerns or would like further information.

Topaz Class Thank you for coming!