Information for parents and children Autumn 2016 Key Stage 2 Information for parents and children Autumn 2016

Our Learning Journey… In our school we are focusing on creating independent learners who are on a learning journey. Part of this involves children identifying learning codes in others, therefore being able to demonstrate these same learning codes themselves. These are: Being curious, persevering, learning from each other, evaluating their work thinking around a problem and reading for meaning. They also support each other through nominated Leading Learners on each table where the mentor helps to support the group’s learning. We have weekly/fortnightly talk/learning partners, so children talk more and teachers talk less. This helps children cognitive processes and creates a supportive learning environment.

School website: Please do use the school website and class page to access all our newsletters and homework. www.bensoncofeprimary.org.uk

General Information Every day your child needs to bring; School book bag with spelling book, reading record book, Green Voucher booklet and current reading book (Y6 homework diary). Money (termly/weekly) or lunchbox named coat and jumper/cardigan a named water bottle and sun hat a painting apron or large, old shirt On Monday please also bring a drawstring PE bag and leave in school until Friday.

Numeracy Children are grouped for daily numeracy lessons. Children may be asked to move table groups from time to time as we decide where they would benefit the most. In upper KS2 we have set for numeracy meaning your child may begin / end the year with a different teacher – Mrs Mottram, Mrs Stokes or Mrs Bibby. Numeracy sessions involve counting, using numbers, problem solving, working with shapes and measuring weight, time, length and capacity. Wherever possible these are linked to real life situations.

Numeracy Numeracy involves both practical and written activities. Numeracy sessions start with a mental warm up. We then proceed onto the main teaching activity which involves the whole class. Next the children work in small groups, pairs or individually on activities to extend their understanding. Numeracy homework is usually given out once a week on a Tuesday. Sometimes this may be a game, an investigation or a written activity. All homework (except games) should be returned to the class teacher by the Friday of the same week so that we can go through it with the children at the beginning of that day’s numeracy lesson. They will mark this themselves but under our guidance.

Literacy Literacy includes speaking, listening, reading and writing. Daily class Literacy lessons include work related to word work (spellings, phonics), sentence work (construction) and text based work (books or sections of writing). Literacy includes speaking and listening activities such as group presentations, response partners, role- play and hot seating.

SPELLING Children attend daily spelling groups based on their ability in order to challenge, but also support. On a Friday children will be given a pre-test and then a set list of words to learn. By doing this they can compare their before and after scores and really focus on the words they got wrong – there will be an increase in the quality of words. They will be given a short homework to find a further 3 words that follow this pattern / theme. They can use books and dictionaries to help them. Children will share their homework / challenge words found and then begin a spelling sheet on Mondays. They will be asked to bring this sheet home to finish / continue with – the idea is the look/say/cover/write/check element for further practise. On Tuesday children will play a further spelling game or during our SPaG weeks, complete a short grammar style test. Wednesday is handwriting tricky spellings focusing on patterns / difficulties and reinforcing our handwriting style / expectations. Thursday will be their weekly spelling test – given in a dictation style to support comprehension of words in a context. Friday will be the repeated cycle: a pre-test of the new words and the typed list for learning. In school children will find a general spelling rule for these words or be asked to write them in a sentence putting the words in context to show that they understand the meaning of each word.

Reading Reading is an important part of literacy but it also enables your children to access all areas of the curriculum – so reading is the key to knowledge! In school the children have a range of reading experiences; whole class shared text, group guided reading and independent reading. In guided reading the children are taught to use a range of strategies to decode unknown words, analyse hidden meanings in a variety of texts and learn about the structure of stories. This is a form of direct teaching that helps readers become more independent and to engage with and really enjoy a variety of genres. Reading with your child at home is really important, so please let us know that you have done this by signing their reading record. Although not essential to listen to every page, it would be most encouraging if you listened to them reading a few times a week. We would, however, expect that children would read daily.

Reading is fun. Reading at home is fun too! please share your child’s book this should be enjoyable for you both sharing their book allows your child to show off and practise the skills they are learning in school always praise every effort and encourage your child to talk about what they have read choose your reading time carefully (not during dinner or while the TV is on) Talking about the book and what has happened in the story is as important as reading the words themselves

Topic A lot of our work is Topic based and we try to link the foundation subjects (art, history, geography, DT, PSHE as well as Science where appropriate) to a topic. This term our topics are: Into the Future (about being environmentally green) and World Wars (WWII). This is a fun way of learning which the children really enjoy. More about what is included in our teaching of the topics is available on the school website on our termly topic webs. Projects are displayed along our corridors at the end of each term, following peer and adult evaluation. Children really enjoy sharing these projects and having the opportunity to look at work from across KS2. Projects are primarily research and literacy based, however ICT and DT also form part of personal presentational choices.

HOMEWORK Our main homework is the topic homework project. There may also be smaller pieces of homework from time to time. We have an independent project to work on at home (they also have a session once a week in school to work on this some more if they choose to). Please do not leave this until the day before – make it an opportunity for you and your child to share their learning. This not only encourages them but also helps maintain links with the school and what they are learning here too. Suggestions on how to carry this out are given at the start of each project. Please remember that a project is for the children to complete and while it is a fantastic way for you to get involved in your child’s learning we emphasise that the project is not homework for you.

Early Work Children should come in quickly and quietly at 8:40am and settle down to their early work task. This is an important time as not only do children change their reading books and hand in homework, they also read any marking from the previous day where they may have a next step / follow up to do.

Assemblies Monday – whole school values based assembly Tuesday – class devotion. Wednesday – religious KS2 assembly Thursday – class values/PSHE based assembly Friday – celebration, and class caring and sharing assemblies.

How you can help us (DBS CRB) Parent govs FoBS Readers Special skills to share Gardening School trips / swimming Helping with after-school activities or sports Sharing your occupation with the children (Friday assembly or in class)

Do you need to speak to us? Small concerns directly to the teacher Before school is not always a good time for a longer chat Happy to chat after-school More serious complaints should be directed to the Head Teacher if no satisfaction has been reached with the teacher. Call and make an appointment please. New Curriculum Assessment – parent information meeting in November 2015. New personal target sheets including exceeding targets (to replace G&T IEPs).

So when your child comes home and tells you they haven’t done any work today … It is because they have been having fun… Learning!

Question Time! If you have any other questions about what child is doing in school don’t hesitate to ask. Or if you would like to volunteer some of your time to hear readers or help with art activities please let us know. Your help will be gratefully received.