1. Welcome to our classroom!

2. Learning to Learn
"Since we cannot know what knowledge will be most needed in the future, it is senseless to try to teach it in advance. Instead, we should try to turn out people who love learning so much and learn so well that they will be able to learn whatever needs to be learned."  John Holt

3. say which is better and why gather all the evidence
RESILIENT LEARNERS:
stick at something
set targets and practise
have a positive attitude
find interest in what they are doing
RESPONSIBLE LEARNERS:
work effectively as part of a team
plan ahead
get on with it
know right from wrong
REASONING LEARNERS:
choose the best method
say which is better and why
gather all the evidence
take time to do something properly
RESOURCEFUL LEARNERS:
learn in different ways
use their imagination
take risks
ask good questions
REFLECTIVE LEARNERS:
learn from mistakes
listen to different opinions
ask why
stay calm

4. Working Walls No longer displays
We encourage the children to engage with the walls throughout the week (add information, answer questions, provide examples etc.)
Act as a learning aid to promote independence
Information on the walls change as the learning develops

5. Homework
As laid out in the ‘Welcome to Year 6’ letter at the start of term, the minimum requirement for homework is 100 points over a half term, including one piece of compulsory maths and one piece of compulsory English. Children are encouraged to continue with homework after they have completed this however. The child who earns the most points wins a prize each half term.

6. Behaviour Policy
Our 3 school rules that encompass all positive behaviours:
We follow instructions with thought and care
We show good manners at all times
We care for everyone and everything

7. Catering for the Individual Needs of the Children
Booster/intervention groups
Differentiated work
Support from adults in lesson time
Most importantly children are aware that we are looking for progress rather than every answer being correct.

8. Assessment SATs – May 2017 1 hour reading paper
2 x 45 minute maths ‘reasoning’ paper
1 x 30 minute arithmetic paper
1 x 45 spelling, punctuation and grammar paper
1 x spelling test
Writing is assessed by Year 6 teachers based on the government provided framework – there is no SAT writing paper.
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9. READING AT HOME Make time to listen to your child read.
Sit comfortably and limit distractions.
Before reading, discuss the cover or illustrations – what might the story be about?
When listening, don’t rush to correct mistakes unless it significantly alters meaning.
Characterisation – put on voices to make them come to life.
After reading discuss what has been read. Ask questions about events, characters and predict what might happen next.
Always praise and comment on progress.
Read to them yourself and communicate your own enjoyment.

10. Writing It is school policy that children write cursively
We believe that writing is important not only in English lessons, but across the breadth of the curriculum
The ‘Big Write’
Reading regularly boosts writing!
Encourage children to write at home:
Film reviews
Stories
Instructions
Biographies
Diaries
Newspaper articles
Poetry

11. As part of our commitment to continually improving standards and attainment for all children, we have implemented the Read, Write, Inc. Spelling programme to boost standards in writing, grammar and spelling.
The children take part in daily, bite-sized lessons that build knowledge cumulatively.  Three friendly aliens introduce the spelling rules on an exciting online spelling planet.  There is a lot of emphasis placed on partner and oral work to ensure children fully grasp the spelling concepts. 

12. The children also have their own practice book that provides a range of activities to enhance understanding. Any errors or misconceptions are logged in the children's personal log books so that these can be practised at other times and also taken home for additional practice.
The programme also provides teachers with the opportunity to assess progress each half term and ensure children are understanding the spelling rules and filling the gaps in their knowledge. The programme was written by Ruth Miskin who is one of the UK's leading authorities on how to teach children to read. Writing across the school, especially spelling and punctuation, is our key area for development this year.

13. Maths
Times tables! Children in year 6 are not yet confident in their times tables, particularly the 6,7 and 8 times tables.
Not 6,12,18…but 1 x 6 =6, 2 x 6=12 etc.
Place value – discuss the value of each numeral
Use TT Rockstars and Doodlemaths to support at home
Units covered so far:
Ordering Numbers
Place Value
Sequences
Rounding
X 10,100 and 1000

14. We have made changes to our marking policy...

15. Research from Education Endowment Fund and John Hattie
There are 4 main effects that help ensure effective learning happens
Feedback
Peer Tutoring
Collaborative Learning
Meta-cognition and Self-Regulation

17. We have also asked our children...
Feedback is crucial for getting better
They like working with their friends
They think teacher feedback is still important
But they really like to get feedback from their friends
Children prefer immediate feedback and think waiting for books to be marked halts the progress they could make

18. Therefore, our teaching and learning seeks to make the most of these by...
Children often feeding back to one another, against clear criteria
Children being encouraged to keep a log/track of their next steps in reading, writing and maths
Children being able to talk about their progress and what they need to do next
This means that traditional teacher marking in books will change as most feedback will be immediate and verbal

19. Dartmoor training centre 2017
Monday 22nd to Friday 26th May
Fully catered
mountain biking
forest orienteering
a night walk
climbing, scrambling, weaselling
caving
archery.

20. Buddies Each child has at least one buddy.
Lunch times they can visit them once a week and eat together.
Y6 should be responsible and be role models for the buddies
It provides the children with a chance to develop their social skills and empathy.

21. Thank you for coming
Any general questions? If there are any questions related specifically to your child, then please see me.