Spring Term 1

This term our topic is 'Explorers'. This topic will have a Geography and History focus. The children will be learning about a range of explorers from the past and comparing them to explorers of the present day. We will be looking at what these explorers discovered and the significance of this. We will be learning to read maps and will try to create some of our own using compass points and a key. 

Occasionally the plans will adapt and change as we follow the children's interests. 

Reading - The expectation is that the children read three times a week. Books will be changed on a Monday and Thursday. The purpose of keeping a book and reading it multiple times is as follows:
1. The first read is for decoding and reading common exception words (applying phonic
knowledge and recognising phonemes in context – knowing that ‘high’ contains a trigraph
for example and is read as h-igh and not h-i-g-h. Being able to read common exception
words by sight - he, she, was, you, all etc). The first read may be a little robotic because of
this.
2. The second read is for prosody; to encourage reading with intonation and expression.
3. The third read is for fluency.

If the children are on the Accelerated Reader scheme, they can bring in their books as soon as they are finished and then complete a short comprehension quiz on the book. The children have to achieve 80% or above in three consecutive quizzes before they can move up a level. All the AR books are kept in the library and the children are responsible for choosing their own text. You can log on from home to check your child's progress, using the log on details given at the start of term.

All children are expected to have their reading folders containing their reading books and reading records, in school every day.

Spelling - Both Year 1 and Year 2 children have spelling lists that it would be of benefit for them to learn each week. They could practise writing these out at home in a variety of ways and the Year 2 children could also see if they can add that word into a sentence and write it. These spelling lists will also be on Spelling Shed to help the children consolidate their learning at home.

P.E. - This will continue to be on Monday and Thursday. Monday will be a shorter session with Mr Tostevin but it may continue to be outside, so warmer clothes will be needed. Thursday will be gymnastics in the hall. Please could the correct kit be worn and long hair needs to be tied up.

Forest School - This will continue on a Tuesday afternoon. Please could you make sure that your child has a waterproof coat and wellies on this day. With the winter weather, the forest school area will be muddy so if your child does not have wellies, they won't be able to join in.