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Learn all about Key Stage 2 and the different teams in Years 3 and 4. Explore the differences in expectations, timetable, cross-curricular learning, projects, reading, spelling and grammar, handwriting, and writing.
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Meet the Teams Year 4 Mrs Wood with Mrs Plumpton Mrs Rudkin with Mrs Dale Mrs Roberts with Mrs Wood Year 3 Mrs Smith/Mrs Dickson with Mrs Groves Mr Kelham with Mrs Nicholson Miss Howse with Mrs O’Hara
Key stage 2- general differences • Greater expectations of independence and responsibility. • Longer morning session (1 hour for lunch). • No free fruit snack. • PE - 1 outdoor and 1 indoor session.
Timetable 8.40 – Spellings/SPaG 9.00 – Guided reading 9.20 – Literacy 10.20 – Assembly 10.35 – Break 10.50 –Maths 12.00 – Lunch 1.00 – Topic 2.00 – Break 2.10 – Topic 3.10 – Home
Cross Curricular learning • In Key stage 2 we teach key subject specific skills through topic based learning to promote greater interest. . These topics will differ in time, some lasting only 1 week and others lasting 4 or possibly more. • To promote the children’s enjoyment and enthusiasm we start the topic with a hook that gives them a purpose to their learning e.g. a task or a challenge. • For example in Year 3 the children are working for Professor Pete to create their own robot to beat Brian from confused.com. • In Year 4 the children have been invited to enter a portal from the past into the Stone Age but must first become experts in the Stone Age so that they can create their own settlement!
Examples of topics in Year 3 • In Year 3 children have been introduced to Professor Pete who is an explorer and throughout the year he will contact them with different tasks and challenges to complete. Some of these include; • Egyptians – working for professor Pete, children create an Egyptian scrap book. • World War II – Building shelters • Plants – Children learn about plants to help to recolonise an island. • Scotland – Children write a story to entertain Professor Pete.
Examples of topics in Year 4 Polar Express- the children will learn about habitats, endangered species, and climate changes to create a report of their findings which will lead us to sponsor our very own endangered species. Charlie & The Chocolate Factory- the children complete various tasks in order to be rewarded with golden tickets. The tasks include designing and making their own chocolates and to design the machine in which to make them.
Homework projects • Half termly independent ‘topic’ investigations linked to current learning. • They must include some writing, but can include a variety of other skills (maths, DT, art etc.) • We want the children to enjoy these projects and have an element of freedom over what skills they choose to use and how they present their work. • Work is shared so the children can see a variety of ideas and skills. • Children’s efforts are acknowledged and rewarded with a certificate.
Reading In Key Stage 1 – big emphasis on using phonics to decode texts. For those children who still need to build on their phonic skills, this will continue in KS2. For other children the emphasis will move from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn’ with a greater emphasis on comprehension skills. Reading is taught daily in differentiated class groups. Children will work with either their Teacher, Teaching Assistant or independently.
SPAG Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Longer spelling sessions are taught twice a week, with follow up activities each morning. SPAG sentence work each morning – is linked into the spelling pattern being taught that week.
Handwriting In Key Stage 2 we will continue to use the cursive handwriting style that the children are already familiar with. A fluid style of handwriting enables children to concentrate on the content of their writing and not become stuck on thinking about where a letter starts. Pen licenses are awarded throughout the year to children who consistently use this style.
Writing • Taught in mixed ability classes. • Clear differentiation to suit learning needs. • Children have individual writing targets which are displayed in the classroom and in their books. • Children will take part in guided writing sessions with children who share the same target, to help them make good progress. • Opportunities for individual, paired and group work and guided writing.
In KS2 children are now expected to punctuate sentences accurately and create opportunities to show higher level punctuation skills. • They need to be able to use adjectives and adverbs to add detail and interest to their writing. • The children will also use sentences of varying lengths with a range of different conjunctions. • As they become more confident writers they will begin to structure their writing into sequenced paragraphs.
Writing • To support the writing process we use: • Visual Literacy strategies (e.g. pictures/videos) • Drama techniques (e.g. freeze frames and hot-seating) • Speaking and listening • Planning time • Skills sessions • Talking postcards • Word banks
Extended Writing • Children will regularly be given more time to create a piece of longer writing, applying the skills taught in the run up to it. • Children will receive Talk Homework in the week prior to the writing task to discuss their ideas at home. No written outcome is expected. • A piece of outstanding writing will be chosen from each class every fortnight and displayed in school and on the website.
Maths Maths is taught in ability sets so that children can work at a pace suitable to their needs. All sets cover calculations, data handling, shape and measures, time and fractions. Each week children will complete a speed grid that supports rapid recall of tables facts. The aim is to improve upon their personal score. The completed test will be sent home each week so that your child can practise any unfinished or incorrect answers in preparation for the following week.
What can you do to help? • Reading opportunities: books, comics, recipes, signs, shopping lists, visiting the local library, reading to younger siblings. • Speaking and listening opportunities: chatting to your children, talk homework, word games, listening games. • Writing opportunities: shopping lists, letters, e-mails, diaries, cards, project homework, writing for pleasure. • Mental maths, bingo games, times tables, counting whilst out shopping, telling the time, playing card games.
Please come and join us in the classrooms now to take part in and support your child with some topic work.
