Spider Class (Year 2) 2023 - 2024

Welcome to the class page for Spider Class.

Here you will find all of the exciting and wonderful things that your child will be learning during their time in Year 2. If you have any questions, please use Class Dojo or speak to a member of our team at drop off/ pick up.

Thank you

Autumn 2 

This term our class will be looking at the book 'The Owl who was afraid of the dark' by Jill Tomlinson.

The story is about a young barn owl called 'Plop' who is frightened of the dark. The plot is divided into seven chapters, each covering a night during which Plop learns something new about the dark: dark is exciting, dark is fun, dark is kind, dark is necessary, dark is fascinating, dark is wonderful and dark is beautiful. Plop is helped by others to grow in confidence and overcome his fears. 

The writing outcome for this unit is a fact file. We will be working on using coordination 'but' and 'or', adding 'ly' to turn adjectives into adverbs, writing for different purposes and using commas to separate items in a list. 

This term in maths we are going to be working on adddition and subtraction and shape. 

Addition and Subtraction

• Apply the increasing knowledgeof mental and written methods to solve addition and subtraction problems by using concrete objects and pictoral representations.
• Use addition and subtraction facts to 20 fluently, while using related facts up to 100.
• Recognise that the additon of two numbers can be done in any order, while subtraction of one number from another cannot. 

Shape 

• Identify, compare and sort shapes on the basis of their properties and use vocabulary precisely, such as sides, edges, vertices and faces
• Read and write names for shapes that are appropriate for theri word reading and spelling
• Draw lines and shapes using a straight edge 

Times tables will be taught daily as part of our mental maths lessons. We will be learning our 2, 5 and 10 times tables as well as completing daily challenges and a weekly timed quiz. All children have a log-in for TT Rockstars which is a fun, exciting website with lots of games to support the learning of times tables. Please encourage your child to practise their times tables using this website or any other games.

Everyday 8.50 - 9.20 am we will have our phonics or whole class shared reading lesson. Each child will bring home a shiny book and paper book taken from current reading level. Obviously, accidents can happen but please try and look after the books so they can continue to support our children with their reading.

Reading Expectations

Read with your child every day even if it is just 2 minutes- this can make all the difference. 
Record in their reading diaries we need to ensure that your child is recieving their vending machine or reading buddy. 
Asking your child about what they think might happen next in the story, how do they think the character is feeling, who is the author and what do they do. 
It does not have to be their paper or shiny book they read it can be any, you can read to them- change your voice for expression, bring the characters to life. 
Shiny book bag books MUST be returned to school every day ready to be changed every Monday. 
Paper books ( they are the same as what they are reading within their phonics lesson to promote confidence), they should be coming into school every day - ready to be changed every 3rd read within their phonics lesson. 

If your child has finished the reading scheme they will continue to have whole class shared reading lessons. The text we will use for this half term is 'Above and Below'  by Hanako Clulow. We will learn how to make inferences on the basis of what is being said and done, sequencing of events in stories and how information is related, make predictions, clarify vocabulary and retrieve information. 

To support the children in their reading sessions we use a strategy called VIPERS. 

Reading diaries MUST come in every day reguardless of whether or not they have been written in- we cannot replace them if they are continously being lost or not taken care of.  

Every child has a frequent reader book worm (below). For every 3 reads they complete at home they get a tick/ stamp on their worm. When the worm is full (12 ticks/stamps) they receive a free book of their choice from the book vending machine. If they fill their frequent reader worm three times then they get a free reading buddy as well. Great incentive to get reading!

Above and Beyond

This term we will studying Geography. We will locate the seven continents and five oceans of the world. Explore physical and human features of Antarctica, discuss how the equator affects the climate and habitation of the continents and begin to understand the impact of global warming on the planet. 

Your child will have 2 PE lessons each week. Their days this half term are Monday and Tuesday. Please ensure they come into school in their PE kit on these days.

Gymnastics and Dance. 

Build on gymnastic skills by linking movements and balances withing a range of pathways.

Respond to a stimulus using a range of different and controlled movements.

This half term we will be learning all about animals including humans 

Notice that animals, including humans have offspring which grow into adults 

Find out about and describe the basic needs of animlas, including humans, for survival (water, food and air)

Describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the rigt amounts of different types of foods and hygiene 

Useful links

https://www.classdojo.com/

https://ttrockstars.com/

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=year%202%20maths

Rules of spellings for Year 2 

Weekly spellings will be added to the class dojo. A paper copy will also be handed out on a Monday. Children need to practise everyday ready for their test on a Friday. 

Homophones - Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and are spellled differently. For example, flower and flour, bee and be, hair and hare and their, they're and there. 

Common Exception Words for Year 2 - we will rehearse Year 1 common exception words and then begin to learn the Year 2 set. Please see the attached list of words to practise. Make them into games, colour them in and have fun learning them.

Contracted words - children will learn how to use an apostrophe correctly for contracted words. For example could not - couldn't, I have - I've. They will learn that the apostrophe is replacing a letter and also irregular forms of the rule. For example, will not - won't.

General Reminders:

Please ensure that your child's uniform is clearly labelled.
Children's water bottles should contain water (unless we are notified as to why) again, bottle should be clearly labelled.
Most communition will be done via Class Dojo a great way to upload and home learning, WOW moments or if you have any questions or concerns.