Author: Mrs Taylor

Handwriting

We’ve been having a big focus on handwriting and presentation across all our learning – not just in writing books.

Our cursive handwriting scheme has just three rules.  Please refer to this when your child is writing at home, for example learning their spellings.  Before writing, ask your child about the lazy eight handwriting warm up that we do.

There are groups of letters that follow the same pattern when we write them.

We’ve been using an exciting prop this week to do big movements when writing letters.

 

Material testers

This week during our What’s the matter? science mini topic, Year 2 had an interesting investigation to carry out from Mr Vango.

Throughout the investigation, we used lots of science skills.

Starting with questioning, considering what equipment we’d need and the method for the investigation, we then focused on predicting which material would be the best for the tent.  We recognised that predicting is a skill we also use in reading.  We were then ready to get testing.  Using observation skills was key to our investigation so we could make a conclusion about the materials.

Ask your child what material they concluded was the best one to use for the tent.

Well done to Vedant who realised that to make the test fair we would need to add the same amount of water from the syringe when testing each material.

A great team effort!

In our Living and Learning lesson this week, we were discussing how to work well as a team and Year 2 have definitely shown that in our assembly today.

Well done to all the children for learning their lines, reminding each other when to speak and listening to others when they were reading.

Thank you to Clare Luther, author and Evie’s auntie, who inspired the children with her visit to class last week.

Finally, thank you for coming to watch the children and supporting them with learning their lines.

Hope you’ve been reading this evening!

Living and Learning

Living and Learning sessions are held weekly, in class, to promote social and emotional aspects of learning and other areas of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE).  This half term we have two main themes, from our long-term plan.
  • Drug, alcohol and tobacco education (DATE) 
  •  Keeping safe and managing risk
Internet Safety Day, 06.02.18, is part of the keeping safe and managing risk theme.  More information will follow about this.
We begin the half term with a focus on manners and in particular interruptions.  Children will consider what is a valid interruption, for example an emergency and what alternatives are there to interrupting?  Children across school are encouraged to use our brain, buddy, boss system to try to avoid interruptions.  This means they would first think themselves.  Then, they could try asking a friend and the final option would be to ask the adult.  This encourages the children to become independent and take responsibility.

Here are the weekly Living and Learning statements, for this half term, to support this learning.

  • I don’t interrupt (with my mouth or my hand).
  • I can make things better.
  • I know what a drug is.
  • I am aware of risks.
  • I make safe choices.
  • I stay safe online.

Be mindful

At this busy time of year, mindfulness can help children to take control of their emotions.

During our recent themed week, all children took part in mindfulness workshops to learn a variety of techniques to use at school and at home.  Here’s a reminder of a few of them that might be useful for over the holidays.  A mindfulness newsletter/parent guide will be sent out in the new year.

Breathing hug

Start with both arms in the air.  Put one hand across your tummy and the other on your shoulder.  Breath slowly in and out.

Breathing tree

In a standing position, raise your arms as you  breath in and release your arms back down as you breath out.

‘Ok’ breathing

Make an ‘o’ sign on your tummy button to represent that it is ok to feel different emotions.  Slowly breath in and out.

Mindfulness bottle

This is a bit like a snow globe.  Shake it up and watch it.  Simply watch the disturbance as it begins to settle – as does our mind.

Take a bottle, add glitter and food colouring and seal tightly.

Lights, Camel, Action!

This week, we’ve enjoyed three fantastic performances of our Lights, Camel, Action! production. We’re sure you will agree the children have done a great job and we’re very proud of their performances. Every child tried their best and learnt songs, dances and often lines.

Thank you for coming to watch the children. They love to spot a familiar face in the audience! We hope you enjoyed the show.

We also raised £202.41 for our new school charity, Make a Wish so thank you for your donations.

After a busy first term in Year 2, it’s time now to enjoy the holiday with family and friends. See you back at school on 02 January 2018!

Read, read, read!

In Year 2, we give the children more responsibility for their home reading.

We expect the children to:

  • read daily at home with an adult
  • ask an adult to write in their reading record book
  • bring both books back to school
  • put them in the reading basket for changing

Home readers are changed on a Monday and Thursday but not every child is returning their book on these days.  Please encourage your child to follow this to ensure they are reading as much as possible at home.

Don’t forget to check your child’s tricky words in the back of their reading book, too.

If you have any questions about your child’s reading, please come and see us.

What are ascenders and descenders?

Year 1 have been using word shapes to help to learn their spellings and also help with their handwriting.

Tall letters such as t, l and h all have ascenders and letters that come under the line such as g, p and y have descenders.

We can use a word shape to show the ascenders and descenders in a word.

Ask your child what spellings are missing from this week’s list and if they can draw a word shape for these words?

Our Handwriting Guide is easy to follow and a great way to support your child.