Welcome back! It’s hard to believe that we are already facing the final half term of Year 2! By now, the children have a well-established understanding of our classroom routines and expectations for learning, so this means we can have more fun!

Our history topic this half term is ‘What is a monarch?’ The children will learn about the role of a monarch and compare the monarchy today with the monarchy in the past. They will investigate how William the Conqueror became King and learn how he used castles to rule. They will also study different types of castles and consider how these evolved over time. We hope to further the children’s learning about William the Conqueror by visiting Launceston Castle towards the end of term. The castle was built in 1068, just two years after William became king.

Please see the project map for more details on this term’s learning across the curriculum.

Reading and Times Tables

Some of the children have completed phonics learning and moved on to the Read, Write Inc Spelling programme. These children have also been added to Accelerated Reader (AR) – an online programme that allows children to quiz at school on the books that they have read. This means that your child will be choosing their reading book from our classroom library and expected to continue reading daily so that they can quiz on a book at least once a week. Regardless of whether your child is using AR or not, please encourage them to read out loud to you every day. Those children who are not yet on AR, can expect to be added to the programme either at the end of this term or the beginning of Year 3.

Mental arithmetic and fluency with numbers are key to your child experiencing success in maths. We have ensured that everyone has their Numbots/TTRockstar login details entered onto the front inside cover of their yellow reading records. Please encourage your children to play these games at home. Being fluent in the 2-, 5- and 10-times tables provide the perfect building blocks to ensure an easy progression into Year 3, where they will be expected to learn the 3-, 4- and 8-times tables. ‘Hit the Button’ is also a good online game that is free and doesn’t require a login.

PE days to change

This term, we have swapped our Wednesday P.E. day to a Monday. This will mean that those children who take part in after school sports will not have to change into their P.E. kit at the end of the day. The children will continue to have P.E. and Outdoor Learning on a Tuesday afternoon.

Show & Tell

Please see the schedule below and make note of when it’s your child’s turn for show and tell:

Daily Routines

Please ensure children arrive at school between 8:45am and 8:55am. They can continue to enter via the Year 2 outside gate, located to the right of the main entrance. Should you arrive after 9am, please bring your child in through the main entrance so that Gaynor can add your child’s lunch option to the register.

Wednesday 12 June   Amelia M, Amelia W, Amelie, Arlo, Sybbie

Wednesday 19 June   SPORTS DAY

Wednesday 26 June   Bella, Ben, Bethany E, Bethany W, Ellanor, Taya

Wednesday 3 July      Evie, George, Harry, Jacob, James, Thomas

Wednesday 10 July    Jesse, Katelyn, Laya, Lilian, Lottie

Wednesday 17 July    Luna, Maggie, Reyd, Seb, Senara, Stella

Most of you would have read in the school newsletter that I will be leaving Stoke-Climsland School at the end of the academic year. I will be taking up a role as classroom teacher at a special school that has recently opened in Dousland, near Yelverton. Although I have a degree in Early Childhood Development, that allows me to teach in primary schools, I am also Montessori trained and most certainly a Montessorian at heart! This means that my philosophy for teaching and learning is centred around ‘following’ the child and learning through experience. This next school offers project-based learning and I believe that this will allow me to be true to my teaching style and allow me to grow as a teacher.

I am sad to be leaving Stoke-Climsland school but ever so happy that I get to see out my last few weeks with your children. We are going to make it a term to remember!

As always, we like to keep communication open between home and school so please feel free to contact either myself or Mrs Yardley with any questions or concerns.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs Fulton and Mrs Yardley