Welcome t

o Yea

r 6

Introductions:

*Mrs O’Boyle*Miss Dean*Miss Williams*Mrs Hall*Mrs Brookes

Year 6 curriculum

Non-core curriculum:

We are using a programme throughout Valley Primary called Prospects Improve. Themed blocks, within the scheme, cover the statutory knowledge and skill requirements, stipulated in the new national curriculum (Sept, 2013), across all non-core subjects. In addition to this, there are built in opportunities to develop mathematical and literacy skills.

Over the year, year 6 pupils will learn about the following themed units:• Out of this world (Solar System, universe, space exploration and

alien life)

• Yes Minister (British Politics and Parliament)

During this term we have been studying: • Disaster! (Natural Disasters-Volcanoes and Earthquakes)Next term we will be studying:

History

Citizenship

Geography

• Antarctica (Great Artic Explorers)

Science

Each unit also covers D & T, Art, MFL, PSHE,

PE, Music and ICT national curriculum

requirements.

We will also be teaching these

subjects discreetly to

ensure complete coverage.

• Rule Britannia (Invasions and Settlements in Britain)

• Greece Lightning (A study of modern and Ancient Greece)Geography & History

Geography & History

Science• Out of this world (Solar System, universe, space

exploration and alien life)In addition to the above Science based theme, we will be teaching the following topics from the Year 6 Science National Curriculum:• Light• Heart and Lungs• Evolution• Classification• Electricity• Field Studies

Where possible, we will link the above topics with the Prospects units

E.g. Out of this world: Evolution or creation?

Although there are no formal science SATs for all, ‘science

sampling’ was reintroduced in 2014. Under this system, 9,500

children-five children from 1,500 schools are randomly selected to

take a science test. Selected schools will be notified by mid-May, and are legally obliged to

participate if chosen.

MathsWe are following the Bright Pi scheme for maths in preparation for the 2016 SATs. The maths curriculum is organised into blocks, which are revisited in a spiralling programme:• Number: number and place valueaddition, subtraction, multiplication and divisionfractions (including decimals and percentages)• Ratio & Proportion• Algebra• Geometry: properties of shapeposition and direction• measurement• statistics

Where possible, we will link the above topics with the Prospects units

E.g. Disaster: Number and place value

The idea is to re-visit concepts in order to build upon the children’s understanding rather than being taught in ‘one-off’ isolated blocks.

SpellingIn order to meet the new elevated spelling expectations outlined in the new NC, we have introduced the following changes to how spelling is taught across the junior site:1.) The autumn term is spent re-visiting and consolidating the spelling requirements from the previous year.2.) Monday’s English lesson is devoted to spelling:-introducing and exploring spellings rules, conventions, families, patterns and exceptions-distributing differentiated sets of spelling lists that children write into their Spelling Logs, which move between home and school for practise. 3.) Children are tested-in the form of a brief teacher written dictation or cloze procedure sentences-the following Friday. Children are awarded house points for using spellings within their writing across all subject areas.4.) One of the Guided Reading groups (per week) is dedicated to practising their spellingsWhere possible, we will link the above topics with

the Prospects units E.g. Disaster: words ending in ous, tious & cious.

In addition to the children progressing through a programme of spelling conventions and patterns, the new NC have introduced a list of words-which follow no particular pattern-which the children can spell by the end of year 6: accommodate accompany according aggressive appreciate attached

committee communicate community controversy correspond criticise

curiosity definite embarrass exaggerate existence guarantee

harass identity immediate immediately individual leisure

lightning occupy occur parliament persuade prejudice

programme queue recommend sacrifice secretary stomach

suggest symbol system thorough twelfth vehicle

yacht          

We are building in learning opportunities, during our spelling workshop on Monday s, to learn these.

You will find them in your child’s planner. Please can you help in learning them outside of school.

EXEMPLAR GUIDED READING TIME (6O)  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday FridayYellowGroup

Spellers 

Free Readers De‘text’ives 

Handwriters Interpreters

BlueGroup

Interpreters Spellers FreeReaders

De‘text’ives 

Handwriters

Red Group

Handwriters Interpreters Spellers FreeReaders

De‘text’ives 

GreenGroup

De‘text’ives 

Handwriters Interpreters Spellers FreeReaders

PurpleGroup

FreeReaders

De‘text’ives 

Handwriters Interpreters Spellers

Teaching Guided Reading at Valley:

KS2 classes now focus on developing the following ten reading comprehension skills in Guided Reading:

• retrieval• prediction• summarise

• decoding

• viewpoint

• analyse language choices• analyse text structure

• clarify new words

• inference

Teaching Guided Reading at Valley:

De‘text’ives:Children independently-or with a partner-answer questions on a a range of short fiction or non-fiction text (classic, historical, mythical, cultural, traditional tales) which focuses on the development of lower level reading comprehension skills:-retrieval-prediction-summarising-viewpoint

Teaching Guided Reading at Valley:

Interpreters:Teacher supported session to refine lower level skills (noted in De‘text’ives section) and develop higher-order comprehension skills:-clarify of new words-analyse text structure-analyse language choices-inference

HANDWRITING AT VALLEY

Accurate

The new Valley handwriting motto is…

ALFWhat do you think each letter stands

for?

FluentLegible

COMPETITION TIME.The new Valley handwriting moto is…

ALFAccurate Legible

Fluent Pupils to design a ALF handwriting mascot. Winning design will become the Valley

Handwriting Mascot and win a prize awarded in assembly.

Home Reading:-reading record to record reading progress during the week (by child or adult at home)-endeavour to read for at least 15 minutes each day outside of school-ideal if you can listen to your child read and initiate a discussion about what they have read in order to deepen understanding-signed or note from parent/carer to acknowledge child’s reading-children to also be encouraged to read books-outside of the school home reader scheme-from class, school, local library or own collection-planners are checked and signed on a Friday by class teacher-if you record a note in the planner for the class teacher please notify your child so that they can bring it to our attention.

Homework:

-issued on a Thursday-due back the following Monday-homework sheets given to children and kept in homework folders (in school) once completed-marked and house points awarded-Homework Club available for children every Thursday after school-teachers happy to assist with ‘homework confusions’ during lunchtimes-spare homework sheets housed in every classroom and pupil’s responsibility to collect if original copy is lost or damaged-we encourage the children and yourselves to communicate with us regarding homework misunderstandings or issues with completing at home.