Autumn 2025
Year 2
Embedded Files
Welcome to Year 2! It's so nice to be back to school and to see the children after the summer break! It's also fantastic to see how much they have enjoyed getting to know their new classroom and see that they seem to be ready for Year 2! We have been discussing the term 'role models' as we are now the oldest children in the playground. Please talk to your children at home about how they can be good role models for the younger children! In Year 2 we are encouraging more responsibility; every child will be expected to be a monitor once per half term (not just those who want to!). This includes checking their own table and table resources have been put away correctly, as well as having another job around the class for the week that they are table leader. I am also considering labelling their pencils to encourage the children to be responsible for looking after them..... we will see! Children now have their own workstation so that they can put their jumpers on their own chair if they take it off. (They will be putting jumpers on the chair as if the chair is wearing it, so they don't fall off!) Hopefully this will help us to keep track of them!
Please help us by making sure your child's jumpers are labelled, in case they are removed in the playground.
As readers and writers, for the first half term we will continue to take part in daily Read Write Inc sessions to support us with our reading, and writing skills. Within our reading, we will learn valuable skills to support us to understand, retrieve, and infer information from a piece of text. We will be starting a new spelling programme called Spelling Shed. This will continue what we have already learnt in RWI and introduce us to more 'special friends' e.g. 'ge', 'dge' and 'ce', and various ways of making the 'l' sound at the end of a word. (il, le, el, al).
As readers and writers, for the first half term we will continue to take part in daily Read Write Inc sessions to support us with our reading, and writing skills. Within our reading, we will learn valuable skills to support us to understand, retrieve, and infer information from a piece of text. We will be starting a new spelling programme called Spelling Shed. This will continue what we have already learnt in RWI and introduce us to more 'special friends' e.g. 'ge', 'dge' and 'ce', and various ways of making the 'l' sound at the end of a word. (il, le, el, al).
After half term we will start a programme called The Write Stuff, which continues throughout the school. Our first unit is a story called 'A Crow's Tale'.
After half term we will start a programme called The Write Stuff, which continues throughout the school. Our first unit is a story called 'A Crow's Tale'.
We continue to encourage the children to read regularly at home to an adult, preferably four times a week (or more if you can fit it in!)
We continue to encourage the children to read regularly at home to an adult, preferably four times a week (or more if you can fit it in!)
As mathematicians, we will continue to secure our understanding of place value of numbers to 100 by making tens and regrouping two-digit numbers. We will continue to practise counting on and back in ones and tens from any number before focusing on developing mental addition and subtraction strategies for one and two-digit numbers. We will make links between bonds for making 10 (e.g. 6+4) and bonds for making 100 (60 + 40) and will continue to use strategies learnt in Year 1 such as 'Think 10'. We will apply this to larger calculations though, hence to add 36 + 7, we would first do 36 + 4 = 40 (using our number bonds to 10 to help us, as well as our knowledge that the next multiple of 10 after the 30 numbers is 40). We would then add on the remaining 3 to find the total: 43! We will also be learning to add and subtract two 2 digit numbers, using place value equipment to support our understanding. We will also continue to practise our counting in 2s and 5s to support our understanding of and ability to recall the times tables, which we will focus on in the Spring term.
As mathematicians, we will continue to secure our understanding of place value of numbers to 100 by making tens and regrouping two-digit numbers. We will continue to practise counting on and back in ones and tens from any number before focusing on developing mental addition and subtraction strategies for one and two-digit numbers. We will make links between bonds for making 10 (e.g. 6+4) and bonds for making 100 (60 + 40) and will continue to use strategies learnt in Year 1 such as 'Think 10'. We will apply this to larger calculations though, hence to add 36 + 7, we would first do 36 + 4 = 40 (using our number bonds to 10 to help us, as well as our knowledge that the next multiple of 10 after the 30 numbers is 40). We would then add on the remaining 3 to find the total: 43! We will also be learning to add and subtract two 2 digit numbers, using place value equipment to support our understanding. We will also continue to practise our counting in 2s and 5s to support our understanding of and ability to recall the times tables, which we will focus on in the Spring term.
As scientists, we will learn about 'Living things and their habitats'. this will include learning more about what animals eat and understanding food chains. Later in the term we will learn about ‘Growth.’ We will begin by finding out and describing the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival. We will learn how to describe the importance of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food and hygiene.
As scientists, we will learn about 'Living things and their habitats'. this will include learning more about what animals eat and understanding food chains. Later in the term we will learn about ‘Growth.’ We will begin by finding out and describing the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival. We will learn how to describe the importance of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food and hygiene.
As computer scientists, we will learn about information technology in the world around us, and how to use technology safely. After half term we will be making music using computing programmes/apps!
As computer scientists, we will learn about information technology in the world around us, and how to use technology safely. After half term we will be making music using computing programmes/apps!
As geographers, we will learn to develop a curiosity and fascination about the world. We will be learning about the 5 oceans (which are also our table names) as well as the 7 continents! (I will apologise now for the songs which will no doubt become earworms!)
As geographers, we will learn to develop a curiosity and fascination about the world. We will be learning about the 5 oceans (which are also our table names) as well as the 7 continents! (I will apologise now for the songs which will no doubt become earworms!)
As historians, we will build upon our learning on the Wright brothers in Year 1 and will learn about the moon landings! We will consider questions such as: What is an explorer? What did the astronauts do when they got to the moon and how do we know?
As artists, we will be developing our drawing skills. We will make rubbings to learn about tone and texture, and will learn to develop tone and shade using control and pressure.
As artists, we will be developing our drawing skills. We will make rubbings to learn about tone and texture, and will learn to develop tone and shade using control and pressure.
As designers, we will explore stability and methods to strengthen structures by designing a chair for Baby Bear.
As designers, we will explore stability and methods to strengthen structures by designing a chair for Baby Bear.
In Relationship and Health Education, we will focus initially on relationships including being a good friend, discussing our feelings and we will talk about 'teasing or bullying?'. We will then focus on valuing and celebrating our differences and will talk about 'what makes us who we are?' We will also learn what to do if someone is feeling left out and strategies for solving problems.
In Relationship and Health Education, we will focus initially on relationships including being a good friend, discussing our feelings and we will talk about 'teasing or bullying?'. We will then focus on valuing and celebrating our differences and will talk about 'what makes us who we are?' We will also learn what to do if someone is feeling left out and strategies for solving problems.
As learners of religion, we will be learning about stories in the religion of Buddhism. We will also learn more about about respecting others' beliefs in religion and in everyday life.
As learners of religion, we will be learning about stories in the religion of Buddhism. We will also learn more about about respecting others' beliefs in religion and in everyday life.
As musicians, our first topic is 'Questions and Answers'. We will learn to understand what timbre means and identify percussion instruments by their sound as well as improvise using Question and Answer phrases on untuned instruments.
After Xmas our unit is 'Let's Keep Singing' and among other songs, we will be learning the songs for our xmas production!
As athletes, we will be practising our ball skills, such as dribbling, using our hands, and will learn more about dodging. Our lessons will increasingly be involving playing either attack or defence, trying to score, or stop the other team/your partner from scoring. We will encourage the children to play fairly and to follow the rules, and to understand why they must do so.
As athletes, we will be practising our ball skills, such as dribbling, using our hands, and will learn more about dodging. Our lessons will increasingly be involving playing either attack or defence, trying to score, or stop the other team/your partner from scoring. We will encourage the children to play fairly and to follow the rules, and to understand why they must do so.
XMAS PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE for Year 2 parents:
XMAS PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE for Year 2 parents:
Tuesday 16th December @2:30pm
In Makaton, we will learn our school song - What I am , and will learn the story of 'A Crow's Tale', as well as learning the songs from our Xmas production!
In Makaton, we will learn our school song - What I am , and will learn the story of 'A Crow's Tale', as well as learning the songs from our Xmas production!
This term we will be continuing to learn about and refer to the skills we have adoptes as 'Thorn Grove Skills'. Click here for more information about Skills Builder.
Skills Builder has a resource platform dedicated to helping parents and carers to build their child’s essential skills at home: Skills Builder Homezone (skillsbuilder.org/homezone).
Home learning: Numbots and Spelling Shed - more to follow in the Meet the Teacher meeting!
Home learning: Numbots and Spelling Shed - more to follow in the Meet the Teacher meeting!
We continue to encourage more children to read for pleasure. Research shows a positive link between reading frequency and enjoyment and educational attainment. Please continue to support your children by reading with and to them daily and discussing their reading.
We continue to encourage more children to read for pleasure. Research shows a positive link between reading frequency and enjoyment and educational attainment. Please continue to support your children by reading with and to them daily and discussing their reading.
To support this we will be going on a trip to Bishop's Stortford library on Tuesday 30th September! During this trip we are able to loan 1 book for each child, assuming they have a library card. If your child does not have a library card and you would like them to have one, we will be giving out forms to fill in. We will take these to the library and they will have your child's library card waiting for them on our visit!
Our primary concern is that children are happy in school so please do feel free to contact us if they are experiencing any difficulties so that we can offer any support that they might need. If there is anything you need to speak to me about, do not hesitate to catch me at the end of the school day or email me on my school email – esmith@thorngrove.herts.sch.uk.
Our primary concern is that children are happy in school so please do feel free to contact us if they are experiencing any difficulties so that we can offer any support that they might need. If there is anything you need to speak to me about, do not hesitate to catch me at the end of the school day or email me on my school email – esmith@thorngrove.herts.sch.uk.
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