Year 2

Welcome to Year Two. The following is an outline of this year's content and routines.

Curriculum

English

Reading Comprehension, Spelling and Grammar

InitiaLit will be taught in Year 2 classes. It provides an explicit and effective model for teaching Reading Comprehension, Spelling, and Grammar. Quality literature is shared through the Storybook component. View this 10 minute video explaining the key features of InitiaLit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtxB_LJtcyQ

At certain times throughout the week, students will be grouped according to reading ability, for explicit instruction on a particular skill. This skills based approach to reading instruction is evidence based, and consistent with the most up to date research. Here is a website that has excellent information about the Science of Reading (SOR) approach to teaching early reading skills: https://fivefromfive.com.au/parent-resources/

Home Reading Program

The key to becoming a strong, independent reader is practice. This is why our home reading program continues in Year 2. Some students will be ready to select their own reading material, while others will continue to bring home allocated texts that are the best fit for their current level of development. All students will have a home reading folder and are encouraged to read at home for at least 15 minutes each day.

Writing

This year students will be learning to write longer pieces of writing.

Term 1 – Compound sentence writing and paragraph writing

Term 2 – Persuasive writing (paragraphs)

Term 3 – Informative writing (paragraphs)

Term 4 – Imaginative writing

Handwriting

In K-2 we use NSW Foundation Script. We will continue to teach the correct writing of all letters and numbers, as well as focussing upon pencil grip, slope, position and spacing.

Oral Language and Communication

Oral language and communication activities are incorporated into all areas of the curriculum and thus form a very important part of all teaching/learning situations. As part of the Public Speaking Challenge later in the year, children will present a short speech to the class on a given topic.

Bible

Term 1 – Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Easter

Term 2 – 1 Samuel and parts of 2 Samuel/ The Life of Jesus

Term 3 – Acts 1-12

Term 4 – Acts 13- 28

Creative Arts

Visual Arts

We will be experimenting with drawing, painting and other media. We will study the components of design and pattern making and how to use them to enhance our artworks. This program is enriched by a variety of activities linked to our History/Geography, Science and Bible topics. Mrs Jenny O’Keefe will be running specialist art classes for Year 2 students in Semester 1 this year.

Music

Music will be taught by a specialist Music teacher, Mrs Hannale Lombard in Semester 2.

The following areas are covered:

Music appreciation
Music skills (listening, playing and performing percussion).
Class and grade singing and Assembly item preparation.

Dance

For one term, the students will participate in the dance program – “Get Ready, Let’s Dance”. The elements of action and space will be explored.

Drama

A large focus will be on movement, mime, improvisation and cooperation. This is also integrated with other subject areas.

PDHPE

PD/H- SECOND STEP

The Second Step program is taught across K-6. “Second Step" is a well known social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum designed for students Prep to Year 8. The core principles of the “Second Step” program often revolve around three main themes: being safe, being respectful, and being responsible. These themes are essential in helping students develop healthy relationships, manage their emotions, and make informed choices. As a community we will be learning the skills for learning, empathy, emotional management, problem solving and friendships.

Students will participate in lessons throughout the year and there is an opportunity for this to be a partnership between school and home. By following this link https://www.secondstep.org/ you can create an account as a parent/carer. Please use the activation code SSP2 FAMI LY72 to access information for your child's grade. In Year 2, family reflection sheets will be uploaded to Seesaw throughout the year for you to work through with your child. We are looking forward to this becoming a part of our school culture here at William Carey. This year the Second Step program will be introduced containing four units – skills for Learning, Empathy, Emotional Management and Problem Solving. Other topics in Health lessons include: safe living, growth and development, interpersonal relationships and personal health choices.

PE & Sport

PE will be taught by a specialist teacher. The focus on PE will be to develop the fundamental movement skills, including hop, side gallop, skip, overarm throw, static balance, vertical jump, catch and sprint run. Sport will also be on Tuesdays. The children will have opportunities to participate in the Cross Country, 2-6 Athletics Carnival, P-2 Sports Carnival and P-2 Fun Run. Students are required to wear sport uniform on their PE and Sport days, which are Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Maths

This is a critical area of learning as every aspect of life involves some form of Mathematics. It includes the strands of Number and Algebra, Measurement and Space, and Statistics and Probability. NumBots is an online game to improve your child’s recall and understanding of number bonds and addition and subtraction facts. This year Mathematics will be taught in Maths Groups. These groups are fluid and changes will occur during the year. The initial groups are based on pre assessments to determine the students’ development of numeracy skills and understanding.

History and Geography

Topics studied include Past and Present Technology, John Edmondson, Australia’s Place in the World (continents, oceans), and Places in Australia (states, cities, landmarks).

Science and Technology

In Science and Technology, we will be covering the following topics: Push and Pull, and Water Works. Year 2 will explore digital systems through the use of programmable robots called ‘Ozobots’.

Excursions

We will attend one excursion this year: Wollondilly Heritage Centre in Term 2

Homework

Homework will begin in Week 3 and will be sent home on Fridays. It will be sighted by the teacher and then sent home on Friday afternoons.

Library

Library lessons will commence in Week 1. A clearly labelled library bag is required for borrowing. Classes occur on Wednesdays.

Interviews

This year there will be two Parent/Teacher Interview evenings, one in Term 1 and the other in Term 3. However, we are happy to discuss matters relating to your child at any time throughout the year. Appointments can be made by contacting the Primary Office.

Reports and Assessments

In addition to half yearly and yearly reports, each term you will receive a progress report that will give you a clear picture of how your child’s Literacy and Numeracy skills are developing.

Withdrawal Groups

Withdrawal groups provide extra tuition for small groups of students. These groups are fluid, meaning students may go in and out of them according to their needs throughout the year. Withdrawal groups provide support for students who need extra tuition in a particular area, as well as extension work for students who excel.

General Reminders

Children are to wear full school uniform, which includes a hat and school coloured hair ribbons only.
The only jewellery permitted is a watch and small stud earrings for girls.
No smart watches at school.
For Crunch and Sip please send a small amount of fruit or vegetable in a separate container and a bottle of water each day.
Please order lunches from the canteen through the online system, Munch Monitor. K-2 students are not permitted to bring money to school.
Please be on time to school. The children miss essential learning and announcements if they are not here in time for morning assemblies.
If you collect your children from car lines, the children are escorted to the basketball courts adjacent to the car park. ALL primary children who travel by car walk with their teachers to this area before being collected by a parent or carer. High school siblings may collect their younger sister/s or brother/s ONLY once the parent or carer has arrived in the car park. The K-2 children are to sit down and then say goodbye to their teacher. This is for the safety of ALL children. Children should be collected by 3.10pm, or soon after. There will be a teacher on duty with students until 3.30pm.

Seesaw

Each class will use the Seesaw app sharing the student’s learning and highlighting their achievements throughout the year.

Edumate

Notes and announcements will occur through the William Carey Christian School (Edumate) app.

A Summary of Learning in Year 2

By the end of the year:

Year 2 Writing Goals

write simple and compound sentences with correct punctuation (capital letters, commas and full stops, question marks and exclamation marks)
write longer texts (an A4 page) organised into paragraphs
experiment with speech marks
use specific vocabulary, in line with the purpose of the text (e.g an information report on bears may include technical words such as hibernation, diet, habitat)
narratives and recounts include time connectives (e.g. Early in the morning; After that; Later that day; Finally)
use a variety of adjectives and interesting verbs, in order to paint a picture for the reader. (e.g. she trudged along the dry, dusty path)
demonstrate a logical flow of ideas
able to identify errors and edit completed work.

Year 2 Reading Goals

read and engage with more complex and challenging texts
read with fluency and expression
recall specific facts about what has been read
locate relevant information and important details to respond effectively to comprehension questions
identify the main ideas in a text and summarise a text
read words with unusual phonic patterns (e.g tion, aught, ough) and multisyllable words accurately.

Year 2 Mathematics Goals

read any 3 digit number. Know the numbers before and after any 3 digit number and count by tens from any 3 digit number.
understand place value in 2 and 3 digit numbers (e.g the 4 in 467 represents 400)
add and subtract two 2 digit numbers mentally (e.g 32+68)
skip count by 2’s, 5’s, 3’s, 10’s
model multiplication and division using materials (make 5 groups of 3 counters; share 15 counters into 3 equal groups) and record using correct written equations (e.g 5X3 =15)
start learning times tables (2, 3, 5, 10)
measure length using centimetres and metres
tell the time to the quarter hour (e.g quarter to; quarter past)
measure area and volume informally
read and solve mathematical word problems
interpret simple graphs
recognise, represent and model halves, quarters and eighths
recognise 2D shapes and 3D objects and describe their features.