How do we teach English at St Mary’s?

A meeting for parents

To create a shared understanding of how we teach English at St Mary’s

(Including how we are integrating the new curriculum)

AIM

St Mary’s is a Power Of Reading school.

• That means that we are part of a project run by CLPE (The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education)

• It means that well written core texts are at the heart of our English curriculum and that our approach is inclusive and collaborative. We use reading aloud, discussion, art, drama and role play in our pre-writing phase.

• Through the project the teachers at St Mary’s have developed an enthusiasm and knowledge about current and classic books that is passed on to the children.

• The teaching of English is not only how to read and write but developing the children’s desire to do so.

PISA Study Progress in International Student Assessment

“Being more enthusiastic about reading, and a frequent reader, was more of an advantage on its own than having well educated parents in good jobs.”

Reading Aloud

• ‘Reading aloud to children may be the single most important thing a teacher does.’ Anne Thomas (editor of the Reading Book)

• ‘When someone reads aloud, they raise you to the level of the book. They give you reading as a gift.’Georges Perros quoted in ‘The Rights of the Reader’ by Daniel Pennac

‘Tell Me’: the basic questions

LikesWhat did you like about the book/ story/picture?

DislikesWas there anything you disliked about it?

PuzzlesWas there anything that puzzled you?

Connections/PatternsDoes it remind you of anything?

Did you notice any pattern?

Read aloud

Listen to the following extract read aloud and in pairs discuss the following extract from this text.

Say what you liked and anything you disliked

We can use the same approaches with an image

What puzzles does this picture raise for you….

Do you make any connections with it?

Having something to write about and shared writing…

Which pair of verbs correctly completes the sentence below?

Pluto ______ now called a dwarf planet, but once it _____ classified as a planet. Tick one. was is was was is is is was

The grammar testKS2

•Draw a line to match each prefix to the correct word so that it makes a new word.

•Prefix Word •re mature •de understood •mis legible •im frost •il do

•Circle one verb in each underlined pair to complete the sentences using Standard English.

•We was / were planning to hold a cake sale at school.

•I was / were chosen to design the posters

•Write the contracted form of the underlined words in the box.

•That decision does not seem fair

•Tick one box to show which part of the sentence is a relative clause.

•The table which is made of oak is now black with age

•Circle all the pronouns in the sentence below.

•They bought new jumpers for themselves and a warm scarf for Dad.

• Circle the two words in the sentence below that are synonyms of each other.

• He was lucky to win first prize – he knew it was fortunate that his closest rival had decided not to take part.

• Tick all the sentences that contain a preposition.

• Ali locked the door before he left. • The shops are beyond the main road. • My brother is behind me in the race. • Barry is below Andrew in the register

• Write a sentence using the word cover as a noun. Remember to punctuate your answer correctly.

• Write a sentence using the word cover as a verb. Remember to punctuate your answer correctly.

• What does the root “struct” mean in the word family below?

• destruction structure reconstruct

• Tick one. • break build carry touch

•Underline the verb form that is in the present perfect in the passage below.

•Rachel loves music and has wanted to learn how to play the piano for years. She was hoping for piano lessons, and was delighted when her parents gave her a keyboard for her birthday

•Complete the sentence below so that it uses the subjunctive form.

•If I __________ to have one wish, it would be for good health.

• KS2 – 49 questions in the sample grammar and punctuation paper (45 mins).

• (Separate spelling paper aural)

• Reading paper

Thank you for coming!