Welcome to Cairn Gorm

Miss McGowan and Primary 2/3

Curriculum for Excellence

• Principles – giving children opportunities to; - progress at a rate which meets their needs and abilities - draw different strands of learning together- experience challenging and motivating tasks• Children will develop skills through the ‘Experiences and Outcomes’• Learning Logs – Experiences and Outcomes are broken down into ‘I can’ statements

Active Learning Approaches• Opportunities will be provided for children to engage their

thinking within tasks• AiFL strategies used:- Lolly sticks- Self Assessment encouraging children to think about their next steps- Whiteboards- Traffic lights - Fist-to-five- Thumbs- Peer Assessment- WWW/EBI wall

• Teachers and Classroom Assistants will be available to support independent tasks

Numeracy and Maths• Children will be working within classes for Numeracy this session• Learn Its – 3 facts, 5 minutes, 3 weeks • Children will work on same topic within class• Work will be set at an appropriate level for each child•Active learning approaches will be used to support written tasks and activities

Literacy• Literacy times will be the same each day for Primary 2, 3 and 4, with children working on the same thing during these times• Primary 3 – all working together alongside Mr Morton’s P3s• Primary 2 – continuing to improve phonics • Children will also be developing Handwriting skills • Tools for Reading and Writing – Broken down in Learning Logs• Literacy lessons will eventually intertwine with our class topics – developing our talking and listening skills, writing skills and organising and using information

Topic

• This term our theme will be Historic Scotland • Our class topic will be ‘Knights and Castles’• Topic will allow opportunities for children to make links between various curricular areas of a Curriculum for Excellence

P.E.• Tuesday, Thursday and Friday• Health and Safety Rule – if a child has recently had their ears pierced then they should tape up their ears • Developing various skills and techniques • Re-establishing P.E. Routines• Gymnastics

Master Classes

• Master Classes will take place on Monday afternoons • Stage group working• Term 1 – Primary 2 – Drama and Art & Design• Term 1 – Primary 3 – Art & Design and Craft

Science

• Science will take place on Wednesday afternoons • Working in class groups• Term 1 – Biological Systems – Focusing on: Major organs and preventing illness

Community Groups

• Wednesday afternoons • Primary 2s will work as a Class Community Group • Mrs Fullarton to take the Primary 2s during this time• Focus on Health & Wellbeing• Primary 3s will work with their own Community Group eg. Pupil Council, Eco Warriors etc.

Learning to Learn

• Monday mornings• Different formats • Primary 2s – Class discussions• Class agree on targets for the week – review the following week• Focus for Main Targets – Literacy, Health & Wellbeing, Numeracy & Maths • Smiley face system on SMART Board • Primary 3s learning to work with coaching partners – still with a focus on particular targets and reflecting on these each week

Expressive Arts / RME• Drama, Music and Art & Design lessons within Topic• Taught within Master Classes• Dance within P.E. Blocks / Topic• Art & Design – teaching and developing skills • Ensuring links are being made to artists, developing the language used• Art Week – Celebration of Skills, Term 2

• RME – Comparing how Christian beliefs and values are demonstrated with other religions

Homework• Spelling• Reading• Topic related – children will be issued with various homework tasks throughout the topic• News – as well as being encouraged to discuss in class during Check-in etc.• Correspondence folders • Homework diaries

Quality Contract• Class Rules discussed and agreed by the children • Signed by the children • Rules focusing on Rights of the Child and respectful behaviour• Aiming to create a positive working environment• Quality audience• Quality lines• Giving children responsibility for their own learning – Class Jobs

Golden Time / Golden Rules

• Traffic Light System – every child starts each day with a Green card• Children can earn up to 30 mins of Golden Time each week• Children who do not follow the rules will be given a warning, followed by a yellow and then a red card • Red card is equal to -5 min• Golden Rules – Children can earn Golden Tickets giving them the opportunity to gain a reward at the end of each term

General School Information• Children arriving at the school from

9.05am will be recorded as late• Please notify staff if there are any changes to medical information • Parent Helpers – please let me know if you wish to add your name to the list!• Learning Conversations – beginning of September • Class Newsletters provided each term (please collect one at the end of this meeting)

Worries and Concerns

• Each child in the class will be issued with Correspondence folders • These will be sent home daily alongside Homework Diaries with any letters etc. • Homework will be put inside these• Please feel free to add any notes etc. into these folders

If you have any worries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me - no matter how small!