English News

This Spring Term has been jam-packed with excitement!

On World Book Day, 7th March, we had a wonderful time dressed as fictional characters and interesting adjectives. We spent the day doing all kinds of fun activities linked to our favourite texts. There was artwork inspired by illustrators and lots of book reviews! One of the best parts was that the teachers swapped classes to read their favourite stories. 

Also on World Book Day, we launched our long-awaited library! There was a ceremony which the whole school took part in as we watched ex-pupil, and Chair of Governors, Jill Summers cut the ribbon. Thank you so much to our marvellous school librarians who made this all possible! This spectacular event even made it into the local papers! See attached photos.

Since then the whole school has enjoyed Shakespeare Week. We spent our English lessons learning about Shakespeare, his work and getting to know some of his popular plays. We are now Shakespeare experts!

Handwriting

We use Nelson Handwriting at Wessex Gardens. Handwriting is taught regularly using this scheme, which ensures children have a legible and neat style. Please have a look at examples of the handwriting style attached and practise with your child often. They might enjoy the Christmas handwriting activities. By Year 1, the National Curriculum states that children should:

• sit correctly at a table, holding a pencil comfortably and correctly
• begin to form lower-case letters in the correct direction, starting and finishing in the right place
• form capital letters
• form digits 0-9
• understand which letters belong to which handwriting ‘families’ (ie letters that are formed in similar ways) and to practise these

By Year 3, children should:

• use the diagonal and horizontal strokes that are needed to join letters and understand which letters, when adjacent to one another, are best left unjoined
• increase the legibility, consistency and quality of their handwriting, [for example, by ensuring that the downstrokes of letters are parallel and equidistant, and that lines of writing are spaced sufficiently so that the ascenders and descenders of letters do not touch]

Spelling

At Wessex Gardens Primary School we use No Nonsense Spelling as our comprehensive guide to teaching spelling. Please look at your child's year group's common exception word lists (tricky words) attached. Ensure that your child can spell these words by the end of the year.

Reading

Please listen to your child read to you daily to support them with developing their reading fluency and expression. Do have a look at these recommended book lists and visit your local library to select books that interest your child: 

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/our-recommendations/great-books-guide/

Poetry

In the Autumn Term, the children and teachers were delighted to welcome the published poet James Carter to our school. James delivered thrilling musical assemblies during the day to all the children in which he performed his own poetry. He even spent time in classes supporting children in crafting their own poems.  Please have a look at some of James Carter's poems with your children.

http://www.jamescarterpoet.co.uk/

In the Spring Term we had our second set of poetry recital assemblies. The poems were performed so well - and completely by heart! Mr Banks chose the winning performance...Magnolia! Oak Class were runners-up and both performances have now been entered into the national Poetry By Heart competition.  https://poetrybyheart.org.uk/ Watch this space..!