Weekly news! 10.10.25

Here is a round up of the weekly news from Year 2, from a spectacular Harvest assembly to the details of daily lessons!

English

This week in Year 2 English, we have been focusing on using adjectives and expanded noun phrases to improve our writing. We explored how describing words can make our sentences more interesting and help the reader to imagine what we are writing about. We practised identifying adjectives in sentences and then created our own expanded noun phrases by adding detail to simple nouns. For example, instead of saying "the tower," we wrote phrases like "the tall, lonely tower with ivy-covered walls."

We used these skills to describe the settings and characters from our class book, Rapunzel. We talked about what the tower might look like, where it is hidden, and how Rapunzel might feel living there. We also described Rapunzel herself using expanded noun phrases such as "the kind, golden-haired girl" or "the brave, curious girl with long flowing hair." By adding these details, we made our writing more exciting and helped bring the story to life.

Our daily phonics sessions continue to play an important role in developing the children’s reading and writing skills. This week, we have been using Fred Fingers to sound out and spell words, especially trickier ones with more sounds. We’ve also spent time blending sounds to read unfamiliar words more fluently and practising our Red Words – these are words that don’t follow regular phonetic rules and need to be remembered by sight, such as “said,” “because” and “come.”

The children have also been writing sentences independently, working hard to remember their finger spaces, capital letters, and full stops. They are making fantastic progress in becoming more independent and confident writers. If you have a few minutes at home, going over Red Words or encouraging your child to sound out words using their Fred Fingers can make a big difference. Even a short practice each day helps reinforce what we’re doing in school.

 

Reading

Reading at 3: Every Friday at 3, our doors will open for you to come in and enjoy a quiet read with your child. This will be for the full 15 minutes, and we kindly ask that children are not taken home early during this time.

Reading folders: Some children are bringing home two books – one of these will be a Read Write Inc (RWI) home book, which we ask them to read three times throughout the week to help build fluency. These books will be changed by an adult.

The second book (with the coloured sticker) should be changed independently by your child – ideally first thing in the morning.

Some children have moved onto the Accelerated Reader programme and will be able to change their books once they’ve completed the quiz online.
AR login: Click here
Parent Guide: How to use Accelerated Reader

Please ensure reading folders are placed in the trays each morning so that we can read with your child and update their books when needed.

Chilton Heroes Reading Certificate – Each week, one child per class will be recognised for their fantastic reading in our Chilton Heroes assembly.

 

Maths

This week in Year 2 Maths, we have been learning how to subtract 1-digit and 2-digit numbers from 2-digit numbers. To help us with this, we have been using hundred squares. These number grids made it easier to count back and understand how subtraction works. We practised jumping back in ones and tens to find the correct answer. For example, to solve 45 - 3, we found 45 on the hundred square and counted back three spaces.

We also used the hundred square to subtract larger numbers, like 67 - 20. We looked at how to move up two rows to take away 20, because each row is worth ten. This helped us build our confidence with mental subtraction and place value. By the end of the week, we were solving subtraction problems more quickly and explaining how we found our answers using the hundred squares.  

Thematic

This week in Thematic, we have been focusing on Computing, learning about how we use technology both at school and at home. We discussed the different types of technology we use every day, such as tablets, laptops, and interactive whiteboards, and thought about how they help us learn, play, and communicate. We also began exploring basic programming skills, using iPads to create simple sequences of instructions. As part of our "Sow and Grow" topic, we used an app to create a growing flower on the screen, linking our computing skills to our science learning. It was exciting to see how we can use technology creatively to support different areas of our learning.

Love to Learn

For Love to Learn this week we would like children to have a go at practicing their number bonds to 10, to challenge themselves they could extend this to number bonds to 20 and upwards. Present this however you like and be as creative as possible.

Dates to remember 

16th October – Kent test results sent to families

17th October – Final day of term

 

Have a lovely weekend,

The Year 2 Team

Miss Maddy Kennedy – Team Sapphire – maddy.kennedy@chiltonprimary.co.uk

Mr Josh Belsey - Team Cornflower - joshua.belsey@chiltonprimary.co.uk