English
Reading
The school’s overall objective is for each child to become a fluent and confident reader who reads widely and for pleasure. Reading is taught as a specific skill and each child’s progress is carefully monitored. Children are taught reading strategies in small groups during Guided Reading. Once a week there is a Whole Class Reading session with the purpose of developing vocabulary, and retrieval and inference skills. This session is based on the class read which is a high quality, age appropriate text. Thorpe Acre Junior School has invested heavily in a wide variety of new books which provide a structured approach to the teaching of reading throughout the school. Read,Write Inc intervention is provided for those pupils who need additional support to address any gaps in their phonic knowledge. Accelerated Reader is provided for all pupils which encourages children to read a wide variety of texts whilst allowing their progress to be carefully monitored and tracked. There is a wide range of graded reading material within the school and this is supported by a well-stocked fiction and non-fiction library. We frequently hold reading themed days in school which we hope will foster a sharing and love of books.
It is expected that parents will listen to their child read for 10-15 mins each night and record this and any new vocabulary in their reading record.
Writing
Children are given opportunities to write for many different purposes and audiences both within English and in other subjects. A main focus is for children to edit and improve their own work, sometimes in collaboration with their peers, to produce a final piece of writing of which they are proud. Children's work is celebrated by being displayed around school.
The school has invested in the "Let’s Get Spelling" programme to teach children spelling rules in a fun and engaging way. Speaking and listening skills are encouraged through class discussions and debates and through dramatic performances.
English Overview - 2021/2022
| Autumn | Spring | Summer |
Year 3 | Stone Age Boy - Narrative
Autumn is Here - Poetry
Theseus and the Minotaur – Narrative
How a Robot Dog Works – Explanation
Robot Dog For Sale - Persuasion | Egyptian Cinderella - Narrative and Diary
Howard Carter and Tutenkhamun - Non-chronological Report
Poetry based on study of Ancient Egypt
The Secret of Black Rock – Narrative
My Strong Mind – Instructions
| Desert and polar regions – Description
Ice Palace – Newspaper report
David Attenborough – Biography
Plastic in the ocean - Newspaper report
Stranger Danger – Information text |
Year 4 | The Nothing To See Here Hotel – Narrative
Holiday Brochure – Sicily – Persuasion
Romans – Non-chronological Report
Roman myths - Narrative
Romans – Newspaper Report
| The River – Poetry
The Whale – Narrative
Krindlekrax – Narrative
Krindlekrax - Non-Chronological Report | Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp – Narrative
Macbeth – Playscript and Instructions
The Little Hen and The Great War – Narrative
Archie’s War – Diary
World War One – Non-Chronological Report |
Year 5 | The Nowhere Emporium – Narrative
Anglo-Saxon Boy – Diary and Letter
Poetry
One Small Step – Narrative
North America – Non-Chronological Report
Space – Mars Transmission – Journalistic writing
Christmas Poetry
| Mayan Myths – Narrative
Mayans topic – Instructions
Mayans topic – Poetry
Wolf Brother – Narrative
Wolf Brother – Explanation
Poetry | The Explorer – Narrative
Journey to the River Sea – Journalistic writing
Rivers – Poetry
Is it ever right to steal? – Balanced argument
Artemis Fowl – Playscript
Crime and Punishment – Persuasive letter |
Year 6 | Holes – Letter
Holes – Non-chronological report
Holes – Narrative
Kensuke’s Kingdom – Narrative
Volcanoes – Diary
Volcanoes – Tanka poetry
Volcanoes – Non-chronological report | Norse myths – Narrative
Goldilocks – Journalistic writing
Current issue – Balanced argument
Biography
Room 13 – Narrative
| Room 13 – Narrative
Letters from the Lighthouse – Recount
The Giant’s Necklace – Diary
The Giant’s Necklace – Journalistic writing
Climate Change - Speech |