ENGLISH
Intent
At Christ the king, we want all of our pupils to be capable readers, writers, spellers and speakers, who can transfer their English skills to other curriculum subjects and who are prepared for the next steps in their education. We know the value of excellent vocabulary and this is developed and practised across our curriculum constantly.
Our pupils are encouraged to read for pleasure and to read widely through our reading scheme, class reading areas and the school library.
We develop writing skills so that our children have the stamina and ability to write at the age expected standard. We also intend to create writers who can re-read, edit and improve their own writing, and enable pupils to be able to confidently use the essential skills of grammar, punctuation and grammar.
We promote the importance of written work by providing a writing purpose and opportunities for children’s writing to be displayed around school, read aloud and listened to by an audience. We intend that pupils learn how to understand the relationships between words, word meaning and implied meaning within writing lessons, whilst ensuring that children are supported in their spelling strategies.
Writing key skills
Below is our progression of writing key skills document.
This document outlines the writing key skills that are taught at each phase and year group.
Key learning skills for reading
Year 1 Key learning for reading
Year 2 Key learning for reading
Year 3 Key learning for reading
Year 4 Key learning for reading
Key learning skills for writing
Year 1 Key learning for writing
Year 2 Key learning for writing
Year 3 Key learning for writing
Year 4 Key learning for writing
Examples of Writing displays around school
Autumn 1 English in Year 1
During this half term, we have read the book 'Harry the Happy Mouse', and looked at non-fiction texts and videos based on mice. During the creating interest, reading, and gathering content phases of the narrative unit, we shared and explored in detail the text 'Harry the Happy Mouse' by N.G.K. We took part in a range of reading response lessons, during which short writing opportunities, both modelled and independent, featured. The children then used this content to write an extension to the book, adding further detail about how an animal helped another character in the story. A non-fiction unit was then carried out. In this unit the children listened to facts about mice, learnt the facts and then wrote the mice facts.
Autumn 2 English in Year 1
During this half term, we started the integrated unit by examining fruits with our senses. Year 1 then wrote a poems about fruits.
During the creating interest, reading, and gathering content phases of the narrative unit, we shared and explored in detail the text 'Supertato' by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet. We took part in a range of reading response lessons, during which short writing opportunities (both modelled and independent), featured.
A mini unit on instructions was covered in the middle of the narrative unit (an integrated unit). Year 1 followed instructions to make a jelly, wrote their own instructions for how to make a jelly, Year 1 then made a jam sandwich to capture the Evil Pea, and independently wrote the instructions for how to make a jam sandwich.
The children then used the content gathered in the narrative unit to write an innovated version of the story; changing who had been attacked in the supermarket, how they had been attacked, and how the Evil Pea was captured.
Autumn 1 English in Year 2
During this half term, we have looked at the book 'A way for Wilf' and looked at non-fiction texts based on wolves and safari animals.
During the creating interest and reading phases of the narrative unit, we shared and explored in detail the text The Way Home for Wolf by Rachel Bright. We took part in a range of reading response lessons, during which short writing opportunities, both modelled and independent, featured. As part of the gathering content section, a non-fiction unit was embedded within the sequence, in which children had the opportunity to create a page for an information book based on their chosen animal. This was facilitated through both modelled and independent writing. Upon returning to the narrative unit, children then used this content about their chosen animal to inform the writing of their own story based on the original text The Way Home for Wolf.
Autumn 2 English in Year 2
During Autumn 2, we studied traditional fairy tales and traditional tales with a twist. During the reading phase we were immersed in traditional tales and traditional tales with a twist. We explored characters, vocabulary, key story language and made comparisons with original versions. At the end of the reading phase, we orally learnt a traditional tale with a twist. During the gathering content into the writing phase, we explored ideas for our own traditional tale with a twist, we also started to plan our own versions and began our scaffolded write. We then finally started the writing phase were we completed our scaffolded write, planning and the writing of our own independent traditional tale with a twist.
Autumn term English in year 3
This term in year three, we have focused on Paddington stories. During the creating interest and reading phase we have focused on lots of book talk, exploring our grammar focus of noun phrases and subordinate conjunctions and have had many short writing opportunities throughout these phases. The children have made top trumps, written character descriptions and post cards and letters to Aunt Lucy. This unit has helped to further embed our year two skills and develop our new year 3 skills.
Autumn term English in year 3
This term in year three, we have focused on folk tales about Green Children and a short poem about a child named Greenling. Using these texts we have written our own folk tale about a different coloured child! We have had lots of talk for writing opportunities throughout the unit and lots of short writing opportunities including role of the wall which the children loved!
Autumn 1 Year 4
During Autumn 1, we learned lots of fascinating facts about the Loch Ness Monster and wrote our own magazine articles about it. After lots of speaking and listening activities and reading analysis, we gathered ideas for our own stories. The children developed their sentence level skills and included some dialogue in their stories.
Autumn 2 Year 4
During Autumn 2, Year 4 thoroughly enjoyed our focus novel, 'Rumaysa: A Fairytale'. During the reading phase we did lots of book talk and developed an understanding of the main characters. We also developed our understanding of the genre. Throughout the reading phase, we explored our grammar focus of expanded noun phrases and fronted adverbials. We enhanced our understanding of inverted commas too. After completing the book, we adapted the original story and created our own story plan. We gathered lots of ideas before writing our own stories. Year 4 produced some amazing stories and some of them are now on display in school! We even found time to write an independent retell of another folk tale before Christmas!!
Autumn 1 Term in Year 5
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
During this unit, the children studied evacuation during World War II and engaged in a reading phase, short and longer writing opportunities including diaries, poetry and narrative writing. In the reading phase, the children took part in reading response and reading analysis lessons before gathering content for a final independent, extended write.
Autumn 2 Term in Year5
Legends and Myths (Non-chronological Reports).
To begin the term, the children studied a range of legends from the British Isles. They responded to texts, explored a range of themes and expressed their opinions and feelings using the text to support. At the end of the unit, the children planned and wrote their own legends using a range of grammar and sentence structures which they acquired throughout the unit. To finish of the term, the children consolidated their understanding and knowledge of myths studied in Year 4. They read a range of text containing mythical creatures, conducted research into mythical creatures and explored features, language and grammar used within non-chronological reports. The children then planned and wrote their own non-chronological reports based on their own mythical creature.
Autumn Term 2 English in Year 6
Our work this half term was based on the children's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L Baum. In addition to studying the novel, we watched the movie and were lucky enough to see a play performed by Burnley Youth Theatre. BYT also delivered a workshop to Year 6 which was great fun. The children developed their skills through shared reading and a range of short and long writing opportunities.
Autumn Term 1 English in Year 6
In Year 6 this term, we have based our work on The Nowhere Emporium by Ross Mackenzie. This amazing story inspired us to write in a range of styles and for different audiences, and also helped us develop our grammar, punctuation and spelling skills, and our speaking and listening skills.
