English - Autumn 1

During the first half term, English lessons will focus on a text linked to our history topic. 'Star of Fear Star of Hope' by Jo Hoestlandt is a captivating picture book which will support our text-based approach to writing.

In Year 6, we will focus on sentence level objectives, ensuring that writing includes a variety of simple, compound and complex structures.  In order to do this, we will build on our understanding of main and subordinate clauses, alongside co-ordinating and subordinating conjunctions.  As always, it is vital that our writing is correctly punctuated therefore we will also revise basic punctuation.

These Oak Academy lessons (1-4) are a great recap of the KS2 sentence level objectives.

Mastery keys:

• use a variety of sentence types (simple, compound, complex);
• use a variety of conjunctions to create multi-clause sentences;
• link ideas across paragraphs using a wider range of cohesive devices (fronted adverbials & conjunctions - Oak Academy lesson);
• punctuating dialogue with accuracy (Oak Academy lesson);
• challenge: integrating dialogue to convey character and advance the action. 

We will provide children with high-quality modelled writing and and will engage pupils with guided and shared writing opportunities.  These processes will develop writing confidence and assist children in producing independent outcomes.  Our writing lessons will build towards planning, drafting, writing and editing short pieces of writing, e.g. a diary entry.

During our reading lessons, we will be exploring 'When We Were Warriors' by Emma Carroll.  Using this text, we will support children in answering a variety of comprehension questions and building their independent reading pace.

We will be concentrating on the following mastery keys:

• draw inferences (inferring character's thoughts, feeling and motives from their actions) and justify with evidence;
• evaluate authors' language choice, including figurative language;
• make comparisons within and across books/poems.

Alongside weekly Pathways to Read sessions, we will be using VIPERS questioning to further develop our comprehension skills.

Children need to be reading each day to help build their language and comprehension skills. In school, children have access to a wide range of genres from classroom book corners and our extensive KS2 library. 

Take a look at our Year 6 recommended reads poster for more reading inspiration.