Reading

To link with our topic, our class text this term will be ‘Water Dance’ by Thomas Locker.  We will use our VIPERS skills to explore the text as well as using it as a stimulus for some of our writing activities. 

We will also be using non-fiction books relating the physical features of rivers and mountains.  

From a gentle mountain pond to a raging waterfall or from a silent ocean mist to a sparkling rainbow, dramatic text and paintings give water voice and substance in this tribute to water in all its glorious forms. Inspiring and informative, Water Dance is a poetic introduction to one of nature’s most basic elements. Scientific facts about water and its role in our lives are included. 

Reading at River in KS2 for Parents

• Parents Reading at River KS2.docx

We will also be using our VIPERS skills to help us understand the text and will explore the language and techniques used by the author. 

The document above gives lots of different questions you can ask your children at home when they read with you, this is very important for developing their comprehension skills as well as their word reading skills.

It is really important for children to regularly read their home reading book, returning it to school on the appointed days, so that they can enjoy some of our new school reading books and read a wide genres of texts. 

Reading lots at home also has a really positive impact on the children's writing as hey absorb vocabulary and learn different writing techniques from other authors.  

We encourage the children to read a wide variety of texts both through their reading material at home; visiting local libraries with families or accessing their online resources as well as reading books that are sent home from school.

Use the VIPERS questions at home to help you understand the texts you are reading.

Vocabulary - questions that focus on the meaning of words and understanding why the author has used certain words or phrases.

Infer - questions that focus on using clues from the text to understand character thoughts/feelings/actions and being able to show this evidence.

Predict - questions that focus on understanding what happens next and what role the characters will play in the story. Use evidence from the text to prove your predictions.

Explain - questions that focus on giving a detailed explanation e.g. explaining similarities and differences between events/characters or explaining your opinion about topics.

Retrieve - questions where you can 'grab' the answer from the text.

Summarise - questions that focus ask you to 'sum up' what has happened or putting events in order.

 As well as books from school, you can access some great books in your current book band level at the Oxford Owls Website

Reading activities and games

Our Writing

This term, Bees and Wolves will write from a variety of stimuli. 

Linked to our topic, children will write recounts inspired by a digital literacy resource and a local area visit to the river. 

We will use some of the themes and ideas from 'Water Dance' as stimuli for writing poetry and explanation texts.