The Curriculum - F forms (Year 3)

F form follow an integrated programme of speaking and listening, reading and writing following Year 3 of the National Curriculum and the National Literacy Strategy. Our main aim is to raise standards in literacy, and this is the thrust of the Autumn term, particularly where much reading time is spent helping pupils to progress.

The Senter Handwriting Scheme will continue from the Pre-Prep. Children who do not have a fluent joined-up handwriting style will be taught the Senter style.

 

The Miskin approach to phonics is used as the basis for our spelling programme. This follows on from the phonics approach at the Pre-Prep. Words arising from the children's own work are also addressed using a variety of strategies. A variety of dictionaries and thesauruses is used. Each pupil should have his or her own dictionary. We do not recommend a particular dictionary but suggest the one chosen is light enough to be carried around.

 

Oxford Reading Tree materials are available, plus "Treetops" to ensure continuity from the Pre-Prep.

 

Reading is supported by class libraries and the School Library.

 

Pupils will study a range of genre:

• Stories with familiar settings
• Plays
• Poems based on observation and the senses
• Shape poems
• Non-fiction including informational texts
• Non-chronological reports
• Thesauruses especially the Oxford Junior thesaurus
• Dictionaries especially the Oxford Junior dictionary
• Myths
• Legends
• Fables and parables
• Traditional stories
• Stories with related themes
• Oral and performance poetry from different cultures
• Instructions
• Adventure and mystery stories
• Stories by the same author
• Humorous poetry and poetry that plays with language
• Word puzzles
• Puns and riddles
• Letters written for a range of purposes
• Alphabetic texts including directories, encyclopaedias and indexes

Pupils will:

• Learn to change the way they speak and write to suit different purposes and audiences.
• Read a range of texts and respond to different purposes and audiences.
• Explore the use of language in literary and non-literary texts and learn how language works.
• Learn how to speak in a range of contexts, adapting what they say and how they say it to the purpose and the audience.
• Learn to respond appropriately to others, thinking about what has been said and the language used.
• Read enthusiastically a range of materials and use their knowledge of words, sentences and texts to understand and respond to the meaning.
• Increase their ability to read challenging and lengthy texts independently.
• Reflect on the meaning of texts, analysing and discussing them with others.
• Develop understanding that writing is essential to both thinking and learning, and enjoyable in its own right.
• Learn the main rules and conventions of written English and start to explore how the English language can be used to express meanings in different ways.
• Use the planning, drafting and editing process to improve their work and to sustain their fiction and non-fiction writing.

During the year, pupils’ performance will be assessed by a variety of methods:

• Oral work
• Written work, including planning and drafting
• Drama
• Contribution to group work
• Diagnostic spelling and reading tests
• ICT
• Examination in June