year7

=**__Year 7__**=

In your first year at Heartlands, we will build on the skills you have developed in Primary School. You should come to lessons knowing what you level you achieved in your KS2 SATs and you will be learning how to **move up by at least one level in Reading and Writing** by the start of Year 8.

You will practise **Writing** in a range of different ways and develop your **Reading** skills. There will be good opportunities to develop **Speaking and Listening** and you will become familiar with **ICT** resources at the school.

You should work independently on [|'Grammar Games'] to improve your key skills throughout the year. **Improve your reading and writing skills by completing activities below:**

**IMPROVE MY READING SKILLS** **IMPROVE MY WRITING SKILLS**

**IMPROVE MY SPL AND DRAMA SKILLS**
 * You can also get ideas to boost your speaking and listening AND drama skills:**

Throughout Year 7, you will complete a range of assessments to assess your progress (APPLE). At the end of Year 7, you will complete **'End of Year Tests'** in Reading and Writing and these will allow your teachers to judge how much progress you have made in Year 7 and set you targets to help you improve further in Year 8.

You should ideally achieve a whole level above what you achieved in your KS2 SATs in Year 6 in both Reading and Writing!

=__Assessing Progress in a Personalised Learning Environment (APPLE)__=

You will complete a written task or a reading exercise each half term which will be assessed and awarded a **National Curriculum Level**. You must record this on the **Progress Log** in your English Folder. If you do not have one of these, download one by visiting the KS3 page or ask your teacher. This allows you to record and recognise which areas of writing you are strong in, and which areas you need to practise further.


 * __English Learning Conversation:__**

When you come back after a half-term holiday, during the second week, you will have a Learning Conversation. During this lesson, you will receive your APPLE Task completed with feedback from your teacher. It will be corrected and you canm see what you need to improve on.

You will then need to fill in your Progress Log which is in your 'Progress and Independent Learning' mini-folder in a plastic wallet in your English folder.

The most important bit: YOU MUST THEN WORK INDEPENDENTLY to try to improve in the skill areas (Assessment Focuses) you didn't do so well in!

You will have a lesson to do this and learn more about the different assessed areas and what you can do to improve in each area each half-term to help you to improve independently.


 * __Making Progress:__**

The skills developed in Year 7 are aimed at helping pupils move to and consolidate the required Level 4/5 depending on prior KS2 SATS scores and enable them to make strides towards achieving 2 levels of progress by the end of Year 9.

At the end of Year 7, pupils will complete the **'Optional Tests'** which assess both Reading and Writing. This will allow us to judge how much progress you have made in your first year at Heartlands in Reading and Writing.

Download the National Curriculum Level Ladders in **Reading, Writing** and **Speaking and Listening** by clicking below and find out how to climb up the Levels:

You can also find out how to develop the different skills you are tested on in Reading and Writing. These skills are called Assessment Focuses (AFs). You can learn about how develop your skills in the different areas of Reading and Writing by downloading the Assessment Focus Posters below:



=**__Literacy Activities in Form Time__**=

Your form tutor will give you regular Spelling tests and you will also receive Literacy booklets and an exercise book to practise key literacy skills to help you improve. These activities will be completed in Tutor time and they help you to practise skills required to succeed in English - and other areas of the curriculum too!


 * __Developing Literacy In Form Time__**

- Independent Reading** - **Literacy Booklet 1 Activities**
 * - Spelling

Your tutor will encourage you to develop your literacy skills by **improving your spelling with regular tests, your basic key skills with literacy activities from your booklet and encouraging you to read independently, complete book reviews for your Record of Achievement Folder.**

Print out and write your review using the guide below:



=**__Competitions__**=

Spelling is an important part of targeting Level 4 in Year 7 and building proficiency with words. All Year 7 pupils are issued with a Spelling Booklet to aid them in spelling development and are assessed regularly against National Curriculum spelling objectives. By the end of Year 7, pupils will have been learning words from all subjects from across the curriculum to boost writing at a whole school level.

Your tutor will regularly give you **Spelling Tests in form time -** Click below to download your Spelling Booklet and start revising. Print this booklet in A5 or A4 format.

There is also a prize for the highest overall speller in Year 7 in the annual **'Spelling Bee'** held in the Spring Term

There is also a prize in the annual **'Handwriting Competition'** in Year 7 held at the end of the Autumn Term.

Click on the link below to download a Year 7 Spelling Booklet to help you learn key words used across the curriculum. This will also help you to practise for the annual competition as many words in the 'Spelling Bee' will be taken from this booklet!



=**__Topics You Will Study In Year 7__**=

Throughout the year, you will practise your skills by doing work around different topics. These topics are:


 * Half Term 1 - All About Me (Transition) - Writing To Inform

Half Term 2 - Road Safety - Writing To Persuade and Advise

Half Term 3 - The Pied Piper of Hamelin - Reading Assessment

Half Term 4 - Castaway - Writing To Describe

Half Term 5 - Urban Life - Writing To Argue and Persuade

Half Term 6 - - Year 7 Progress Tests**

=__Skills You Will Develop in Year 7:__=

__General Skills__

Students will learn to:

- Improve the spelling of key words and revising how words are formed - Recognise and use subordinate clauses - Use adjectives and adverbs effectively - Use figurative language (similes and metaphors) - Understand how to use sentences for effect within a paragraph - Revise how and when to paragraph effectively - Identify the main points in a paragraph - Using punctuation effectively - Develop your use of pronouns - Use direct and repoorted speech effectively - Understand the difference between formal/informal language

=**__Reading__**=

You will read a range of fiction/non-fiction in Year 7 and we will encourage you to use the Library and to read independently by borrowing books or reading newspapers and magazines.

Students will learn to:


 * Research and Study Skills:**

- Scan texts to highlight and select relevant information - Recognise and understand the differences between the ways information is presented in different forms - Make clear notes that pick out key points for later use - Acknowledge sources


 * Reading For Meaning Skills:**

- Identify the main points and sequences of a text - Read between the lines and recognise how writers use language to make meaning - Use evidence from a text to justify a point of view - Recognise the difference between the views of the writer and the views of others in the text - Identify how media texts are tailored to suit their audience


 * Understanding the Author's Craft:**

- Comment on how writers create setting, character and mood through their choices of words or structure of sentences - Recognise how writers' language choices can enhance meaning, e.g. //repetition, emotive vocabulary// - Comment on the effectivness of an ending and how it is created


 * Study of Literary Texts:**

- Read a range of fiction/non-fiction and keep a record of your reviews

=**__Writing - You will complete 6 assessments__**=

You will be learning how to:

- use writing to explore and develop ideas (brainstroms, mind maps) - review your handwriting and decide whether you need further practice - plan, draft and redraft effectively with an audience in mind


 * You will be assessed in six different ways of writing this year. One of these assessments will be completed each half term:

1) __Writing To Imagine__**

- structure a story with an opening, a development and a satisfying ending - create characters through their descriptions, speech and actions


 * __2) Writing To Explain__**

- organise your text appropriately using paragraphs/sub-headings - present information using examples - explain a process logically


 * __3) Writing To Describe__**

- describe objects, people or settings in a way that includes lots of details and figurative language


 * __4) Writing To Advise__**

- Give instructions or directions that are in a logical order and are easy to follow - write informal/formal advice, anticipating the needs, interests and views of the reader,


 * __5) Writing To Persuade__**

- express a personal view, adding persuasive emphasis to key points, e.g. //by engaging the reader, exaggeration, repetition, use of rhetorical questions// - find and use different ways to add content persuade effectively, e.g. //statistics, facts//


 * __6) Writing To Analyse, Review, Comment - Book Review__**

- write reflectively about a text, taking account of the needs of others who might read it

Download your **Independent Reading Project** here to help you to complete your assessed Book Review



Print out the Independent Reading Project and use it to write a review of each book that you read.

=**__Speaking and Listening__**=

Students will learn to:


 * Speaking:**

- recount a story, anecdote or experience - give clear answers, instructions or explanations - promote, justify or defend a point of view using supporting evidence


 * Listening:**

- listen for and recall the main points of a talk, reading or television programme, reflecting on what has been heard to ask searching questions, make comments or challenge the views expressed; - recognise the way familiar spoken texts, e.g. //directions, explanations//, are organised and identify their typical features - answer questions effectively, drawing on relevant evidence or reasons;


 * Group Discussion:**

- work together to solve problems - acknowledge other people's views, giving reasons for or adjusting your own views in the light of what others say
 * -** adopt a range of roles in discussion, including acting as spokesperson, and contribute in different ways


 * Drama:**

- develop drama techniques to explore in role a variety of situations and texts - reflect on and evaluate your own presentations and those of others
 * -** work together to devise and present scripted and unscripted pieces, which hold the attention of an audience

For more information on drama at the school, visit [|www.heartlandsproductions.wikispaces.com] and click on 'Drama'.