SPaG Quiz 3

Hi all, 

Open this post to for the third Year 6 SPaG Quiz- it might help you identify any areas of spelling, punctuation or grammar that you still need to work on. Feel free to make it fun by challenging friends and family- who can get the highest score?!

I'll post more of these in coming posts. Answers will be posted separately for an adult/family member/friend to check your answers. Remember- don't look ahead! You'll only cheat yourself. Give it a go and check after 👍

Enjoy!

SPaG Quiz 2

Hi all, 

Open this post to for a Year 6 SPaG Quiz- it might help you identify any areas in spelling, punctuation or grammar that you still need to work on. Feel free to make it fun by challenging friends and family- who can get the highest score?!

I'll post more of these in coming posts. Answers will be posted separately for an adult/family member/friend to check your answers. Remember- don't look ahead! You'll only cheat yourself. Give it a go and check after 👍

Enjoy!

This week's homework...

Hi all,

I mentioned yesterday that your focus for the next week, with only 4 school days until SATs, should be on revising. Focus, not on the things you are good at, but on the things you know you don't feel as secure with so that, by the time testing week arrives, you will be full of confidence knowing you have given it your best shot. That is all we ask.

I have delayed putting this up as I didn't want to distract you from the lovely sunny weather we have been enjoying this bank holiday Saturday. Balance is important; make sure you build in rest to recharge your batteries.

So, in between your rest intervals:

• Practise any arithmetic skills you make errors in.
• Apply your arithmetic skills to reasoning questions.
• READ!! Read on a wide range of topics- science, history, geography etc. as well as narrative and poetry- exposing yourself to new and varied vocabulary and practise figuring out what unfamiliar words mean.
• Revise any grammar terms you are less confident about- can you tell a phrase from a clause?!
• Learn your spellings! On Friday I gave you all the spellings you didn't get right from across this term- keep working on them.
• Make use of the blog posts from across the year as well as revision guides and online resources.

Open this post to read more as I have attached a practise SPaG test below for you to try- give it a go and if there's anything on there you struggle with then revise it! 

Similarly with maths, I have put up some questions for you to try.

LASTLY, comment on this post if you want me to put anything in particular up to help you or to timetable in for next week's lessons.

Enjoy the rest of the bank holiday and I'll see you Tuesday,

Miss Barrell x

SPaG homework 9.3.18

Hi all,

First of all I want to say a big well done- you worked your socks off this week for our mock SATs and the progress you are all making speaks volumes about your dedication and commitment to succeed- you'll all be secondary ready in no time!

Now is the time to reflect on how you did before pushing on- you are still capable of more. So- with that in mind- here is this week's SPaG homework activity mat. Remember- if you are unsure and would like/ need some support then just come to me.

Have a lovely weekend and I'll see you next week!

Miss Barrell x

SPaG homework 2.3.18

Hi all,

Here is your SPaG homework for this week:

The following links might help you if you need to secure your understanding of what some of these things are, BUT there should be nothing new here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zqk37p3 (subordinating conjunctions)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_foMADqjSc (statements/ commands/ questions/ exclamations)

If, after looking at these resources, you still don't understand something or want me to go over it with you then let me know on Monday.

Enjoy your weekend,

Miss Barrell x

SPaG homework 23.2.18

Morning all,

Here is this week's SPaG homework- I have checked and double checked following my mix up over half term where I posted the same activity mat! 🙈

There is nothing in here that we haven't covered so you should be in a perfect position to revise these elements of spelling, punctuation and grammar.

If you are unsure, please come and see me (before Wednesday when homework is due) so I can support you.

Enjoy your weekend, 

Miss Barrell x

Apostrophe or catastrophe?!

We have been looking at the use (and misuse) of the mighty apostrophe this week too...

We reminded ourselves about:

• apostrophes for possession- those that show something belongs to someone/something else, e.g. Miss Barrell's class

• apostrophes for omission- those where words have been joined together and letters missed out (contractions),                                                                                                                             e.g. I didn't realise there was a difference!

We also explored times when apostrophes can confuse us:

• When we say could've it sounds like 'could of'- we then sometimes write this despite it being grammatically incorrect. Of course we know it should be 'could have'!

• Its/ It's- this one stumps a lot of us! We went over the fact that unless your it means 'it is', it should NOT contain an apostrophe.

• Plurals- they don't need apostrophes! This is the most common error made with apostrophes... 

1. The bike's in the shed --> This is correct as the apostrophe marks a contracted form (bike is).
2. The bikes are in the shed --> This is correct as there is more than one bike; we don't need apostrophes for plurals.
3. The bike's are in the shed --> This is not correct as this would mean 'The bike is are in the shed'.

Commas to avoid ambiguity...

So this week we have had fun exploring the use of commas... Sound strange? Well maybe at first, but when you take a look at some of the sentences below and how the use (or lack) of a comma can cause chaos with your sentence meanings then I think you'll see why it got us chuckling...

• We  ate  chocolate  cake  and  raspberries.
• We  ate  chocolate  cake  and  raspberries.

• She  liked  Ben  who  played  drums  better  than  Jim.
• She  liked  Ben  who  played  drums  better  than  Jim.

• The  old  lady  collected  all  sorts  of  things:  silver  paper  hats  felt     flowers  and  buttons.
• The  old  lady  collected  all  sorts  of  things:  silver  paper  hats  felt  flowers  and  buttons.
• The  old  lady  collected  all  sorts  of  things:  silver  paper  hats  felt  flowers  and  buttons.
• The  old  lady  collected  all  sorts  of  things:  silver  paper  hats  felt  flowers  and  buttons.

•  Let’s  eat  Grandpa
• Let’s  eat  Grandpa

(I wonder what punctuation you would use after each version of the sentence above...)

• Stop  clubbing  baby  seals!
• Stop  clubbing  baby  seals!

Lastly, take a look at this outrageous article... I don't know what you think of Rachel Ray but I'm not a fan after reading this?!

If you find any articles where a comma could be put to good use or has already been used to avoid confusion then please bring them in to share! Perhaps you can think of some of your own...?!

Thanks,

Miss Barrell x

SPaG homework 26.1.18

Apologies for the delay everybody- a busy schedule and technical difficulties delayed the upload of this, but here is this week's SPaG homework to complete in your homework books.

There are a few links below to help you revise the terminology below should you need it:

* Fronted adverbials- http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zp937p3#zt937p3

* Synonyms/ Antonyms- http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z8t8pbk#zydvjty

* Inverted commas- https: //www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zvftsbk;                http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/ztcp97h

* Relative clauses- http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zsrt4qt#zpx4tv4

I hope these help.

Last, but not least, please remember to maintain high standards in your homework books:

          * complete work in pencil

          * use a ruler/ straight edge to draw lines etc.

          * best effort at all times.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I look forward to seeing you on Monday!

Miss Barrell x

SPaG homework 19.1.18

Hi all,

Here is this week's homework for Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG). The following questions are intended to help you revise and reinforce your understanding of the different elements of SPaG and should be recorded and completed in your homework books. Homework is due in on Wednesday (along with your maths homework).
If you are unsure about anything, try referring to the glossary of terms also available on this blog to help you. Failing that, please don't hesitate if you would like some additional support- I'm always happy to help.

Miss Barrell x

Spelling, punctuation and grammar glossary

Hi all,

As you are aware, we are fast approaching that time of year all year 6 pupils (and their families) anticipate... SATs.

It's no secret that the curriculum has come a long way since most of us were at school ourselves and many of the topics taught will be unrecognisable to you. But here at Sutton Park we understand that and we want to help you to support your child as fully as possible in the lead up to this important milestone in your child's education.

If you are unsure of the difference between a superlative and a subjunctive; not sure about nouns and are confused about conjunctions, then this glossary of terms is for you!

We hope it is useful for you in supporting our child to secure their spelling, punctuation and grammar understanding.

If you would like any further support, please get in touch.

Many thanks for your continued support,

Miss Barrell

Speech punctuation

So recently we did a little work on speech punctuation or 'inverted commas'. We were a little rusty to begin with and as they're not something we necessarily use all of the time it's definitely worth practising them every now and again. After all- if you snooze, you lose!

With that in mind, I've found a catchy little song that might just help you keep the fundamentals in mind when punctuating speech.

Click the image, have a listen and have a go!