SPAG Parent Workshop

While you are waiting please take a moment to look at the example test questions on the tables

Welcome!

Spelling Punctuation and Grammar

SPAGParent Workshop (Year 5/6)11th March 2015

Session Aims

• Outline our approach to the teaching of writing at Brookburn.

• Outline what the SPAG test is.• Highlight some key areas of

knowledge with strategies for helping your child.

• Share useful websites and materials

Maths testReading testSPAG testWriting – teacher assessment

Year 6

Exciting context Cross curricular Units of work 1-3 weeks Have a go – Ph1/2/3 – Show me what you know Working Wall Talk for writing Sentence types Clear success criteria Developmental marking/peer + self

assessment SPAG starters daily

Our approach to teaching writing

SPAG Test – why?In July 2012, in response to Lord Bew’s independent review of Key Stage 2 assessment, the Government announced a new statutory English grammar, punctuation and spelling test for all children in Year Six. This would be introduced during the 2012-13 academic year and was only signed off on the 20th December 2012.The test includes:• sentence grammar (identification & grammatical

accuracy);• punctuation (identification & grammatical

accuracy);• vocabulary (grammatical accuracy) and spelling.

SPAG Test – why? The test puts an additional focus on essential English. Children should have mastered these skills by the time they leave primary school, so that they can enter secondary school with the basic skills in place.

Test Format…The test will be administered on paper with the spelling component administered orally by a test administrator. The total testing time will be approximately1 hour.

SPAG test

Component Description of component

Timing

Component 1 Grammar, Punctuation and Vocabulary

45 mins

Component 2 Spelling Around 15 mins(not strictly timed)

2015 SPaG tests will be marked as before - given a Level 3, 4, or 5. Some children will be put in for level 6

2016 (Current Y5 children) no levels. Score related to end of year expectations.

SPAG Tests and Levels

Content: Spelling This component consists of 20 target words, presented to children aurally by a test administrator within 20 distinct, contextualised sentences:

to sound out phonemes to analyse words into syllables and other known words to apply knowledge of spelling conventions to use knowledge of common letter strings, visual patterns and analogies to check their spelling to revise and build on their knowledge of words and spelling patterns.

Focus on punctuation

How would you punctuate this sentence?

a woman without her man is nothing

Focus on punctuation

Two possible ways to punctuate the sentence giving two different meanings:

A woman, without her man, is nothing.

A woman: without her, man is nothing.

Shared and guided writing Specific punctuation activities Success criteria for writing tasks School marking policy

HOMERe-read any writing. High expectations.

How do we teach it?

“Grammar to a writer is to a mountaineer a good pair of hiking boots or, more precisely, to a deep-sea diver an oxygen tank.”

Content: English Language.

• word classes and the grammatical functions of words, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, articles

• the features of different types of sentence, including statements, questions and commands, and how to use them for example, imperatives in commands.

• the grammar of complex sentences, including clauses, phrases and connectives

Daily SPAG starters in literacy lessons Within shared and guided writing, using

correct terminology Specific SPAG exercises Morning Work Marking Policy – CL/P/G/Sp Year 6 – Practice tests

How we teach it

Content: Vocabulary/languagestrategies

• to broaden their vocabulary and use it in inventive ways

• to proofread – check the draft for spelling and punctuation errors, omissions and repetitions.

Discussion and Feedback

Sample Test Questions

SCHOOL• High quality literacy teaching• Test techniques • Practice tests• L6 group

HOME• Any writing done at home - ensure children complete

to a high standard. Make sure children proofread their writing.

• Games and activities (find on useful websites page).

Preparation for the Test

www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/literacy2.htm

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/english/spelling_grammar/

www.topmarks.co.uk http://www.compare4kids.co.uk/literacy.php http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks2literacy.html http://

www.iboard.co.uk/iwb/Punctuate-Me-Super-Heroes-Complex-Speech-2485

Useful websites – games/activities

http://www.satspapers.org.uk/

http://www.satstestsonline.co.uk/sto_past_papers.aspx

Useful Websites- past papers

Evaluation Sheets

Thank you!

Any Questions?