Vocabulary and Punctuation for KS2 Yr 6?

[claig]

Is there a recommmended list of words that Yr6 should know? Are these words part of a syllabus somewhere? Also, is there a syllabus stating what sort of punctuation Yr6 needs to know e.g. semi-colons etc.? What rules do they need to know about correct comma usage etc.? Is any of this available on the web or in a government standards document, so that I can look more into it?

[sims2fan]

Search for the Primary National Strategy. I think it's on the DFES Standards site. You should be able to download a copy. It has what children should be learning in each year for Literacy and maths, though it is a little vague on the specifics. I have a copy as I am a teacher, but have never taught Year 6 so not sure when semi-colons come in. With regard to punctuation it says that:

Year 3 - clarify meaning through use of exclamation marks and speech marks

Year 4 - use commas to mark clauses, and use the apostrophe for possession

Year 5 - punctuate sentences accurately, including using speech marks and apostrophes

Year 6 - use punctuation to clarify meaning in complex sentences (think that might cover things like semi-colons, but not sure)

It also says that they should read and spell most words accurately in Year 6, so there isn't a list as generally they are meant to be fluent readers and spellers by then.

[Goingspare]

Year 6 DD says you have to know how to use a semi-colon in year 6 (and she seems to get it). Year 8 DD says 'Semi-colon, which one's that?'

[mrz]

We expect Y6 to be able to use full stops, commas, question marks, exclamation marks, ellipses, apostrophes and speech marks correctly (minimum) and hopefully be able to correctly use colons, semi colons, Parentheses and hyphens.

[claig]

thanks to everyone for their help. Thanks sims2fan, I will search for the Primary National Strategy.

[emptyshell]

To give you some idea of the kind of spelling, but not an exhaustive list - these were the SATs spelling test words for 2010. Obviously I'm typing these quickly - so any typos are my own making and it's after wine o'clock so don't pick on me!

children, variety, bottle, particular challenge, sharing, enthusiasm, signatures, figures, musicians, forge, illegal, considerably, condition, creases, valuable, character, excited, enormously, hundreds

The words and the text to put them into change each year but they're generally about that level of difficulty.

[Goingspare]

Flawless typing, emptyshell. I hope this year's list doesn't include 'taxes', which my DD recently misheard in a test as 'taxis'. She's still annoyed.

[claig]

great stuff emptyshell, that gives me a good idea of the level

[sarahfreck]

If you want some clear straightforward explanations of the English grammar and punctuation that yr 6 students should know then WH Smiths produce good - if rather dry books - explaining it all. I find them good as a reference point for reminding me ( as I wasn't really taught English grammar much at school)! www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=32663617

[claig]

fantastic, thank you very much sarahfreck. I have been trying to help my DS with punctuation and am amazed but how little I know about the rules. I bought some CGP punctuation books, but found out that there are no answers in them, so not that useful. I will definitely get the WH Smith books.

[pointythings]

claig, I suggest you read 'Eats, shoots and leaves' by Lynne Truss - not only does it explain everything, it is also very entertaining to read.

[claig]

thanks pointythings. Have looked it up on amazon. It sounds good and I will be getting it.