Welcome to Class 4 webpage!
Year 4 newsletter
Dear Parents / Carers,
Welcome to Year 4! I would first like to share with you how proud I was of your children last week. They coped extremely well with coming back into school after such a long break, we talked about the “new” expectations due to social distancing and they were all very sensible and grounded. Well done them and thank you!
As we will not be able to have a meet the teacher evening as we would usually do, here are a few pointers to life in Year 4 and also how we will be dealing with various situations as they arise post-lockdown.
Term 1 and 2 will have a particular focus on child well-being as well as the core subjects of reading, maths and writing. Reading will be key this term.
Curriculum: Please also see the class page for the Curriculum Newsletter
Reading
Due to Covid restrictions I will not be sending books home with the children. They will be given a reading book to keep at school and will read this each day. Usually I like to keep them reading one book at a time, at school and at home but at the moment this won’t be possible. Due to a generous donation from the PTA, we have been able to purchase a large number of new books. These include levelled KS2 books that are suitable for Year 3 up to Year 6. Your children will be assessed in reading (via 1:1 and group guided reading sessions) and will be put on a levelled reading book if needed. Traditionally Year 4 books have not been levelled which has resulted in children choosing free reader books that may not yet be suitable for their level of comprehension. Please be assured your child will still be challenged at their own level including the more able readers.
Spelling
A letter will be sent to you regarding our new whole school spelling program: Sir Linkalot.
Maths
I will be sending the children home with their Times Table Rockstars and diagnostic questions login. Work on TT Rockstars will be set as part of their homework and the children will be able to work on times tables set by me. The diagnostic questions work set will link to topics being covered within school.
In Year 4, the children are now tested for their understanding of times tables from the one times table up to 12x12. This is a new government test that should have been introduced in July, but was put on hold due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The children will complete the 25 question test on the computer and will be given a time limit to answer them. It is important that your child begins to learn where the number system is at the top of the keyboard.
Homework
To limit the risks posed by cross-contamination, homework will be set predominantly online. As the children are now obviously accustomed to working in this way. TT Rockstars / Diagnostic Questions and Sir Linkalot will form the basis of these tasks. However, I will be setting project work to be handed in but will be quarantined first. Homework is usually set on a Tuesday to be completed / handed in on the following Monday. As the children have so much to get used to at the moment, settling into life back at school, in a new class and key stage, I will not be starting homework straight away. Homework will begin the week commencing 14th September. Please continue to read with or to your child each day, focusing on asking questions about what they are reading in order to strengthen comprehension skills. The homework will be put onto the class page (website) every Tuesday for the week.
PE
Term 1 PE will be on a Friday. Please ensure your child comes to school in their PE kit (with warm leggings/jogging bottoms as the weather cools) on that day. There will be no swimming this term – as soon as we know more we will update you.
Show and Tell
This will be on a Friday on a rota basis according to Houses. I will invite different houses each week to talk about something that interests them or is connected to our learning in some way. Traditionally this would be showing something from home as well. Due to the Covid restrictions I will ask children not to bring items but will still give them the opportunity to talk if they wish to. We’ll trial this during term 1 and if it doesn’t quite work, then I’ll put it on hold until the situation changes. It is important to give the children as many opportunities as possible to communicate with and listen to others, so I’m keen to give it a go.
Covid Restrictions
Thank you for adhering to the new systems in place for drop off and collection. If you have children arriving at different times, please can you bring them all with the latest child due in. Please don’t worry, I will ensure that any children arriving at 9am with Year R children will not miss any key activities. Early morning work is usually finishing off tasks from the previous day, reading and general warm up activities.
Please can you explain to your child that pencil cases must remain at school. I have done so but an explanation from you also will help. We have allocated basic equipment for each child that remains in their tray and we are allowing children to share colouring pencils within their table group if they do not have their own.
Water bottles will now stay with the child on their desk, if it is possible to supply a bottle that does not have to have the top removed in order for the child to drink that would be great – I’m trying to minimise spillages on work!
Communication
I try to encourage the children to tell me messages from home where appropriate to help develop their independence but I appreciate that sometimes you may need to give me a message that is more delicate or urgent. Due to social distancing, I would be grateful if you only do this if it is urgent and use the office wherever possible. Thank you.
Mr D, Miss Roebuck and I look forward to working with you this year to help your child thrive and learn.
Miss Smith