We have had a fantastic first week of the new school year. The class are already impressing me with their attitude to learning and their behaviour. It has been really lovely seeing everyone again.

Next week, we continue with our What is Life Like in the Alps? geography topic work, looking at the key human and physical features of the Alps. In English writing sessions,  we will begin an information text based on this.

Key Topic Vocabulary – please find key vocabulary for our topic by following the link in the separate email. These are for use at home for discussion around the learning in school or pre-learning to prepare children for the coming week’s content. Please do let me know how you are using these and then we can share ideas for best practice amongst the parent group.

Independent work – a few children are already researching independently and bringing this to our lessons. Please do encourage this at home – it is an excellent way of securing the learning and gaining a firm insight into the topic.

Year 4 MTC and Maths Challenge Times Tables practice for all (Year 4 and Year 5)

The Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check takes place later in the year and we will be working hard throughout the year towards learning and securing times tables facts to automaticity. To have instant recall of these facts is fundamental to successful calculation as it reduces cognitive load and allows children to focus on other aspects of the problem-solving process.  Year 5s completed their MTC last year but this does not mean that they should not continue to practise these crucial facts. 

            USE IT OR LOSE IT!

All children in the Upper School will complete a weekly times tables test, which we call the MATHS CHALLENGE. There are five challenge levels to work through, which not only focus on different times tables but also become increasingly challenging.

Year 4s have had lessons last year teaching the 2, 5, 10, 3, 4 and 8 times tables. This year we will cover the 3, 6 and 9 times tables and the relationship between them , the 7 times table and the 11 and 12 times tables.

Our aim is that children will be secure in all times tables by the end of Year 4 and then keep working hard through regular practice to maintain that knowledge and instant recall throughout Years 5 and 6.

Homework

READING  Please read to the end of chapter 2 of King of the Cloud Forest. We have read up to the end of the first paragraph on page 18 in class. Approaches to reading include: children sharing the reading with an adult, children reading to an adult, an adult reading to the child and children reading independently.

SPELLINGS children have brought home their week 1 spelling list (unfortunately, the new planners have not yet arrived in school). Spellings should be practised throughout the week. They will be tested next Thursday. If the lists have been mislaid, you can find a link to the whole term’s spellings at the top of the class page on the school website.

Maths on Atom: Y4 Place Value  

                                   Mrs Greenwood will set maths homework for Y5 from next week

English Skills homework books have not been issued just yet but will be in due course.

Times Tables – Regular practice is essential. Online games such as TT Rockstars and White Rose 1-minute Maths (available as an app) are very useful tools but any kind of game that involves instant recall of facts can also be an effective method.

Please drop me a line with any queries.

Have a great week!