Welcome to Year 4

The Team

• Mrs Darby (Team Leader)

• Mrs Gosling (Forest School Leader)

• Mrs Robinson (Eco/Science Leader)

• Mrs Testill (Teaching Assistant)

A New Era!

• Start of Year 4. The children have already experienced their first year in KS2. They will now be familiar with the KS2 part of the building however, they will start to use a larger area of the school at playtimes, lunchtimes and for certain lessons.

• Transition Activities

General Information

Year 4 Teacher: Class Name: Class room

Mrs Darby Falcons Y4 corridor (opposite the staff room) Enter and exit from the door next to the KS2 Hall.

Mrs Gosling Eagles Y4 corridor (middle class room ) Enter and exit from the door next to the KS2 Hall.

Mrs Robinson Hawks End of the Y4 corridor Enter and exit from the main KS2 doors at the bottom of the big playground.

Home – School Communication

• ‘Home-Link’ books

• Adult on entrance doors

• Open door policy – all welcome!

Home-link Books

Home-link Books

Home-link Books

Timetable

Curriculum

• Core Subjects – English, Maths, Science, Computing

• Foundation Subjects - History / Geography (Topic), Religious Education (RE), Physical Education (PE), Design and Technology (DT), Art, Music, French (MFL)

• Other areas of learning - Personal, social and health education (PSHE), Social, moral, spiritual, cultural education (SMSC) Relationships and Sex Education (RSE).

English

• Reading • Writing. The children will be used to using success

criteria to help them to be successful in their writing. The children will already be familiar with symbols from the writer’s toolkit. This will continue and the range of tools that they use will be greater as they become better writers.

• Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS). We use No

Nonsense Grammar and No Nonsense Spelling to support teaching and learning. Use lots of strategies to practise spellings at home.

• Speaking and Listening

Reading School reading Focus on comprehension, layout of text, the author’s style and the language the author uses Reading VIPERS questions Read daily (in English and other subjects) – whole class, group or individually Home-link book required every day Bug Club / extended levels for Oxford Reading Scheme Home reading At least 3 times a week Access Bug Club at home Parent or child can make comments in the diary Child’s responsibility to change their own book Reading incentive tree in each Year Four Class.

Writing

Text types

Stories based on a ‘real life’ theme or issue Myths – Link to work on Ancient Greece A range of narratives from other cultures

Persuasive adverts and letters

Non-chronological reports

• Spellings – weekly list or activity

• Handwriting

Handwriting Year Four pupils will be taught to:

• use horizontal and diagonal strokes to join letters and understand which letters are best left un-joined

• increase the legibility, consistency and quality of their handwriting

• ensure lines of writing are spaced sufficiently

• develop the right posture in order to write correctly

• practise their handwriting in their English books, so that learning is not seen as a separate skill

Mathematics

• Mental Recall – Times tables, number bonds, doubles, halves

• Number • Measurement • Geometry • Statistics

• APPLYING AND REASONING • CPA model • MOTD – Maths of the day activities.

Multiplication Tables Check

• In January 2016, the government announced its intention to introduce a Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) for Key Stage Two pupils. In 2017, it was decided that this check would take place by the end of Year Four, in line with the requirements set out in the national curriculum. The MTC will become statutory for schools to administer in the 2019/2020 academic year.

MTC

• The check is designed to test children’s fluent and rapid recall of the multiplication tables up to 12 x 12, through a set of twenty five random, timed questions. The test will only test multiplication facts and not the related division facts. Pupils will have six seconds to answer each question with a three second pause between questions. I would like to reassure parents that all pupils will have been prepared for the MTC pilot before they participate in it. They will have had the opportunity to practise sitting the MTC with the support of their teacher or myself.

• To further prepare, all pupils have been given a personal login to Times Table Rockstars, which we have purchased with the help of the PTFA. This is a valuable resource that will provide the children with endless opportunities to practise the multiplication tables. As part of this game, the children can play Soundcheck games which is the closest game to the MTC because if gives twenty five timed questions. We recommend that the children use the Times Table Rockstars daily if possible. Rapid recall of the multiplication facts is built through repetition. Alternatively, the children can play ‘Hit the button’ or make flashcards to assist them.

How can you help at home?

• Telling the time

• Rapid recall of multiplication tables, up to 12 x 12. Ensure children are using Times Table Rockstars.

• Use MyMaths to reinforce learning and to practise work being completed in school.

• To use maths in a real life context

• Cooking

• Shopping

Work in other subjects

Science

States of matter (solids, liquids and gases)

Teeth and the digestive system

Sound

Electricity

Living things (including habitats and food chains)

Topic

Europe

Comparing Modern Day Greece to Ancient Greece.

Rivers

How did the Roman invasion change life in

Britain?

Marking and Feedback

• New research – DfE / Ofsted

• Extensive discussions

• Clear philosophy

• Already trialled by Year Leaders

• Roll out to all classes – age appropriate

Homework

• Maths / English – Approximately 30 minutes • Support/consolidate work in class • Reading (at least three times per week) • Spelling (use a range of strategies, e.g. pyramid words, rainbow writing) • Use of My Maths. • Times Table Rockstars

• Expectations- homework book. • Communication / Support

(Support – help as appropriate, but indicate if a lot of help has been given.)

P.E.

• 2 lessons per week – 1 games lesson, 1 gym/dance. • Health and Safety – no jewellery

- long hair should be tied back - plastic glasses are preferable.

Kit – please ensure EVERYTHING is named. Indoor Blue shorts, white T-shirt, bare feet Outdoor Track suit, trainers If your child cannot participate, please ensure that you send a note in the Home-Link book.

What stays the same?

• Uniform - labelled • Expectations of behaviour • Style of teaching

• Open door policy • The children will all receive a Home-Link book • Junior Governing Body

• Parent consultation meetings – October 1st half term. • Pupils are requested to bring a healthy snack from home for break

times.

New Experiences

• New classes

• Different Curriculum clubs

• Eco-council

• Junior Governing Body

• Forest School

Upcoming Events

• Christmas Service

• Theatre Visit

• Roman Day – Summer term (approximately £5.50 per child)

• Charity support – this year we have supported a

local Hedgehog organisation.

• A parent workshop will be held during the Autumn Term, further details to follow.

Thank You