Autumn Term 2018
Dear Parents/Carers,
A big welcome back to everyone! I hope everyone has had a great summer break, enjoyed the fantastic weather and are feeling refreshed and ready for the term ahead. It has been a pleasure to welcome all the children into Badger Class. Whether they are returning as Year 4s or joining us as Year 3s; all the children have made a fantastic start to the year and I am always grateful to them for their energy and enthusiasm for learning. I am also delighted to formally welcome some new children to Spooner Row and Badger Class; Leonella and Agata both in Year 3 – I know they are already being made to feel very welcome by all at Spooner Row.
A big welcome back to everyone! I hope everyone has had a great summer break, enjoyed the fantastic weather and are feeling refreshed and ready for the term ahead. It has been a pleasure to welcome all the children into Badger Class. Whether they are returning as Year 4s or joining us as Year 3s; all the children have made a fantastic start to the year and I am always grateful to them for their energy and enthusiasm for learning. I am also delighted to formally welcome some new children to Spooner Row and Badger Class; Leonella and Agata both in Year 3 – I know they are already being made to feel very welcome by all at Spooner Row.
Curriculum
Badger Class’ main theme between now and Christmas will be based around the topic of ‘The Romans’ and I know many of the children are keen to learn more about this. We will look in depth at this period in time historically, but we will also link it to other areas of the curriculum such as Art, DT and Literacy. To gain more information about all of the subject areas please see the attached curriculum overview.
Badger Class’ main theme between now and Christmas will be based around the topic of ‘The Romans’ and I know many of the children are keen to learn more about this. We will look in depth at this period in time historically, but we will also link it to other areas of the curriculum such as Art, DT and Literacy. To gain more information about all of the subject areas please see the attached curriculum overview.
PE lessons will be on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons this term, but we ask that children have their PE kits in school every day just incase we need to change the timetable. It is very important that children have their indoor and outdoor PE kit as well as a pair of trainers in school so that they can participate in these lessons fully. Also just a quick reminder that long hair should be tied back and earrings should be removed for these lessons.
Home-School Communication Books
Hopefully these books will support the children’s organisation and allow easy communication between home and school. We will try to ensure they are checked daily by an adult in the classroom but if there is anything extremely urgent then please come and see me in person. For further information on how to use these books please see the inside cover.
Hopefully these books will support the children’s organisation and allow easy communication between home and school. We will try to ensure they are checked daily by an adult in the classroom but if there is anything extremely urgent then please come and see me in person. For further information on how to use these books please see the inside cover.
Reading
I have already been extremely impressed by Badger Class’ eagerness to read but here is an overview of reading expectations in school. Please encourage your child to read regularly at home and record this in their home-school communication book. Children are welcome to record reading sessions themselves but these need to be signed by an adult. We will award house points for regular reading at home on a weekly basis. As well as developing children’s reading through the book bands, I am keen for children to develop a real love and passion for reading and I will try to encourage this through guided reading sessions, use of a range texts including magazines, comics, joke books and promoting an Author of the Term.
I have already been extremely impressed by Badger Class’ eagerness to read but here is an overview of reading expectations in school. Please encourage your child to read regularly at home and record this in their home-school communication book. Children are welcome to record reading sessions themselves but these need to be signed by an adult. We will award house points for regular reading at home on a weekly basis. As well as developing children’s reading through the book bands, I am keen for children to develop a real love and passion for reading and I will try to encourage this through guided reading sessions, use of a range texts including magazines, comics, joke books and promoting an Author of the Term.
This term our author is Jeremy Strong and we will be reading the Romans on the Rampage together in class and encouraging children to enjoy other stories of his.
Homework
Thank you to all children (and parents) for the great homework you did over the summer. I am really looking forward to hearing the children talk about their journals next week.
The children will receive a variety of different homework tasks over the term and these will be outlined in their homework books. They can range from creative work to writing tasks to maths challenges. Homework is set on a Friday and due in on a Tuesday; the duration of the homework varies but I will always allow a minimum of two weekends for it to be completed. If you have any questions about homework then please feel free to come and ask.
Thank you to all children (and parents) for the great homework you did over the summer. I am really looking forward to hearing the children talk about their journals next week.
The children will receive a variety of different homework tasks over the term and these will be outlined in their homework books. They can range from creative work to writing tasks to maths challenges. Homework is set on a Friday and due in on a Tuesday; the duration of the homework varies but I will always allow a minimum of two weekends for it to be completed. If you have any questions about homework then please feel free to come and ask.
We are continuing to use the new spelling programme this year called No Nonsense spelling which involves regular spelling sessions in class exploring spelling patterns. Hopefully this more holistic approach to spellings, as opposed to the traditional ‘weekly spelling test’, will mean that our children develop a deeper understanding of spellings that lasts them a lifetime.
In addition to the No Nonsense Spelling Programme there is also a list words set out by the government that children should know by the end of Year 3/4. These will be tied into the class work on spellings as much as possible but we will also send out some work on these spellings for you to practise with your children at home as well. A link to the Year 3/4 word list can be found here (page 16): http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/18288/1/English_Appendix_1_-_Spelling.pdf and in their home-school diaries (page 10).
Additionally, it would be great if children could practise their times tables and associated division facts as much as possible to develop their confidence. I will be supporting children in school with a weekly times table focus lesson including games and challenges to engage the children but any additional support at home would be brilliant. I have attached a list of websites that might be useful to help make times tables a bit more fun! If you need any further support with this or different ideas on how to complete it then I am here to help so please don’t hesitate to come and see me.
In addition to the No Nonsense Spelling Programme there is also a list words set out by the government that children should know by the end of Year 3/4. These will be tied into the class work on spellings as much as possible but we will also send out some work on these spellings for you to practise with your children at home as well. A link to the Year 3/4 word list can be found here (page 16): http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/18288/1/English_Appendix_1_-_Spelling.pdf and in their home-school diaries (page 10).
Additionally, it would be great if children could practise their times tables and associated division facts as much as possible to develop their confidence. I will be supporting children in school with a weekly times table focus lesson including games and challenges to engage the children but any additional support at home would be brilliant. I have attached a list of websites that might be useful to help make times tables a bit more fun! If you need any further support with this or different ideas on how to complete it then I am here to help so please don’t hesitate to come and see me.
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/times-tables
http://www.teachingtables.co.uk/
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/interactive.htm
https://nrich.maths.org/1252
http://www.teachingtables.co.uk/
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/interactive.htm
https://nrich.maths.org/1252
Adults in Class
In class this year the children will be taught and supported by myself and Mrs Colchester, Mrs Read, Mrs Dunstan, Mrs Stemp (previously Miss Knivett – congratulations to her on her recent wedding!) and Mrs Baker. The children may receive support in different ways; including whole class teaching, small group work and 1:1 support. Additionally, the children will be taught Spanish and Music by Miss Hanton, usually on a Tuesday afternoon.
In class this year the children will be taught and supported by myself and Mrs Colchester, Mrs Read, Mrs Dunstan, Mrs Stemp (previously Miss Knivett – congratulations to her on her recent wedding!) and Mrs Baker. The children may receive support in different ways; including whole class teaching, small group work and 1:1 support. Additionally, the children will be taught Spanish and Music by Miss Hanton, usually on a Tuesday afternoon.
If you have any questions at all, please do come and speak to me. I am very much looking forward to the exciting term ahead and getting to know Badger Class 2018/19.
Many thanks for your continued support,
Miss Best, Mrs Colchester, Mrs Read, Mrs Dunstan and Mrs Stemp
Many thanks for your continued support,
Miss Best, Mrs Colchester, Mrs Read, Mrs Dunstan and Mrs Stemp