Welcome to Year 4

1. Welcome to Year 4 Mrs Bates, Mrs Butterworth and Mrs Perry

2. Who’s who?! • Mrs Perry will teach class 3 on Monday and Class 4 on Friday. • Our TA’s are Mrs Megias, Mrs Beynon and Miss Saville • Mrs Porter (Deputy Head) will teach the children French and PSHE • Mrs Daily will teach music • Mrs Selkirk will support in science at various points in the year.

3. Teacher parent communication The best time to catch us is after school ( apart from Tuesday pm) For any messages at the start of the day please contact the office or send in a note.

4. English and Maths • Children will continue daily English and Maths lessons. They will complete regular Big Writes and Reading comprehensions as well as arithmetic practise and mathematical investigations. • Spellings will be given out on a Monday and tested on a Friday.

5. Topic • In History we will be learning about the Romans in Britain. • We will be visiting St Albans Abbey Education Centre for a Roman Day on Wednesday 21st September. • Children will NOT be required to wear a costume.

6. In Geography we will be learning about Italy and volcanoes. • We will be looking at maps and atlases to identify countries in Europe. • We will then focus on Italy and in particular N.W. Italy. • Later in the term we will be looking at how volcanoes are formed.

7. In the summer term we will be learning about invaders and settlers (Anglo-Saxons and Scots). • We will start with the Roman withdrawal from Britain. • We will be looking at Anglo-Saxon settlements and kingdoms, village life, place names, the art, culture and Christian conversion. • We are planning a trip to West Stowe Anglo-Saxon village in the summer term.

8. Science • We will be covering the following units of work over the course of the year: Habitats, Changing States, Electricity, Animals including Humans and Sound * To support our ‘Animals Including Humans’ topic we visit Whipsnade Zoo in the summer term and take part in a workshop about different animals’ teeth.

9. Homework • English and Maths homework are given our on a Monday and in on a Thursday. Children are expected to spend approximately 20 minutes on each subject. They may be given Science, RE or Topic instead. • This year children will be given a homework book for each subject which they must look after and remember to return to school on time. • Some weeks children will be given online homework to complete. • 15 minutes reading each day is essential and diaries need to be updated and signed.

10. How to support your child • Please make time to listen to your child read each day, ask them questions about what they have read and share stories with them. • Support your child with their weekly spellings • Times table practise and overlearning is crucial. • Working with time, measure and money- problem solving opportunities. • Vocabulary building – discuss unfamiliar words and what they mean. Record in diaries.

11. School Stationary It is very important that your child comes to school every day, with the right equipment. They need to have: A pencil case containing: • A pencil and sharpener • A rubber • Colouring pencils • A glue stick • A ruler

12. Other points • Hair – to be tied back. • Shoes – black and sensible. • Nails – no varnish • Jewellery – plain stud earrings only. On Swimming days taken out and taped up for PE. • Kits need to be in school every day.

13. Uniform and PE kits Everything MUST be labelled! Children must have a pair of trainers for outdoor P.E.

14. Swimming We will go swimming every Thursday after break. Children need to make sure they bring their swimming kit! A cap is required and children will put it on after break, ready to go swimming!