Helping your children learn at home

1. Helping your children learn at home Miss Greenwood and Miss Riley

2. Contents • 1. Maths strategies • 2. Reading strategies • 3. Writing strategies • 4. Spelling strategies • 5. Online Homework

3. Maths • The national curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils: • become fluent in the basics of mathematics, so that pupils develop deep understanding across all areas and develop the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately • reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language • can solve problems with increasing difficulty, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions • Being able to calculate effectively underpins all of these aims.

4. Four areas of calculation • Adding • Subtracting • Multiplying • Dividing

5. Addition • Stage 1 - Counting objects • Stage 2- Combining two sets of objects and counting all together • Stage 3 – Picture representation – Drawing dots • Stage 4- Counting on , on a number line in ones • Stage 5 – Counting on , on a number line in steps • Stage 6 – Partitioning numbers – adding the ten then units • Stage 7 – Column method • Stage 8 – Column method - digits get carried into the next column

6. Subtraction • Stage 1 – Counting a group of objects and then taking some away • Stage 2 – Picture representations – Drawing dots and then crossing some out as you take away. • Stage 3 – Counting back on a number line in ones. • Stage 4 – Counting back on a number line in steps • Stage 4 B – Counting on , on a number line to identify the difference • Stage 5- Partitioning and taking your tens and then units • Stage 6- Column subtraction • Stage 7 – Column subtraction were digits ‘borrowed’ from the next column

7. Multiplication • Times tables ; • Your child needs to know all their times tables (up to the 12 times table) by the end of Year 4. • Children should be able to rapidly recall all times tables to 12 • Children should also know all the division facts that derive from the timetables .e.g. 3x4=12 12÷4=3

8. Multiplication • Stage 1 – Counting objects in repeating patterns • Stage 2 – Grouping objects together • Stage 3 – Arrays (picture representations) - Drawing groups of dots • Stage 4 – Repeated addition – Knowing that 3x5 is the same as 5+5+5 • Stage 5 – Partitioning • Stage 6 – Grid method • Stage 7 – Long Multiplication • Stage 8 – Short Multiplication

9. Division • As discussed earlier, by the end of year 4 children should be able to derive and recall all division facts for all times tables up to 12.

10. Division • Stage 1- Sharing equally with objects • Stage 2- Grouping • Stage 3 – Arrays • Stage 4- Repeated subtraction on a number line, counting in groups • Stage 5- Repeated subtraction on a number line, counting in groups with a remainder • Stage 6 – Short division (long division is also an option in other schools)

11. Reading • Reading at home with your child is very important • Reading at home helps to develop ; • Relationships with children • Listening skills • Communication skills • Language skills • And also aids children in their writing, phonics, spelling and knowledge building

12. Reading strategies • Don’t just listen to your child read , discuss the book with them … • Predict- Say what they think the text will be about or what will happen next. • Clarify- Exploring and understanding the meaning of words in the text. • Skimming- Rapid reading to absorb the overall theme, tone or general meaning of a text. • Scanning- Rapid reading to identify key words. • Summarising- Using your own words to shorten a piece of text so that it includes only the essential information. • Retrieval- Identifying significant ideas, events and characters and discussing their importance. • Interpretation (inference)- reading between the lines to infer characters feelings, thoughts, actions and motives. • Organisation- Looking at how the text is organised. • Choice- Looking at choices the author has made and the purpose of the text. • Viewpoint- Expressing your own or listen and discuss others views of the text. • Context- Look at a wide range of texts

13. Writing Strategies • The spelling , punctuation and grammar test (SPAG test) has now replaced the writing test in the new curriculum. • This means that in schools there is a big focus on these areas. • In the booklet provided there is a glossary that contains all the key terminology your child will have to learn in their specific year group. • Please look through this terminology with your child and familiarise yourself with the examples so you are confident when discussing the vocabulary with your child at home. • It is important that your child knows and understands the key terminology, can identify them in reading and apply them in writing.

14. Spelling Strategies • Children now need to learn a set list of words by the end of each year. • In the booklet provided, we have given your year specific word lists, please practise these with your children at home as they will be tested on these words throughout the year. • Classes have also put the weekly spellings on the school website. • Here are some strategies to help your children learnt their spellings (these strategies are also included in the booklet) …

16. Online homework • There are 3 online homework systems; • Bug club – Reading • Mathletics – All maths areas • Rock star times tables – Times tables practise and rapid recall • All children should have a copy of their passwords and log in details in school and at home – please speak to your child's class teacher if you cannot access one of the above websites • Children should be spending at least 30minutes a night on one or more of these websites • Homework is monitored every week and lists of children who are and are not completing their homework are given to the class teacher • After school homework clubs are running in every key stage if your child is struggling to complete homework at home and also at lunch times. Please speak to your class teacher to discuss your child attending this after school club

17. Thank you for all your support so far this year … • We hope you enjoy the Easter holidays • Miss Greenwood and Miss Riley