Blackbrook Primary School Welcome to Mrs Rowden’s Class Year 4 2013 - 2014

1. Blackbrook Primary SchoolWelcome to Mrs Rowden’s ClassYear 42013 - 2014

2. Class Teacher – Mrs Rowden • Teaching Assistants Mrs Purchase Mrs Heaslewood Alternate Wednesdays PM – PE with sports coach & Music

3. Routines • Mornings • Morning Activity – on the board, children to enter class quietly and begin activity. • Messages – verbal, note or via office. • Homework – due on Mondays to be put in blue box.

4. Reading • Reading books & records are to be brought into school everyday. • Could you try to hear your child read at least twice a week and record in their reading record. If your child is a fluent reader with good comprehension then a discussion about the book and a note in the reading record is fine. • It would be beneficial for children to read daily at home. • All children will participate in guided reading once a week with their teacher. • Some children will be heard reading 1:1 (not a frequently as Year 3). • Children reading on book bands – will be advised to change their book when they have finished reading it and an adult at home has heard them and noted in their reading record.

5. PE kits are to be in school Monday – Friday. PE is every other Wednesday this half term and other days depending on the weather. Swimming lessons Autumn term– take place on Wednesday Mornings at Taunton School Pool. Water bottles – to be taken home every night. Please can you ensure that all of your child’s clothes are labelled with their names! (Especially jumpers and cardigans.)

6. Rewards in Year 4 • House/Team points • Rights Respecting Pupil certificate in assembly

7. Homework • Weekend Homework – handed out every Thursday to be brought back on Monday. • It should be completed in their homework folders. • 30 minutes (longer pieces set in the holidays) • Will be able to complete independently however it is beneficial to sit with child whilst they complete it. • Spellings are handed out and tested every other Wednesday (starting on Wednesday 18th September)

8. Times Tables • By the end of year 4, the expectation by the government is for children to know all of the times tables 1-10. • Any extra practise of times tables at home will be hugely beneficial. • When children are secure with times tables they need to know the corresponding division facts. • 6x 5 = 30 30 ÷ 6 = 5 30 ÷ 5 = 6

10. Whole Class Music Tuition Tuesday afternoons Samba drumming 45 minute session. Led by professional music teacher –Brendon Hockey .

12. English & MathsHow to support at home

13. Speaking & Listening – at home • Make conversation. • Correct and model good language and sentence structure when talking. • Ask open ended questions. • Play games such as Twenty Questions or Articulate. • PSHE speaking and listening homework

14. Reading – at home • When children are fluent at reading, you don’t need to hear them read aloud as much. • Comprehension questions to check their understanding and interpretation of the text are more important. See green sheet for comprehension/guided reading questions. • Model good reading behaviour.

16. Writing – at home • READ! • Provide equipment to allow children to write. • Encourage child to keep a reflective journal. • Provide real opportunities for writing e.g. thank you notes, invitations etc. • Keep a vocabulary or Magpie book

18. Maths – at home • Play games – see maths booklet for ideas • Times tables questions – walking to school etc. • Measurements. Look at items in your kitchen what volume or weight are they? • Whilst shopping add up prices or weights of items in your trolley. • Fractions – diving food/sweets/fruit into fractions.

21. Year 4 is an exciting year and I want all of your children to have fun and look forward to coming to school. If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your continued support.