Welcome to Class 4 Mrs Fawcett, Mrs Hill and Miss Russell

1. Welcome to Class 4 Mrs Fawcett, Mrs Hill and Miss Russell

2. Introductions Let’s meet the parents

3. How you can help with the transition. • Independence is encouraged from the outset and children are given responsibilities • It is the children responsibility to hand in correspondence when they arrive in the classroom in the morning (in and out trays) • Please encourage your child to prepare themselves for the school day, e.g. ensuring reading book/diary are in their bag, homework is handed in on the specified day and PE kit is in school at all times

4. Concerns and questions • We operate an ‘open door’ policy in school • If you wish to speak to the class teacher, then please call school between 8am and 8.15am to arrange a short meeting • If the query is less important, please call between 8am and 12 noon and leave a message for me to call you back • Use the homework diary for correspondence of a non-urgent nature and ask your child to show it to me

5. Programme of study • Class 4 follow a two year rolling programme which can be found on the class page on the website • Topics will be covered within the year, but occasionally may move to a different term • You may like to take your child to the library to borrow books to support the topics being taught in school • Trips to support and enhance learning will take place throughout the year

6. Enrichment in Class 4 • Science, maths, ICT and French teachers from South Craven will be working in Class 4 at intervals throughout the year • Denisa Francis (local artist) will be working with Class 4 on a ‘bottle top’ project • Class 4 will take part in the Humphrey Head residential

8. Incentives • The whole school operates a Team Points system • Children are split into Lions, Tigers, Panthers and Cheetahs • Class 4 Team Points are linked to authors this term • Homemade buns are awarded as a prize when the first team reaches 100 points • Each child works towards Golden Minutes Time which is enjoyed at the end of the week

9. Homework procedures • Homework is consolidation of work covered in school and is based on the DFE recommendations – 30 minutes per night • Children will make a brief note in their homework diary when tasks are given out, detailing the hand-in date; tasks will be spread across the week • Please also use the homework diary to record when your child has read to you, recording the title of the book and the pages read, and any new words that have been discussed • Please sign the homework diary by Friday each week • Homework is based on weekly spellings and sentences, KIRF, and specific maths and English tasks • The Homework Policy can be found on the school website

10. Notes Weekly spelling lists will be sent out on a half-termly basis in the small brown book. Children are encouraged to practise their spellings in this book, and these will be needed in school every Monday for the weekly spelling test. The spelling sentence homework will be completed in the A4 blue book – focusing on the grammar target, the correct use of the word and written in line with the new cursive handwriting scheme being used in school. Children will also have an individual set of key words to learn from the Year 3/4 and 5/6 lists and will be tested on these in school periodically. All homework should be completed in pencil please.

11. Homework Top Tips • Help your child take responsibility for organising and completing their homework, encouraging their concentration, handwriting and presentation • Develop a homework routine and stick to it • Don’t leave homework tasks until the last minute • Create a suitable place where your child can do their homework, ideally somewhere with a clear work surface and no interruptions

12. English • The teaching of the statutory English objectives – reading comprehension, writing composition, spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG), will be taught creatively through our class text – Private Peaceful • The different genres of writing will be covered at appropriate points in the text, e.g. diary entries, newspaper reports, letter writing and instructional writing • These genres will be transferred to other subjects across the curriculum, e.g. science, geography and history, high standards in writing being maintained in homework too • The glossary from the programme of study for the English curriculum can be found on the class page on the website.

13. Reading Our aim is to foster an enthusiasm for, and love of reading for life. • Children will read our chosen text to the class as part of the English lesson in reciprocal reading sessions • Children should aim to read to an adult at home every day, discussing the story, ensuring they have a good understanding of the text. Children may read their own books in school and will also select books from the school library • Please discuss any new vocabulary and its meaning with your child and note it in the homework diary • Whilst reading, encourage your child to discuss elements of grammar and punctuation

14. Spellings • A spelling pattern will be followed each week with a set of words to learn at home, and sentences to write containing these words • Spellings will be tested in school each week. Children will highlight any words which they spell incorrectly and will revisit them • In addition, children will be tested on the high frequency words and individual lists will be sent home to learn

15. Handwriting • From this academic year, all classes are following the continuous cursive handwriting scheme • In Class 4, we have a ten minute handwriting practice session at the start of each school day – currently focusing on individual letter formation • Continuous cursive letters flow rhythmically from left to right, aiding the speed and fluidity of writing • The starting and finishing points for all continuous cursive letters are easier to remember, as they all start on the line, and most finish on the line • The benefits of using the continuous cursive writing style can be found on the website

16. Maths curriculum aims • To become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, so that pupils have conceptual understanding and are able to recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately to problems • reason mathematically using mathematical knowledge, identifying relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language • solve problems by applying mathematics to a variety of problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of more simple steps and persevering in seeking solutions

17. Mrs Fawcett has four cards. On each card is a number as follows: 59,996 59,943 60,026 62,312 She gives one card to other teachers in the school; they look at their card and give a clue. Mrs Hill says, “My number is 60, 000 to the nearest 10, 000.” Mrs Burgess says, “My number has exactly 600 hundreds in it.” Mrs Bateman says, “My number is 59, 900 to the nearest hundred.” Mrs Robinson says, “My number is 60, 000 to the nearest 10.” Can you work out which card each teacher had?

18. The new approach • Countries at the top of the table for attainment in mathematics education employ a mastery approach to teaching mathematics • All children are exposed to the same curriculum content, allowing them to develop deep understanding and secure fluency with facts and procedures • Emphasis is placed on depth and breadth of knowledge and application of skills

19. KIRFS • KIRF stands for Key Instant Recall Fact, information that children need to learn off by heart to develop mathematical fluency • Throughout the year, children will learn facts relating to number and other areas of maths • A task will be sent home each week, and will be tested the following week

21. Assessment • Formative assessment is on-going throughout the year • Formal assessments, using the ‘Rising Stars’ scheme will take place in reading, grammar and maths every half term. • A moderated piece of writing will be completed at this point

22. Any questions