Happy New Year! I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas break and had lots of quality family time together.

Thank you very much for the lovely Christmas cards and gifts that we received. It was very thoughtful of you.

We have been extremely impressed with the wonderful homework projects the children completed last term. It was great to see the different ways the children present their ideas! Thank you very much to parents for supporting your child. The children have really enjoyed sharing their learning with the class and we are looking forward to seeing the projects for this term (more details to follow).

Our learning this term

In English we will be looking at the story ‘George’s Marvellous Medicine’ by Roald Dahl, focussing on extended noun phrases and character description. The children will then write their own character description using the skills that they have been taught during the unit.

In Maths this term, the children will be continuing with Multiplication and Division. The children will be learning to multiply and divide larger numbers using both practical and written methods. Please continue to practice times tables at home regularly using TT Rockstars. The children also enjoy listening to the BBC ‘Super Mover’ videos.

In Science the children will be learning about ‘Animals Including Humans’. The children will learn about the different types of teeth, how the digestion system works and looking at food chains. During the unit the will have the opportunity to take part in scientific investigations.

Our History topic is Anglo Saxons. The children will find out who the Anglo Saxons were and what life was like in Anglo Saxon Britain.

In Geography the children will be learning about environmental regions. They will study the different climate zones across the globe.  

This term the children will be taking part in swimming lessons on a Monday morning at Hereford Leisure Centre. The children will also continue to have a PE lesson on a Thursday afternoon with Mr Edmonds. Please ensure that your child has a full PE kit in school.

We are looking forward to seeing the children continue to progress this term.

Our door is always open so please feel free to come and talk to us about any further questions or queries that you may have.

Mrs Homer and Miss Corbin

Supporting learning at home

Reading – it is of utmost importance that children read regularly at home in order to apply and cement the knowledge they get at school.  The children should be reading their school reading book at least three times a week. We encourage the children to read their own texts in addition to the school reading books to help develop a love of reading.  

It is also important to talk to the children about what they have read, to make sure they understand what they read rather than just decoding it. If you would like some example questions to support your child with this, please just ask.

Please sign your child’s reading diary so that we can count how many times they have read so they can achieve a rainbow reading certificate! The children will receive a certificate every five times they have read. We will hear the children read their reading book at least once a week, alongside our reading for meaning sessions and reading comprehension sessions.

Times tables - Please help your child to practise their times tables at home. By the end of Year 4, the children should know all of the times tables up to 12x12. The Year 4 pupils will sit a statutory Times Table Check in June to test their knowledge. The Multiplication Times Tables Check is an online test where the pupils are asked 25 questions on times tables 2 to 12. For every question, you have 6 seconds to answer, and in between the questions, there is a 3-second rest. Questions about the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 times table come up more often. 

Spelling – Your child will continue to have weekly spellings for them to practise. These spellings will help your child during our spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) lessons. As well as practising the spellings please complete the second sheet where the children write the words into a sentence. This ensures that they understand the meaning of the words, allowing them to apply them to their writing.   

Please Don’t Forget…

P.E. will be on a Thursday this term; please ensure the children have a full school P.E. kit in school so they can take part. Long hair must be tied up and earrings must be removed or covered up.

Bookbags are expected to be in school each day, and taken home each night; this is to enable staff to read with children, and change books when appropriate.

Please ensure all belongings are clearly labelled to avoid loss!

Healthy, nut-free snacks can be bought in from home each day, and children can eat them at breaktime.