Year 4 Thursday 24th October 2019

Good evening,

Thank you to all those of you who have been able to hand in the new home learning books. The children did very well with their times tables and Roman maths. Spellings will be tested tomorrow and new home learning will also come home tomorrow.

We had our pre-dress rehearsal today and it was perfect! Please can we ensure all costumes are in school tomorrow as we will be doing a final dress rehearsal for Liz and Suzanne from stamp.

This week, in literacy, we explored "what if........" ideas relating to the story of Romeo and Juliet, for example, "What if Tybalt didn't die?" "What if the letter did get to Romeo?" The children then had to write the next part of the story with a change of events as a result of a change in the story. This learning demanded us to think and reason deeply about the story and then to apply our writing composition skills.

In RE, in order to use and apply their learning, the children had to write a diary entry according to a day in the life of a Jewish child.

In light of recent changes, we felt it would be beneficial and appropriate to lead a PHSCE discussion about "changes". The children were open and honest as well as sensitive, articulate and caring. Many sensitive areas were brought up, lead by the children, and these were discussed with great maturity. The children really enjoyed this opportunity and it helped to ease any anxieties about the rest of the year in year 4, whilst also building important relationships with Miss. White and the rest of the team.

You should have received an A4 brown envelope with the Autumn 2 knowledge organiser in and 2 letters; one letter detailing final arrangements for the performance on the first Wednesday back and the other about Hooke Court. If you did not receive any of these, please see one of us tomorrow.

See you all tomorrow - many thanks again for all your support and positivity!

The Year 4 Team.

Hello!

Loved my first week in Year 4, it's been great to get to know the children more and their personalities are really starting to come through.

This week Power Maths focused on Roman Numerals and place value. We've had ongoing challenges linking to larger Roman Numerals on the board which the children have been working hard at. This challenge has seemed to be very enjoyable. We completed a Star Reading test and all new AR reading ages are now on the front of the reading logs. The rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet are well underway and we have managed to complete a run through...in front of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I. Please can you send children in with costumes as of Monday. Just another reminder, if you do not already have a scooter or a skateboard please do not go out and buy one!

Coming home with the children today are their new home learning books and reading logs. If you have any queries please contact me directly.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend, hopefully the sun will come out!

Miss White

Year 4 Tuesday 15th October 2019

It has been another super successful day in Year 4, with lots of happy children.

The children have new table groups now, which pleased them no end!

We had a brilliant Power Maths lesson today, applying our learning about Roman Numerals.

Our rehearsal was very good - please could we ensure the children with speaking parts (not narrators) know their lines to the end of the play - thank you!

The RWInc spelling, guided reading, individual reading and grammar lesson introduced new spelling patterns - Orange group = silent "t" and Purple group the pre-fix "inter". Spellings have been sent home for the children in these groups to practice, ready for next week - Friday.

In response to questions about home learning, you will have received a letter detailing the plan and expectations for the rest of the year - as per the previous blog - and the new homelearning books and reading logs, that Miss. White and I have spent time creating, will come home on a Friday to be handed in the following Thursday.

As Miss. White stated in her letter to you all, introducing herself, please do find time to come and introduce yourselves to her.

Swimming tomorrow!

Queries about home learning in Year 4.

I would just like to say, on behalf of the staff in the school, thank you for your support and understanding over these last few weeks.

The learning and happiness of all the children in our school are our priority and Year 4 as well as Reception have been incredible, particularly testement to the previous teachers of our Year 4 cohort because their independent learning skills and learning powers have been very evident and this has been one of the aims of the school to enable and equip children with, not only knowledge but, the skill set needed to be a lifelong learner. We have very high standards and expectations which the children rise to every day and we ensure that each individual child's needs are met, whether it be academic, physical or emotional.

I know that we are very lucky to have such a supportive community of parents who work with their children at home to reinforce learning that takes place in school. Currently we are working very hard to produce our performance ready for 11 school days time! I want ALL children to feel confident on the stage - the skills they are learning from this experience are such valuable life skills as well as immersing themselves in Shakespeare and Shakespearean language, something not a lot of children this age are lucky enough to experience. Therefore, specific homelearning has not been set. This will resume after the performance.

Ofcourse, 15 minute daily mathletics and 20 minutes daily reading are already expected as stated in the Knowledge Organisers you were given at the beginning of term. Should you wish to carry out further home learning, aside from learning lines, there are plenty of areas to choose from on the Knowledge Organisers to take their learning further and to build upon their learning in class. I would even just encourage you reading a novel to your child, not only as quality time together, to enrich vocabulary and communication skills as well as language and grammar and an all round enjoyment of reading.

The children were all super excited about having Miss. White back. She is a very welcome addition to the Prince of Wales team!

If you have any further questions, please see me in the morning to make an appointment.

Mrs. Johnson and the Year 4 Team

Year 4 w/c 14th October 2019

Good evening Everyone,

I am sure you were as proud as we were of Year 4 for all their hard work preparing for Harvest, as well as focussing outstandingly on our Romeo and Juliet performance rehearsals. 11 school days of rehearsals to go!!!!!!!!

There is not a great deal to worry about for props and costumes so I will send a letter home tomorrow with the view to having their labelled items in school by the end of the week, ready to practice with them next week.

Swimming was very successful this week, especially as it was the first time we have taken both year groups together. Year 4, yet again, demonstrated excellent behaviour, listening and swimming - well done!

This week we will be continuing with Power Maths as usual, learning about Roman Numerals. Our literacy lessons and afternoon lessons, where possible, will be rehearsals.

Please can you check at home to ensure your child has an AR reading book, which also needs to be coming into school daily. Thank you!

See you all tomorrow,

Mrs. Johnson and the Year 4 Team.

Year 4 w/c 7th October 2019

Good evening Everyone!

I have really enjoyed my first few days in Year 4, getting to know all the children who made me feel very welcome and have been extremely kind and helpful. They really are a lovely class!

We have made a super start to Romeo and Juliet and have decided to tell the story with a modern day, 21st Century, twist!!!!!!! I will send home a note this week detailing props and costumes.

We have a very busy week ahead, not only rehearsing but preparing for Harvest! Not forgetting our trip to the farm on Friday afternoon.

Home Learning: keep reading daily, taking AR quizzes, times tables..........I will send home the orange and purple group spellings on Friday. Most importantly, learn your lines for the play!

I was astounded by the outstanding quality of the Shakespeare and Mask home learning that has come in! You should be very proud of yourselves.

Thank you for all your support and positivity,

Mrs. Johnson and the Year 4 Team